Madan J
Exceptional movie in the era of 80's Bollywood. This is one of those rare gems where watching movie is kind of listening to a beautiful poem. Gulzar the filmmaker blends with Gulzar the poet with such a grace. Dialogues too have poetry. And what to say about songs. RD-Gulzar, they have delivered a masterpiece!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
07/29/23
Full Review
Audience Member
<bold>The Movie:</bold>
My love for Gulzar has grown by leaps and bounds in the past four years. Especially because I have been watching a lot of his movies recently. In fact I have decided to own a collection of all the movies directed by him. The first movie of my collection has to be none other than Ijaazat. It will not be an exaggeration if I say, ek sau sola chand ki raatein, ek gulzar ki Ijaazat! Ijaazat has been my favourite film for GOD knows how many years now. I grew up listening to and cherishing the classy songs of the film. As I grew older, I became aware of the lyrical excellence of the film. Never got an opportunity of watching the film in theatre but I knew everything about the film, each and every interlude and prelude of each and every song, picturisation of the songs and also the story of the film. From whatever I had watched heard from my friends, read in articles and saw on TV, I had put together the entire movie in my head, almost shot by shot.
Few years back when I finally saw the movie, to my surprise, it was only a better version of what I had already imagined.Ijaazat is a touching story of an estranged couple that has a chance encounter in the waiting room of an isolated railway station on a rainy night. After initial hesitation, they start reminiscing about their past.
The story proceeds in flashback, which is skillfully intercut with the real time of the rainy night. As the night proceeds, Mahendra (Naseerudin Shah) and Sudha (Rekha) become equally interested in knowing about each other’s life but are reluctant to share what happened with them. No one makes obvious attempts to salvage their broken relationship but there is a sense of connectivity and comfort that gets established instantaneously.Through a series of flashbacks, the past unfolds;
Mahendra (Naseerudin Shah) is in love with a progressive-minded Maya (Anuradha Patel), who does not believe in marriage. She has her own reasons for her thinking. In spite of having an incredibly emotional and passionate relationship, Mahendra cannot get Maya to commit to him.Maya is eccentric at times and often takes off to unknown destination in search of solace. Often, her trips leave Mahindra worried, as he has no idea about her whereabouts.Soon Mahindra gets pressurized by his Dadaji (Shammi Kapoor) to get married to Sudha (Rekha).Mahendra tries his best to reach Maya but she is away on one of her trips.By the time Maya comes back to reality, Mahindra is married to Sudha. However the newly married couple’s happiness is short-lived as even after her exit from Mahendra’s life, Maya lingers in each and every nook and corner of Mahendra’s house.Initially Maya’s memories, her belongings and later her comeback, slowly causes damage to Sudha’s insecurities and her marriage to Mahendra. Sudha, whose patience runs out and the marriage yields to some awful misunderstandings and ego-hassles between the couple and Sudha leaves home without Mahendra’s Ijaazat.
<bold>The Maker:</bold>
The great Gulzar Saab has beautifully portrayed Mahendra’s passionate yet tumultuous relationship with Maya. The film remains totally focused on the main characters and their plight. The characterization is perfect. Also, Gulzar’s sensitive writing makes the most of the couple’s ambiguous relationship, but after some initial discomfiture, it becomes obvious that each still loves the other. Just as the couple seems to be heading inevitably for reconciliation, Gulzar Saab throws in a disturbing twist…Some things remain unsaid and others are silently conveyed through Mahendra and Sudha’s farewell to each other.Dialogues written by Gulzar Saab, linger in your memories for a long time. One feels sorry for Naseer’s character when he says, ’Zindagi bhi to ek waiting room hai’. The audience’s heart aches when Rekha defines Naseer’s agitation by saying, ’Aadatein chali jaati hain, adheekaar nahin’.
<bold>The Performers:</bold>
Naseeruddin Shah’s character (Mohinder) wins the audience’s empathy. In fact, his character seems to want it too! He excels in his character from a sensitive lover to a responsible husband and later to a lonesome person stranded on the platform on a rainy night. Ijaazat is definitely one of his outstanding performances.
Rekha is Rekha (Sudha)..! Simple and adorable.!
Maya....The surprise element of the film was Anuradha Patel. Maya- The movie’s biggest surprise pack and one of the best actresses...Anuradha Patel. Maya the mystery which she brings by her absence in the beginning of the movie. Maya the mad poetess, the eccentric personality, the unpredictably weird girl who loved Mahinder has her own reasons of not believing in marriage. You can term her as crazy and yet can’t hate her childishness. Anuradha Patel has babyish innocence and yet a dare-devil attitude. You can neither love her, nor hate her. Too good for a new-comer. This was her debut film but she is extremely confident and has a great screen presence. Maya’s character required a blend of glamour and innocence. Anuradha Patel had that rare combination. I was shocked to find out that she lost that year’s Filmfare award for best supporting actress to someone like Sonu Walia, who won it for Khoon Bhari Maang!
<bold>The Charmer:</bold>
Towards the mid-1980s our dearest Panchamda (R.D.Burman) was going through a rough patch as his films started collapsing at the box-office. This was the time when his producers started backing out. He was hurt and had started feeling left out. This was the time when he endowed us with the brilliant scores like Ijaazat and Saagar.
The music of Ijaazat restated that Panchamda was simply matchless. Each of the four songs are a masterpiece - Choti si Kahani Hai, Khaali Haath Shaam Aayi Hai, Katra Katra and the icing on the cake Mera Kuch Samaan which also won Asha Bhosle her second National Award.
It is indisputable that Ijaazat is one of the finest products to emerge out of the mainstream tradition in the nineteen eightees.
<bold>The movie is highly recommended to the ones who love to watch sensible and sensitive cinema.</bold>
<bold>So, grab a copy of the film and get a taste of the fineness of our Indian cinema. Until next time, ijaazat chahunga…!</bold>
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/29/23
Full Review
Audience Member
a very touchy movie...
fantastic... acting...
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
01/14/23
Full Review
Audience Member
gulzar is a magician weaver.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
01/30/23
Full Review
Audience Member
again no words! its an alltime classic frm Gulzar...naseer, rekha, anuradha have done more than justice to the script n idea...n class music from R.D.Burman...i still hum it even today! :)
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
02/27/23
Full Review
Audience Member
The English translation should say 'permission', not 'guest'. Great movie and soundtrack.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/31/23
Full Review
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