Junoon

Junoon is a 1978 Hindi feature film directed by Shyam Benegal and produced by Shashi Kapoor. Junoon is a lost gem that deserves more attention than it has received over the last three decades. Based on a novel by Ruskin Bond, Junoon presents the haunting tale of love, obsession, jingoism and death set around the Indian Mutiny of 1857. The movie underlines the atrocities of war while simultaneously trying to grapple with various social, moral and political issues. Junoon's ensemble star cast includes Jennifer Kendal, Shabana Azmi, Nafisa Ali, Naseeruddin Shah, and Shashi Kapoor.

Shyam Benegal and team need to be applauded for bringing Ruskin Bond's poignant tale to life. The movie's attention to period detail is immaculate. Benegal also succeeds in eliciting strong performances from all his actors. While the movie's real highlight is Shashi Kapoor's breathtaking performance, it would be unjust to overlook the other performances. The cinematography speaks for itself: the vivid and powerful images enrich the movie with an element of realism which woos the viewers into believing as if they are part of the history. The history unfolds with a subtle element of drama that keeps monotony at bay, also ensures that it doesn't become melodramatic.

Benegal, by the virtue of his groundbreaking cinematic works in the '70s and the '80s, rightfully established himself as the undisputed heir to the legacy of great Indian auteurs whose works paved the way for a new movement in Indian cinema during the late '40s to the '60s, popularly known as Indian New Wave/Parallel Cinema. Benegal's first four films created a strong buzz among the Indian film aficionados and that's what brought him in contact with Shashi Kapoor who went on to back his next two projects: Junoon and Kalyug.

Shashi Kapoor is breathtaking to watch in the lead role of a love-struck feudal chieftain, Javed Khan, who falls for a young British girl. This, in my opinion, also happens to be Kapoor's best performance ever. What makes the portrayal special is its deceptive simplicity. It may be a cinch to play a madman but it's exceedingly challenging to play a role that lies mid-way between sanity and madness. An actor is required to muster all his talent to bring such a complex caricature to life and that's exactly where Kapoor triumphs as he effortlessly goes through a gamut of emotions during the portrayal.

Junoon is a cinematic epic which serves as a powerful eye-opener for the contemporary Indian filmmakers who, blinded by the glitz and glamour of Bollywood, seem to lack both the ideas and the resolve needed to make great cinema. A major area where the movie scores heavily is in its balanced use of visuals and dialogues. Junoon is a great means to get acquainted with classic Indian cinema and a must watch for anyone who admires topnotch world cinema. 9/10

A more in-depth review can be read at:

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Review By Kamal K

Junoon, produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Shyam Benegal, is based on Ruskin Bond's "A Flight of Pigeons"

The story is set during the first War of Independence - 1857. During the tumultous and bloody rebellion the British are attacked everywhere. An English mother and daughter, who are on the run, are secretly sheltered by an Indian Nawab whose relatives are fighting against the British. The much married Nawab is besotted by the young girl, but the untrusting mother is against the relationship.

Shashi Kapoor as the obsessive Nawab, Naseeruddin Shah as the fanatic and emotional brother-in-law, Shabhana Azmi as the silently suffering wife, Jeniffer Kendall as the wary mother and Nafisa Ali as the young girl leave a lasting impact.

There is an underlying tension that is maintained throughout this movie which keeps you on the edge. There needs to be a special mention of Govind Nihalani's captivating cinematography which adds to the entire atmosphere.

Adapted from Ruskin Bond's novel, Flight of the Pigeons, is a story about a Pathan,Javed Khan (played by Shashi Kapoor),who is an imposing, proud man rendered feeble by his obsession. The movie is set in the 1857 mutiny where amidst all the bloodshed and atrocities, the only thing Javed Khan can think of is Ruth Labadoor, played by Nafisa Ali(although he is married to Firdaus,played by Shabana Azmi). It shows the tussle between Javed's obsession and pride. On one hand he wants Ruth but on another his nobility doesn't allows him to use force. Ruth's mother Miriam is unrelenting, eventually; the two strike a peculiar, yet greatly symbolic bargain "Dilli apki toh Ruth bhi aapki". Director Shyam Benegal, assisted by ace co-writers (dialogue by Satyadev Dubey and Ismat Chugtai), created overwhelmingly powerful film.Junoon is a beautiful, sad and compelling film.

I've seen this movie twice, and liked it even better the second time. Right from the title scene of the crazy-looking "pir", the atmosphere created is gripping and unforgettable.

The events of 1857 were shocking in their violence, and neither the British nor the rebels showed themselves to be very honorable. The word "junoon" (obsession) connotes a tinge of madness, and that kind of madness is a very appropriate way to view the period. The "love story" is also suffused with the same out-of-control emotion. (Also, only a crazy man would want to leave Shabana Azmi for another woman, even one as gorgeous as the young Nafisa Ali!) Shyam Benegal has made a masterpiece that captures that feeling visually.

Now, if only they would convert this film to DVD, I would buy it in a second.

"That Pathan, he's looking at me."

"Junoon" means obsession and this is exactly what was portrayed in this movie. Based on the book, "The Flight of The Pigeons," which is based during the "Great Indian Mutiny" of 1857 and the aftermath, this shows of what really had happened in terms of the setting of the background - the mutiny and the aftermath. The mutiny now has been considered to be the first Indian war of independence, Javed Khan, a Pathan, comes into the town that he lives and sees a man making a prophecy of what is to come but en route to his house he sees an English girl, Ruth and becomes obsessed with her to such an extend that he keeps on staring at her whenever he sees her. This naturally frightens her and she informs her father about this. He tells her to ignore. But in the meantime, Ruth's grandmother, who is an Indian, is informed by their servant that he thinks that no one should go to church the next day as he has heard there will be a raid by the mutineers. But this is ignored and Ruth and her father go to church the next day and get involved in a blood bath that follows.

Adopted and Directed by Shyam Benegal, written and based on the book by Ruskin Bond and produced by Shashi Kapoor, this is a well researched based story, which shows the brutality of the soldiers of the British East India Company and of those who fought against them. The movie consists of a superb cast: Shashi Kapoor, Jennifer Kendal, Shabana Azmi, Tom Alter, Benjamin Gilani, Kunal Kapoor, Karan Kapoor, Pearl Padamsee, Geoffrey Kendal, Sanjana Kapoor, Khulbhushan Kharbanda and Naseerudin Shah. The movie is in Urdu, which is similar to Hindi, and in English.

"Junoon" brings out the real meaning of the word "obsession" which is mixed in with violence and historical background. This is a movie that is worthwhile watching. The song that is most enchanting is the one at the beginning.