Ijaazat

Another film directed by Gulzar.It is a 1987 film featuring Rekha, Naseeruddin Shah,Anuradha Patel,Dina Pathak.An estranged couple meets in a railway station’s waiting room & revisit their past.

Ijaazat means permission.When stepping out one needs to seek permission & only then go out.The rules of the house are binding to all & is expected in every household.After a fight,packing up & leaving at will is not permissible.It is based on a Bengali story,Jatugriha by Subodh Ghosh.The movie is based on a 1964 film Jatugriha.Uttam Kumar & Arundhati Devi were in the lead.

It is about the past & present lives of Mahender & his wife Sudha.His marriage with Sudha has been fixed for five years but he keeps on postponing it because he is involved with Maya,who suddenly disappears & he gets married to Sudha.He is quite happy with Sudha but sudden appearance of Maya brings tensions in their married life.Maya tries to commit suicide & Mahender starts to spend more time with her.Not knowing about Maya’s suicide attempt,Sudha believes her husband is being unfaithful & thinks her marriage is a mistake.He gets angry & threatens to bring Maya home.Maya hears them,knows Sudha is angry & leaves so when Mahender reaches she has left & here Sudha has also left thinking she is the third wheel.Mahender is shocked & has a heart attack.Maya nurses him to health.When he is thinking of bringing back Sudha he gets the divorce notice.He gets angry & in the outburst Maya realises she was the reason of their breakup.She rides a bike where her long scarf gets caught in the wheel,She dies.

In the present,Sudha is saddened by Maya’s demise.Suddenly the door swings open & Shashi Kapoor comes in.He is like a fresh breeze & a pleasant surprise.We are so hooked up in the story,there is a perceptible gasp at his entry.What an entry! He inquires if he is late & helps to gather her things.Mahender asks her to forgive him.She touches his feet for his forgiveness & for the permission (ijaazat) to leave him which she had not done earlier.Again Shashi Kapoor comes in to ask her to hurry.Kaun tha? Rishtedar?Dost?? Ohh Mahender! this remark says it all. Unable to speak Sudha only nods & looks back tearfully.Mahender watches helplessly.

!988 National film award….Best female playback singer for Asha Bhosle…Mera kuch samaan tumhare paas pada hai…Best lyrics for Gulzar…1989 Filmfare Award for best lyricist Gulzar & best story Subodh Ghosh.

As the titles roll we have “Choti Si kahani se Barishon Ke paani se….” beautifully picturised.Most of the story takes place in Panchgani,so the locale was abundantly used.then there is the romantic “Katra katra milti hai,katra katra jeene ko zindagi hai…” the photography is superb here & the sad one…”Khali haath shaam aayi hai,khali haath jayegi…” The RD Burman-Asha Bhosle magic is at work,with Gulzar….is in itself the best award for us.Worth watching.Happy viewing!