Watched this cult movie, one of my three-best Hindi films surely, once again. And each time I see it, it only makes me wonder at how brilliantly it was made. The casting, the characters, the way the movie flows, its simply superb.
Dr. Bhaskar (Amitabh Bachchan) is being felicitated on the release of his new book 'Anand'. He clarifies that it is not a novel but a compilation of extracts from his diary. Anand was a real life character. Dr. Bhaskar is a serious man who is deeply influenced by the sufferings of the world. He smiles little, has no time for frivolity and is concerned with healing the world. He recounts the story of Anand.
Bhaskar meets Anand Saigal (Rajesh Khanna), a young man who has been referred by a doctor friend in Delhi. Anand has been sent to Dr. Kulkarni (Ramesh Deo) who has a hospital. Bhaskar meets the fun loving and constantly chattering Anand and chides him for being so frivolous - he does not seem to know the extent of his illness. He has cancer and only three months to live. But Anand knows and he still finds it in himself to smile. Not just that, he makes everyone else smile too until he dies.
'You get angry too soon', he tells Bhaskar in their first meeting. 'It's not good to love people so much'. And before he dies he is more concerned that Bhaskar cannot withstand the trauma of his death. The story is full of interesting and powerful characters, their larger than life motives, and life changing choices. Dialogues crackle with life and wit, zest and repartee. The character of Isa bhai played by Johnny Walker is one of the best roles I have ever seen. Or for that matter that of Lalita Pawar as the matron, Raghu kaka as Amitabh's man servant, Ramesh and Suman Deo. But what steals the show is the perfect casting of Rajesh Khanna as the jovial Anand and the brooding and intense Amitabh as Dr. Bhaskar Bannerjee. How many ever times you watch Anand, you always want to watch it again. Fantastic stuff by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. In fact the dialogues and screenplay also have Gulzar's name and some other heavies in the lyrics and music department. Along with 'Chupke Chupke' and 'Namak Haraam' it stands way up there in my top 5.
Dr. Bhaskar (Amitabh Bachchan) is being felicitated on the release of his new book 'Anand'. He clarifies that it is not a novel but a compilation of extracts from his diary. Anand was a real life character. Dr. Bhaskar is a serious man who is deeply influenced by the sufferings of the world. He smiles little, has no time for frivolity and is concerned with healing the world. He recounts the story of Anand.
Bhaskar meets Anand Saigal (Rajesh Khanna), a young man who has been referred by a doctor friend in Delhi. Anand has been sent to Dr. Kulkarni (Ramesh Deo) who has a hospital. Bhaskar meets the fun loving and constantly chattering Anand and chides him for being so frivolous - he does not seem to know the extent of his illness. He has cancer and only three months to live. But Anand knows and he still finds it in himself to smile. Not just that, he makes everyone else smile too until he dies.
'You get angry too soon', he tells Bhaskar in their first meeting. 'It's not good to love people so much'. And before he dies he is more concerned that Bhaskar cannot withstand the trauma of his death. The story is full of interesting and powerful characters, their larger than life motives, and life changing choices. Dialogues crackle with life and wit, zest and repartee. The character of Isa bhai played by Johnny Walker is one of the best roles I have ever seen. Or for that matter that of Lalita Pawar as the matron, Raghu kaka as Amitabh's man servant, Ramesh and Suman Deo. But what steals the show is the perfect casting of Rajesh Khanna as the jovial Anand and the brooding and intense Amitabh as Dr. Bhaskar Bannerjee. How many ever times you watch Anand, you always want to watch it again. Fantastic stuff by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. In fact the dialogues and screenplay also have Gulzar's name and some other heavies in the lyrics and music department. Along with 'Chupke Chupke' and 'Namak Haraam' it stands way up there in my top 5.
5 comments:
Nostalgia seems like the theme this week. Was just discussing the demise of HMT watches with classmates this week, and now this.I have fond memories of Anand - 14 of our relatives including me saw Anand together at Navrang theater in 1970. Many were sobbing at the end. I was too young then to fully understand the movie, but have seen it many times since.
Watched it with two relatives - Manik maushi and Shobhs.
it's a sure cure for the blues.
I love watching the movie AND SOBBING too!Everytime!
Raja, it cures the blues by making you bluer. But what a movie! Thanks for sharing Shobhs. What's it with Manik maushi and movies that make you cry? Remember we watched Masoom last time and everyone was teary then. But she's great for watching movies with.
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