This 70s Bollywood saga plays like an Indian version of A Star Is Born, only on a much smaller scale and without any of the Hollywood razzmatazz. A young Amitabh Bachchan (looking a bit like an Asian George Hamilton) plays Subir Kumar, a hugely successful pop star who takes the comely village girl Uma (Jaya Bhaduri) for his wife. Things are idyllic until it becomes apparent that Uma's career is taking off while Subir's is faltering, a reversal of fortunes that threatens both their marriage and Uma's sanity.
Where this version differs from the American equivalent is in the representation of the female. In the Western world, even back in the 70s, women had achieved a large measure of equality while, judging from this film, in India they were still considered subservient to men. At one stage, Subir's friend Chandru (Asrani) warns him off another woman because she is rich and independent, reminding the singer that he has always claimed to want a wife who will serve and care for him. In a way, this gives a little more resonance to the plight of Subir when the autograph hunters begin abandoning him whenever his wife walks in the room and, to even things up a little, other women, such as Subir's platonic girlfriend Chitra (Bindu) and aunt (Durga Mausi) are portrayed as quite strong characters.
Like Western movies from the same era, this suffers from some dire 70s men's fashion. The lighting is also rather flat much of the time, and the whole affair looks a little cheap considering the fact that we are supposed to be looking in on lifestyles of the rich and famous. Nevertheless, the film is reasonably entertaining and, at a little over two hours, is fairly short for an Indian flick.
Where this version differs from the American equivalent is in the representation of the female. In the Western world, even back in the 70s, women had achieved a large measure of equality while, judging from this film, in India they were still considered subservient to men. At one stage, Subir's friend Chandru (Asrani) warns him off another woman because she is rich and independent, reminding the singer that he has always claimed to want a wife who will serve and care for him. In a way, this gives a little more resonance to the plight of Subir when the autograph hunters begin abandoning him whenever his wife walks in the room and, to even things up a little, other women, such as Subir's platonic girlfriend Chitra (Bindu) and aunt (Durga Mausi) are portrayed as quite strong characters.
Like Western movies from the same era, this suffers from some dire 70s men's fashion. The lighting is also rather flat much of the time, and the whole affair looks a little cheap considering the fact that we are supposed to be looking in on lifestyles of the rich and famous. Nevertheless, the film is reasonably entertaining and, at a little over two hours, is fairly short for an Indian flick.