The moral of life... Review on Saaransh

'The moral of a story' is what our English teacher used to ask us in school after completion of each prose in the English Text book. That is what Saaransh is all about - The infinite morals of a Story known as Life.

Now Showing:

Saaransh (1984)

Lyrics: Vasant Deo

The Characters:

B.V. Pradhan played by Anupam Kher

Parvati played by Rohini Hattangadi

The Story:

B. V. Pradhan is a retired school teacher, who stays in Bombay alone with his wife Parvati. Their son has been killed in New York over a senseless incident. Here the old couple live a life helpless and aimless. Parvati has taken shelter under the roof of religion. Her guru (preacher) has told her that she will soon see the re-birth of her own son.

As to drive away their loneliness and to add some strength to Pradhan's weak pension, they lend one of their rooms on hire to a young struggling actress Sujata (Soni Razdan). Sujata is struggling to make it to movies someday. She is having an affair with a guy named Vilas. Vilas is a son of a local politician Gajanan Chitre (Nilu Phule). Vilas and Sujata dream of marriage. But Vilas's father is against this marriage.

One day as Pradhan is trying to search a job for himself, gets beaten by a group of street side urchins. Shocked and humilated by the incident, Pradhan tries to commit sucide, but is saved by Vilas at the last minute. When Parvati comes to know about this, she decides that next time she will accompany him in his journey to death. As days pass by, the couple is about to consume poison and end their lives when they overhear a quarrel in the adjoining room. Sujata is carrying Vilas's son and Vilas is asking her for abortion of the child. Vilas needs some time to talk to his father. Here Parvati recollects what her guru had told her and takes it that it is her son being re-born.

Now Pradhan has to keep his wife's illusion alive by saving their son from Vilas and his politician father. This leads him into a war against corrupt system which he eventually wins. This war has made him strong and firm to face the hardships life has in store for him. Now he has decided to fight another war. This time against his wife's illusions. On his insistance the happily married Sujata & Vilas leave the old couple's room. Parvati tries to stop them from leaving but in vain. Soon after she sees her re-born son gone, she reminds Pradhan to go back to their room and finish their lives as there was nothing left to it. Pradhan helps her realise that they cannot give away their lives for the dead. They have to live their lives overcoming all obstacles. Life has to continue.

The soul of Saaransh:

Saaransh is a movie about values of human beings, self respect, courage and the need to live. Saaransh says it's we who have to control our lives and not let life to take control over us. Pradhan has lost everything as he hears about the loss of his son. He hasn't lost everything, but he tends to believe that he has lost everything. He is not willing to open his eyes and face life, but he is trying every possible way to put an end to it. In every possible way, he is trying to find a cause to end his life. Then it is not his wife's urge but something within him that he takes over the fight to save Sujata & Vilas's unborn child. This fight with the system where he comes across corruption, coward society and even risk to his own life recharges him with a reason to live. He is transformed from a living dead body to living human being just in course of his struggle to save the child. He now not only sees his reason to live but also passes his reason to his Parvati who has been fighting rather than living her life. She is not ready believe that she has lost her son. She has stopped her life at that very moment where she heard of her son's death. She has just been living with the hope that her guru has given her. She is still waiting for her son's re-birth as if he was to come back from New York. Now as Pradhan shakes her off her dream, she faces life she had been unwilling to face till now. She has to let away the past and respect her own life by living it.

Thus Saaransh lives as it tells the importance to live.

The Performances:

Anupam Kher made a debut in Bollywood with 'Saaransh'. Believe it or not but when he played this role of a retired school teacher, he was just 27 years old. But he played this role of an old man to perfection. No one can make out this could be a guy of 27 years of age in the movie. That is where the strength of an actor lies. Saaransh can be pointed out as Anupam Kher's best movie till date. Ofcourse Daddy stands a second runnerup. Rohini Hattangadi keeps Parvati under control. Parvati is a role which has all possibilities of going over the top. But the talented actress sees to it that it doesn't happen so. What comes in front of us is Rohini's excellent portrayal of Parvati. Nilu Phule & Soni Razdan give commendable performances.

The Technical Aspects:

Mahesh Bhatt has given Bollywood many landmark movies. Kash, Arth, Naam, Daddy, Zakhm... are just to name a few. He tells the story of Saaransh from a view of of a normal middle class man. The way he has handled the subject shows his honesty towards his project. The movie could have been forgetable without that Mahesh Bhatt touch. The cinematography and art direction by Madhukar Shinde takes the viewer straight into the house of the old couple for a stay. Thus adding to the effect of the director's sensitive touch.

The lessons taught by Saaransh:

Live life as it comes.

If a moment, happy or sad comes it has to go. Holding onto it brings nothing but pain.