सिलसिला

I always wanted to watch this movie as i am a huge fan on Amit ji and Rekha ji. Finally watched the movie and here is what I felt.

Amazing movie, great dialogs and amazing poetry, every actor is fantastic. Hate for the character of 'SHOBHA from bottom of my heart!!!

The ENDING makes no sense in present time but yah respect for the boldness of director and writer for creating such an unique story back then.

Honestly I don't like the ending. Its so sad to see such stories where at the end social stereotypes win over human emotions and feelings..

I hate Shobha!!!!!!! She truly is the problem.

For a number of reasons this films stands out among the myriad mass produced Hindi films which the industry turns out. This isn't your average Hindi film for the very simple reason that it deals with a controversial theme - an extra-marital relationship. The script, barring a few flaws, is exceptionally good. The same can be said of the acting. Amitabh is simply brilliant. You cannot see any other actor taking his place. In the beginning of the film he plays the clown. The transformation of his persona in the face of getting married to a woman he does not love, is something only an actor of Amitabh's calibre could have pulled off. His role is central to the film, and it is quite exceptionally played. Then he is once again at his clowning best when he sings Rang Barse in his own voice.

I would have given this film 10 out of 10, if it were not for the ending. You get the impression that the film makers were in a hurry to end the film.

Silsila is a sensitively-made & family-oriented film based on a bold theme of extra-marital relationship - but with twists and surprises (which I've no interest in revealing)!

Even though it did not do well at the Box-office in 1981 we must thank Yash Chopra for a thoughtfully presented film on a sensitive matter. He is a master in making visually-appealing romantic films with lovely locations like the colourful, awe-inspiring Tulip garden in Netherlands for the song Dekha Ek Khwab. Wow! How can we forget that?

We must also thank the Music Directors, Hariprasad Chaurasia and Shivkumar Sharma, & Lyricts, Javed Akhtar, Rajendra Krishnan & Harivansh Rai Bachchan for such soulful, memorable music and songs - which still gives goosebumps while listening. And how can we forget Raang Barsae - the Holi anthem so popular all over Bharat!

NOTE: There was a special appearance by the Music Directors for a few seconds, in an Airport Terminal, nearly 21 minutes into the film. They were in the background talking to each other wearing their traditional dress with Amit ji and Jaya ji in the foreground. Wonder how many have noticed that. I must say I've very, very sharp Eyes since I've not seen their photos anywhere for years! LOL!

But I've a few complaints:

1 - The film is unnecessarily long! 3 hours is too much! It should have been complete in 2 hrs 30 minutes or so. Indian film-makers have the habit of making such unnecessarily lengthy films.

2 - The relationship between Amit-Chandi is not properly portrayed. It's shown in a superficial, "bits and pieces" manner.

Finally, many people are criticising the Climax! They think it's too dramatic and makes things very easy for the Characters! That's true.

But I've a different perception: Sometimes unforeseen "shocks" in life changes our minds for the better. We become more thoughtful, practical and understanding. It liberates us from the slavery of our deep-rooted emotions, fixations & expectations (which are the causes of many miseries/tension in relationships)!

Yes, sometimes we Humans do need some "shocks" in our lives to force us to see things from a better perspective and for the good of others as well.

Please do watch Silsila for its sensitivity, artistry, melodious music and the Climax (which I am sure you will appreciate after reading what I said above).

This film is amazing in so many ways. Acting, chemistry of Rekha and Amitabh, songs and the beautiful scenery. I discovered this film from the song Dekha Ek Khwab, which was also originally mentioned in the Netflix documentary The Romantics. I wonder why the film didn't do well in the box office. The only thing I'm doing to say is that the ending could have been better. Shobhas character is shown to be dependent on Shekhar and marries her younger brother as she is becoming a mother. I feel like this part makes no sense because you should be able to show a woman that she can be independent. And the ending could have been better. Instead of showing Amits character going back to Shobha because she is expecting again, they should have shown that they parted ways and that Amit goes back to Chandni.

After the death of his elder brother, Amit finds out that his late brother's fiancée, Shobha, is pregnant. Taking pity on the devastated young woman, he decides to marry her, leaving behind the love of his life, Chandni. Chandni later marries a famous doctor. An accident during which Shobha loses her child and is taken care of by Chandni's husband, causes Amit and Chandni to meet again. There begins a new extramarital relationship between the two, through which the story deepens and grows.

This is Silsila, Yash Chopra's take on relationships and adultery in a modern 80s India. A romantic drama, it is quiet, serious and focused, and is shot beautifully like every other movie made by Chopra. What I particularly appreciated about this film was the matter-of-factness with which it was made and executed. There was not any overdone melodrama, no unnecessary subplots, and the writing did not go overboard. The story is simple to follow, the script and the characters are very well written, and the film is generally subtly made.

Chopra's portrayal of relationships is very well done. The dialogues are excellent. At times some proceedings were difficult to relate to or identify with, but who knows, maybe one should really be in a particular situation to understand its meaning and its effect on people at times of pressure. This is the reason I believed the story. Leaving the seriousness aside, as a film, Silsila is simply entertaining. It flows well, it is interesting, and is aided by several melodious and memorable songs composed by Shiv-Hari.

Rumour had it that Silsila was based on the true triangular story of Amitabh-Jaya-Rekha. Jaya Bhaduri is Bachchan's real-life wife and Rekha was rumoured to have been involved with him back then in an extramarital affair. This adds to the film's authenticity, but more than anything, the acting is natural to make it work the way it did. Bachchan is as great as always. Jaya Bhaduri is brilliant as his intelligent, sensible and smart wife Shobha, and displays her character's fear, strength and determination with great depth and conviction and as naturally as ever. Rekha gets less scope, yet she is wonderful in her restrained portrayal of Chandni. She is extremely beautiful and acts with grace.

Silsila has some other limited appearances by Shashi Kapoor and Sanjeev Kumar, the former being fine and the latter being exceptional. The main complaint with the film was its ending, but I quite liked it. The viewers must have been torn between two probable versions. The reason behind Amit's decision was a bit unjustifiable, but anyway, this is one of the better and more interesting works of Yash Chopra. It is well written, directed and acted. I recommend.