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Friday 3 December 2010

What's stopping the two? (Saraswatichandra)

It's very difficult for me to accept an ending that looks absolutely redundant. I end up feeling why couldn't the director be more brave and experimentative. Why couldn't he marry off a widow to her true sweetheart? Why does he have to depict her accepting her sad fate and the decisions of a taboo-ridden society? And, why on earth does he have to make the lead character procrastinate so much??? Questions, questions, questions...

There is many a time during the running of Govind Saraiya's Saraswatichandra that I feel that at last the erudite lead and Kumud will be united. In fact, there are plenty of reasons for this. But Hindi cinema has hardly ever been straightforward and easy. The writer will definitely discover twists that suddenly look too necessary for the plot to go on. In this 1968 film's case, Saraswatichandra's (I'll call him Chandra) father and vile stepmother come into the way of his happiness.
The film starts cleverly. Instead of stretching the length of the film with the depiction of incidents that lead to Chandra's indifferent upbringing, an anthem-ish song narrates his misfortunes. He is brought up under the 'neglect' of his stepmother and thus feels more comfortable serving society. This love for service does not foster in him an urge for domesticity. Even though he is engaged to a beautiful woman called Kumud, Chandra reverts awkwardly when she sends him his first love letter. This is the first sign for me. A man who takes time to realise what love is and react to his carnal desires will only have to wait endlessly for conjugal bliss.
The high point of the much-awaited union of Saraswati and Kumud is the song Chandan sa badan, a fantastically sensual number, depicting the true intensity of Chandra's love and attraction for Kumud. What a wonderful way of starting a song! Kumud's dupatta is teasingly held by Chandra and she, swept with shyness, submerges herself in the lotus pond. It's as if she is trying to pacify the flames of her youthful desires in the serenity of the water. A mellow yet sensuous song that only clarifies the intense attraction between the two young lovers. And, surprisingly Mukesh's rendition is quite magical!
With so much love Chandra just waits for his nuptials to take place. The listless lover is too joyous to notice that his evil stepmother is instigating his father against him. But then, if I may ask, why does Chandra have to abdicate everything and leave? He should have stood his ground and recognised his duties towards his beloved. But then, what would have happened of this tale if he would have done so...
Kumud gets married to Pramad (Ramesh Deo), a drunk debauchee who is also illiterate. Not the prefect partner she would like to have. The story starts dragging from here. The girl who forced the staunch Chandra to feel her love loses her spunk after marriage. But then, she is sad and is resigned to her fate. She has to suffer because Chandra and the society wronged her. I'd preferred if she would faced her wrong husband like a tigress instead of grovelling before him. There are times when she is shown to browse through the letters that Chandra wrote to her. It is only later when Chandra comes to see how she is in her in-laws' house, that she burns them. She should have done that before. Why remember and respect a man who left her for all the silly reasons. Not convincing at all. The film is replete with more such inane errors.
There are numerous occasions when  Kumud and Chandra could have united. Also, there are times when Chandra tries to convince Kumud that they are destined to be together. And, when Kumud's subconscious actually accepts Chandra as her lover and the only man who she can love, I start crossing my fingers. I want them to get married. I want the taboos broken, I want the untried tried and I want a happy ending. I also nod in acquiescence when Kumud's guardians want her to be happy with Chandra. With so much working for the lead pair, why on earth does everything go wrong?
Why couldn't Kumud take care of her infant brother-in-law as Chandra's wife? Why wasn't she brave enough to listen to the call of her heart? Why did she have to resign to what the society decided for her? And, why spoil three lives when two people could seriously have been very happy?  
Saraswatichandra is a safe social drama that should have been christened Kumud, keeping in mind the actions of this girl. After all, when the end credits roll, everyone is lauding her sacrifice and the accomplishment of her duties. So, why on earth is the film dedicated to the man in her life?
I'm not convinced by the film. I know it is a safe bet, but I was expecting a different romance that would stay on with me. I wanted a unique ending, something that would leave an indelible mark. Something that would make Nutan as sparkling as she was in her other films.
Here, I'd like to add that Nutan hardly looked as charming. Right, it was 1968. But, the lens makes her look too old and jaded. She looks heavy in the Garba number, Main toh bhool chali babul ka des and not quite lovely in her rendition of Chandan sa badan. I'm used to a more beautiful Nutan.
I am new to Manish. So, all that I can say is that he was a bit stiff. He looks good but requires more finesse in those emotional scenes. His character is one of restraint. He was remarkable in the romantic number and I'd have really loved him without his hideous wig.
The high point of this last black and white film is the music. Kalyanji Anandji's score is stunning. All the songs stand out. Especially Phool tumhe bheja hain khat mein and Chandan sa badan, the latter a sensual number that is gorgeous, strong and extremely beautiful... It momentarily lifts the film to an ecstatic high, only to fall soon after...

21 comments:

  1. "why couldn't the director be more brave and experimentative. Why couldn't he marry off a widow to her true sweetheart? Why does he have to depict her accepting her sad fate and the decisions of a taboo-ridden society?"

    There is a one word answer to all your whys - Nutan! Post-Bandini, all she ever did onscreen was suffer, sacrifice and worship her tormentors. I know Meena Kumari is the one more famous for this, but Nutan is an unsung hero in this context. Her films post-mid-60s are horrendously regressive "family dramas" with her playing the "good" woman whose goodness goes to ridiculous lengths.

    By the way, Chandan sa badan is sung by Mukesh, not Rafi. As far as I know, Rafi has no songs in the entire soundtrack.

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  2. Hi! I am back finally!
    and I totally agree with you. I bought this movie coz of Nutan and haven't bothered with it since first viewing. Its ending is seriously Ludicruous.. I mean everything could have been Okay.. but na... the director is too lame to show a widow re-marriage onscreen! (I mean, it couldn't have been a first!)It left me in a bad mood.. and I somehow couldn't pluck the courage to watch it again.. even if I am in a Nutan-ised mood! :P
    But yes, coz its a Nutan movie, I can't dismiss her though the role IS a bit regressive.

    and yeah.. I do love all its songs.. esply "main to bhool chali..." and "phool tumhein bheja hai...". And I think Mukesh's version of "Chandan Sa Badan... " (Its not Rafi sahab) is anytime better than Lata's, both in rendition as well as visually.'

    It could have been a much better film, if given to a courageous director- writer.

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  3. I haven't got around to seeing this yet, though it's been on my to-watch list for a while, mainly because of the songs: superb score, there! But reading your review of it has only strengthened my resolve - created this morning, after I read Yves's review of Saraswatichandra - to give it a miss. Weepy Nutan (yes, bollyviewer: I agree with you completely - she's as much tragedy queen as Meena Kumari, if not more) isn't my cup of tea!

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  4. Sharmi,
    Well here I am. I don't know whether actors in India have (or had) a say as to what the film would be, its atmosphere, its plot etc. But as far as I'm concerned, an actor does what the film-maker wants him to do, that is, once he or she has accepted to be part of the film.
    So if Nutan was OK with the role, you could criticise her for having accepted the role, but the style and genre of the movie belong to the director and also in part to the novelist (Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi).
    In this perspective, then, the film is a meditation on the values of traditional marriage rules. The question to be asked is: does the movie succeed in showing their worth, despite everything we might feel today (after 42 years of modernity)?
    I have the impression there is still something to be said for those marriage and widowhood traditions. This is said not forgetting the alienating realities which women have had to face because of these same traditions, don't get me wrong. But should they be completely trampled and disregarded (even today) without any concern? I believe the film helps approach the question.
    cheers

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  5. @Bollyviewer: Oh yes, how could I make that mistake. I think my head was a bit too swayed by the lame ending. I've made the corrections. Thanks :)
    Regarding Nutan, I don't mind seeing her in a sad role, provided her sadness is justified. But here, she had every reason to be happy but just stuck to her Bharatiya Nari persona for no good. And that angered me !! :(

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  6. @Punya: Welcome back Punya. In case you are in a Nutanised mood, watch Seema. You'll get to see a fresh and young Nutan in an awesome role. In this I seriously feel she looks old and jaded. :(

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  7. @Dustedoff: Me too. I much perfer her in her chanrming roles in Anari, Tere Gharke Saamne and Seema. I saw Basant yesterday, but was a bit disapointed. And, I will write a post onn why that was the case.

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  8. @Yves: I am ready to consider your take Yves. Only that I so wanted a happy ending that I was praying that Kumud decides against the traditions of society. :)

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  9. I was a kid when I saw this film and I found it terrible and Manish in a dubbed voice, well not at all appealing because the person dubbing for him was radio compere who had an expressionless way of delivering the dialogues and as you pointed Manish himself was also stiff.

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  10. @Shilpi: Yes, I too thought that it was not Manish's own voice. In the same way as i found that Suchitra Sen's voice was not her own in Bombai ka Babu. And yes, this film required someone else, not Manish :(

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  11. The answer to all your whys... plain and simple - because it's based on a book.
    I sincerely wish someone writes a post where they write that Paro and Devdas should have gotten together at the end of the film. Sounds stupid, right?
    Yeah, because you don't do that. Artistic license my ass... you don't mess with the classics!

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  12. @Janki: I guess then the book was also a drab read... :(

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  13. The book was published in 1916.
    Do you expect sita to fight against her exile in Ramayana?

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  14. Anonymous, Sita did not fight, because there is no point in continuing to be with a man who cannot stand up beside you against the world.

    As much as I love the old classics, I'm tired of how beholden we are to the same old ideals and values in our current society...

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    1. yes ..you are right.when I am a kid ,I used to feel a lot when I watch any movie on Ramayana at the end when sita will go along with her mother by leaving her kids and rama.But now I am understading that she is a women with self respect and no meaning in staying with a man we left her alone when she need the whole family(particulary her husband) by her side.Now I love the character of sita because she is such a dedicated human being and her self respect and way she deals with the situation and duty as a mother touches my heart.

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  15. What you think the ending of the movie should be and how the characters should have behaved, is the essence and purpose of this movie/story. The author has truly depicted the prevailing society and the beliefs of the time. If he showed it otherwise, he would not have been honest and there was no reason to tell the story .The underlying message is the sadness and anger the reader/viewer feels. Hence the purpose of the story is vindicated.

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  16. Where is the lead actor Manish? What he is doing now? Any information on this actor?

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  17. Hey guys,
    I am new here. While searching about actor Manish, stumbled upon this blog and though I have read your older posts, I read this and well the movie depicted the society at that time. Bollywood movies have always followed trends (just like feminism today) hence your question that why the director wasn't brave enough..answers this.

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