Thursday, June 18, 2015

This Old Black & White Movie Was Interesting, Even Now!

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This old black & white movie,  'Anupama' brought back many memories for me...some happy and some are not so happy...I was in school when this movie was released (1966).  I had started admiring (!) Dharmendra and my mother went to this movie in Ashok theatre (Chennai) with her cousin, without telling me and I remember crying and not talking to her for some time! Feel silly now! No, we were not going/taken to movies regularly (we were 5 siblings!), but mother used to take us to good movies.  This movie had become famous mainly because of the songs (courtesy: Binaca Geet mala, radio prog.) I didn't get the opportunity to watch it until now!

My ankle has got a ligament tear now which needs lot of rest, so I seem to be watching movies in most afternoons! Because this is a black & white movie, I was postponing, though watched Gurudutt's 'Pyaasa' and some other black & white Bengali movies.

I think I need not go into the full gist of the story of this movie.  This is a 'father-daughter' relationship story, mainly.  The father gets married very late in his life and is very attached to his wife.  She delivers a girl baby and dies.  The father (Tarun Bose), who is quite rich,  hates the sight of his daughter (Sharmila Tagore) because he thinks that she was the reason for his wife's death! he becomes an alcoholic.  She is brought up by their house help.  Because of her father's hatred for her, she becomes an introvert and never mingles with anybody.  Because of the heavy drinking, he falls  ill and is asked to take a break and father and daughter go to Mahabaleshwar.  There, the hero Dharmendra (Poet and teacher) enters.  He is the friend of Arun (Deven Verma) who is supposed to marry Sharmila as per the father's choice! But Arun falls in love with Anita (Shashikala), the father's friend's (David) daughter...oooof...too confusing?!! Well, Dharmendra meets the beautiful eyed, silent girl Sharmila and their love blossoms!

You can see Dharmendra, a bit plump and young one, watching Sharmila, in the above song. 

I remembered this song (the tune led me to this song...the music directors are different, though) by Mubarak Begum.  Lovely song, my favourite!

One more surprise is Deven Verma.  He became a famous comedian later but here, he has acted very well and another surprise is Shashikala who is singing this beautiful  song. She became famous in negative roles later!

David was at his best.  He used to get this type of roles mostly in all the movies he had acted.  He and Shubha Khote were always, old people.  Shubha is Dharmendra's mother in this movie!

The hero and heroine never danced or sang together for even a single song, in this movie! They sang separately!But this movie was a hit in those days! Music ruled then!

This is the only song for Dharmendra in the movie.  Lovely song with good lyrics.



I liked Dharmendra in this movie.  He has acted very naturally.  This song is an example.  It looks as if he is really singing...he takes breath at appropriate places too! Hemant Kumar is singing this song and he is the music director for this movie.  This movie became famous for the songs and Sharmila's eyes were 'talk of the town' in those days (My mother's views!).  I was a Dharmendra fan in those days (Did a post on my childhood/teenage, here!)

This 'ankle-rest' break has shown me, that I have my mother and grand mother's 'movie-buff' streak! My mother had a cousin and both of them used to go to movies together often.  She used to tell us the stories at night, I still remember.  We were taken to movies very rarely, but stories, we knew! I can't narrate a story like her, any day! She was good in narrating mythological stories to my sons with all the minute details with lot of expressions!  She used to read a lot, both in Kannada and Tamil.  She worked in a library and used to bring heavy mythological books and read them as if they were fiction books.  I think this movie has triggered my mother's memories...I remembered her often while watching it.  She used to send us with our cousins to very good movies (she would watch them first!).  I think she has influenced me so much that I am able to watch Kangana Ranaut's 'Queen' or Sathyajit Ray's 'Apur Sansar' with equal interest! Unknowingly, we are influenced by our parents and by the time we realize it fully, they are no more.  It hurts sometimes. 

The other movies I liked during my movie marathon are:

Selma...I remembered 'Mississippi burning' while watching this. This is a movie on Martin Luther King. Good one.

Diksha...a many award winning movie with a very serious story. The story takes place in Dakshina Kannada, my native place! Nana Patekar, Manohar Singh, KK Raina, Sulabha Arya...a memorable movie. 

The Bridges of Madison County... Clint Eastwood directed and acted with my favourite Meryl Streep.  A good romantic movie.

Saving Mr.Banks... Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks movie based on Walt Disney.  Enjoyed.

Contact... a Jodie Foster movie.  A very well made film, though I had watched it many years back. Still enjoyed!

The Constant Gardener...watched this with a heavy heart.  Good movie.

Man of Fire...my favourite Denzel Washington's movie.  Still remember it.

Tamil movie, Devar Magan... A very well-made Kamal, Shivaji Ganesan and Revathy movie.  Had already watched in the theatre, still, watched it again.  Good movie.

Well, I watched so many (one was, 'Sanshodhan', a Nihalani film, but something was missing in the story. Everybody acted well, though.)  but remember only the movies I enjoyed watching.  I am still relaxing! Any recommendations?!

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18 comments :

Swaram said...

How have you been Sandhya? Back here after a long time. Take care of the ankle and get well soon; I know how it hurts :( Been there.

Enjoy your movie marathon btw :)

Destination Infinity said...

I wish I could watch these B&W movies, esp. the good/hit ones from 60s/70s/80s now. I know I will, sometime. Nowadays I am trying to catch up with good movies in the theater. Tomorrow I am going to watch 'Eli' - First Day First Show. Will update the blog with movie review soon :)

I will come back to your blog to note down the names of these movies when I get time to watch them. Maybe I can even take some CDs from you, if you are OK, and return them after watching! :)

Destination Infinity

Sandhya said...

SWARAM: Welcome back, Swaram!

Did you hear the songs? They are lovely!

Thank you! Movie marathon will continue for another week, I think. Then walking, yoga will start:)


DESTINATION INFINITY: Watching movies in theatres with full concentration is different from watching them at home with all the other distractions!

Some good movies are coming nowadays in Hindi and Tamil! A reason for going to the theatres! Start your 'movie review' blog again! I have to watch 'Kaakka muttai' soon.

I have some cd's of old movies. You can take them any time, Rajesh. Not new movies though. I don't buy them now. Most of them are screened in TV within one month of the release!

SG said...

Thanks for the nice write up. I think I have mentioned this before. I have never watched a Hindi movie so far. Nothing against the Hindi language. It did not happen, yet.

Shail said...

You are on a movie-watch marathon :) Good. The young Sharmila is so pretty. I love the songs from the movie too.
Hoping you will get back to your walking and yoga soon.

Rama Ananth said...

I loved the first movie Anupama, it was so goood . I have watched in the theatre with my mother and my sister, while I was very y oung. I just love all the so ngs in this movie especially the 1st one sung by the other. later agai I saw it in Youtube many years later. These old moviesare really good can be watched and enjoyed even now.
What happened, how did you get this ligament tear?
Rest and ice is the best reatment for this. I am sure you must have visited the doctor, and you are taking medicines. Try to wea rankle band when oyu are moving about a little here and there, it would definitely protect the ankle.
Get well soon.

Sandhya said...

SG: I remember it, SG and so many many more thanks. I have listed about the movies I watched recently. Any good movie you can suggest for me to watch. I may have to sit still and watch more movies for a few more days, I hope, only days!


SHAIL: It is so frustrating to sit at home all the time and I had been walking and going to yoga class for a long time now...

Yes, Sharmila is very young here. All the songs are good.


RAMA ANANTH: It is nice to watch simple, romantic movies with good songs, once in a while! No complications, we need not be alert while watching them. Just relax and enjoy!

My foot twisted while walking, 2 months back. A small ligament tear but this needs lot of rest. I was not very careful in the beginning because it didn't pain much:( Even now, pain is not there but puffs up if I stand for a long time or walk outside! Yes, I am wearing the ankle band now. I was wearing the normal bandage in daytime for a long time now. Hmmm...age is the culprit, I think!!! Thank you, Rama!

Rama Ananth said...

You can watch the movie "Flavors", which is about a few Indians living in the US. It is a real fun movie, you would really enjoy it and also relate to it. You can watch it in youtube.

Sandhya said...

RAMA ANANTH: Will see if I can get it, Rama, thanks a lot!

SG said...

These 2 very old movies are my favorite. You may want to consider. Love Story, starring Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw. Written by Eric Segal. (Nominated for 7 Oscar Awards but won 1).

If you like war movies, you can consider The Bridge on the River Kwai, starring William Holden and Alec Guinness. (This won 7 Oscar Awards including Best Picture.)

Hope you fully recover very soon.

Onkar said...

Nice post. Get well soon

Zephyr said...

Lovely songs all. I have watched some old B/W films of the 50s on Youtube. The songs used to intrigue me and make me want to watch them. Some movies turn out to be good others really terrible. One can appreciate how much the songs must have contributed to the success of a film back then. Get well soon. But don't put too much strain on the ankle. It is the hardest working joint, bearing the weight of the whole body.

Rachna said...

B & W movies had such charm. I have watched so many of them and loved them. The songs too.

Anonymous said...

Not being fully fit is also an opportunity to delve into something fulfilling... thats what I have learnt from you! :)

Get well soon and even whilst you are recovering I see you are having a good time... nothing like it! :D

Sandhya said...

SG: Thanks for the recommendations! I have seen 'Bridge on the river Kwai' but have not seen 'Love story'. I have read the book long back and have read his other books too. Liked nearly all of them. Will look for this movie now. Thank you!


ONKAR: Thank you, Onkar!


ZEPHYR: Yes, some old movies are terrible and I wonder now, how I watched them and liked them too, in those days, though I have got some favourites in B&W too! But most of the movies had lovely, melodious songs, as you say.

Thank you, Zephyr.


RACHNA: I too have got a long list of my favourite old movies. Songs were best than the movies,well, in most of them.


HITCHWRITER: I have never watched so many movies at a stretch until now! Yes, I am enjoying this break too! Thank you, Dhiren!

Renu said...

I was a movie addict, still I am :)..so i have watched most of the hindi movies from 60's onwards, Dharmendra was so handsome in his younger days, same with Rajesh Khanna,shashi kapoor etc..

Today i saw Letters for Juliet and Liked..a breezy romance in Italy.

Sandhya said...

RENU: I thought I was not a movie addict, but now, I have got second thoughts. I am able to watch movies continuously!

I was Dharam's fan in my younger days. You must have read about it in my older post.

Will try to watch the movie you have referred here, thank you!

Locomente said...

There is something unbelievably awesome about black and white pictures..
Enjoy!

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