Anupama

I had really fond memories of this film but on revisiting it I was actually taken aback at how many problems it had.

The bad: 1. Shashikala played a most exaggerated character and got annoying after a while, plus she acted 18-20 years old and was clearly an older woman.

2. The story was melodramatic and exaggerated.

The good: 1. It is a Hrishikesh Mukherjee film - loaded with pluses.

2.Sharmila was awesome as Uma - the traumatized silent girl; she was beautiful and extremely competent at showing emotions without words.

3.Dharam was best in the idealist roles. Here he is just so good - often seen in a singlet with holes, and never stylish but always full of his own inimitable style.

4. Tarun Bise, David, Deven Varma all did a good job.

5. The music was fantastic - Bheegi Bheegi fiza, Yaa dil ki suno duniya waalon, Aisi bhi baatein.

On balance a good film, watchable for the lead pair, the songs, but surprisingly not one of the best from the maestro.

Anupama (1966) : Brief Review -

Hrishikesh Mukherjee's attempt to make "Bimal Roy Cinema" as a tribute. Anupama, widely known as Hrishikesh Mukherjee's one of the Greatest Achievement is sort of Bimal Roy Cinema and to confirm it there is tagline at the beginning, "Dedicated to Bimal da". Anupama has soul connected to a Woman's strained life just like Bimal Roy films had but Hrishi da makes it more of a love story than a social topic. In Anuradha he gives tribute to all Women who have sacrificed their everything to make men successful and so it became universal concept but that's not the case here for Anupama. The film is about a girl whose mother immediately after her birth so the Father blames her for this loss and even the girl starts believing it as her own fault. Then finally sunshine called Love comes into her life and encourages her to Live incomparably. Anupama has many emotional moments where you can't hold your tears, one is when you realise her pain, another one when Dharmendra sings painful poem. In climax it feels like film misses something, don't know what exactly, may be Father-daughter final face off or acknowledgement or maybe social message. Otherwise it is a very good emotional drama keeping all qualities upto the mark. Sharmila Tagore is fantastic in this shy yet full of life role, Dharmendra shines as a poet and a man with principles, Shashikala is in top form in her favourite zone of chatterbox and free minded girl. Dialogues writing is are pure class, i don't see nothing wrong about it rather many dialogues are overwhelming and ahead of time. Hrishikesh Mukherjee's direction is nice, he covered all elements with his intelligence. The shortcomings are unacceptable though. Anupama should have had more appealing social issue and then it would have left stronger impact.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest

I believe that calling this movie a tear-jerker does not do justice to it -- this is world class cinema at its finest that sensitively portrays a range of human emotions. Certainly the interaction between father and daughter towards the end comprise the most poignant scenes in this movie, and they have been both written and picturized in a manner that is deeply touching.

Although the movie takes its own time to develop the characters thoroughly and although you wouldn't expect anything less from Hrishikesh Mukherjee in that regard, I did feel that the movie could have been shortened a little bit. Also, Shashikala's role seemed a little exaggerated.

In general, the movie is a gem and I wish viewers all over the world could be introduced to such Hindi classics for a true appreciation of the range of "Bollywood" movies over the years.

Anupama always do overacting. I didn't like the series.

Anupama ( Rupa Ganguly is superb for her acting ) but Director and story writer are forgetting one basic thing that they are portraying Anupama as a weak docile, self respect less woman who is bent upon accepting any degree of humiliation in marriage and after divorce too.

Leela is Gandhari of president times who ignored her sons grave crimes of ditching his wife in marriage and even after divorce, credits all crime of son to Anupama. Leela could accept Kavya , a flower pot, in her family but not Anupama in spite of using her full time 24x7 unpaid maid who can't even ask for self respect.

It's a story highly decorating negative characters like Vanraj , Kavya, Leela and Toshu. All of these are selfish of the highest order. I don't understand what this serial wants to give to the society, a healthy entertainment or a wrong message ?

Hasmukh is another Dhritraashtra or Bhishma of Mahabharat who never took any decision, and rather believed in auto decisions . He could never control his son or wife who continued torturing Anupama for 26 years in marriage and even after divorce. Such persons are more injurious to society.

I personally do not like Glorification of negativity in life .

The serial as far as acting of actor / actresses is doing well but story is Hopeless and unrealistic.

No woman in 2020/21 would like to live with sautan in the same house.

Any disease if not treated in time , like arrogance of Vanraj or Leela or Kavya, is going to become Cancer .

Anuj Kapadia, is doing well and knows how to give check mate to Vanraj and Kavya and lesson to Anupama in a single move.