Abhimaan

Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Abhimaan is a beautiful story involving many aspects of marriage, success and competition between close and related. When it happens between a husband and his wife, it's evident that it's gonna be a troubled relationship. In short, Amitabh Bachchan is a popular singer who falls for and marries a young and talented girl who can also sing. Post marriage, she finds her own success as a singer and soon surpasses his own. And that's when the problems begin. These problems are called envy, pride, ego (or hurt thereof), anger, and the destructive results of such feelings.

This is quite reflective of the real state of these artists at that point of time. While Amitabh was still struggling to pave his way to the top, Jaya was already a leading lady. Amitabh is excellent in his performance and brings forth the character's feelings effectively. He is quite tailor made for such roles, which are not overblown and are far more demanding and impressive than the AYM (angry young man) roles he would later play. But the real winner is Jaya, who is wonderfully understated. She is first a bubbly young girl, then a shy newly-married bride, then a successful yet humble artist, then a woman who intelligently understands her husband's feelings and despair and takes a firm decision, then a suffering wife who bears the brunt of her husband's envy and anger. She goes through it all, and blows it out of the park every time out by just living her character's struggle. An unusually different performance it must be noted comes from the part of Bindu, whose character is surprisingly warmhearted and lovely.

Abhimaan is a fine movie of 1973, and the way it was made, treated by the filmmaker and acted, makes it a must-watch for every cine-goer. It is only two hours long, an exception in Hindi cinema and as expected by a great director like Mukherjee, whose films are always realistic and balanced, never goes overboard.

This is a lovely little movie with really strong performances by Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri and the rest of the cast. It's about love, envy and understanding the dynamics of a relationship.

The film is beautifully and minimally directed, and the music is also lovely - my favourite is 'Bindiya'. The movie moves at a very nice pace, and the chemistry between Bachchan and Bhaduri is excellent and compelling. I understand this film was made around the time of their marriage, and it shows. They are adorable as a young couple in love who are torn apart by the vagaries of fame and success.

Jaya Bhaduri's subtle but comprehensive performance in this film is wonderful - for me, she is the star of this movie - the way she expresses herself with her eyes is powerful. Amitabh Bachchan supports her excellently with a nuanced and understated portrayal of his tragic character. Asrani is good too, I love the scene where he shows her the 'chhoti chhoti' socks.

I love the ending of this movie... redemption and rediscovery is so sweet! A satisfying and mature Bollywood movie.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee made his best movies with Amitabh and this is one of the best of the best. Though many would think that this is a remake of the movie A STAR ID BORN (and is does look like it), it is actually based on the life of the genius Kishore Kumar and his first wife, the mother of singer Amit Kumar. Kishore was offered the leading role first but things didn't work out so it eventually went to AB. The very last scene of the movie where Amitabh and Jaya walk out of the auditorium was actually filmed the day both of them got married anbd went out of the hall. The song TERE MERE MILAN KI JEH RAINA has an extra version a capella in the movie which is not available on the soundtrack. A gem

Abhimaan is a tale of how "music" brings two singers (amitabh and jaya) together; how it creates disharmony in their marital life and drives them apart; and finally how the same music reunites them.

Excellent performances by Amitabh and Jaya. Asrani, A. K. Hangal, Durga Khote and Bindu as supporting casts have acted very well.

S. D. Burman's music direction is excellent, both background score and songs (all time hits). Very rarely one gets to see a Hindi movie like Abhimaan with background score at appropriate places.

Hrishikesh Mukerjee has directed the movie very well. An example is how he takes the story forward through direction of just one song (Ab tho hai tumse, kudos to S.D. Burman too). He also brings in social issues such as tax evasion, commercialization of music etc. without diverging from the main story line.

I finished watching Abhimaan 15 minutes ago.I just loved this movie.Amitabh and Jaya share an envious chemistry in the flick and it does wonders to what the film tried depicting.Hrishikesh Mukherjee was one of the best directors around that time,and this is one of his gems and a milestone in Indian cinema.This is a movie that people won't get tired watching even half a century after it was been made,because the issues that Hrishikesh Da tackled in his movies were very a part of an Indian middle-class society and they still do prevail.

Watch this movie to feel the warmth of good film-making. Hrishikesh Mukherjee leaves the audience in tears in the end,as he never gets tired of doing that.Wonderful,and lovely!