Uljhan

Right from the name it was a puzzle. Not knowing Hindi I was perplexed with the title. The credits roll with a wheel moving fast. The music was loud & suspicious. This Hindi film starring Sanjeev Kumar & Sulakshana Pandit is one of the first mystery films I saw. It has that iconic song, ‘Apne jeevan ki uljhan ko kaise mein sulzau…’ by Lata Mangeshkar. Sulakshana herself was a very good singer & wanted to sing in her every film. She had to turn down many films. With time not on her side she vanished. But till she lasted she has given us good films.

It is another Jalani film after ‘Anamika’.But here the mystery revolves around a murder. In the opening scene, Sulakshana meets a man who is blackmailing her friend. She wants all the love letters written by her friend. The man is shameless & tries to take advantage. In the shuffle that ensues he is killed. While returning back, the corner of her shawl gets stuck & she gives a jerk , frees herself.

Soon she gets married to Anand, who is investing this case. The lovely number like ‘Subah aur shaam kaam hi kaam kyun nahi lete piya pyar ka naam’. He gets the piece of shawl & knows now he is nearer the truth. But he is unaware of it hitting so close. The movie brings out all the kinds of emotions that you wish for.

The investigation, their marriage, the deceased, the family all is worth watching. Even today after so many years it remains in my mind as a good film. Another film with the mystery is “Trishna” or the thirst. It begins with a happily married couple, Sanjeev Kumar & Rakhee . They have but one wish & that is a child. She decides to take a break & visits her sister at Khandala. Decoration is going on under the guidance of Shashi Kapoor who happens to be Rakhee’s classmate.They meet & he decides to persue her. In a suffle he gets killed.Both the sisters dispose off the body.

Later Sanjeev Kumar comes to Khandala. He is accompanied by a man who has lost his memory. It is none other than Shashi Kapoor. The turmoil that ensues is worth watching. With big stars like these it is worth watching. The song ‘Din ba din woh mere dil se kyun door door…” was famous then.

When mystery dramas were to take place in PS Natya griha, the ads had a fixed line…Don’t miss the beginning & don’t tell the end! I think I will follow that today. So watching will be compulsory. Happy watching!