tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post1524531980961285679..comments2024-03-09T15:11:29.350-08:00Comments on Exotic and irrational entertainment: AnuradhaPessimisissimohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-17417789034239069352014-12-06T11:57:18.892-08:002014-12-06T11:57:18.892-08:00Aurelie, many thanks for your comment. You've ...Aurelie, many thanks for your comment. You've outlined a highly plausible scenario in which Anuradha is able to return to her music while remaining with Nirmal, so perhaps my constitutional pessimism isn't justified. I will mention that Col. Trivedi, who is the moral conscience of the film, has a long speech in which he honors the sacrifices made by mothers in the interests of their families, but essentially presents them as necessary. And the last scene, where—my own spoiler alert here—we watch Deepak's car disappear into the distance without Anuradha, seems to indicate that she will remain in the village. But I hope, along with you, that these characters find a way to be fulfilled both individually and as a couple.<br /><br />I do agree completely that Nirmal has undergone a transformation. He now fully understands what his wife has given up in order to support his practice and raise their (delightful) daughter, and will no longer take her for granted. And as you say, it's clear that his love for her singing has been rekindled as well. Certainly Anuradha will no longer be voiceless in this marriage, and that should give us hope.<br /><br />Thanks again for your comment!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-29067775769712673842014-12-02T12:52:27.989-08:002014-12-02T12:52:27.989-08:00Pessimisissimo, I am a bit more optimistic about t...Pessimisissimo, I am a bit more optimistic about the ending than you seem to be :-) <br /><br />***SPOILERS***<br />Although Anuradha chooses to remain with her husband, it is likely that her own life will change for the better. Firstly, Anuradha's reconciliation with her father means that it would now be open for her to travel to the city on a more regular basis. If nothing else, Ranu's stays with her grandfather would provide the ideal pretext. While Anuradha may not become a full-time singer by remaining with Nirmal, she could revive her reputation by taking occasional assignments while at the city. Secondly, it seems that Nirmal has learnt an important lesson in appreciating his wife's wishes and her talent - Hai Re Woh Din may have rekindled his love for her singing! He may well be more supportive of Anuradha reviving her career - at least on a part-time basis. Finally, Nirmal and Anuradha now have the (then considerable) sum of Rs 20,000, which opens up several options for Nirmal's practice. He could set up a clinic in the village and relocate to the city for his wife and daughter's sake. After all, Colonel Trivedi predicted that Nirmal's name would become famous one day; benedictions from well-wishing elders usually come true in Hindi films ;-) <br />***SPOILERS over***<br /><br />I think the film wisely ends on an emotional climax and leaves viewers free to come to their own conclusion on how Anuradha and Nirmal sort out their respective lives from now on. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16631425981532316744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-58553628535721673562014-09-12T06:11:26.702-07:002014-09-12T06:11:26.702-07:00Thanks, Filmbuff! You can contact me via e-mail fr...Thanks, Filmbuff! You can contact me via e-mail from my profile page; click the "View my complete profile" link under "About me" at the top left corner of this page.<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />P.Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-30587534115264627962014-09-11T20:29:07.072-07:002014-09-11T20:29:07.072-07:00Ha ha - her husband to consider her needs as equa...Ha ha - her husband to consider her needs as equal of his own - in our dreams esp in the 60s! Agree with all the points you have raised. I simply love the songs by Lata and Ravi Shankar's music. Balraj Sahani is my favourite hindi actor and he was really good in the scene just before the end expressing his anguish through body language. Leela naidu as you rightly pointed out was indeed very good for a first movie. I have been trying to get hold of a copy of "The Householder" in India but no luck so far. I will try to send you a copy of Hrishikesh Mukerjee's interview from the archives of The Screen where he discusses his movies. What is the best email address to send this to?<br /><br />Cheers Filmbuffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-57781802249090270672014-09-10T20:55:21.595-07:002014-09-10T20:55:21.595-07:00Filmbuff, I think part of the (near-)tragedy for t...Filmbuff, I think part of the (near-)tragedy for this couple is that Nirmal clearly stopped listening to Anuradha's music long ago. I can't say that I was surprised by the ending—it's hard to imagine an Indian film of this (or any) era endorsing a woman leaving a husband who is decent, kind, and self-sacrificing. But as I wrote in the post, it seems as though Anuradha has reached the point where none of her available choices is very satisfactory. <br /><br />What's really necessary is for her husband to consider her needs the equal of his own, and to make some sacrifices for her fulfillment. But somehow that possibility is never raised. Instead, the sacrifices of women for the sake of their husbands are extolled.<br /><br />Nonetheless, the compelling performances, nuanced script (in which all characters are shades of gray) and gorgeous images (thanks to director Mukherjee and cinematographer Jaywant R. Pathare) make this film very much worth seeing—even if Anuradha's choices, constrained as they are by the social conventions of the time, are ultimately dissatisfying.<br /><br />Thanks for your comment!Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-27097017818769486512014-09-09T22:50:45.218-07:002014-09-09T22:50:45.218-07:00Anuradha is a very good movie indeed for its story...Anuradha is a very good movie indeed for its story, direction, performances and music. Join the club about the ending. It was really filmi and contrived. One would have expected Leela Naidu to stick to her original decision. But then the movie is set in 60s India when being a "sati savitri" - local lingo for a woman dedicated to her family and household at the cost of her real interests and lack of opportunities (actually has its origins in hindu mythology) so the ending should not have come as a surprise. Very few Indian women went to work in that decade. It was only in the early 70s that a lot of educated women joined the workforce and things changed socially in India. So her decision to be housewife may be part of the cultural set up of that time. Perhaps we are viewing this years later through our 2014 eyes!<br /><br />What impressed me is Balraj expressing his reservations about her giving up music during their courtship days. In that way the movie is quite progressive - he is not the typical guy who insists his wife give up everything to make a happy family home. Balraj wanting to practice in the rural areas is understandable. This movie was made less than 2 decades of independence from British rule. There were lots of things that Independent India had to address (and still has to) in rural areas - the shortage of medical facilities and a good doctor was quite acute those days. Apologies for my long post - pls feel free to edit if you want to Filmbuffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-46676612874893587302014-09-02T19:24:47.387-07:002014-09-02T19:24:47.387-07:00Miranda, Anuradha is very much worth seeing. If Sa...Miranda, <i>Anuradha</i> is very much worth seeing. If Sachin Bhowmic and Hrishikesh Mukherjee couldn't come up with a satisfying solution to Anuradha's dilemma, perhaps the fault lies with a society (not only in India) that forces women to choose between self-realization and family. And if you come to the film for Balraj Sahni, you'll leave with a deep appreciation of Leela Naidu—this was her first film, and it's to be regretted that she appeared in only a few more.<br /><br />Best,<br /><br />P.Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186118329509553435.post-73598821681270731552014-09-02T06:37:31.125-07:002014-09-02T06:37:31.125-07:00I just put this in my queue to see a couple days a...I just put this in my queue to see a couple days ago! For Balraj Sahni mostly. Sounds like it has some fascinating concepts but some frustrating ways of dealing with them...which is good to know. Miranda https://www.blogger.com/profile/13418800569507952654noreply@blogger.com