Sangam

Who can forget "Dost Dost Na Raha," Bol Radha Bol Sangam Hoga Ke Nahin," "O Mere Sanam, O Mere Sanam" and "Mein Kya Karron Ram Mujhe Budha Milgaya" all excellent, meaningful songs with so much emotion from the playback singers, Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Mohd. Rafi, Mahendra Kapoor and Hemant Kumar with "I Love You." Sunder, an illiterate and poor boy, Gopal, rich and a millionaire's son and Radha, also from a rich family, are childhood friends and play games together but Gopal and Radha, oblivious to Sunder, love each other until one day he sees them playing a game in which Gopal purchases a toy House for Radha. He's furious and decides to purchase a toy aircraft in which he promises Radha that he will show her the world. After a while Radha tries to make him realise that she doesn't love him - but he's still oblivious to this and in turn gets hurt by and decides to join the air force. In the meantime, Radha and Gopal's parents decide that its time for their spouses to get married.

Raj Kapoor's "Sangam," which was first released in the mid 1960's changed Hindi cinema. Not was it only one of the first Hindi films in a long time to be produced in colour after Mehboob Khan's "Aan," but it was also filmed in places like France and Switzerland. This was also one of the first love - triangle stories. The music by Shankar - Jaikishen is still memorable today as are all the songs in the movie. The acting by the three - Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayantimala, is also superb and involves a lot of expressions and emotions. There have been a lot of love - triangle stories after this but not one of them have match it. This is definitely one film that can be viewed over and over again. The other actor who does make a brief appearance in the film is Raj Kapoor's eldest son, Randhir Kapoor, father of Karishma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor.

For a matter of interest, the late Raj Kapoor and the late Rajendra Kumar were good friends, not just on screen, but of it as well. Rajendra Kumar's son, Kumar Gaurav, whose first film was "Love Story," was engaged to Raj Kapoor's daughter but the engagement broke and he married Namrata Dutt - daughter of actor Sunil Dutt and Nargis, whose son is Sanjay Dutt, famous for his roles in "Munnabhai M.B.B.S" and "Lage Raho Munnabhai." Nargis, as an actress, had also worked with the late Raj Kapoor in movies like "Barsaat", "Awara", "Aah", "Aag" and "Shree 420." The pair made such a good couple on the screen that there were rumours of them being romantically involved. Today, Raj Kapoor's grandson, Ranbir, son of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, has made his debut in Sanjay Leela Bansali's "Saawariya" and has also said to have kept his name as "Ranbir Raj Kapoor."

When I first saw Sangam back in 1965 on its initial release in Malaysia, I was a young boy whose deep impressions of the film was the lady in a white sari. I saw it again in 1974 on its re release. For the second viewing, it was the music and the songs. Unfortunately I had seen "Bobby" by then and thought all the three leads looked far too matured for the "teenage" and "young" characters they were playing on screen. But that was the trend of those bygone days when older actors played younger roles. It is rare for any musical that every single tune is as enduring to the ears as in Sangam. Only "My Fair Lady' "The Sound Of Music" and "Bobby" (1973) comes to mind. Since then with the convenience of television and now the DVD I had seen watched it once every few years and I revisited the film again last night. The male bonding and the sacrifice of Rajendra Kumar is very Asian and may well be on its way to be extinct. This sense of Asian obligation and moral value was and to some extend still is prevalent is a sense of maintaining a status quo and not rock the boat in a bad situation for want of not turning it worse. It is not a wrong or right decision. Everything that needs to be said about the acting, about the cinematography and its importance in Hindi cinema by taking the musical numbers out of the studios to exotic locations has been elaborated in these pages. What strikes me is the way in which Raj Kapoor with the use of music and only three principal characters hold our attention for more than three hours. All other characters appear briefly solely for narrative development. Although it is not a masterpiece, it is an enduring example of a simple love story (which has been done a million times over); with its chemistry between the characters and its music does not seem dated and still shine above others more than 40 years after its premier.

A very stretched film, still makes compulsive watching. Beautiful songs, beautiful cinematography and very beautiful colours. And of course, the beautiful Vyjayantimala. With only three principal characters moving on screen, the director in Raj Kapoor still manages to avoid boredom with amazing skill. Hats off to him.

Sangam (1964) : Brief Review -

A certified Blockbuster in confluce of True Friendship and Love Triangle. Sangam was the 2nd biggest Hit of the 60s decade after Legendary 'Mughal E Azam' and reasons could be so many. It came exactly on time when audience was ready to see sacrifices done in a Love Story/triangle post Eternal Love Saga in Magnus Opus Mughale E Azam. Also, the cast of Sangam looks terrific with Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar and Vaijayantimala coming together. Sangam is story of 2 close friends falling in love with the same girl. One friend has to sacrifice his love and then shadow of doubt post Marriage follows subsequently to make one of them to sacrifice again. Raj Kapoor as Sunder looks damn too handsome and performs well. Rajendra Kumar gets to play more emotional part and his role surely works close to heart. Vaijayantimala sizzles hot in the Red Bikini scene and then in white saree throughout the film. Her fairy looks and black eyes does trick therefore making her expressions talk more than words. Music of Sangam is nothing less than a Chartbuster Album with timeless magic. 'Bol Radha Bol', 'Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega', 'Dost Dost Na Raha' and 'Yeh Mera Prempatra' these 4 songs were Super Hits and are evergreen. The length of Sangam sound like a problem. The film is produced, edired and directed by Raj Kapoor so he could be blamed for that. I am not saying it's damn too lengthy or boring but in long runtime of 229 Minutes almost 30 minutes shot in Foreign Countries doesn't really seem necessary. May be Raj Kapoor wanted to show exotic and expresive Locations to Bollywood audience but if not that then it was useless i say. Raj Kapoor as Director can never fail even if he has typical storyline he will surely find a way to make it look different and more attractive with his directing skills. It was actually very close to 'Andaz' (1949) starring Raj Kapoor again but the conflicts and relationship between characters were far different. Andaz had a noir touch in the climax whereas Sangam has emotional ending. Overall, Sangam is a certified blockbuster product and if length is not an issue for you then you will have so many things to enjoy such as Friendship, Love Triangle, Importance of Marriage, Sacrifice and evergreen Music.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest

The story is a little contrived and the acting melodramatic, but the songs make the movie. The songs are really very well situated amidst the beautiful and breathtaking scenery. Vyjantimala's spontaneous dance in the European hotel has never really been successfully duplicated in Indian cinema. It is a classic that was shot in one take I believe. The songs are really and truly memorable and are still heard today in the collections of Mukesh. Also, Raj Kapoor's acting was so effortless and natural in the boat scene where he captures Vyjanitmala and pulls her into his boat. The song is Mehbooba and is terrific. Another excellent song is Mere Prem Patra and the location shot is absolutely stunning and very colorful.