Amar Prem

The first and the real superstar of Bollywood has passed away. Rajesh Khanna took his last breath in Aashirwaad (his residence) today (18.07.2012). Fondly known as Kaka, Rajesh Khanna commanded an era in Bollywood, a short but unforgettable era during 1969-1971. Just three years ! Yes, but the magic they created lasted forever. It is still there and makes us plunge into nostalgia time and again.

Amar Prem (immortal love) is based on a Bengali story - Nishipadma penned by Bibhuti Bhushan Bandhyopadhyay. It's is the story of Pushpa (Sharmila Tagore) who gets expelled from her Sasuraal (in-law's home) and has to struggle a lot in her life. Finally, she has to take up the profession of a woman who sings privately at her home to entertain the gloomy visitors. She is not a prostitute but this profession is seen by the so-called clean society as a dirty profession only and the women who take to it are seen in a degraded way. The place where Pushpa resides and professes is actually a Kotha, not a brothel. She sells her melodious voice to enable the aggrieved to find solace through that and does not sell her sexual favours as a woman. However the judgmental society is not ready to differentiate between the two.

Among the visitors to Pushpa's Kotha, there's a tender-hearted businessman - Anand Babu (Rajesh Khanna) who is an alcoholic due to the lack of peace in his family life. He and Pushpa comes pretty close in the platonic way. There appears one more source of happiness and enthusiasm in Pushpa's dry life in the form of a little boy Nandu who is the son of her neighbour (Sujit Kumar) and always remains distressed through the bad behaviour of his step-mother (Bindu). He does not stop visiting Pushpa despite being prohibited from his home for that because he is getting motherly love from that lonely woman.

Anand Babu's family's coming to know of his visits to Pushpa and Nandu's family's leaving the place snatch these small joys too from Pushpa and she falls lonely again. However, years later she happens to come across both Anand Babu and adult Nandu (Vinod Mehra) and her loneliness and agony ends at least in the dusk time of her life when Nandu takes her to his home as his mother.

The character of Pushpa is the soul of the movie and the spectator's journey through the entire movie runs alongside her only. Anand Babu's character is not essential for the main story but the thing is that it only infuses the colours of life into the dry narrative. It's through him only that the significance of platonic relationships is underscored emphatically in the movie. Pushpa's agony is felt only in part through herself. Partly, it's conveyed through the character of Anand Babu and that's the beauty of this movie and the relationship between the lead pair. Such relationships cannot be named or explained through words. They can be understood properly only when somebody is able to feel them.

The Bengali society of the period of the story and the status of women has been dealt with quite realistically in the story. And that's why the movie also contains quite impressive and moving sequences. However Shakti Saamanta could not do complete justice to the classic story. This movie could have been much better, had more attention been paid to screenplay and direction. However the day has been saved by performances and music. Let me discuss its music first which contains lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi and tunes composed by R.D. Burman. It contains two memorable songs of Lata Mangeshkar - 1. Raina Beeti Jaaye, Shyam Na Aaye which is based on Raaga Todi and 2. Bada Natkhat Hai Re Krishna Kanhaiya which is touching song filled with motherly love. However the music of this movie is better known for three invaluable gems in the voice of Kishore Kumar - 1. Ye Kya Hua, Kaise Hua, Kab Hua, Kyun Hua, Jab Hua, Tab Hua, Ho Chhodo Ye Na Socho, 2. Chingaari Koi Bhadake To Saawan Usse Bujhaaye, 3. Kuchh To Log Kahenge Logon Ka Kaam Hai Kehna.

Performances are also great. The supporting cast has done well, the child artist playing the role of young Nandu has delivered a heart-conquering performance and Vinod Mehra as adult Nandu is also up to the mark in his cameo. However, it's the lead pair which has taken this movie to the heights greater than it actually deserves. The character of Pushpa is the heart and soul of the story and Sharmila Tagore has delivered one of the best performances of her career in this movie. Her on-screen chemistry with Rajesh Khanna was amazing and that's why she made one of the most popular on-screen pairs with him.

Rajesh Khanna is at his mannerismic best in this movie. His trademark jerk of the neck, peculiar dialogue-delivery, smile, style; everything is present here in the most loud way. And perhaps this was the peak of the success of his gimmicks which could go down only later. Anyway, in this movie, he is just lovable and it's easy to understand why he was so popular. No other actor can be imagined in the unforgettable character of Anand Babu.

This movie is a treat to watch for lovers of golden oldies. Kaka is no more but Anand Babu will live forever. People have said a lot about Kaka's failure in later years but I repeat for the departed soul - Kuchh To Log Kahenge, Logon Ka Kaam Hai Kehna ...

Amar Prem will go down in history as one of the best Indian films ever made. It is superbly directed by Shakti Shamantha (his best effort).

The film takes a look at how society views women who have been forced into the sex trade. Their sensitivities, insecurities etc., are so beautifully touched upon.

The music of the film is by R.D Buraman, a Kaka favorite. All the songs are gems. Specially the "Chingari koi badke" song.

Sharmila tagore has mentioned how Kaka had so masterfully performed in this song in the very limited space they had i.e in a small boat.

It is a lifetime role for sharmila tagore & she makes full use of it. She surely deserved the national award & it is a wonder how she missed it.

The supporting star cast of Madan Puri, Vinod Mehra & Om Prakash are adequate.

Coming to the hero of the film, the eternal superstar Rajesh khanna. He was at his zenith when this film released.

It was reported that when the film crew asked for police permission to shoot the "Chingari koi badke" song near the howrah bridge, the police denied permission stating that they would not be able to control the crowds & that the bridge may collapse. Eventually, the song was shot in a studio set. Such was the popularity Rajesh commanded.

In spite of his super stardom, as is his wont, he did not think twice about accepting this role knowing fully well that this film centers around the heroine. The beauty is he comes out unscathed. He looks handsome in his Bengali dhoti & underplays superbly. The end scenes specially show kaka at his best.

Definitely a film which comes in the top 3 of kaka's films & eternally loved by Rajesh khanna fans.

Watch it over & over again. You will never feel bored.

A real image of the society showed by the director in this movie,Hats off to the plot,not even a single minute bored me,Om Prakash gave a good performance as always,The lyrics and music of all the 6 songs were best,Amar Prem movie makes it place amar in the history of bollywood cinema.

I don't claim to be an expert in Bengali literature (far from it), but I have always found stories coming out of Bengal to be a class apart. The characterization, the depth of the plot, the sincerity of the human emotion in those stories are the among the finest to be found anywhere. Kabuliwala is another such great movie to be based on a Bengali story.

Sharmila Tagore is superb, Vinod Mehra plays the grown up Nandu with great sincerity. Rajesh Khanna lends a lot of credibility to Anand-babu despite having turned a major superstar during the making of this movie. Om Prakash is always a pleasure to watch although his role is very small. R.D.Burman and Kishore Kumar top it all off with the great music!

The poignant story and sarcastic representation of the life and moral values of the sub-continent's red light area is captivatingly pictured in this great movie.

The movie underlines the stark facts that depict how a poor and young woman gets entangled in the evils of prostitution. The viewers are compelled to admit the follies and bitter treatment meted out to an innocent woman who ultimately resorts to find refuge in the filthy side of the world. By, coincidence, the most respected, wealthy and influential elite of the city also finds solace in the company of this woman. But something is common in both, i.e., they have been rejected from their homes and yearn to find shelter (physical for the poor and psychological for the rich).

The song "Chingari Koi Barhke" is a classic masterpiece shrouding the excellent screenplay and cinematography coupled with heartrending acting of Rajesh Khanna who has proved that he is a SUPER STAR given his spellbinding screen presence. His brilliant and mesmerizing acting in the boat in a moonlit night speaks volumes about the subtle imagination of the director. The lyrics and music of this song can reverberate the emotions of even an extremely self centered person. Whenever, one watches this song ......one finds something latently vibrant which stirs deep inside the soul. The trio of Rajesh Khanna, Kishore Kumar and Shakti Samantha supercharged the movie with this magically hypnotic song. THIS IS THE HIGH POINT IN Indian MOVIE MAKING. Believe you me, the direction, music, acting and cinematography in this song is very unlikely to be equaled in near future, given the prevailing temporal, crazy, puerile, showy, cheap, vulgar and synthetic direction, acting and main theme of the movies.

Some of the very subtle and bitter human values and sentiments creep at the climactic end of the movie underlying the quintessential lesson for mankind to "do good and earn virtue".