Katha

This 1983 Naseeruddin Shah- Deepti Naval- Farookh Sheikh starer is a take on the popular children's tale- 'The Hare and the Tortoise'. It is a light-hearted comedy with a simple narrative that shows the daily hustles and bustles of a Mumbai 'chawl', and how the life of the simple- helpful-naive-idealistic Rajaram (Naseeruddin Shah as the Tortoise) changes when the confident-clever-manipulative-complacent Bashu (Farookh Shiekh as the Hare) re-enters his life. The sequence of events brings out a stark contrast between the two characters and how they approach each and every situation and life in general. Very subtly the film also paints a comparative picture between the 'high society' and the 'chawl class people'. The unity that binds the 'chawl' people and the way they enjoy simple joys of life is shown in a very adept manner. Although this is an ensemble cast film, there are almost no sub-plots or distractions and the movie sticks to its core idea. The end is beautifully done and is really thought provoking. The old story has it that the tortoise always wins. But in today's times, as a character rightly sums up- 'yeh jeet bi koi jeet Hui?'

A very little known classic by Sai Paranjpaye movie- this certainly deserves a watch. No big budget- no foreign locales- no big stars- no popular songs- no thrills and action- just a simple engaging story that will make you smile a lot. Farookh Shiekh plays the brat really well and Naseer excels as the simpleton. In a way this a role reversal of sorts as Farookh Sheikh was known to play simple sad characters and Naseer would be thought of as more suitable for what his anti-thesis in the movie is.

For my views on more such lesser known movies from the world of Hindi cinema, do check moviesandnomore. blogspot. com

Good things come to those who wait but by that time all the better stuff is gone. The above quote is so true in concomitant world and the movie too gives the same message quite strongly. The movie is basically a satire on the Rabbit(Farookh) - Tortoise(Naseeruddin) story. Rajaram (Naseeruddin) successfully depicts the tortoise and Basudev (Farookh) doesn't disappoint either. But the real credit for this movie goes to the auteur- Sai Paranjpye. She builds the character so well that the story despite lack of any Indian movie spice flows smoothly. Both the protagonists have done their parts superbly. Rest of caste is used beautifully to develop the two main conflicting characters. In the end the Rabbit migrates and Tortoise wins and our story teller- Daadi Maa says "Ye bhi koi jeet hui bhala" As all tortoise gets is a bouquet of wilted flower (Used metaphorically).

I love this movie and I wish for more similar movies to be made in the future. This movie is worth watching and is so hilarious I simply adore it so much. I love the work of Farooq Shaikh, he is one of my favorite actors.

The natural acting of the actors and the simplicity is what makes this movie worth watching as compare to all the commercial films that are been made today. I will recommend this movie and many more such movies to the audience and encourage the directors to make more meaningful and quality films like Katha rather than making the peppy love stories.

I also recommenced the movie Chashme Buddoor featuring Farooq Shaikh and Deepti Naval which is one more hilarious movie from the same director.

Thumbs up to this movie!!!

The movie brilliantly captures the nuances of Indian middle class in the eighties. After the political turmoil of seventies there was a need to go back to larger issues of our common lives. How should we live together? And how basic human goodness will help us overcome any setback? Rajaram, even though a malleable character, is a true hero. The character is amazingly envisaged by Sai Pranjpe and masterfully depicted by Naseeruddin Shah. I think his agitation on hearing about the need of O -ve blood group for a young boy must go down in the history of Indian cinema as one of the most powerful scenes. His sequences with invalid Bapu are razor sharp, both in conception as well as execution. He will take care of every little need of the week before he lays claim to his right. Self-sacrifice is the hallmark of this unlikely hero of new emerging India. Youcan't miss the fact that Rajaram is modelled on god Rama. Rama is the hero and it's not coincidental that Naseer is Rajaram. Sai Pranjape takes a dig at the ideal man though, who asked his wife to go through a trial by fire. New avatar of Rama goes beyond this qualm. In the same way, Farooq, Vasudev, is modelled on god Krishna. Farooq for me was outstanding. Period. Grreat performance. The way he plays on the insecurities of people is so subtle. Sandhya (Deepti Naval) surrenders it all the moment she's led by Vasudev to say, I'm liberated.

The movie touches on all aspects of life. many layers of man-woman relationship (think about all the different couples in the movie, one by one), social satire (parties, clandestine affairs), celebration of simple life style (parathas, borrowing milk), no glossing over hard realities of our daily lives (water problem and common toilets, for instance). In all this we find life is indeed beautiful. We don't need an overdose of foreign location to be convinced of that fact.

Sai Pranjpe wrote a new epic for the modern India.

Why do all directors have to make an "epic" these days? What happened to the good old 'story telling' without making too much about it? Why no one makes movies like these anymore?

Simply told, it is a story of Rajaram, a modern day tortoise and his friend Basu, a modern day Hare and their race against each other. As the simile suggests, Rajaram is a simple and honest clerk who doesn't let go off any opportunity to help others, even absolute strangers whereas Basu is a smooth talker and a conman who doesn't have any qualms in stealing from his own friend. Even Sandhya, Rajaram's neighbor whom he fancies for a long time gets dazzled by Basu's glitter leaving Rajaram heartbroken. Just like the classic story, will Tortoise win against Hare in these modern times? This is a satire, a tragi-comedy and character analysis at its best.

The movie was actually shot in a chawl and the real residents played their parts as the neighbors of Rajaram and Sandhya. Naseer as Rajaram, Farooq Sheikh as Basu and Deepti Naval as Sandhya fit their parts like hand in a glove. Normally you would expect Naseer to play Basu's role and Farooq to play Rajaram's role but the accomplished actors that they are they disappeared into their characters.

No gimmicks, no technical wizardry, just plain old simple art of story telling.