Kabuliwala

This is a Hindi language film starring Balraj Sahni based on the poet Rabindranath Tagore's story with the same name.

The family is about a dry fruit seller's friendship and close bond with one of his customer's child. The street seller is from far away Afghanistan and is here in Bharat to make ends meet. But it's been years and he's not seen his daughter left behind. The young child reminds him of her. Tragedy strikes and circumstances put him in jail. How things turn out in the end forms the crux of the film's message.

Of how bonds of love transcend time and blood relations. Of the hardships that people world over go through, forcing them to be away from ones they love in order to make a living. Living a life of longing actually.

This film will stay with you. There is also a very good remake in the Netflix web series recently on Short stories by Rabindranath Tagore.

Balraj Sahni's performance is so realistic that you'd still remember him as the Kabuliwala. And the haunting song "Ae Mere Pyaare Watan" is played in channels even today.

Ditto the comments in the previous review.

The film was made in commemoration of some anniversary (the precise one escapes me), and is made unlike the usual Bollywood movies. It has a lot of sensitive moments, such before leaving his home, Khan takes a print of his daughter's palms on a piece of paper, and keeps that close to him.

The songs are very moving, and excellently composed by Salil Choudhury. Both "aye mere pyaare watan", and "aaye kahaan se, gangaa, jaaye kahaare" are wonderful pieces with deep philosophical undertones.

I find the last scene particularly touching. This is when Khan gets out the prison, and comes to see Mini one last time, before perhaps returning to his native land. Mini is all grown up, and is about to be married. She doesn't remember him. This hurts Khan tremendously, because he then suddenly realizes that his little girl whom he left back home, most likely has no memory of him. Nothing is said outright, but you can see all this portrayed by Balraj Sahni, without saying a word.

Unfortunately or fortunately I haven't read neither the original/translated timeless classic of Gurudev Rabindranth Tagore, nor seen the early Bengali version of the film prior to watching this Bimal Roy production inspired by tremendous success of Tapan Sinha's Bengali film by the same name, starring Bengali cinema's thespian like Chhabi Biswas . The Bengali film managed to grab National Best Film Award four years prior this one. I spark of though clicks in mind to read the story prior to watch the film but than I decided not to ruin the benefit of poor reader and decided to read it once I finish the film.

The result was a film that was as commercially and critically acclaimed. I leave further analysis, comments comparisons between the films to few Bengali cinephile buddies. But for me director Hemen Gupta and Mr. Balraj Sahni as Kabuliwala (in one of the most moving performance of his career) successfully brought the essence and soulful emotions of Tagore's timeless tale on screen with few changes in original story and adding one or two interpolations to highlight the key relationship. Both of them deserve applause and award. The first person narrative by Mini's father in the story is replaced here with linear and straight narration showing us the homeland and Pathan's tender relationship with his daughter Amina to cater then audience. But what is praiseworthy thing about direction and acting from almost all cast is that it never for single scene becomes unnatural or over sentimental melodrama. Thanks to doyen like Mr. Sahni and that sweet girl who played Mini. The film evokes and makes us felt even smaller details of the story on screen in so moving way.

I said it many times and would love to repeat once again without an iota of change that if I have to chose a single genuine Hindi film actor devoid of any theatricality or camera consciousness, seems so natural and realistic in his act on screen, it's Mr. Balraj Sahni. Though he didn't get more versatile roles, whatever he has done in 'Do Bigha Zameen', 'Garm Hawa' and 'Anuradha' is something unparalleled to Indian cinema Though a few glitches like his messy Pathan make up, stretching two songs towards the climax including Mini's dream sequence and that added unwanted scene of Pathan's saving the girl; the film is deeply moving experience that tugs at audience's hearts making us felt the eternal worth of the visionary's literature.

No actor in the history of hindi cinema has or will be able to do what Balraj sahani did in this movie of course the credit goes the Director, the story writer, screenplay and the Producer. What amazes me is the intelligence of casting Balraj sahani and him doing total justice to the character. Sahani's personality was some one who is soft gentle man type it's so surprising that he pulled the role of afghan pathan who have the image a kind of rough personality and totally from different country and back ground. Every single minute details of a pathan personality if the viewers watch the movie carefully is intelligently and beautifully presented.. Many scenes are captured so intelligently with out dialogue Or trying to explain the character but viewers can understand what the director and the actor want us to know about pasthun tribe. One scene when people run seeing Sahani in market shows the tough personality majority of pasthun have, the opening scenes shows the deep love he has for his daughter but still to repay a small loan he leaves his daughter and migrate to other country only because he has committed to his friend that he will be repay his loan that too a small amount he could have easily refused it shows how much value the pasthuns give to commitment, one scene where public try to assault him mistaking him to be a kidnapper he later says he can take care of all of them alone but he does not want to create scene and scare the child shows no matter they have tough personality but also soft at heart. In other scene they are sharing room are uneducated calculate money by using small stones but are so closely bonded with each other not worried that the other will steal his money, the climax scene captures the honesty ge could have easily lied but he doesn't even though he was not wrong. There are so so many scenes which makes you wonder if the writer has done some serious study on pasthuns.

The way Sahani potrayed this character no other actor in Indian cinema has done so far and I don't think any actor can do. Balraj sahani will be & should be remembered for this role. If you have not watched this movie till now kindly watch it and enjoy the magic of the director and Balraj sahab.

writing this review only because its sad to see that so few people have rated this and written about it.i watched GARM HAWA of balraj sahni and found him as a phenomenal actor but after watching this movie i rate him on the very top of bollywood,even above likes of Dilip kumar and Amitabh bacchan.cried while watching a movie after a long time.song AE MERE PYARE WATAN is widely acclaimed but alesser known song GANGA is also beautiful.this movie will make you think of the time when inspite af all the cultural and religious differences India was united and carried it beautifully.its sad now we have lost that unity somewhere and instead of love our hearts are now filled with hatred thanks to politics.watch it for its message,beauty,acting,story and music.don't miss this please.