Anubhav

Basu Bhattachrya's third directorial venture and coming on the heels of Teesri Kasam, Anubhav is the story of a couple who after six years of marriage are coasting in the comfortable yet staid zone until the wife, Meeta, decides to shake things up. She fires all the household help but one, Hari, played by AK Hangal in a most realistic way as the almost relative yet servant. Things take an interesting turn when an old flame of Meeta's, Shashi, resurfaces and wants a job in the husband Amar's publishing house.

Sanjeev Kumar showed yet again that he is among the best of the best actors of Hindi cinema - I cannot imagine one other actor who would do the role of Amar Sen so perfectly. Tanuja rises to the challenge as Meeta - she is beautiful and infuses Meeta with by turns loneliness, sensuousness, child-like naughtiness and a very adult maturity. Dinesh Thakur played the other man very well - and then did it again and again in films like Rajnigandha.

The movie was path-breaking for its time. It clocked at 2 hours 6 minutes, had the most innovative situations in which music was used, and portrayed reality at every turn - be it drives through the streets of Mumbai or chopping vegetables in a kitchen. Anubhav released in 1971 and Geeta Dutt was gone in 1972. I think this might have been her last stint at playback singing and what a wonderful one it was.

When Shashi gets dropped off at a movie theater it is playing a Sophia Lauren Marcello Mastroianni film but I couldn't catch the name. Anyone know what that film was? Also - in the final moments when Tanuja is trying to tell Sanjeev that he has no need for words - she understands - brilliant!

Anubhav is a drama film by noted director Late Basu Bhattacharya and stars Late Sanjeev Kumar, Tanuja, late A. K. Hangal and Late Dinesh Thakur.

The film displays the relationship between a workaholic husband and his wife and the impact on their relationship when the ex-lover of his wife enters in their life.

I still don't believe why i haven't seen such a beautiful film and why this film is not that famous. The film has everything which a film need. Good story, superb execution, terrific acting and melodious music. The film displays the relationship between a husband and a wife in the most perfect way. The film is very original and is not at all over-dramatic.

Screenplay of the film is slow but gripping and is supported beautifully by melodious music. The best part of the film is as mentioned above is it's originality and very close to the reality.

Acting is superb and everyone is tremendously perfect in the portrayal of their respective characters. The climax of the film is also beautiful. A must watch film.

This is the first of Basu Chaterjee's trilogy on a husband-wife relationship. It tells the story of a middle class woman played by Tanuja who marries a rich man played by Sanjeev Kumar. He is a workholic husband who is interested in money and his career. He has no time for her. One day her old boy-friend (Dinesh Thakur) comes to town and gets a job as her husbands secretary. This makes her uncomfortable. She feels that because her husband is ignoring her she might get attracted to her old boy-friend again. When the fact that Dinesh is here old boy friend comes to light there is a rift between Sanjeev and Tanuja. But Dinesh quits the job and leaves thier lives. Sanjeev realises he must not ignore his wife.

What I like about the movie is the ending scene. The movie ends with the last radio announcement for the day

On the flipside the movie is rather complex to understand. Some of the dialouges are too complicated to comprehend.

Overall it is one of the finest film of Bhattacharya. It had won the best story award in 1972

Warning : This movie is not for mare entertainment so if you are looking for fun and action forget it but other than that this movie is a great experience. Listen carefully to the lyrics if all the songs, they say it all. The secrets to a good marriage are hidden in the story. And who said Rajesh Khanna was only a chocolate hero?

Anubhav is a simple look at a complex relationship between a workaholic husband and a frustrated wife. Bhattacharya wonderfully directs this movie with minimum but effective use of music, interesting supporting characters, background music, sound effect (the ticking clock) and longshots. I loved the few songs (that include two of Geeta Dutt's beautiful songs and an intense Rabindra Sangeet). The use of long shots and closeups is very impressive as it gives the house a spacious but lonely feeling. The ticking clock furthermore stresses on Meeta's loneliness and passage of time (because you don't notice much of time when you're focused on something or having a good time). After all, in a 'lifeless' house, all you hear is a ticking clock.

Amar (Sanjeev Kumar) and Meeta (Tanuja) are a seemingly happily married couple. However during their 6 years of marriage Amar became more career focused while his frustrated wife yearns for his affection and attention. After Meeta confronts Amar with this matter Amar realizes his mistake and the two of them 'reconcile'. Things go well until Shashi, (Meeta's ex-lover) makes an unexpected entry into their lives. Amar and Meeta's marriage is put to test.

Anubhav is an example of cinema at its simplest form and yet it brilliantly presents the complex subject of marriage. Bhattacharya uses simple props as a symbol (e.g. the ticking clock, the radio). Moreover he stays focused on the main story. Both Tanuja and Sanjeev Kumar are excellent fits for their roles. There is an undeniable chemistry. Sanjeev Kumar is among the finest actors of Indian cinema and he plays Amar very naturally. A lesser actress could have easily messed up Meeta's role but Tanuja knows her craft too well (even though she remains underrated).

'Anubhav' remains an underrated gem of a movie. Bhattacharya's other films have received more recognition and the same can be said of Sanjeev Kumar. Amidst, those successful films, 'Anubhav' struggled to get well noticed but I'm glad that I finally saw it and own it. Strongly recommended.