When I first heard this title I couldn’t get it. They could have just called it ‘Aadmi’ why ‘doosra’? We had themes then as ‘Pati,patni aur woh’. The title was clear,we know what to expect. Today I feel they were ahead of their times. I appreciate Rakhee trying different roles & shades in it. She started off with ‘Jeevan Mrityu’, ‘Black mail’,’Sharmilee’.In “Basera” she was Shashi Kapoor’s wife. She pretends to be mad for the family’s benefit. In ‘Sharmilee’ her husband was again Shashi Kapoor.She has a double role, black & white. The two characters she played had exactly opposite nature. The negative one had to be partner in crime & wore short & revealing outfits which lead actresses did not do.She looked best(she has confessed that!) with Amitabh. In ‘Trishul’, ‘Kasme Vaade’, ‘Muqaddar ka Sikandar’,’Barsaat ki ek Raat’ & others.
In ‘Doosra Aadmi’ she is in an advertising agency when she loses her boyfriend, Shashi Kapoor. She lives like a recluse. Years later she joins a firm by Rishi Kapoor & realises he reminds her of her boyfriend. Rishi is married to Neetu Singh & is unaware of his employee’s feelings.’Chal kahin door nikal jaye…’ was popular then with ‘Ankhon mein kajal hai…’
A delicate issue dealt here as expected was not accepted by the audience. Even today don’t we expect certain behaviour & not like that doesn’t follow the norms? A woman having desires is not acceptable so is fantasising.In spite of the loving pair of Rishi Kapoor & Neetu Singh the film did not do well. As is the case of ‘Lamhe’. A 40 ish, father like figure is not to be loved but only respected. It was a beautiful story but rejected by the audience. A girl that he has not fathered, only taken care of. Daughter of a friend that he wanted to get married to. He is unmarried to this day. If the daughter thinks of him as a partner & not a father? Do people have a choice to think independently without the society’s interference?
Not all women are cut out to become only mothers, some may have feelings for themselves! Are we denying their right to think on their own? To lead life as they wish? Dreams are something that we have no control over. So aspirations may have certain colors. Are we going to deny that?
When I saw “Sairat” I had a very bad feeling at the end. They ran away, not good. But was their other option? This “Other” bothers me even today. They settled & had their own life. Yet people had to meddle. Why should it be so difficult to aspire,dream, to lead life as we wish? Without hurting anybody, without any support I presume it needs courage to prove one self! Then can’t we have a large heart to encompass the changing times!
If we think of people,who are they? You & me! Aren’t we a part of the whole? & where are these people when the things get tough? Who paves the way? We have to search on our own! Where there is a will, there is a way! So there is a way, we better find it! Searching for new ways then. Till then happy viewing!
Asian Entertainment 