Directed by: Hrishikesh
Mukherjee
Starring: Dharmendra,
Sharmila Tagore, Shashikala
Released: 1966
Verdict: destroy every
copy – horrible – bad – whatever – flawed but enjoyable -
good – great – amazing
Not many films venture
beyond portrayal of love between hero and heroine – or rather not
as many as I would like. Films that don´t only tell story of
romance, but include an intricate web of relations, old and new, some
of love, some of respect and some of hate. And more than one are
complicated, and more than one has to be kept in mind while making
decisions. Anupama is such a film.
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The story opens with a
blissfully married young couple, Mr. And Mrs. Sharma, very much in
love and seemingly on their way to even more happiness, as they soon
are expecting their first baby. However after a long and complicated
labour the lovely Mrs. Sharma dies, leaving behind a baby girl Uma
and a completely desolate husband, who is unable to even look at his
daughter, unless he is completely drunk. Uma thus grows up into an
extremely isolated young woman with little confidence in herself. She
is craving for her father´s love, or at least an approval, and at
the same time she is terrified of him and his drunken expressions of
paternal love. But her life seems to be changing upon meeting a group
of friendly young people, a handsome writer and poet Arjun among
them.
The character of Anita
„Annie“ played by Shashikala, got on my nerves for most part. I
understand she was supposed to be a completely opposite of Uma (who
speak so little in the film you actually fear she has gone mute), but
there is a point after which „over-the-top“ transforms into
„highly unconvincing squirrel after a barrel of coffee“. The film
also drags a bit in the middle, but it is all worth it in the end -
end, that refuses to be a melodrama full of clichés. The story
progresses, the characters remain who they are, they don´t do things
which are drastic, extreme or completely unexpected, they stay true
to themselves, even though, of course, changes make them take
actions.
Dharmendra may be known
best as action hero, but his good-natured, humble poet was played
with much feeling, beautifully. His character is a daydreaming
writer, yet never a hopeless case of uselessness (as it sometimes
happens with artists shown in films – they are in love with a girl
and their genius mind). He is earthy, calm, pleasant. He doesn´t go
around giving lectures on the meaning of life – and whatever might
come close to it feels very natural and never pretentious.
Young Sharmila was
stunningly gorgeous. At times I had a feeling her big 60s hair
interfered a bit with who the character of Uma was supposed to be –
a very shy, introverted girl who never goes out (apparently the
director had the same feeling, but Sharmila refused to listen), but
for most part the innocence was so clearly mirrored on her face it
let one forget about anything else. For a long time in the film I was
worried that she had not much to do apart from looking glorious, but
her character ultimately proves to be a heart-stealer. Uma collects
up her courage and walks out on her old life with dignity and without
need to have a nervous breakdown and throw a fit while making her
father feel like crap for mistreating her for so many years (even
though that is exactly what he deserved).
The gorgeous black
and white cinematography is visual delight, and the music too matches
all the beauty the film is stuffed with. My two favourite songs have
to be Kuch Dil Ne Kaha and Dheere Dheere Machal. Indeed, Anupama is
beautiful.
