~~Poetic Exploration of Love and Relations~~. Review on Silsila

Although not a big hit at the box office, this is one of my favorite classic movies. I can rate it as one of the best movies of all time. This film has some great drama, and it deals with a serious social issue. It was first of it’s kind to explore the theme of extramarital affair.

People say that this Bollywood movie was based on the real life story of Amitabh, who was married to Jaya Bhaduri and had an affair with Rekha. Whatsoever the reason was the chemistry between the two was very evident on screen. I think this magic pair has given nearly 10 films. Today also this pair is considered as one of the hottest couple of bollywood. The glamour attached to the couple is such that even today when any of the trio is seen in one place, the camera crews never fail to capture their reactions towards one another.

Cast:

Starring:Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Rekha, Special Appearance: Shashi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar

Music:Shiv-Hari

Lyrics:Javed, Rajendra Krishan, Nida Fazli, Hassan Kamal, Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan

Produced & Directed By:Yash Chopra

Story Line………………

SILSILA was Yash Chopra back to triangular romances. The story line of this film was different and very rare as it deals with a subject ahead of time.

Shobha's (Jaya Bahaduri) life has come to a dead end after her fiancé Shekhar (Shashi Kapoor) dies in a plane crash. Shobha is expected to become mother of the child of Shashi Kapoor. Amit (Amitabh Bachchan) sacrifices his own love Chandni (Rekha) to marry Shobha in an attempt to save Shobha and her child’s life.

However, Shobha has a miscarriage and finds herself married to a man who doesn't love her.

Chandni re-enters their lives. When fate brings Amit and Chandni face to face again, both are married to different people - but neither can ignore their feelings for each other. They again resume romancing. Amit and Chandni meet frequently. Amit decides that he cannot live a double life and comes clean about the affair....U can feel this when Amitabh sings the song

majabuur ye haalaat, idhar bhI hai udhar bhii

ab dil me.n yahii baat, idhar bhI hai, udhar bhii

While the lovers meet and even their love evolve, their partners suffer in silence. Just try to feel the frustration of sanjeev kumar at its peak in the song rung barse. The expression given by sanjeev kumar in the song is incomparable. U can just imagine that what will happen to a man when somebody sings these lines for his wife.

sone kii thaalii me.n jonaa parosaa

holii hai!

Lilting melodies and Neat, skillful, and to the point situations are the highlights of this movie. I still like Some of the scenes. I loved how they really drove home that it isn't easy to have an affair. All the lying, the suspicions (mostly by random people), having to defend yourself. It's all together a difficult job.

That stand up type scene with Amit enacting part of his play

Amit lying to Jaya about the award function.

The fairy tale that Sanjeev kumar tells to Jaya

The confrontation between Jaya and Chandi

The scene when Amit-Rekha meets in shopping mall

The scene when they meet in plant exhibition.

The scene when kalbhushan kjarbanda comes to sanjeev’s home to discuss problem of his sister(jaya bahaduri).

Climax…

Once again, like his other movies, Yash Chopra had failed to deliver a convincing climax. In the end, the wife played by jaya bahaduri wins the game of love.

It seems strange that he changed his mind so quick...right after he found out she is pregnant. Even I would like him to stay with Jaya but the director made the character act and talk in such a way that it seemed Chandni was his love...and someone he truly loved...Well anyways since its a Bollywood film...it was expected he stay with Jaya only.

Performance:

All the actors acted exceptionally well, in this movie. Actingwise, Amitabh once again steals the show. This is the movie to prove that Bachchan ji can also play a lover boy apart from his angry young man image.

Overall, I thought Amit and Rekha looked great together - there's a certain charisma there, definitely. In a small role Shashi Kapoor was charming. Jaya fitted the role well, and gives a passable performance. Sanjeev Kumar performs nicely as usual. He has done well as cuckolded husband.

Direction wise, Yash Chopra did a good job. The film was well organized except the climax. Chopra handled the extra-martial affair with much sensitivity and maturity. Today this subject is a hot topic but Silsila was total opposite. The dialogues drip with poetry, and they are very meaningful...the romance is shown in a very classy way, nice songs....and the acting was first class...

Music of Silsila:

True to the trade mark of Yash Raj movies, the soundtrack of Silsila is full of meaningful lyrics and melodious tunes by Shiv – Hari. All the songs are beautiful.

''Rang Barse'' is an Amitabh classic, The song ‘rang barse’, is considered as national anthem for ‘Holi Festival’.

''Neela Aasman'' is probably the best song sung by Amitabh, in my opinion.

''Dekha Ek Khawob'' by Kishore and Lata and

''Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum'' by Lata is everlasting which continue to haunt today also.

The Box office Reaction……………

With a story ahead of its time and hit music, one would have assumed that the film would have become a box office hit. But it actually bombed when it was released. To make matters worse, the film didn’t pick up a single award nomination.

The bottom line…..

I consider Silsila the mother of all love stories in Bollywood. It's a bit of a controversial film. But All in all, it was a beautiful film, and something which I think contains a very good message in it.

I was in standard VIII when I have seen this movie for the first time; I never understood why Amitabh decided to stay with his wife. Instead I wished that Amitabh should go for Rekha. As I grew older, I came to know the wisdom in his choice to remain faithful to his wife.

~Aamir~