Sangam was to be Raj Kapoor’s first color movie. Raj Kapoor, they call him great show man, one of the best Indian director, who made movies for general Indian audience and still it was different and artistic. He was known for not sacrificing his ideas for general audience and commercialism. He was also known for his great sense of music. Take any of his films and music will be always stands out. And, Raj Kapoor showmanship was at best in this movie.
Sangam (1964) is one of his most beloved movies and even though it’s been 40 years, it’s hard to imagine any captivating love story better than this one. Indian movie industry churned out thousands of triangle love stories to date, but there are hardly countable love stories stands out, Sangam is one of them.
Story
The place where three sacred rivers of Ganga, Jamuna, and Saraswati meet at Allahabad, this meeting place is known as Sangam. Sunder (Raj Kapoor), Gopal (Rajendra Kumar) and Radha (Vyjayantimala) are three childhood friends and how these friends get separated by a twist of fate, and then they meet is what Sangam is all about.
Although Gopal and Radha have always loved each other without expressing their love, Sunder is oblivious to this and always compels his friend Gopal to ask Radha’s parents to let Sunder marry Radha. Radha’s parents reject Sunder’s proposal on the grounds that he is a drifter and is not capable of supporting their daughter after marriage.
Though heartbroken, Sunder decides to go away to join the armed forces and become worthy of asking Radha’s hand in marriage. Sundar has to join the ongoing war. He leaves his friend Gopal to take care of his beloved Radha and tell him to make sure no third person enters in Radha and his life.
As fate of life – Sundar fighter plane crashed in opposition territory, upon hearing that Sunder is missing in action and feared to be dead, Gopal accepts Radha’s proposal for love and marriage. Gopal is shy and express his love through love letters to Radha, which is obviously very dear to Radha.
When Gopal and Radha about to marry, Sunder re-appears on the scene. Gopal is faced with the dilemma of not hurting his friend by telling Sunder the truth, Radha will not sacrifice her love and happiness for his sincerity towards his friend. Gopal reject offer from Radha’s parents for marriage, leaving Radha no choice to marry Sundar.
Sundar had always wanted two things in his life – Radha’s love and Gopal’s friendship. Once he got married, he was on top of the world. They both went for long honeymoon in Europe. Sundar kept writing letters and phone calls to Gopal to join them anywhere in the Europe. Finally he accepts his offer and joins them in Europe. This is where Radha tells Gopal to stay away from her married life.
One day, Sundar finds Gopal’s love letters from Radha’s wardrobe. He goes just crazy and wanted to find out who wrote letters. This is where story moves and brings all three friends together for final fate of their friendship.
Analysis
Music is always one of great assets of Raj Kapoor movies. Shankar Jaikishen’s music rendered Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri’s lyrics along with Raj Kapoor’s music number direction makes whole journey beautiful. Yeh Mera Prem Patra Padhkar, O Meri Mehbooba, O Mere Sanam, Dost Dost Na Raha, Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega, Bol Radha Bol, Buddha Mil Gaya are still favorites among music lovers. My personal favorites are Yeh Mera Prem Patra Padhkar and O Mere Sanam.
Although all songs are beautifully shot, Mera Prem Patra stands out. It was shot in Ooty valleys surrounded by beautiful fall colorful trees. Either you see Prem Rog or Bobby, Raj Kapoor is always fond of fall colors. If you are watching movie, just wait for last shot of the Prem Patra song. When Lata start humming and singing last mukhda of the song and long shot of Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayantimala walking holding each other behind the trees is breathtaking. This shows you what a great director Raj Kapoor was.
There are lot of scenes are my personal favorites in the movie but, last sequence will stay with me forever. It is time for Sangam of three great friends, their mysteries. It is haunting, and pulse pounding. You forget about actors and want to know what will happen to Radha. I still remember staring at Radha while Sundar and Gopal decides their and Radha’s fate. Radha was crying with eyes closed and had no idea why fate brought them together (Sangam) at this stage of her life. Just for side note - Lawrence D’Souza in his 1993’s Saajan mirrors this scene.
Some of other great sequences are in the movie when Gopal joins Sundar and Radha in their later portion of honeymoon, The way they meet at falls, Radha’s telling to Gopal to stay away from their life, Gopal try to leave for India, Sundar try to contact to Gopal – first at hotel reception, then Geneva airport, then Air India - It was just amazing. You can feel pain and love for his friends in Gopal’s eyes. Another sequence was in later portion of the movie – Sundar’s disliking Radha’s jewelry, Radha give her wardrobe key to Sundar to get jewelry, Sundar opens jewelry box, finds Radha’s letter, reads letter, Radha’s look into mirror watching Sundar reading letter, and their confrontation for next 2-3 minutes is beautifully directed.
I simply love this movie. But, there are still negative things about this movie. Personally it never bothers me but it can be very important for some viewers. First, Movie runs for 3 and half hour. It was released in India with 2 intervals in 1964. The favorable thing about this movie is actual action happens in last hour and that’s why it can hold audience interest for 3 and half hour. Second, I thought middle reels of the movie; honeymoon portion was bit too long. It looked like more of travel video showing London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Alps, Hamburg, Switzerland but knowing this is first movie shot in European locations, I can understand Raj Kapoor couldn’t resist having them in the movie. On the other side, even though honeymoon portion runs for half an hour in the movie, you might love it. It shows one of best European locations with great shot selection and camerawork.
Conclusion
As far as the movie, this is Bollywood cinema at their best in golden years. Great star cast, melodious music, amazing direction and camera work, and hard pounding drama. It’s a glamorous movie with every components of movie making complements each other. I would definitely recommend it for everyone. Go rent the movie and watch it with your sweetheart, friends or family.
