Lekin...

Greatly enjoyed the development of the story line, the music and, not least, the acting. Lekin is very good work by done by experienced professionals. Dimple K. completely inhabited the character of Reva, while Vinod Khanna created an image of benevolent intelligence. The use of the first-class rail compartment, a most impressive Rajput

Palace and the stark sandy desert provided an appropriate background, supporting the story without overwhelming the mystery. The music was well integrated with the story line, something of a departure (in my limited experience with Bollywood movies). My wife and I have been baffled trying to identify the instrumental- only musical theme which plays whenever Dimple's character Reva appears.

"Yaara Sili Sili Virah Ki Raat Ka Jalna"

'Lekin' is a movie best remembered for this timeless song by Lata Mangeshkar. Directed by Gulzar and produced by the nightingale of Bollywood herself (along with her Brother Hridyanath Mangeshkar, who also takes up the responsibility of composing music for the film), Lekin is the most 'hatke' theme attempted by Gulzar in his long and illustrious directorial career. It is a story that is mythical, rustic, and open to interpretations- like so many of the folktales that can be heard in villages abode to old monuments that act as a bridge between the past and the present. Starring Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia in principal roles, Lekin is a story seeped in the culture of the most mystical part of our nation- Rajasthan.

Samir (Vinod Khanna) is sent to a non-descript village in Rajasthan to evaluate and classify the possessions of an old palace that was once owned by the king of that region, and the doors to which have not been opened since the past few decades. On the way he has a strange encounter with a gypsy woman (Dimple Kapadia). Not thinking too much about it, he reaches his destination where he discovers that his old friend Siddique (Amjad Khan) is now a collector. The very next day he starts his job in the old palace, but things take a strange turn when he meets the gypsy woman once again. Soon, a lot of things start happening thick and fast around Samir, of which he cannot make any sense at all. How Samir gets embroiled in the age old forgotten tale of the sandy ruins, and how his life gets hijacked by an apparition from the past, is what the movie is all about.

The movie is different not only in terms of its story, but also in terms of the way Gulzar has treated it. He very beautifully captures the mood of the 'lands of kings', and adds a stamp of authenticity in each and every frame of the narrative. He creates a world that sucks you into it, and involves just like a very well written and intriguing bit of poetry. There is suspense, but it is not hurried. Everything is languid, and each and every bit of the puzzle unfolds patiently. It appears that Gulzar wants the viewers to feel the restiveness, the confusion, and the curiosity that is haunting Samir. Also, in terms of its theme, Gulzar chooses a story could well have been converted into a tacky Ramsey affair, in the hands of a lesser and a more commercially inclined man. But Gulzar not only tells a story, he also raises a lot of questions about the paranormal, and the supernatural. Of course, the viewers are left to form their own interpretations through the course of the story, and also at the end of it all. It may all seem implausible, as it does to the protagonist initially, but then suddenly it may start making sense. Or rather, you would stop caring about its plausibility, and would just start to go with the flow of the proceedings (that is what happened with me). The only glitch is that this flow gets a little too slow in the middle of the movie- and that has led to it becoming a lengthy feature at around 160 min.

There are a lot of important characters in the story played by well known names of that time including Alok Nath and Vijayendra Ghatge. Hema Malini chips in with a very important cameo appearance. And like in most Gulzar movies, the music plays an additional character, one which often assumes more command and respect than the mere mortals on screen. That said, even the mortals aren't far behind in this feature, for both Vinod Khanna and Dimple Kapadia do a fabulous job. Dimple Kapadia looks ethereal, and talks more through her eyes than through her words. Amjad Khan (highly obese at the fag-end of his career) is efficient as the hero's best friend and confidante- and so is the actress who plays his wife.

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I think what makes this film great is its timeless music.Hridaynath Mangeshkar came up with a masterpiece with Lekin. The story provided the backdrop for a classical Hindustani-based music score and the result is a combination of hummable folk songs and classical numbers which are pure magic. The songs definitely add on to the story, but have such strong character themselves that they have their own identity even outside the film.

Asha Bhonsle's 'Jhoothe Naina Bole' is my personal favorite.The sting she manages to put in the song is unparalleled.The beautiful rendition by Asha does justice to the music and to the words.

So even if you do or do not manage to see this movie,do NOT miss the music, since that is bound to stay with you longer.

For me, the film is a novel interpretation of the life in the desert of Rajasthan. Without going into the details of the story line, which I hope someone else would do more precisely, I only want to concentrate on the central character of the film Rewa performed by Dimple. She is the unfortunate younger sister of a singer. The older sister comes to sing at maharaja's palace one night when the maharaja eyes her malevolently and orders his men not to let her go out of the palace that night. The music teacher gets the clue that the maharaja is going to rape the older sister if he does not help her run away that evening. So he does that, and the cruel maharaja orders to put him and Rewa behind the bars. He would wait until the she would grow into a young woman. After spending years behind the bars she was to be 'presented' to the maharaja as she succeeds to escape… Nothing changes in the desert… She also gets frozen in a moment of time… Though not a spellbinding story, it really touches one right at heart… And Dimple played the role well… The Haridaynath's music combined with the Gulzar's lyrics unfolds the magic of the desert in Latta's and Asha's voices

Gulzar's 'Lekin...' is a spellbinding experience. He is already very well-known as one of the finest storytellers in the history of Indian cinema and 'Lekin...' is no exception. The movie is like a great book that once you start reading, you can't put it down because it has such a hold on you that you want to reach the end. Gulzar also left some parts of the story open to interpretation. The whole reincarnation element was suggestive and while the film revolves around supernatural elements, the director does not reject science or spirituality but instead he explores possibilities. His attention to detail is impressive.

While the story is gripping, Gulzar makes fine use of the cinematography that gives the setting a life of its own like it did to the desert and the 'mahal' (palace). Hridaynath Mangeshkar's baffling music is an integral part of the movie without which 'Lekin..' would be lacking. Lata Mangeshkar's haunting voice and Gulzar's magical lyrics and Asha Bhosle's vivacious voice in the mujra number are among the highlights of the song. In addition, the background score is simply fabulous.

Vinod Khanna is brilliantly cast as the good hearted Sameer who is 'enchanted' by a mysterious 'gypsy'. Amjad Khan is first rate as the best friend. Beena Banerjee provides good support. Hema Malini has graceful presence. I used to think of Dimple Kapadia as a below average to average at best actress but after seeing 'Rudaali', 'Krantiveer' and a few other films I now respect her as actress. I am so glad Gulzar cast her in the lead because she really captivates the viewer with her haunting performance.

'Lekin...' is pretty much like an enigmatic poem. Like Sameer, the audience is also left wondering and trying to figure out the truth of Reva's existence and is affected and heartbroken by her tragedy and Sameer's search for answers. By the end, one experiences the same feeling like after having read a fabulous book.