Waqt

Waqt (1965) : Brief Review -

Yash Chopra reinitiated the "lost and found" formula with an unknown and unintentional anthology. There is a great quote from Charlie Chaplin's masterpiece "Limelight" (1952): "Time is the best author. It always writes the perfect ending." Yash Chopra's Waqt is the cinematic explanation of that quote. By the 60s, the lost and found formula had become old in Bollywood, so the novelty factor wasn't there. Yash Ji realized that and decided to extend the same formula with glitter, glamour, and ensemble cast. Waqt is such a lavish and glamorous film for family melodrama. It begins with a large-scale scene in Lala Kedarnath's family as he celebrates the birthdays of his three sons (on the same day). Ravi and Manna Dey's evergreen number, "Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen," sets the mood for a royal family drama, and then tragedy strikes. Suddenly, that royal film turns into a poor people's drama. It again catches up with the glittering world when the boys grow up, and the narrative forms an unintentional anthology. There are 4 stories running simultaneously, and all are interlinked with each other unknowingly. That seemed like a perfect Bollywood masala classic. Waqt then shifted gears in the last hour and brought thrilling elements like murder and courtroom drama to it, and then ended a 3-hour drama with a happy ending. Yash Chopra brings an ensemble cast that guarantees a sure-shot box office hit, and they all fit in their roles. Except for that one evergreen song in the beginning, no other songs hit the chords. They are shot very beautifully, though. After directing back-to-back social films like Dhool Ka Phool (1959) and Dharmaputra (1961), Yash Chopra finally decided to try his hands at a commercial blockbuster, and he delivered a much bigger hit than those two films. He couldn't surpass the quality, though, and it's a fact. Overall, a very gorgeous drama with many masaledar scenes.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Waqt was a hugely successful film though the story was pretty normal for the sixties.It was the stylish acting of Raaj Kumar which caught the eye.Sunil Dutt and the rest were not far behind.Balraj Sahani was simply perfect.The music and lyrics are outstanding.Before this film Raaj Kumar was not in much demand but Waqt i think was the turning point in his career.With so many good actors/actresses the film creates a very professional and convincing atmosphere.The direction is first-class especially the romantic scenes and songs.The earthquake construction is weak.Also it is unbelievable that Raju fails to recognize his father when he is caught by him running from the law.The end makes up for the flimsy plot but still it seems contrived.This results in a very average film of its period though the style is refreshing and admirable.

Yash Chopra's Waqt is a multi-starred lost-and-found Hindi melodrama. An earthquake destroys the home of a rich trader, and as a result his wife and three sons get separated, with only the youngest son remaining with his mother. But time causes all of them to meet again in some coincidental circumstances. Yes, it looks very typical today but it was one of the first of its sort, and it's thoroughly enjoyable. There are several genres within this one: a drama, a romance, a thriller, a musical, a courtroom drama. From emotions to suspense to music to coincidences to a happy ending, this one has it all, and like most of Yash Chopra's films, it is fun to watch. The film flows brilliantly with all the characters, the situations and the memorable songs, and its multi-starred cast performs well. Balraj Sahni and Achala Sachdev make for a very believable couple. Raaj Kumar gives a great performance and portrays the suave high-class professional thief with elegance and conviction. Sunil Dutt is very good as the humorous and lighthearted Ravi, Sadhana is grace personified as the lovely and beautiful Meena, Sharmila Tagore is likable as the peppy Renu, and Shashi Kapoor is fine as the simple Vijay. Among the songs, "O Meri Zohra Jabeen" and "Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu" are my favourite. It's been 45 years since this film's release, but time does not prevent Waqt from being a wonderful entertainer.

This is an old wine. This movie's story is like a fairy tale.

This movie got everything,eg- drama, tragedy, action, romance etc.

Full on entertaining, nice courtroom drama at the end of the movie.

Waqt is a great from the Venerable Chopra institution when the Banner stood for quality and quality alone. This has an incredible Cast some including Raaj Kumar who had a very distinct style of his own. Sadhana was a cynosure of all eyes a glamor personified. The story is narrated well by Yash Chopra. This movie will remain as one of the best movies of the Sixties. What the current movies lack is the Star power of the movies and when the Producers choose Stars based on talent and not based on Film Fare awards which are not indicative of the real talent since they are fixed to the benefit of few ordained Actors. The intricate Film making technique is lost in the Commercial process.