Chitchor

I have been meaning to write this since ages & got sidetracked somehow. It is a film which becomes a household name & you are yet to see it. Exactly! all my friends would discuss & I would be left alone. Thinking who is Amol Palekar? & Zarina Wahab, Vijayendra just how do they look! Then suddenly I got a chance to go to the theatres & watch the film! Was I equally impressed!

It is a debut film of Zarina Wahab. Always rumoured that the role was written With Jaya in mind. Even the costumes & the way she moves reminds of Jaya. A village belle, daughter of the village Headmaster, is always in the company of the neighbour’s boy. A story by Bengali writer Subodh Ghosh based on his Bengali original,Chittachakor. It is by Rajashree Productions. Later done in other languages. The original for ‘Main prem ki diwani hoon’ with Kareena Kapoor, Hritik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan & others.

She has an elder sister living in Mumbai. She informs of an Engineer coming there & may be a possible good match for Geeta (Zarina Wahab) When Amol Palekar comes by train he is assumed to be the engineer, taken home & treated well. The frequent meetings between the two helps develop a tender bond. Just then arrives the real engineer, Vijayendra Ghatge & the mother wishes that Geeta should turn her attention to him. An engagement is announced by the family. Hearing that Amol is leaving the by train, Geeta rushes to meet him but misses. Vijayendra drives her back & Amol is in the house. All misconceptions get cleared & now things are back to normal.

It went on to became a silver jubilee hit. Amol Palekar had already worked in “Rajanigandha”(his debut film) & ‘Chhoti Si baat’ with Basu Bhattacharya. This was his third hit film.The singer K J Yesudas won the National award for his songs ..’Gori tera gaon bada pyara main to gaya mara ake yahan re…’,’Tu jo mere sur mein sur milaye sang gaye toh zindagi ho jaye safal…’,’Aaj se pehle aaj se jyada khushi aaj tak nahi mili…’,’Jab deep jale aana jab shaam dhale aana…’ Hemlata had filmfare’s award for the film. The child artist Master Raju had the National award. He is excellent in other films too like, “Kitaab”, ‘Parichay’,etc.

The 1997 ‘Pardes’ by Subhash Ghai was loosely based on this theme. It starred Shahrukh Khan, Mahima Chaudhary( her debut), Apoorva Agnihotri & others. It again has beautiful songs like..’Do dil mil rahe hain magar chupke chupke…”Meri mehbooba’,’Deewana dil…’ Another major hit at the boxoffice.

What really gets you is the attitude of the parents. When they have encouraged her to meet the boy how can she change her affections for someone else ? After an ordinary Amol is the very world for her however much more stylish Vijayendra maybe things don’t change. One can’t plan to fall in love & then fall out!

Remaining firm & making the right choices in life. Happy living!