Politically charged (Aandhi)

I'm not comfortable with political mumbo-jumbo. The intricacies of Chandersen and Arti's strategies do not excite me. Neither does the implications of Agarwal's nexus with Lallulal. Hence, I'll steer clear of the political games depicted in Gulzar's Aandhi. 
But, Aandhi is not just a political treatise, though it is said to loosely based on the lives of Indira Gandhi and Tarkeshwari Sinha. It is a significant film, considering that Indian government banned its release in 1975 since Mrs G thought the director had no right making a film that would reveal snatches from her life. It was only in 1977 that the film was set free to be aired on national television, garnering huge critical acclaim and commercial success.
So, Aandhi must be having more meat that just some political storms and battles. With Gulzar's magic wand, you can rest assured it does. With hardcore politics as its backdrop, Aandhi is the touching tale of a man and woman who are distanced from each other due to misunderstandings. A loving relation is sacrificed at the altar of ambition. But does true love really die so easily? No matter how estranged a couple is, when they meet after a long, long time, feelings resurface. Then comes the question of whether the sacrifices were really worth it? Gulzar's films are always complex. But the complexity is dealt with so much subtlety that the drama is always beautiful and poignant. Aandhi is another example of such fine filmmaking...

Arti Devi (Suchitra Sen), a successful potician, fly to Ashiana Hotel for an election campaign. Daggers are drawn between her and Chandersen (Om Shivpuri), the leader of the opposition, who will leave no stone unturned to defeat her. At the hotel, Arti Devi has to confront her past. The manager of the hotel is her husband. Memories flood her professional mind as she snatches some privacy with her husband. But as her enemies are always prowling around to gather substance that will pull her down in public, they publish photographs of her with JK in the newspaper. A harmless meeting embroils into heavy scandal and Arti Devi's honour is sullied. Now, she has to pull the stop to tell the world about JK's true identity. In a fix, Arti Devi does what her heart tells her to do and wins over the crowd again. Winning the elections with a clear majority of votes, Arti Devi is now in a bigger dilemma. Whether to fulfill her public responsibilities, or to go back to the satisfying domestic life with her husband. The baton now is in her hand...

Hopelessly in love, Arti and JK had married each other battling stiff opposition from Arti's father (Rehman). Sensing that his daughter is all set to jeopardise her political career for the love of a hotel manager, he keeps instigating her to leave all and plunge into politics. But, Arti listens to he heart and marries JK, who makes his aversion towards the line quite known. The couple is very happy and even has a child. But, Arti can never rest in reflected glory, or the lack of it. She gives up politics for her domestic chores, but can never tear herself away from the power podium. This becomes a bone of contention between her and her husband, who sadly for her, has a mind of his own. The film depicts how the constant drilling of a parent can ruin the personal happiness of his child. Rehman's continuous lecture that Arti is wasting her talent for mere marriage takes a toll on her conjugal life. He says, "What a waste of talent!" and Arti's mind starts overworking. (Note the picture frame with Nehru and Indira's photo on the wall, it is significant). She soon starts questioning her social status as JK's wife and is sucked into the political vortex even before she can realise how grave the implications will be on her family and child. She walks away to serve society. Instigated by her father and thirsty for power and success, Arti bids adieu to her loved ones. But, will she really be happy in the spotlight?
Doesn't look like. For, at the first chance meeting with JK, Arti starts craving for what could have been. Her mind flooded with sweet memories, she almost starts blaming herself for deserting her family for pursuing a career in politics, a world that has given her success as well as worries, but hardly any love. It is also the sensitive behaviour of her husband that strikes her. He never blames her for anything. Maybe because, he realises that Arti was always made for greater glories. He is an immensely self-respecting man who does not believe in tying down his wife if she is not happy in the relationship. But, you cannot help if the heart is crying out, right?
The crass world of politics can be difficult and unforgiving. Why else would Arti chose to spend her nights only with her husband. For, the daytime lights would be too harsh to understand the purity of their relationship. And moreover, her opponents would be too eager for a mudslinging match. Also, JK has too much integrity to tolerate any kind of scandal and lewd remarks against his and his wife's untainted character. And his conscience is clear. Why else would he agree to take her out to a nearby tourist site at night. He wants to spend some time with his wife, bring back the memories and tug at those strings that were attached almost nine years back. A brilliant personality this man has...

Sanjeev Kumar won a Filmfare Best Actor Award for this him. Understandably. He is so understated yet so supremely fine. Playing a smart man who knows how to handle cheap scandal (the scene where he first meets Arti), he shows how much he loves his wife. But his love is not selfish. He sets Arti free. And that increases the respect we have for him. It hurts to see your loved one go, but it is harder to see her hating your company. Kumar is so apt for the role. Here is a man who will not brook the dirty ambience of politics permeate the blissful setting of his home and is immensely protective of this belief. But, he is never overbearing. Yes, his heart pains when Arti walks away but he is too respectable a man to bog her down with his wishes.
Subtle and mature, he is also a man who does not believe in making a scene. So, when Arti comes into his life once again after many years, he silently welcomes her. He makes her feel special with his personal touches to decorate her room and at the same time strolls down the memory lane with her. But when things come down to scandal, he is brave enough to safeguard his case as well as his wife's. I love the scene where he roughs up the cheap Agarwal and follows it up with confronting Arti regarding the scandal... So very Kumaresque and so very superlative...
Aandhi would be incomplete without RD Burman's Tere bina zindagi, Is mor se jaatey hain and Tum agaye ho. Sublime poetry bolstering the hauntingly beautiful music, these melodies are undeniably gilded classics. While the latter two are ethereal romantic ditties (Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar), the one that stays on is Tere bina. Both the protagonists realise that life is almost alright without each other, but this life is not life at all. Penned to perfection, what better way to say that life is incomplete without a lover...

Now coming to Suchitra Sen, the woman who makes Arti look oh-so-smart. Clothed in khadi ikkats and muslins, Sen looks darn dapper (if dapper can be used for women) as the talented politician. Dabbling in politics for mainly her father, she slowly realises how it takes a toll on her family life and happiness. Her expressions are spot on as both the young Arti, as well as her old avatar. Straddling between her own wishes and the aspirations of her headstrong father, it does not take much time for Arti to acknowledge the devastating of politics on her personal life. How scandal can shake the ground beneath her? But, she is also a sensible woman and her facing the public in the last sequence reflects her integrity and truth...
The only disturbing element in this poignant drama is Sen's accent. It is excruciatingly irksome. Her Hindi is haywire, the pronunciation is erroneous. There is almost a time when I question Gulzar's choice (perhaps Waheeda Rehman or Sharmila Tagore would've been better as Arti). But then in the last scene when Arti Devi's eyes fight back tears on leaving JK, she inquires about Manu, her daughter. Her liquid peepers belie the pain she is feeling within despite her calculated strong exterior. It is then my faith in Gulzar's decision in reinstated. I understood why he chose the darling of Bengali golden oldies to portray this diplomatic diva...