Anita

Illogical suspense, useless songs after every 10 minutes. Avoid the movie.

Director Raj Khosla made three suspense movies consecutively during the sixties casting Saadhna in the female lead. The specialty of these three movies is that in all of them, the plot is based on the mysterious personality of a woman. Hence Saadhna's role is not just to fill the heroine's space in these movies, hers is the pivotal wheel of the story. These three movies are - Woh Kaun Thi (1964), Mera Saaya (1966) and Anita (1967). Since I have reviewed the first two, I feel, I should review the last part of this trilogy too.

As the title itself is after the name of the lead (female) character, the whole story is based on her personality only. Anita (Saadhna) is the daughter of a businessman and is in love with a salaried ordinary person, Neeraj (Manoj Kumar). She first almost drags him to marry her in a hurry but backs out at the last moment. Neeraj comes to know that she is going to marry another person. Heartbroken, he gets himself transferred to another place and moves out of Anita's town. However, an apprehensive letter from Anita brings him back only to know that she has committed suicide. His heart is not ready to believe it. Further he happens to get a glimpse of her at places. And upon inquiring, different people say different things to him about her. Ultimately he is able to find her as well as unravel the truth behind her activities.

The story apparently is quite interesting and seems to have been written in the hangover of Woh Kaun Thi, the first part of this trilogy. However, the weak script is the biggest minus point of this movie. Whatever the director could do, he has done with all his abilities (and he seems to be overwhelmed by Saadhna's gorgeous personality, of course). But when the script is not good, direction itself cannot help much. That's the case with Anita. That's why the revelation in the climax is not very impressive and convincing. Due to the shortage of interesting twists and events in the story, the comedy track of two private detectives have been given undue footage which bores. The opening scene is interest-provoking but the writers could not link it to the main story later on, hence it loses its shine.

Still, the movie scores though it lags behind its predecessor, Woh Kaun Thi in quality of entertainment. Mainly, the charming personality of Saadhna and her chemistry with Manoj Kumar keep the interest alive till the climax. Saadhna has carried this movie on her shoulders and made it worth a watch. Manoj Kumar has not been a great actor but he has not disappointed. All others have supported the lead-pair satisfactorily. In fact, their romance has been handled very well on the screen and it's a plus point of the movie.

But the biggest plus point of the movie is music. Laxmikant Pyarelal have composed some heart-winning songs for this movie. Mukesh's classic song - Tum Bin Jeevan Kaise Beeta, Poochho Mere Dil Se is undoubtedly the best song. Gore Gore Chaand Se Mukh Par Kaali Kaali Aankhen Hain (Mukesh), Main Dekhun Jis Or Sakhi Ri Saamne Mere Saanwariya (Lata) and Kareeb Aa Ye Nazar Phir Mile Mile Na Mile (Lata) are other good songs which we can listen to any number of times and in fact, they help the thin storyline to move forward. The songs have been shot and choreographed very well.

Cinematography is quite good. The era of colour movies had started by then and the makers have used the best stuff. Hence this movie is an eye-soothing experience. Not only we can feel Saadhna's beauty in that time while watching the movie now, after more than two decades but otherwise also, the movie appears to be a visual treat, courtesy its bright colours and beautiful scenes. Production value is high. Raj Khosla's efficient direction has given the movie an attractive look but editing should have been better and the movie should have been shortened.

Saadhna's famous hairdo has been given a new look in the initial reels of the movie. She is the heart and soul of this not-so-great suspense movie which can be watched for herself as well as the songs. Overall speaking, it is an entertaining suspense movie. A good one time watch.

Must watch scene - (ye nahi dekha to kuch nahi dekha) How much pagal.. Very much pagal.. How much very much pagal.. Very much very much pagal..

You pagal me pagal

Obsession can be self destructive. And Raj Khosla's third film of the Vertigo inspiration series proves that. Anita follows the template used in Woh Kaun Thi (1964). By the time he transports the formula to Mera Saya (1966), it is already stale. He desperately tries to close the gap by a climax that makes little sense.

Woh Kaun Thi and Mera Saya were bearable. If not for anything else, for the brilliant music, especially in the former. One would never tire of listening to the Lata Mangeshkar - Madan Mohan combo, especially if the theme of the film is woven around tragedy and the supernatural. And Woh Kaun Thi has brilliant songs by Asha as well. As does Mera Saya.

Anita keeps hitting you against multiple stories cut short by multiple characters who are forced into the film without any rhyme or reason. It is difficult to keep awake for the parts that have Kishen Mehta, one of the most incompetant actors ever to grace the Indian screen. Manoj Kumar seems at sea, he is happy when is supposed to be sad and sad when he should be thinking. Johar and Dhumal are wasted. And terrible. I kept on thinking - what are they doing in the film. Especially Johar. What was his role all about? No, not even Khosla was sure.

Raj Khosla was a talented director and he made some excellent thriller films in his prime, such as Mera Saaya and Woh Kaun Thi. Anita is one of them, and it is indeed a highly enjoyable movie filled with mystery and suspense. The movie starts on a rather light romantic note and it is later when things start looking unpredictable and confusing, slowly creating a twisted, chilling tale. One thing about those classic thriller movies I like is the fact that the suspense never came at the expense of other Hindi movie ingredients, and yet they always were successfully thrilling and interesting, never losing their effect.

The movie stars the beautiful Sadhana in the title role of Anita, and she effectively plays her role even though the story is not even seen through her perspective. Manoj Kumar here is like Sunil Dutt in Mera Saaya, playing a young tormented and stubborn man who suffers the loss of his beloved. Anita's background score is fantastic, and it has some wonderful songs by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Just go and listen to that magic number "Samne Mere Saawariya" - a melodious tune, beautifully shot with Sadhana walking the hills, and perfectly sung by Lata Mangeshkar, whose voice is as divine as ever.

Anita is a film I like a lot and I like revisiting it from time to time. The movie is not without flaws, and in fact it took quite some time until the story started arousing real curiosity. In the middle I found myself a bit uninterested. Having said that, it is a successful movie and once it enters its suspense track, it works well and is even disturbing at points. The ending is as expected a sugarcoated one but I actually liked it because there wasn't any other way around. Anita is classic stuff after all - technically well made for the time, generally well acted and written, and the music is very good. I recommend.