Junoon

"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.

Javed Khan is a reckless feudal chieftain who falls in love with a British girl named Ruth amidst the Indian Rebellion of 1857, a period marked by the massacre of British people. Javed offers shelter to Ruth's family and asks for her hand in marriage. However, her mother sets a condition: she will only consent if the locals completely defeat the British, as she does not wish for him to marry her daughter. The movie primarily revolves around Javed's reckless desire to marry Ruth and defeat the British armies.

The film's key strengths include the collaborative performance of its cast, a thrilling first half, sharp editing, appealing cinematography, excellent production design, authentic costume design, well-executed action sequences, and evocative music.

Shashi Kapoor, as Javed, was committed to his character and delivered a decent performance. Nafisa Ali, the star of the film, looks incredibly appealing and acts competently in her British character, effectively conveying both appearance and body language. Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah also performed well in their roles, though their performances were generally subtle and lacked their usual acting prowess. Another key player is Jennifer Kendal, famously known as Shashi Kapoor's wife, but few realize what a brilliant actress she was. Her calm and well-managed acting was a treat to watch, especially when she was paired opposite her real-life husband. Additionally, impressive performances by Sushma Seth, Deepti Naval, and Ismat Chughtai significantly elevated the storyline.

The film's pacing is inconsistent, at times appropriate and at others quite slow. Shyam Benegal skillfully builds tension and handles the action sequences effectively. The plot is engaging, logical, and explores a different theme compared to other films made in the same era. While the dialogues were natural, they sometimes lacked significant impact on the narrative. Ruth's character development is captivating, though her sudden change in behavior can be confusing. The climax is unpredictable and sad, yet it feels abrupt and lacked the profound tragic impact it intended. Perhaps this is due to Ruth and Javed's relationship resembling an extramarital affair, or possibly Shyam Benegal's unconventional presentation of the climax.

The cinematography of 'Junoon' (1978) consistently employs natural lighting to create a realistic and often atmospheric visual experience, utilizing wide shots for grand landscapes and close-ups for emotional intimacy; this is arguably the film's strongest attribute. The production design meticulously recreates historical Indian settings, from sprawling outdoor estates and natural terrains to traditional courtyard homes and fortified structures, significantly enhancing the film's period authenticity. Costumes are historically accurate, featuring traditional Indian attire and military uniforms that distinctly reflect the film's setting and character roles. Makeup generally appears naturalistic and subtle, supporting the period realism and allowing for genuine emotional expression. A smash cut with a strong contrast edit further elevates the film's editing. The action sequences, particularly the cavalry and cannon sequences, are electrifying. Together, these elements collaborate to create a cohesive and immersive visual narrative, effectively transporting the audience to the historical world of 'Junoon'.

The music by Vanraj Bhatia is easily recognizable for his characteristic Hindustani classical touch. However, the songs themselves had minimal impact on the film, except for one played in the background during the climax. The remaining songs felt somewhat out of place and lacked his signature flair. On the other hand, the background score effectively maintained the film's intensity. The sound design is acceptable but could have been improved. Overall, the music played a relatively minor role in the film's impact.

While primarily a historical genre film, 'Junoon' deeply explores the theme of an individual's obsession with unattainable desires, which ultimately leads to widespread destruction.

In conclusion, 'Junoon' is an intense historical drama film, representing a commendable effort by Shyam Benegal, and it can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

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.

This movie is a beautiful love story and portrays the feudal life style of the landed aristocracy in North India, particularly in the Awadh region (around Lucknow), a major centre of the 1857 war of independence. Also, IMHO, Javed Khan (Shashi Kapoor)has already seen Ruth, even before the Church massacre (remember the first scene- Ruth notices someone standing outside the house).

Interesting trivia from the movie:

Ruth's grandma is played by Ismat Chughtai, one of the foremost progressive Urdu writers of the last century.

Ruth was played by Nafisa Ali, who had been crowned Miss India in 1977 or 1978 (?). This was her last movie till she appeared in the 2000 movie 'Major Saab' with Amitabh Bacchan (Amitabh's wife).

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.