Another unintentionally poignant film from Meena Kumari, one with a serious message but unfortunately padded with a fair amount of soap and slapstick humour.
Ajit, a man with a devoted mother falls in love with a young woman Shobha, marries but remains childless – and it looks like a child will not be possible, with her at least. But the bottle (and even the outrageous possibility of dancing with other men) always is. And so everything slides out of control for everyone; Meena didn't look at her best during this period because of the bottle too. Over time Shobha turns away from doctors and seemingly abandons everything with her irrational behaviour, and even Krishna has to put up with a lot as she works out her own solution to the problem. It seems that it's much easier in the West to arrange for a surrogate pregnancy and fostering and without having to go through such a convoluted process as this and invoking mythology! Shobha got her prayers answered: she became a living Yashoda. Throughout the film there's some surprisingly fine and thoughtful photography and scenery amidst all the comedy. Most of the hip songs are OK if not particularly memorable except for their exuberance but there are at least three utter gems in here too: Rafi's magnificent ultra-dignified Tumhein Dekha Hai Maine - a wonderfully romantic tune by R. D. Burman with...flowery poetic lyrics by Anand Bakhshi. And it was also Dharmendra's best scene in the film making love to his "mentor and tormentor" - a must hear! Sharabi Mera Naam sung by Lata had a car crash performance from Meena at the birthday celebrations – did the producers realise what they were ordering her to do? And the deeply sober and heartfelt O Ganga was a ravishingly beautiful song too.
Young Mumtaz gave an excellent vivacious performance and chubby Meena did her best in portraying a woman prepared to sacrifice all for her husband and his family. The only thing that I didn't like about the film was that all the pain she had caused to them and her father over many years was brushed aside, as if the end can justify the means. But still, a colourful, thoughtful and entertaining time-passer.
Ajit, a man with a devoted mother falls in love with a young woman Shobha, marries but remains childless – and it looks like a child will not be possible, with her at least. But the bottle (and even the outrageous possibility of dancing with other men) always is. And so everything slides out of control for everyone; Meena didn't look at her best during this period because of the bottle too. Over time Shobha turns away from doctors and seemingly abandons everything with her irrational behaviour, and even Krishna has to put up with a lot as she works out her own solution to the problem. It seems that it's much easier in the West to arrange for a surrogate pregnancy and fostering and without having to go through such a convoluted process as this and invoking mythology! Shobha got her prayers answered: she became a living Yashoda. Throughout the film there's some surprisingly fine and thoughtful photography and scenery amidst all the comedy. Most of the hip songs are OK if not particularly memorable except for their exuberance but there are at least three utter gems in here too: Rafi's magnificent ultra-dignified Tumhein Dekha Hai Maine - a wonderfully romantic tune by R. D. Burman with...flowery poetic lyrics by Anand Bakhshi. And it was also Dharmendra's best scene in the film making love to his "mentor and tormentor" - a must hear! Sharabi Mera Naam sung by Lata had a car crash performance from Meena at the birthday celebrations – did the producers realise what they were ordering her to do? And the deeply sober and heartfelt O Ganga was a ravishingly beautiful song too.
Young Mumtaz gave an excellent vivacious performance and chubby Meena did her best in portraying a woman prepared to sacrifice all for her husband and his family. The only thing that I didn't like about the film was that all the pain she had caused to them and her father over many years was brushed aside, as if the end can justify the means. But still, a colourful, thoughtful and entertaining time-passer.
