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Saturday 31 December 2011

Shocked to silence (Gazal)

Everything was running just about fine. A charming romance set in old-world Agra nourished by the beauty of Taj Mahal, sublime songs that connect to your heart directly, able actors who know what exactly to do on screen and a very likeable plot. But suddenly out of nowhere, a stray incident that Ved Madan considers imperative to take his story forward completely throws everything out of control. Especially when the event appears forced and uncalled for. Till then Gazal was doing fine. And the songs were seriously soothing the senses.

What do I say about this 1964 romance? It stars some of my favourite actors. Meena Kumari may be bloated and nearing her 'downward' phase, but she delivers a sweetly naughty performance. Sunil is dapper and dashing as the atheist poet. Rehman is cunning and opportunistic, like always, Prithviraj Kapoor hollers but is otherwise a flamboyant old nawab. Nazima is chirpy and cute. And interestingly, Rajindernath dons a likeable and matured role of a doctor, devoid of his usual nonsensical histrionics. In terms of casting I must give credit to the makers.
Though the story is a tad slow and jumpy in parts, every blooper is balanced with the help of the splendid ghazals set to tune by Madan Mohan. The story by Agha Jani Kashmiri however, should have had more meat.
Ejaz (Sunil Dutt) is the editor of Inquilaab, a modern day youth pamphlet that popularises modern day issues, politics and tales of bravado. Ejaz is an atheist and carries himself with a hearty swagger not bothering that his non-religiousness might upset the fundamentalists in Agra's conservative Islamic society. He does what he believes in and also enjoys his kind of poetry when he is not editing write-ups for his pamphlet.
One day while on a sojourn he overhears a ghazal rendition by the most sweetest voice he has ever heard and is struck by the mellifluous quality of the voice. Seriously, Naghma o sehar ki saughaat kise pesh karoon pierces the soul with its ethereal charm. The beautiful poetry by Sahir Ludhianvi is brought to live my Madan Mohan's music and Lata Mangeshkar's rendition. And to top that you have the gorgeous Meena Kumari brightening up the screen lip-syncing the song. Like us, Ejaz is also affected by the song and its singer. He launches a hunt to learn whoever is the singer and publishes the couplets in his pamphlet to grab the attention of the singer.
He also sings the same song in an informal poetry convention where the original singer is present and takes note of this. Her curiosity is piqued and she wants to know who is this man who has the gall to sing her poetry in front of so many people and the indecency to call them his own. It happens that this singer is Naaz Ara Begum (Meena Kumari), the daughter of Nawab Bakar Ali Khan (Prithviraj Kapoor), a rich and respected gentleman in Agra. He also has a son called Dr Mehmood Ali Khan.
Initially incensed at her poetry being published in Inquilaab, Naaz plans to teach Ejaz a lesson. She plays a naughty trick on him, he is hurt but keeps quiet and vows to love her forever. Naaz is touched by his sensitivity and falls in love with him in turn. In the meantime we have some stunning ghazals like Dil khush hain aaj unse (Mohd Rafi's romantic interludes are tingling for sure) and Unse nazrein mili (Asha Bhonsle's rendition is so frothy and bright). But the best one is Mujhey yeh phool na de (a killer duet by Rafi and Suman Kalyanpur). It's sensitive, emotional, picturesque and excruciatingly romantic. Meena Kumari and Sunil Dutt look so much in love with each other here. They are acknowledging their love for each other. When they look into each other's eyes, you know that this is true love. This ghazal is top class sweet seduction.
But the halcyon ambiance ends when Bakar Ali Khan stumbles across his daughter romancing Ejaz in his own garden. He vows to kill Ejaz and goes to do it with two loaded rifles. Hyperventilating at her father's thundering rage, Naaz goes to stop her father but the shock muffles her voice and we do not get to hear Naaz's intoxicating voice anymore. This is where the film starts falling.
After a funny deciding round that features the old, somewhat eccentric, nawab, Ejaz, and Akhtar Nawab (Naaz's cousin who wants to get hitched to her), Bakar Ali decides that Ejaz is the best bet for his darling daughter. But lo! Now Naaz doesn't want to marry Ejaz. She does not want to be a subject of pity for Ejaz and most importantly doesn't want to marry him as a mute woman because she believes it was her voice that first pulled him towards her. Wonder whether they ever heard of medical practitioners!!
Naaz writes a letter to her devastated father that such attacks have been happening to her since childhood but she just kept mum about it. WHY??? If she has reported it, such a deplorable situation would not have arrived today, I say.
Ejaz is crushed when he learns that Naaz doesn't want to marry him and a twisted move convinces him that she wants to marry Akhtar Nawab. On the day of the said marriage, Ejaz cries out his sorrows with a lyrical Rang aur noor ki baarat and as expected Naaz gets her voice back!! So, you can guess now what happens...
Sunil Dutt is remarkable in the film as a young and handsome poet who has a no-holds barred approach to life. He makes it quite known that instead of spending days in fasts and rituals it's better to go about doing your work and 'eating'. And when it comes to romance, he wears his heart on his sleeves. He is passionate, sensitive and oh-so-romantic. Those sherwanis just heighten his manliness. And Mohd Rafi's voice adds oodles to his charm.
Meena Kumari is no more the Meena Kumari of yore but she has her moments. Her eyes are still magical and her histrionics are wonderful. Only if they gave her a more author-backed role. I loved her pranks in the film. And when she sings those songs, she sings them with her heart. Especially in the song, Mujhey yeh phool na de, whoever wouldn't believe that these two are not in love. Bur sadly, the bloated Meena Kumari looks a tad older than Sunil Dutt. Sadly...
I wonder why Agha Jani Kashmiri twisted the story to such a melodramatic level. Wonder why he didn't use the wicked wizardry of Rehman to give the plot a more convincing twist? I guess instead of taking Naaz's voice away, if he would have toyed with the idea of Rehman playing dirty tricks to get the woman it would have been more plausible. However, laurels to him for giving us a movie where chaste Urdu is glorified. What a gorgeous language! Anyways, watch Gazal. This is one film that demands celebration for its sublime music, its heart-stopping songs. And do have a splendid New Year...

24 comments:

  1. Sharmi, I loved, loved, loved the songs of this film! I would place this as one of Madan Mohan's most popular scores - he had the misfortune to have scored some wonderful music for films that flopped miserably.

    Of the many songs, Rang aur noor ki baraat is my favourite (though I cannot say that the sequence is).

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  2. Like Anu, I love the songs of Ghazal too - and, anyway, since I like Muslim socials, this was on my list of must-watch films. Now I'm not so sure... that plot twist sounds really weird and totally unnecessary.

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  3. I think the idea was to remove her voice which was what attracted Sunil Dutt at first. It was kind of a 'test' I thought- of a love which, as you say was too good to be believable.

    I didn't mind this melodramatic turn in the film. It's clichèd of course, like crippling a dancer or an athlete. Or a labourer losing his arm etc etc.

    I thought the reason for the onset of these attacks was pretty believable with a father so loud/dominating, and bordering on violence.
    Chidhood trauma is normally never discussed by a child. It seems they disappeared till she was a youing girl and faced the father's wrath once again, that too targeted at the man she loved.

    In short, my interpretation makes it all acceptable. LOL!!!

    pacifist

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  4. @Anu: My favourite is Mujhey yeh phool na de... Sublime :)

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  5. @Dustedoff: Try it once Madhu. Maybe just for the songs :)

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  6. @PAcifist: Woah never though it this way. But you make it sound credible!!

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  7. @pacifist - interpreted your way, it makes everything so sensible and believable! LOL. Considering I live in the US where everything is blamed on childhood trauma, I should have thought of that myself. (*Disgusted with self!*)

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  8. @Anu
    :-D

    pacifist

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  9. Now that pacifist has explained it all so brilliantly, I think I just might watch it after all! Thank you, pacifist. :-)

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  10. @Sharmi: Happy birthday! Have a lovely day, and a great year ahead. :-)

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  11. @Pacifist: Anu sure hit the nail on the head!!

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  12. @Dustedoff: Yes do try. Even if you do not like anything you'll love the songs... and Sunil Dutt :)

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  13. @Dustedoff: Thank you so much Madhu :) SO sweet of you :)

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  14. Happy Birthday Sharmi!!
    Born on 1st January!!!! Interesting fact :)

    Anu, DO, I'm biting my nails in sheer nervousness in case you both still find the film's premise unacceptable, and bang my virtual head with a club in exasperation.

    Anu, they don't blame aything on childhood trauma in the film. What I meant to say was that it happened in her childhood that she lost her voice in sheer fright due to a traumatic experience, so it was more or less a thing that became a symptom of fear.
    pacifist

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  15. @ pacifist, don't worry -I'm quite sure I'll like it. I have a great capacity for pure masala. Remember I'm the one who can take three separated-at-birth-brothers giving blood intravenously *at the same time* to their mother in AAA! :)

    And no, I didn't think they blamed it on childhood trauma in the film. I just agreed with you that that is a possible explanation. :) What I meant to say was that everything is blamed on CT in the US, so I should have thought of that explanation myself.

    And now, I'm sure I have made everything more complicated than it should be. LOL

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  16. pps: Belated Happy Birthday, Sharmi. Hope you have a great, great year.

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  17. @Pacifist: Not first, but second. Thank yo so much.

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  18. @Anu: Complicated or not, the increasing number of comments is just thrilling me!!

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  19. @Anu: Thank you Anu. So sweet of you :)

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  20. @Sharmi: I listened to and watched the songs of Gazal many times but never watched the movie. It definitely seems to be worth watching in spite of the unneeded twist. Thanks for a great review. Awaiting more such reviews in the new year. Happy New Year!

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  21. @Sreenath: Happy New Year to you too. Yes, I'm also looking forward to wactching many more good films and writing about them here. Just that my work keeps me so busy :( Anyways, cheers to 2012.

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  22. I havent seen this movie but love the songs! And Sunil Dutt!!! *Sigh*
    Happy Belated Birthday!!! And wish you a very happy new year. Have a wonderful year ahead.

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  23. @Sunheriyaadein: Thank you Archana. You have a splendid year too :)

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