Rishte Bharose Chahat Yakeen,
Un Sabka Daman Ab Chak Hai,
Samjhe The Haathon Me Hai Zameen -
Mutthi Jo Kholi
Bus Khak Hai,
Dil Me Yeh Shor Hai Kyon,
Imaan Kamzor Hai Kyon,
Nazuk Yeh Dor Hai Kyon...
Dor - a beautiful film arising purely out of human feelings; friendship, love, strength, trust, belief... A touchy film, doesn’t drive you to hysterical tears, doesn’t make you feel overwhelmed. Sends across a very sweet soft message - makes you smile despite the subdued pain, makes you feel good despite all the misery, all the hardships of our daily life.
The film starts with the introduction of two young couples. Zeenat (Gul Panag) and Aamir - somewhere on the beautiful locales of Himachal Pradesh, and Meera (Ayesha) and Shankar - in the dusty sandy abode of Rajasthan. Aamir’s going to Saudi to earn his bread. Zeenat is the modern woman, aware of her rights, aware of her fights, ready to take on anything that comes her way. She helps out Aamir’s parents in his absence. Meera is the sweet little girl, wife to an independent loving husband. She too has a life of her own, built around the happiness of her one bonding, her one way to reach for the sky. It’s a strange knot of independence, in the hands of the greatest dependence of her life. One day, Shankar leaves for Saudi too. His earnings give his father a reason to relive his old glory, his old pride.
Life is the same long wait for these women, in their very own different ways... Until Shankar gets killed in a brawl and Aamir (his room-mate) becomes the convict. Saudi law says that Aamir can be exonerated only if the deceased’s wife forgives him. Thus begins the journey of two women to seek justice, to do the toughest jobs of their lives.
Zeenat’s courage and hope are all that she has to keep her going in this journey. Until... She finds friendship. A friendship that leaves her at the biggest cross-road of her life. Meera leads a life of ignominy (the demise of Shankar takes away her right to live a life of respect or even a life of her own). With every silent tear the pain in her heart loses its voice. Her unuttered words give her an existence devoid of the smiles of her independence. Until... She finds friendship. And loses it again to the biggest fear of her life...
Meet Shreyas Talpade (the Behroopiya). He is wanderlust, perhaps in search of something even he doesn’t care to know. He robs Zeenat of her belongings but comes back to help her out. Watch the scene where he confesses his feelings for Zeenat - very well portrayed, very well handled. And oh!! A must watch - the "Kajra Re" act of the three; Shreyas’ facial expressions will leave you holding on to your stomach!!
Each and every performance in this movie is strength in itself. Girish Kadnad as the egoistic megalomaniac father-in-law of Meera is convincible. Nagesh Kukunoor in his guest appearance does his part with confidence; his portrayal of the typical business person perhaps spits a lot of sarcasm on the face of today’s world. Shreyas Talpade is his cute subtle self. Expressing a lot of emotions through his eyes, speaking a lot without even saying a word. The Behroopiya’s antics in fact make you laugh and love him for whoever he is. A wanderer at heart, tied down somewhere by the pangs of unrequited love, yet not stopping himself from going the extra mile to be with the person who unfolds a new world of a strange happiness, confidence and love to him, makes him too human. However Nagesh doesn’t leave you with any room in his script to sympathize with him. Gul Panag carries her role with much élan and panache. Her dialogue delivery, her body language everything makes you feel strongly for her inner strength. But that touch of helplessness somewhere, that touch of insecurity makes her more beautiful, more human. The strange dilemma makes her heart ache; the mirage of a happy life allures her eyes. Zeenat finds a place in your heart for being the rebel and yet the human being she is. However, the surprise of the film is Ayesha Takia. Clad in traditional Rajasthani wear she looks stunningly simple and beautiful. The touch of childishness in her avatar of a responsible wife or daughter-in-law, the feeling of emptiness of a heart broken lover, the subdued needs of happiness of a loner, she vents out every emotion with immense maturity. A normal human being torn apart by the laws of an abnormal life, an independent soul being murdered by the narrowness of a selfish world, Meera finds her perfect reflection in Ayesha’s heart-rending performance. Full marks to Nagesh for such a perfect casting.
The music by Salim-Sulaiman is in accordance with the mood of the film. Especially noteworthy are "Yeh Honsla", "Yeh Honsla (sad)" and "Imaan Ka Asar". Lyricist Mir Ali Hussain does absolute justice to the story and pens beautiful numbers with a lot of depth and feelings.
Nagesh Kukunoor again proves his class in this movie. His handling of the subject, rendering of the characters, choice of locales, everything gives the film a very down-to-earth look. There’s no glossy packaging, in fact the movie belongs to real people and hence has been made realistically. This movie lacks in commercialism and thus has failed to work wonders at the box office. But at least for the people who have watched it (like me) this movie has surely worked true wonders to some very special and cherished feelings of this heart.
Life does find a way, through happiness, through love, through friendship, even if everything seems to have ended with one blow of fate.
Jalti Dhup Me Halki Hawa Chal Gayi,
Mila Bharosa Yaar Ka, Jaan Phir Sambhal Gayi,
Khwaish Saans Li, Zanjeere Pighal Gayi,
Sabaa Umeed Ko Mathe Pe Yu Mal Gayi,
Sune Sehrao Me Hasrat Pali Hai,
Haaye, Tufaan Me Aaj Ye Shamma Jali Hai
Shayad Hai Ye Dosti, Ya Imaan Ka Asar
Aage Kya Likha Humko Kya Khabar.
Imaan Ka Asar...
Thanks for the reading… :)