Man, woman and doctor (Dil Ek Mandir)

It's not for nothing that Raj Kumar received a Best Supporting Actor Filmfare award for his portrayal of Ram in C V Sridhar's emotional drama Dil Ek Mandir. For, here is a man who despite being diagnosed with lung cancer and waiting on the brink of desolation and doom, is buoyant, pragmatic and jocund all the time. He is not afraid of death and he has no qualms in securing a stable and safe future for his wife after his death. He relaxes the tension in the plot with his amiable repartee and is a foil to the otherwise morose and dejected doctor who is suffering from the pangs of unrequited love. If you ask me, Ram is one of the main reasons why I was able to complete the film.

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Only for Amiran (Umrao Jaan)

The last time I met Meera Ali, and that would be about fours years ago, I kept singing praises about her husband's landmark film. The elegant personality that she is, Meera took my childish prattle rather sportingly and invited me to her house in Mumbai where I could meet Muzaffar Ali. Elated at the offer, I hardly gave enough attention to her new collection of weaves and clothes, which she was showcasing in Kolkata for the first time. Mind you, I was yet to see Umrao Jaan then.

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Escapist ending (Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai)

Not fair. I'm not convinced with the climax of Kishore Sahu's Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai. This 1960 triangular love story (produced by Kamal Amrohi) finishes in a rather tame fashion. Without any procrastination, the director conveniently bumps off the wife so that the sweethearts can continue their life in bliss! So, does Sahu mean to say that it is absolutely normal to harbour romantic thoughts for a woman who is not your wife? That ignoring your wife can never be too bad? This romantic drama is not devoid of flaws...

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