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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 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.

The story of Waqt is pretty standard: an earthquake separates the members of a wealthy family with three sons, who are brought up as a result in separate and quite different circumstances. Eventually, of course, the family is reunited, but not before variuous twists and turns culminating in the three brothers appearing in court in connection with the trial for murder of one brother, with the other brothers being the defence counsel and a witness for the prosecution, respectively. Pretty standard stuff - but stylishly presented and with strong performances,particularly by Sadhan as the love interest of one of the brothers, and Sunil Dutt as the lawyer brother. Nice stuff, great music, lavish sets, and a pretty cool courtroom denouement!

Waqt is Yash Chopra's third film and the first colour film he directed after Dhool Ka Phool(1959) and Dharmputra(1961) which released in 1965.It was one of the first multi-star cast films of Hindi cinema.Yashji had initially thought of casting Prithviraj Kapoor and his three sons Raj,Shammi, and Shashi Kapoor.But with the exception of Shashiji,he replaced the others with Balraj Sahni,Raaj Kumar and Sunil Dutt, who I feel are a better choice for the roles though Prithviji,Rajji and Shammiji are also good actors.

Waqt according to me is Yash Chopra's best film out of the 22 films he has directed.Not just that,I also consider it to be the best Hindi film ever made till now.Waqt is the story of a wealthy trader Lala Kedarnath(Balraj Sahni),his wife Lakshmi(Achala Sachdev) and their three sons Raju(Raaj Kumar),Bablu(Sunil Dutt) and Mannu(Shashi Kapoor).Destiny plays a very cruel game with them.Their lives are shattered and their close knit family is now separated.They all grow up and now all of their lives are changed.All the players of the game are back on the field of life and will have to face each other now after about 2 decades.The paths of their lives get interconnected.But,this time the game is not cruel,though has difficult situations for its players.This is "Waqt" (time) playing a game with them.The same destiny that separated them earlier brings them together now.

Waqt is a scintillating dramatic experience of love,bonding, togetherness,separation and family values.This was also one of the first Hindi films to be made on the lost and found formula which was first seen in the Ashok Kumar-Mumtaz Shanti starrer Kismet(1948).There are no caricaturish villains,silly comedians or scheming vamps in this film.All the characters are believable and relatable.The direction by Yashji is top notch.The music by Ravi is excellent with some heart-rending melodies.The lyrics,writing,cinematography,editing,art direction are also worth mentioning.

The performance of the cast that includes Balraj Sahni,Achala Sachdev,Raaj Kumar,Rehman,Leela Chitnis,Sunil Dutt,Sadhana,Manmohan Krishna,Surendra Nath,Sumati Gupte,Hari Shivdasani,Shashi Kapoor,Sharmila Tagore,Madan Puri,Jeevan,Motilal,Shashikala and others is brilliant and all of them are worth mentioning.But,Raaj Kumar stands out with his excellent acting and dialogue delivery.Last but not the least the dialogues written by Akhtar-ul-Imaan are superb and very memorable.Easily one of the best dialogues written for any film. He definitely deserves a special mention.These dialogues have been re- used and re-interpreted in many films to come in the future.

On the overall, WAQT makes for a very interesting and engrossing watch.We move with "WAQT".

Watching 'Waqy' was like making a pleasant visit to yesteryear's cinema. One wonders how Yash Chopra put it all together as it includes a stellar cast, wonderful music and engaging plot. Not only did he direct, he was responsible for other crew-work like choreography. even though the screenplay isn't original today, it was path-breaking at its time and it finely balances, comedy, drama, romance, hardship, music and suspense through coincidences. It is 'Waqt' that becomes a reference source for all of Chopra's future films e.g. Rani Mukherjee's rookie lawyer in 'Veer Zaara' parallel's Sunil Dutt's, Rekha (Silsila), Sridevi (Chandni), Preity (Veer Zaara) and pretty much every heroine in Chopra's films parallel Sadhana's grace and Juhi's (Darr) and Sridevi's (Lamhe) chirpiness parallel Sharmila's Renu.

Chopra does lightly tackle some issues such as coincidences, living in the present etc but 'Waqt' is an entertaining film, not one that will make you pick your brain. Though it is predictable, it remains enjoyable. Chopra had the three Kapoors (Raj, Shammi and Shashi) in mind to play the 3 brothers but (thankfully) he opted for Raaj Kumar and Sunil Dutt to play the elder brothers. The three brothers are different from one another. The eldest one is a charming and elegant thief, the younger one is an energetic hyperactive lawyer and the youngest one is a calm introvert. Raaj Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shashi Kapoor fit their parts brilliantly. This is one of Raaj Kumar's best performances. Dutt and Kapoor are already known as fine actors. Sadhana brings grace and the actress has a delightful screen presence. A cute and chirpy Sharmila Tagore brings a smile and the voluptuous Shashikala makes a brief appearance too. Achala Sachdev is a complete natural and she shows the transition in her character with ease. Mr. Chinoy was made for Rehman and lastly, what would 'Waqt' be without Balraj Sahni? The actor just makes the cast complete.

'O Meri Zohra Jabeen' might be the most memorable track but the other songs are just as beautiful thanks to the magical voices of Asha Bhosle and Mahinder Kapoor. All have been wonderfully shot. I particularly liked the way Asha Bhosle's cabaret number 'Aage Bhi Jaane' was shot.

This is one evergreen classic that I've already watched numerous times. And, I haven't tired myself of it.