Satyam Shivam Sundaram: Love Sublime

RK introduces seductive Zeenat Aman in this love story. The central theme of this movie emphasizes the strength of the inner beauty of a person over the external appearances. Shot beautifully around the rural areas of India, this movie was widely recognized for its artistic excellence as well as some soul stirring songs by Lata Mangeshkar.

Satyam Shivam Sundaram is one of Raj Kapoor's iconic pictures. It is an entertaining mainstream film which is very symbolic in the message it tries to convey. The film addresses themes of superstition, social stigma, the discrepancy between physical attraction and pure love, and above-all the deception of beauty. The film tells the story of Roopa, a greatly beautiful young woman half of whose face was burnt and left disfigured when she was a child. It doesn't take away from her charismatic appearance and most of the time she covers her damaged side. Soon she catches the eye of Rajeev, a young man who falls deeply in love with her beauty but never sees her entire face until they are finally married. Soon after marriage, he totally ignores his new bride and flees home to keep his affair with the old Roopa, making both of them lead a sort of double life, which is clearly fake. The only difference between his wife and lover is that side of her face.

Yes, when read this way, the story doesn't seem to ring true and, indeed, even in the film, it could strain credulity. Viewers might wonder how on earth Rajeev does not realise this is the same woman. But the answer is simple as, in my view, he is perfectly aware that both his wife and the 'other woman' he supposedly loves are the same person, he is just in complete denial and not prepared to admit that the woman he loves looks this way. He just lives immersed in his imagination. Even more important, however, is to see the film in the right context. The film is given an aura of a fairytale which is symbolic, forgivable and even appropriate within the story. Obviously, the story is well developed in the hands of Kapoor who gives it a greatly sensual, mystical energy. He really manages to offer a true, critical commentary on our perception of beauty and how deceitful it really is, and how totally it is removed from one's inner feelings.

Kapoor had this amazing ability to combine realism with some elements of fantasy, but more than that, he was one of the few directors who knew how to capture a woman's beauty, sensuous body and raw sexuality, sometimes without revealing much and sometimes by revealing a lot but never in the vulgar sense. Here he does just that as we have a heroine who is half naked throughout and yet never looks cheaply seductive. Still, it was a challenge for any actress in such a conservative society to take up such a role. It was Zeenat Aman who was brave enough to rise to occasion. She might not be an outstanding actress, but she is perfect for the part as hers is a true exotic, sensual appearance which suits the character of Roopa to the T. That she is directed by Kapoor only helps because he is able to make use of her advantages to create a believable character. Her Roopa is modest and decent despite her so-called physical indecency, and very attractive all through.

Shashi Kapoor, the director's younger brother, does fairly well in his part of a seemingly shallow man who lives under the empty illusion that he loves a woman based strictly on her looks, which is clearly not the case. Again, his gullibility is sometimes hard to believe but still he does very well, and it is more due to the script than his acting. The one who actually stays with you after the show is over is Padmini Kohapure, that actress who used to be a wonderfully fresh talent. Her brilliantly raw energy in portraying the young Roopa resonates in mind even when Aman takes her place. She is the epitome of innocence. Another player in the film is without doubt Lata Mangeshkar's divine voice which gives the film its poetic tone and beautifully melodic narrative. With all its pluses, however, Satyam Shivam Sundaram is not the best film you will see. While it does work like a true fairytale, it doesn't totally work as a film and at times loses its focus, but who can ignore Raj Kapoor's cinema - it is nonetheless the best of his later career.

Clearly, a movie much ahead of its time. It starts out with a cheesy commentary about the title (which has been translated into English as "Love Sublime") by the producer/director Raj Kapoor, but turns into a visual treat from then on till the last shot. Movies like these are no longer made in India, this shall remain as one of those movies in the eras gone by. The religious metaphors and sensuality was never before seen in a commercial movie.

Zeenat Aman plays the character of an abused and ugly duckling (a stretch for the former model, Miss Asia, Miss India winner....) quite well. The costumes are amazing in the song "Chanchal Sheetal...", never before had costumes or sets as elaborate or ornate been seen on the Indian movie screen. The temple and waterfall sets were constructed in Raj Kapoor's farm in Chembur and are perfect backdrops for many important scenes. The music and Lata's voice are a perfect enhancement to the rest of the movie.

The lead was initially offered to several major actresses in Bollywood (Shabana, Rekha and Reena Roy) but neither agreed. I just can't imagine anyone else as Rupa, but Zeenat Aman. This movie turned out to be a financial flop for Raj Kapoor and he in turn blamed it on Zeenat. She still walked away the winner because the publicity shots for the movie gave Zeenat Aman's popularity a huge boost. The stills of the movie were pasted throughout the city of Bombay (and I am assuming the rest of India) as well as on magazine covers for years to come. It was perfect PR for her and in the long run, she is remembered for her sensuality in this movie. This movie is much more appreciated among NRI and western circles and to this day holds its own.

Satyam Shivam Sundaram review :

Known mainly for Zeenat Aman's abundant skin exposure, the legendary Raj Kapoors Satyam Shivam Sundaram (SSS) is actually an intense philosophical look at the pristine soul beyond the ordinary body. Raj Saahab explains the theme in the opening scene itself where he talks about faith and devotion in an idol which may appear to be a piece of rock to an atheist.

Some say Raj Kapoor got the idea in the 1950s from his favourite singer Lata Mangeshkar who had a divine voice but was not particularly beautiful face. The basic idea of inner beauty vs physical body stayed with him for decades and finally, in late '70s, he decided to translate his vision on screen.

Surprisingly, Zeenat Aman was not the first choice and Raj Saahab had Hema Malini as well as Vidya Sinha in mind. Zeenat literally grabbed the coveted role by dressing up as the village belle Roopa and directly landing up at RK Studios, Chembur to stun Raj Kapoor who instantly signed her.

Satyam Shivam Sundaram remains Zeenat's career best performance though she got her share of criticism for exposing without any inhibitions. In one scene, her breasts are clearly visible yet the Censors were liberal to pass the film without a single cut.

Shashi Kapoor was earnest as Rajeev, the civil engineer who visits a village on duty and falls in love with a beautiful voice whose face he hasnt seen till he marries her. The girl is Roopa (Zeenat) who had burnt a part of her face in childhood and on seeing her, Rajeev shuns her..

Raj Kapoor's collaboration with Laxmikant Pyarelal yielded some excellent music and the duo won the Filmfare award that year. Radhu Karmakar also took home the best cinematographer award that year.

The social drama was released with lot of fanfare at Mumbai's prestigious Metro Cinema. The star studded premiere at Metro had the entire Kapoor family standing at the entrance welcoming their guests for the evening. The film wasn't a big hit commercially but didn't burn a hole in Raj Saahab's pocket like his magnum opus Mera Naam Joker (1970) did.

Satyam Shivam Sundaram is one of my favorite Raj Kapoor film after Shree 420 (1955) and Mera Naam Joker (1970). Only a legend like him can make such an aesthetic piece of work without stepping the line of vulgarity. Kudos!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

Raj Kapoor the oldest of the Kapoor Clan, had a sublime message in every movie he made and God bless his soul. He made some great movies. The narration by Raj Kapoor (anouther great narrating voice is of Amitab Bachchan,) at the beginning is an enchantingly concise meaning of Satyam (Truth,) Shivam (Godliness,) and Sundaram (Beuty). The Story is poignant but not realistic. Sashi Kapoor, was an accomplished actor and producer on his own-albeit he was not in the same caliber as his older brother. He was more a looker than an actor. He does rise to the occasion as his acting in a few of the wedding scenes. Zeenat Aman, I should say was very bold in accepting this role since it called for few breaking scenes in the Indian Cinema. Raj kapoor, had respect for women more than any Producer of his times and he was very particular in how they were depicted in his movies. He had a sensuous way of relating, but the length of the movie took away much of that sensuality and ended as being overdone and more half-clad than seductive.The dream sequence is visual fantasia and one to be preserved for the latter day producers and art directors.The movie failed because it was too twisted-and repetitive so much so he lost the audience after the wedding.The flood scene is amazingly well shot. This was also the period when he changed his music directors from Shankar-Jaikishan to Laksmikant-Pyarelal-Both great Music teams but there were songs too many. Raj Kapoor believed in giving the audience most for their money-with incredible locations,ornate Sets, elaborate song&dance numbers, but the trusted formula did not work for him in this movie.