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Thursday 25 November 2010

The original HAHK (Nadiya ke Paar)

The first thing that hit me in Govind Moonis's Nadiya ke Paar is how real everything looks. The village setting, the costumes, the rustic characters, the incidents and most importantly, the dialect. This original of the Madhuri Dixit-Salman Khan starrer Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, is absolutely fascinating in its simplicity and narration. Its characters are real, they talk as if they are the characters and whatever happens in the film seem so true to life. Sometimes, this 1982 film turns out to be so enjoyable that you think the remake is a tad OTT and unnecessarily long...
I never liked Sachin as a hero. I always thought he was too short, stalky and lacked the punch required in Hindi film heroes. I have to reconsider my opinion. He is simply superb as Chandan, the village simpleton who hasn't a care in the world. His expressions are mindblowingly effortless and his body language is easy and free. He is always at ease no matter what the frame is and what the situation. There is no excess melodrama, events keep happening smoothly as he falls in love with the village belle Gunja, played to perfection by Sadhana Singh, the debutant here.

Yes, she is seriously a find here. It's sad she did not make the most of her debut success. Spontaneous and chirpy, she deftly handles her character. I love the scenes where she drives Chandan up the wall with her pranks. And then slowly she is the one who transforms from a naughty village girl to the adorable sweetheart. The way Gunja is introduced is lovely. Chandan's boat almost rams into the village girls as they are washing their utensils on the river bank. Gunja, stands up and moves her long tresses from her pretty visage to face Chandan. This is Chandan and Gunja's first encounter on the bank of the river. Little so they know that their initial altercation will ultimately lead to innocent love. The film is perfectly titled. How true it is that both Gunja'a and Chandan's sweetheart lives on the other side of the river...
When I had seen Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, I had thought that the film was immaculate. I have to chage my stand now. For, I feel the original is far more complete it its plot and execution. Every thing is plausible and credible. Not a moment is lost in redundant happenings and songs. Even the comedy is woven neatly into the plot. There is a scope of a love triangle but that is put an end to cleverly by the director. And, what the dog does in the remake, Rajjo initiates in Nadiya ke Paar.
The songs (music by Ravindra Jain always has the whiff of the soil) take the story forward. When Gunja is singing the wedding song, it reflects the poignant state of a girl leaving her father's abode for her husband's home. When Chandan and Gunja sing Kaun disa mein lekey chala rey, they are initiating their love story. The colourful Hoili song is but a mirror image of Chandan and Gunja's passionate desires. Through the song you can gauge the love that Chandan feels for Gunja. Slowly this friendly relation is becoming deeper and special. I love the personality change of both Gunja and Chandan here. The director depicts their growth with utmost finesse. These are not adolescents anymore, they are lovers madly and hopelessly in love (and they even use the tag line of the remake: Hum tumhare kaun hain?). Gunja is a woman now and Chandan is a man. They are not children fighting over petty issues. They have settled their differences and are all set to embark on their journey of love and togetherness. Their love is mature and pure.
Sadhana Singh is seriously an attractive belle. Her infectious laughter, her fast retorts play havoc with Chandan's heart. But, her sister is also extremely sweet. Mitali, the girl who plays Roopa looks very good in her role. And Inder Thakur, as Omkar, is very smart. Leela Mishra is as usual lip-smacking...
It's not for nothing that this Rajshri production was a resounding success. Its dialect, a fine combination of Bhojpuri and Hindi, is flawless, the characters are so real and the story is simple and sweet. But, the film is a rare masterpiece because it shows the way village life is, replete with all the rituals and customs. In short, Nadiya ke Paar is a charming romance with a truthfully rustic air...

32 comments:

  1. Sachin was one of the reasons I never got around to seeing this film - I like him as a child actor, but he looked like a kid so far into adulthood too that I could never imagine him as a hero!

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  2. @Dustedoff: Yes, I feel the same way, too. But here he acts so well. And moreover, the film is so very enjoyable :) Try it sometime.

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    1. I seen this film 5days ago in first time. Very amazing and like,than after i seen 5 times with my family. I think this film better than hum apake he kaun.
      Thanks sharmi for the information.
      Patelharesh_in@yahoo.com
      haresh patel

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  3. Knowing an actor as a child actor first does make a difference! By the time I realised that Sachin had been a child actor, I was already pretty used to seeing him as a hero - DD telecast several of of his hero-films in the 80s. I remember liking Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se quite a bit (it's a Hindi remake of Erich Segal's Love Story), so Sachin as a hero has never been a problem for me. What I am not very fond of is Rajshri's saccharine romances and the very thought of a girl being married off to her sister's husband (yuck!). So I've never tried to watch this. Might give it a try someday - it is available on rajshri.com and I do like the songs.

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  4. @Bollyviewer: What I absolutely liked about this film was the rustic setting. It looks very real :)

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  5. This one was such a sweet film but unfortunately was not such a success at the box office unlike Dulhan Wahi Jo PIya Man Bhaye which stormed the box-office; both were from the Rajashri banner.

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  6. By the way, I do not know whether you know this or not but I will share it with you anyway,Inder Thakur was the son of character actor Hiralal. HIralal was a well-known actor of the fifties and sixties. Inder Thakur tragically passed away along with his pregnant wife and child in the Kanishka air crash. Besides being an actor, he was also a model and flight purser

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  7. @Shilpi: I tried watching Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye but found the hero so repulsive. Will try it some other time.
    Yes Shilpi I did learn about the tragic end of Inder Thakur :(

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  8. I love love love Nadiya Ke Paar :) I had some misgivings about oldies, refused to watch them. Then I saw this movie (without subs too!) and it charmed my socks off :D Now I'm on an oldies marathon and enjoying it immensely, all thanks to Nadiya Ke Paar :) It's so sweet, down to earth and honest. I love that there was no message or social commentary - just ordinary people living in a village. The music was very sweet, and the character development was very believable. I can't recommend this movie enough :)

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  9. Remini: ya this was also quite a find for me. Wonder why Rajshri doesn't make films like this anymore.

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  10. Gr8 Movie!! Seen it more than 100 times...still seems so fresh. I bet it can still run to packed houses in the cow belt.

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  11. @Copyguru: though i'd love to agree with you, i'm afraid the audience of today does not have such great taste!! :(

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  12. really not good it is the best movie forever
    saroj kumar

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  13. @Saroj: Yes it definitely is a wonderful film !

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  14. @Shilpi Bose: Thanks for remembering him... Inder Thakur was my cousin.

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  15. The Movie i liked the most.I have watched it many times n enjoyed >it is all time perfect movie.I'm a Pakistani & appreciate Sadhana,Sachin,Kaka ji from the bottom of my heart.Hats off to you all.

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  16. Beautifully written indeed !
    HAHK is a poor copy of this original and so real looking movie.

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  17. What a movie it is ? How nice in all angles such as editing, photography, songs, dialogues, make-up, screen play, music, direction etc. Whom the credit will go ? I greatly indebted to God by giving an opportunity to watch the movie. I proud some times, that I have born in India in such those memorable,rejoice able movies that it's cherished. Only very bitter/sad thing is that Inder Thakur was no more now who died in that bloody kanishka plane tragedy. pardhu310@gmail.com

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  18. @Ourworlds: Yes, it was indeed a good film!

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  19. I belong to the place where this movie has been shot , inhabited the culture and traditions this film really portray the same... nothing false.

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  20. good time great movie and all natural ..no fighting expoliting and lovely songs..

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  21. this movie is heartful movies bros shooting location is nearly jaunpur

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  22. Excellent movie, can anybody suggests similar movies

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  23. Anyone know this Actress Mitali who played 'Roopa' in this film? Like full name, Which other films she did?

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    1. Nope bro..... I'm also trying to find something

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  24. Someone know about Mitali...... The girl who played the character of Roopa in the movie,Chandan's bhabhi.
    Cuz I can't find anything about her.

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