Paigham

I thought it to be a blast since it had three of the most prominent faces of Indian silver screen together; Motilal , Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar. But I was disappointed. Though, it is reasonably a good movie. It is all about Maalik-Mazdoor relations, nothing new. Everyone has played their part quite well. Lyrics by Pt.Pradeep is good with forgettable music by C.Ramchandra.

Dilip Kumar and Raj Kumar are two brothers, the former of which ultimately fights for worker's rights and the former stays loyal to his master.

"There is Power in a Union" is a 1913 song which reverberated in my mind when I saw the film since the crux revolves around worker's demands and a union (of which Dilip Kumar plays the leader).

Of course, this isn't a Sergei Eisenstein film and we remain firmly within the confines of Hindi melodrama. Less than half of the film extrapolates inequities between rich and poor or wage inequality or such issues and inserted is more plot outlines (some unneeded) and romantic overtones as well (which really drag the pacing of the film).

The acting is top notch led by Dilip Kumar and a good early role by Raj Kumar. Motilal plays the villain here (usually essayed otherwise by Pran in most films of that era) and the showdown between the lead actors is splendid. Johnny Walker makes room for himself though he is filler as usual. The female lead has a dance sequence filmed on her( she was a good dancer in an era when male leads could barely shake a leg) but she can't hold a candle to Dilip Kumar.

Songs are the Achilles' Heel of this film. They almost felt like a dozen and none of them memorable. Films from 1959 like Raj Kapoor starrer Anari had brilliant score and even Madhumati (1958)which also had Dilip Kumar and Vyjantimala was quite good in terms of songs. This film fails in that regard. Music, romantic overtones, sub par pacing in many scenes and lack of focus on the main story are what holds back this film from becoming magnificent.

If viewers think that Saudagar(1991) was the only clash of the 2

great Kumars,Dilip and Raj,then they should think once more.32 years before

Subash Ghai's blockbuster,S.S. Vasan casted the 2 stars in his super hit movie Paigham in the year 1959.Although here it has to be mentioned that at that time Dilip Kumar was at the peak of his carrier and Raj Kumar was a rising star and this is evident in the movie where unlike Saudagar(in which both of them had equal

roles),here Dilip Kumar is easily the hero of the movie where as Raj Kumar is the supporting actor.Nevertheless,still the movie is a treat to watch for their clash. I watched this movie last year on Star Gold(almost 43 years after its release) and must say that it is really a good movie and has not lost its charm over the years. The movie is a story of 2 brothers (Raj Kumar and Dilip Kumar).While the elder brother Ram(Raj Kumar) is a worker in a mill,the younger brother Ratan(Dilip Kumar) is studying engineering in a different city and also works part-time as a rickshaw puller.He falls in love with the Manju(Vyjanthimala) when she once travels in his rickshaw.After completing his studies Ratan returns to his native place and starts living alongwith his elder brother and hisfamily.The mill owner(Motilal) is impressed by the young engineer and employs him in his mill.Manju also joins the mill and their love story blooms,much to the anger of the mill owner's daughter as she also likes Ratan.The elder brother respects the mill owner and sees him as a Godly figure.However the younger brother Ratan after working for sometime in the mill realises that the mill owner is a shrewd,cruel businessman.He talks to the mill workers and ask them to put their demands to the owner.When the demands are not met he asks them to revolt.Circumstances lead to a confrontation between both the brothers.Raj Kumar throws Ratan out of thehome.However after some tension filled atmosphere both the brothers unite and the mill owner repents his earlier deeds and grant the workers their due. The movie has both social and family value.The concept of an engineer working alongwith the workers and even fighting for their rights again appeared in Yash Chopra's classic ''Kala Pathar'',where Shashi kapoor played the engineer.Even a later Dilip Kumar starrer ''Mazdoor'' had echoes of Paighaam. The story of Paighaam is good and the screenplay gets the viewers

interested.Ramanand Sagar's dailogues carry the right weight and punch and it fetched him the Filmfare Award for the best dailogues in 1959.S.S.vasan's direction is good.The film being a Gemini Production had great production values.Earlier in 1955 Vasan and Gemini had collaborated in making the Dilip Kumar-Dev Anand action hit ''Insaniyat''.However it was after Paighaam that Vasan became a name to reckon with.Interestingly Akhtar Mirza had offered the strory of 1957 social-musical blockbuster ''Naya Daur'' initially to S.S.Vasan alongwith Raj kapoor and it was only when both of them rejected it it went to B.R. Chopra and he made a classic movie out of it.So Paighaam is kind of Vasan's interpretation of a star-stuedded,social,musical and entertaining yet meaningful popular cinema.He succeeds in making Paighaam an amazing movie.C.ramchandra's music is not that great.Still 3 numbers are very good.The bhajan''Ameeron ke parmeshwar..'',the title track''yahi Paigham hamara' and the comic ''kaise Diwali manaayein..' have fine tunes and good lyrics by Pradeep. Now the performances.Dilip Kumar clearly rises above the entire cast and shines in every frame of the movie.His dailogue delivery,expression and body language again prove that he is one of the best actors India has ever seen.As the young engineer who works hard and even fights for the workers rights,Dilip shows his capability as an ace star and actor.His romantic scenes withVyjanthimala are also brilliant.The scene where he teases Vyjanthimala by telling her an imaginary romantic incident with another girl was ''lifted'' by Salim-Javed for Amitabh bachchan and Zeenat Aman in the 1980 hit ''Dostana''.Vyjanthimala also delivers a fine performance.The chemistry which Dilip-Vyjanthi generated on screen was amazing.Paighaam was their 4th consecutive hit in the 4 years,Devdas(1956),Naya Daur(1957) and Madhumati(1958) being other.In this movie the director gives her ample scope to show her acting as well as dancing capabilities.Raj Kumar as the elder brother gives a very controlled performance.He never goes over thetop and matches Dilip's legendary status in the scenes where both of them come together.Motilal as the shrewd(but not a cardboard character) gives a great performance.Although he played a shrewd businessman in Anari (which was the other Big hit of 1959)as well,still he manages to perform this role in a different manner.Johny Walker as the cook gets some good scenes and a famous song(Kaise Diwali manaaye hum Lala,apna to 12 mahine Diwaala) and he does justice to them. An incident relating to the shooting of Paighaam holds curiosity.In a scene where Raj Kumar had to slap Dilip Kumar,it is said that the eccentric Raj actually slapped Dilip hardly.However,Dilip the true professional did not retaliate.If this incident is true then its interesting to note that a very similar incident happened on the sets of Roti,Kapda aur Makaan.In a scene where Manoj Kumar had to slap Amitabh

Bachchan in a scene Mr. Bharat got too involved in the scene and actually hit the Big b.Big B however followed in the footstep of his idol Dilip Kumar and like a true professional did not retaliate. These co-incidences not-withstanding Paighaam is a movie worth watching for its social values and most importantly for the clash between both the Kumars.

Paigham (1959) : Brief Review -

Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala's social drama on mill workers union issues. It was late 1950s, and this mill workers forming unions was a new trend in India, coming from western countries. Obviously, our conflicts differ from those of American, European, and Russian labourers, but somewhere they were on the same lines. The basic issues were bonus, security, and accidental insurance, which mill owners and partners used to eat up and still do. It wasn't like Paigham was a pathbreaking film or a social sensation, but it was a good attempt. It has a typical amount of drama and some flaws that make it a one-time watch. It's predictable even for its time, and the dramatic turnarounds are too cheesy. Then what works? The cast, the engaging factors, the drama, and socially important questions. In the beginning, I was hooked on that beautiful love triangle formed by Dilip, Vyjayanthimala, and B. Saroja Devi. There is a nice metaphor and taunt to it. The rich girl couldn't pass the B. A., and the poor girl tops it. The boy is another study genius and very good at principles, so basically he should have gone for the poor girl, and he does too. But then his brother is unhappy with it. Imagine an elder brother being so concerned about an educated girl not having a father, but he may not have issues with a rich, spoiled girl with a father (his boss). That was a dig at cowardly thinking of working middle class men and has been going on for years. What changes Malti's mind suddenly when she goes against her father? Why does Manju, a graduate girl, lose her senses and become so hysterical? We don't get clear answers but have to finish the film because it was all coming to a "happy ending." The film could have bettered itself in the final 15 minutes and given us a concrete plot. Nevertheless, it is still watchable for moderate and time-pass entertainment value.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.