Ghulam: The slave

Ghulam was a movie that won accolades for both Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji. I was watching it again when it was coming on TV for the Nth rerun, and there are many scenes that are very gripping. It is somewhat different from the normal romance brand of movies. Released in 1998, and directed by Vikram Bhatt, the story of a Mumbai tapori had a charm in its own sense.
The title of the movie is played in 2 ways, one is about Aamir no longer remaining a slave and breaking free, and the second is when this rebellion finally inspires the long-subjugated and yet somewhat rebellious nukkad (neighborhood) to finally join Aamir in his rebellion against the local thug.



The movie is essentially about these 2 brothers, Jai (Rajit Kapoor) and Siddharth (Aamir) who live in a local basti (neighborhood). They are the sons of a former freedom fighter who has tried to bring them up with morals, but who has hidden a terrible guilt about betraying his former friends to the British under duress. When Siddarth was young, his father was visited by a former colleague who berated him for this treachery, and this caused him to commit suicide.
Now, both of them work to some level for the local goonda and former boxer, Raunak Singh (Sharat Saxena). Jai advises him in a financial and strategic way, since Raunak wants to get out of this low level earning stream, and enter the world of executing contracts for the state, something that will catapult him into a higher league of earnings altogether. For this, he needs that there should be no controversy around him now, but he is essentially of a hard and ruthless nature who brooks no opposition. Siddarth is an aspiring boxer who does odd work for Raunak Singh, but is otherwise a good for nothing guy.
One day, he comes across the motorcycle gang of Deepak Tijori and defeats him in a game of death, a famous sequence where they have to run against an oncoming train, and the person who jumps aside the last wins. He also gets attracted to Rani Mukherjee, who also starts falling for him. There is a famous song called 'Aati Kya Khandala' that became the rage after this movie.



Then he meets the person who eventually causes a change in his life. He meets a guy called Hari, who is a social worker, and becomes friendly with him. Hari starts coming in the way of Raunak Singh, and eventually they use Siddarth's friendship to call Hari for a meeting, and then kill him. This creates a sense of guilt in Siddarth's mind over his own role, further inflamed when he learns that Hari is Rani's brother and she is grief-stricken.
The rest of the movie is essentially about how he works up the courage to confront his own guilt, break the chains of slavery that bind him to the don (even when his brother confronts him), and eventually loses his brother as well. Mita Vashisth, who plays a social worker, plays a strong role in trying to get him to do what is right.
The movie finally culminates in the final confrontation, also for me, the favorite part. There is a fight in the end where Siddarth has to confront Raunaq, and also inspire the locality to fight back. Sections of this part seem a bit unbelievable, and the make up on Aamir's face (blood, etc) seem a bit over-done, but for me, this is the essence of the movie. The slave, when awakened, fights back with a ferocity not seen otherwise.

Great Sufi Song: Allah Ke Bande

This is from the movie, Waisa Bhi Hota Hain, a movie that was not very successful, but a cult classic. It's about a copy-writer (Arshad Warsi) living in Bombay in a normal existence with his girl-friend (a police inspector), but with the normal dreams of being successful. One day his life takes a turn for the different. He finds out that his brother, has been shot dead, and when his girlfriend finds out, she throws him out. He is sitting on a park bench, drinking, when he saves a man from death after he is shot. This man is actually from the underworld, and now Arshad Warsi is squarely in the middle of gang wars.
This song is now a very famous song, one that made the reputation of Kailash Kher. The song is an exceedingly beautiful Sufi song, very moving.



Lyrics:

Tuta tuta ek parinda aise phuta ke phir judna paaya
Luta luta kisne usko aise luta ke phir udna paaya
Girta hua woh aasma se aake gira zaameen par
Khwabon mein aur baaton mein phir bhi woh kehta raha magar
Ke allah ke bandhe hasde, allah ke bandhe
allah ke bandhe hasde jo bhi ho kal phir aayega
Allah ke bandhe hasde, allah ke bandhe
allah ke bandhe hasde jo bhi ho kal phir aayega....................

Ho ke aapne par hi to usne tha udna sikhaaaa
Ho ke aapne par hi to ooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ho ke aapne par hi to usne tha udna sikhaaaa
Gum ko aapne saath mein lele dard bhi tere kaam aayegaa,
Allah ke bandhe hasde Allah ke bandhe,
Allah ke bandhe hasde jo bhi ho kal phir aayega....
tink tink tink
tukde tukde ho gaye athahar sapna jab woh tutaaa
bikhre tukdon ke mein allah ki marzi ka manjar aayega.......
allah ke bandhe hasde jo bhi ho kal phir aayega
Allah ke bandhe hasde, allah ke bandhe
allah ke bandhe hasde jo bhi ho kal phir aayega....................

Tuta tuta ek parinda aise phuta ke phir judna paaya
Luta luta kisne usko aise luta ke phir udna paaya
Girta hua woh aasma se aake gira zaameen par
Khwabon mein aur baaton mein phir bhi woh kehta raha magar
Ke allah ke bandhe hasde, allah ke bandhe
allah ke bandhe hasde jo bhi ho kal phir aayega
Allah ke bandhe hasde, allah ke bandhe
allah ke bandhe hasde jo bhi ho kal phir aayega..................

Song: Ek Din Bik Jayega

I really love this song. It was sung by Mukesh for the movie Dharam Karam in 1975, and sung on stage by Raj Kapoor, whose son Randhir Kapoor directed the movie. The movie was about how an underworld don and a honest man bring up each others sons. The underworld don, Premnath exchanges his son with Raj Kapoor, who is a singer, but inspite of their upbringing, the sons follow the paths of their real fathers. The movie stars Raj Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Rekha, Premnath and Dara Singh. It was R.D. Burman's only film as a Music Director for RK Films. Everytime I listen to this song with Raj Kapoor singing it on stage, you can feel it to be an auto-biographical song, with a person finally being remembered for his creations and works of art.



Lyrics:

Ek Din Bik Jayega, Maati Ke Mol
Jag Mein Reh Jayenge Pyare Tere Bol
Dooje Ke Hothon Ko Dekar Apne Geet
Koi Nishani Chhod, Phir Duniya Se Dol
Ek Din...

Anhoni Path Mein Kaante Lakh Bichaaye
Honi To Phir Bhi Bichhda Yaar Milaye
Yeh Birha, Yeh Doori
Do Pal Ki Majboori
Phir Koi Dilwala Kahe Ko Ghabraye
Taram Pam...
Dhara Jo Behti Hai Milke Rehti Hai
Behti Chara Ban Ja Phir Duniya Se Dol
Ek Din...

Parde Ke Peechhe Baithi Saanval Gori
Thaam Ke Tere Mere Man Ki Dori
Yeh Dori Na Chhoote, Yeh Bandhan Na Toote
Bhor Hone Wali Hai Ab Raina Hai Thodi
Taram Pam...
Sar Ko Jhukaye Tu Baitha Kya Hai Yaar
Gori Se Naina Jod Phir Duniya Se Dol
Ek Din...

Sarfarosh: A Great Movie

This is a movie that is subtle in some ways, and still loud in some ways. But overall, it is a great movie, one that I love watching; even if the songs with Sonali somehow seem to be out of place (although Sonali looks as great as over, but so does Aamir, looking young and debonair).
Sarfarosh was a movie released in 1999, around the time of the Kargil war, and was a pretty good depiction of the fight of the police against the mafia, gun runners and drug smugglers. The movie was anti-Pakistan, but not obviously though so in the sense of slogans or long speeches being made against the movie. The movie starred Aamir Khan as the young dynamic ACP, Ajay Singh Rathore, Sonali Bendre as the Delhi girl Seems with whom Aamir is in love, and starred Mukesh Rishi as a honest policeman and Naseeruddin Shah in the role of the chief villain, but not obviously playing the traditional role of a villain who beats up people and so on.



So what's the story ? Arms and ammunition is smuggled into India through the Rajasthan route (by using trained camels). The intention is to supply arms to internal rebels and criminals and use them for the purpose of destabilizing the country, killing people and so on. And you know who would be spear-heading this, Pakistan's ISI of course, able supported by a number of internal people, both Hindus and Muslims being equally complicit. And the person who is spear-heading this ? A famous Pakistani poet who had emigrated to Pakistan at the time of partition plays a strong role in this due to having been embittered by Partition. These weapons are used by a local tribal leader who uses these to massacre a marriage party and steal their money and jewellery.
Aamir is ACP Ajay Singh Rathore, in love with Seema (Sonali Bendre) when in college. She is seemingly aware, but does not do anything explicit to encourage him. However, his life takes a turn when his father promises to give evidence against terrorists. They kidnap his father, and in the fracas, his brother dies in an accident. The police are not helpful. His father is returned partially paralyzed.
This makes the family change their location to Bombay where his uncle has a shop. In the meantime, Sonali looks for him, seemingly making it obvious that it was not a one way love. He takes training in the police force and advances in the police officer levels, reaching an ACP level position, very honest and dedicated. At the same time, Salim (Mukesh Rishi), a Muslim policeman, leads a squad against smugglers, and finds that most of his squad is gunned down by the automatic weapons that the smugglers possess. He is taken off the case for that, and suspectingly, because he is a Muslim. He gets embittered and refuses to help Aamir when Aamir gets the case.
In a concert held for the Pakistani ghazal singer, Gulfam Hassan (Naseruddin Shah), Seema spots Ajay, and has a reunion. Since her brother has organized the concert, she also gets Ajay to meet Gulfam, somebody whose ghazals Ajay admires. Ajay also gets a chance to help Gulfam by giving him a copy of ghazals sung by Gulfam long back that were lost. On the police side, when Ajay is looking for a dance girl with connections to the crooks, he gets Salim's help and welcomes him to the team. They do a raid where Ajay gets injured, but the police force manages to recover a large number of weapons. From some information gathered from this raid, they manage to get information about Mirchi Seth and the small town of Bahid on the Rajasthan border where the smuggling happens.
The rest of the movie is about finding the crooks, and about being able to get enough evidence about Gulfam Hassan in order to convict him. When Gulfam Hassan is led into a set of circumstances where he is forced to kill a Pakistani ISI major, he commits suicide.
Overall, this is a great movie. The direction by debut director John Matthew Mathan is fast and slick, and the movie does not slack. Performances by the cast are fairly good, and the level of patriotism comes through without long speeches.

Songs:

Jo Haal dil Ka



Hosh Waalon Ko Khabar Kya



Zindagi Maut Na Ban Jaye (Video not from the movie)

Song: Janeman Janeman (Choti si baat -

This is an incredible song, very melodious. People wanting to see a light movie and enjoy a simple movie should watch this movie, Choti Si Baat. Made in 1975, the movie starred Amol Palekar, Vidya Sinha, Asrani, and Ashok Kumar. A light movie about a normal office going guy in Bombay who falls in love with a girl, but then finds another guy cutting in with superior skills. Amol Palekar then goes to Ashok Kumar (Col. Julius Nagendranath Wilfred Singh) who plays the role of a teacher who teaches young men as to what they need to get their love.
The song itself has 2 additional characters besides Amol Palekar and Vidya Sinha, Dharmendra and Hema Malini.



Lyrics of the song:

(Jaaneman jaaneman tere do nayan
Chori chori leke gaye dekho mera man
Jaaneman jaaneman jaaneman
Mere do nayan, chor nahi sajan
Tumse hi khoya hoga kahi tumhaara man
Jaaneman jaaneman jaaneman) -2

(Tod de dilo ki doori, aisi kya hai majboori
Dil dil se milne de
Jaa, abhi to huwi hai yaari, abhi se hi beqaraari
Din to zara dhhalne de) -2
Yahi sunte, samajhte, guzar gaye jaane kitne hi saawan
Jaaneman jaaneman...
Mere do nayan…

(Sang sang chale mere, maare aage peechhe phere
Samjhu main tere iraade
Doshh tera hai ye to, har din jab dekho
Karti ho jhoothhe waade) -2
Tu na jaane, diwaane, dikhaau tujhe kaise main ye dil ki lagan
Jaaneman jaaneman ...
La la ..., Mere do nayan…

(Chhedenge kabhi na tumhe, zara batlaado hame,
Kab tak ham tarsenge
Aise ghabhraao nahi, kabhi to kahi na kahi
Baadal ye barsenge) -2
Kya karenge baraske, ke jab murjhaayega ye saara chaman
Jaaneman jaaneman...
La la ..., Mere do nayan...

Song: Mere Desh Ki Dharti

After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, the next Prime Minister was Lal Bahadur Shastri. He was Prime Minister for only 2 short years, from 1964 to 1966, before he died in Tashkent, but in that 2 years, he had won a war with Pakistan. He asked Manoj Kumar to make a patriotic movie based on soldiers and farmers, and this movie was the result. The movie, based on a son of the soil, who fights the enemy, and reforms his own wayward brother, was a huge hit, The song was very popular, and still remains very popular. The song was sung by Mahendra Kapoor, who has sung a number of patriotic songs.





Lyrics of the song:

mere desh kee dharatee, sonaa ugale, ugale hire motee
mere desh kee dharatee

bailon ke gale mein jab ghungaru, jeewan kaa raag sunaate hai
gam kos door ho jaataa hai, khushiyon ke kanwal musakaate hai
sun ke rahat kee aawaaje, yoo lage kahee shahanaaee baje
aate hee mast bahaaron ke dulhan kee tarah har khet saje

jab chalate hain is dharatee pe hal , mamataa angadaeeyaan letee hai
kyo naa pooje is maantee ko, jo jeewan kaa sukh detee hai
is dharatee pe jis ne janam liyaa, usane hee paayaa pyaar teraa
yahaa apanaa paraayaa koee nahee, hain sab pe, maan, upakaar teraa

ye baag hain gautam naanak kaa, khilate hain aman ke fool yahaan
gaandhee, subhaash taigor, tilak ayese hain chaman ke fool yahaa
rang haraa hareesing nalawe se, rang laal hain laal bahaadoor se
rang banaa basantee bhagatasing rang aman kaa weer jawaahar se

Songs: Chithi Aayi Hain

There would not have been too many people who have not heard this song at least once. Featuring in the 1986 movie Naam starring Kumar Gaurav, Sanjay Dutt, Amrita Singh and Poonam Dhillon, the song was a mega-hit. Pankaj Udhas was a well known Ghazal singer even then, but this song made him very popular. The movie had music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and the movie was directed by Mahesh Bhatt and directed by Rajendra Kumar.
The song also touched a lot of NRI's, given that the song was essentially a reminder of home, and the people who have been left behind and who just have memories now. This movie was a movie that was supposed to bring Kumar Gaurav some success, but it was the role of Sanjay Dutt as the more wayward son (with a good heart), but who eventually gets involved in drug smuggling which gave a good filip to his fame.




Lyrics:

Chitthi Aayi Hai Aayi Hai
Chitthi Aayi Hai
Chitthi Aayi Hai Vatan Se
Chitthi Aayi Hai
Bade Dinon Ke Baad,
Hum Bevatnon Ko Yaad
Vatan Ki Mitti Aayi Hai,
Chitthi Aayi Hai ...

Upar Mera Naam Likha Hai,
Andar Ye Paigham Likha Hai
O Pardes Ko Jaane Vaale,
Laut Ke Phir Na Aane Vaale
Saat Samundar Paar Gaya Tu,
Humko Zinda Maar Gaya Tu
Khoon Ke Rishte Todh Gaya Tu,
Aankh Mein Aansoo Chhodh Gaya Tu
Kum Khaate Hain Kum Sote Hain,
Bahut Zyaada Hum Rote Hain
Chitthi Aayi Hai ...

Sooni Ho Gaeen Shehar Ki Galiyaan,
Kaante Ban Gaeen Baag Ki Kaliyaan
Kehte Hain Saawan Ke Jhule,
Bhool Gaya Tu Hum Nahin Bhoole
Tere Bin Jab Aayi Diwali,
Deep Nahin Dil Jale Hain Khaali
Tere Bin Jab Aayi Holi,
Pichkaari Se Chhooti Goli
Peepal Soona Panghat Soona
Ghar Shamshaan Ka Bana Namoona
Fasal Kati Aayi Baisakhi,
Tera Aana Reh Gaya Baaki
Chitthi Aai Hai ...

Pehle Jab Tu Khat Likhta Tha
Kaagaz Mein Chehra Dikhta Tha
Bund Hua Yeh Mel Bhi Ab To,
Khatam Hua Yeh Khel Bhi Ab To
Doli Mein Jab Baithi Behna,
Rasta Dekh Rahe The Naina
Maein To Baap Hoon Mera Kya Hai,
Teri Maan Ka Haal Bura Hai
Teri Biwi Karti Hai Seva,
Soorat Se Lagti Hai Bewa
Toone Paisa Bahut Kamaaya,
Is Paise Ne Desh Chhudaaya
Panchhi Pinjra Todh Ke Aaja,