Great Indian Movies - Nikaah. Review on Nikaah

B.R.Chopra who made most of his life social movies best known for his critically acclaimed Mahabharata TV series released in India in early 90s. He thought it’s his obligation to talk about social issues and spread messages through the cinema medium.

B.R.Chopra’s 1982 film, Nikaah enlightens us about value of marriage. Nikaah is Urdu word means Marriage. He also raised a few questions on the Muslim’s way of divorcing. Those who think marriage, as just sexual premise given by society, will be shocked at the outcome of this movie. This movie is based on Muslim laws for divorce and re-marriage (Talaq and Khula). As we know, secular India has always controversy regarding religious themes in the movie. Brave B.R.Chopra not only managed to skirt around controversy by incorporating correct Muslim marriage laws in the screenplay but also managed to shoot very critical scene in the actual mosque.

Story

Nilofar (Debutant Salma Agha) and Haider (Raj Babbar) are fellow students at University. Unknown to Haider, Nilofar is in love with her cousin Wasim (Deepak Parashar). When Haider advances are rejected he withdraws and decides to forget his college romance.

After a grand Nikaah, Nilofar and Wasim’s marital life hits a rough patch. While Nilofar awaits her husband in loneliness, in search for the home she once dreamt of, Wasim is busy trying to build his career as an architect. Once he got his love of life, he is busy making money for his love of life. When Wasim fails to turn up for their first wedding anniversary party, Nilofar confronts Wasim - only to be humiliated by him when in the heat of the moment, he divorces her. Wasim probably took her for granted and in a fit of anger separated himself from her by shouting ’Talaq’ thrice. It just took three words to decide Nilofar’s fate of life forever.

In an attempt to rebuild her life as a writer, Nilofar comes across Haider, who is now an editor and publishes Nilofar’s work. Haider takes the role of a friend, philosopher and guide - but still nurses a secret desire to have a future together. In the meantime, Wasim is repenting his actions and tries to meet and convince Nilofar to re-marry him. His desire to re-marry takes him to find true value of marriage. He finds out its not an easy to get re-marry according to Muslim laws.

As she was rebuilding her life, she finds out its not easy for single woman to stay alone in the society. One grieving moment, Haider ask her hand for marriage and she was very happy get marital support at this juncture of her life. This step of Nilofar makes Wasim think Nilofar is just following Muslim marriage law and will come back to his life.

At this stage, many misunderstandings and confusions in Nilofar, Haider and Wasim’s life bring them together for final fate of their life. Both men try to analyze what wrong they have done without thinking about Nilofar’s feelings and its up to Nilofar to decide her fate by herself.

Nikaah is a story of Wasim’s unintentional selfishness as a man and a husband. It is a story of Haider’s selfless love for Nilofar. It is a story of Nilofar - A women torn between the past and present. It is story of what happens to them and taking responsibility of why it happened to them.

Analysis

Nikaah’s story is based on play of Achla Nagar, daughter of famous Hindi novelist and storywriter Amrit Lal Nagar. There are some scenes carved in my mind since I have seen this movie when I was 11 year old. At age 32, I recently watched Nikaah and its impact haven’t changed at all.

First, A first anniversary night – A divorce. Wife remembers marriage date and husband was careless. The way husband wife confrontation enacted by B.R.Chopra in the heat of anger is simply outstanding. I still can’t believe how three words change woman’s life forever.

Second, A second anniversary night – Husband remembers date and it was past for the wife. Wasim invites Nilofar for dinner. Wasim remembers their happy days while listening Chupke Chupke Raat Din. B.R.Chopra’s editing of scenes from current and flashback in Ghazal had everlasting impact on me.

Last and best, Prologue of the movie. It talks about woman’s role in our society and how man abused them time to time. How they endure man’s cruelty time to time. Once you are done watching film, B.R.Chopra’s message is its up to woman to change their role in man oriented society.

Nikaah’s soundtrack is one of best music given by Ravi. Beete Hue Lamho Ki, Chehra Chupa Liya Hai, Chupke Chupke Raat Din, Dil Ke Armaan, Dil Ki Yeh Arzoo Thi, and Faza Bhi Hai Jawan Jawan. Most of the songs sung by debutant star Salma Agha and Mahendra Kapoor. Prior to this movie, she was already music sensation in her native country, Pakistan. My personal favorites are Dil Ke Armaan, Faza Bhi Hai Jawan Jawan, and Ghulam Ali’s Gazal - Chupke Chupke Raat Din. All three songs were gelled very well in the screenplay. It was used to progress the story, instead of mere placement.

After initial recording of songs, Ravi first rejected Salma’s voice. ’’Dil Ke Arman’’ supposed to be sung in upper scale and Salma’s thick voice renders low scale. Salma was depressed by knowing her voice rejection. If she can’t sing in her own movie then her singing career might be in jeopardy. B.R Chopra later convinced Ravi to vary the composition and scale of the film’s music to suit her voice.

I wouldn’t say this is among the best acting I have seen in the cinema. Raj Babbar is most natural and best among all three. Even though Salma Agha and Deepak Parashar were practicing for their roles for six months prior to shooting, you can easily say they are novice and looked like puppet sometimes in front of camera. But, story and screenplay compensate everything. This is first time you ever see story will take care of other department’s deficiencies automatically. You won’t notice any acting defects and that’s beauty of execution of screenplay. This is one of the best stories portrayed on Indian cinema.

Conclusion

This is one of my most favorite movies. Even though story is often repeated love triangle, it has genuine different backdrop. This is my personal favorite because of its undercurrent theme - value of marriage. This movie is must see for mature viewers out there and it talks about one of most abused ceremony in humankind.