An extremely potent subject mishandled by bad direction, poor performances and filmy masala.
Does a woman have a right to satisfy her sexual needs if her spouse is away?
Or is this liberty the sole domain of the male?
Can a man accept his wife’s child (from an extramarital fling) as his own?
These are some of the uncomfortable questions that “Rihaee” raises.
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Year of Release: 1989
Director : Aruna Raje
Music: Sharang Dev
Cast: Hema Malini, Vinod Khanna, Naseeruddin Shah, Mohan Agashe, Neena Gupta, Reema Lagoo.
A village of carpenters in Gujarat where all the males make an annual visit to their families and the rest of the time, the homes are managed by the women on their own. Amarji (Vinod Khanna) is one such carpenter who loves his wife Takubai (Hema Malini) very dearly. But employment is far away and hence the two lovebirds are separated for lengthy periods of time. They have three daughters who are taken care of by Taku on her own.
In the city, Amarji and friends live in a different world, sampling the pleasures of city life as also not compromising on their carnal compulsions. (A scene between the middle aged Vinod Khanna and his teenaged neighbour Pallavi Joshi is consciously obnoxious).
Meanwhile, the women of the village, free from the bonds of cocooned behaviour once the menfolk are away, spend their days gossiping and cracking lewd jokes. Among the recognizable faces in this group are Neena Gupta and Reema Lagoo. Takubai with her dignified demeanour prefers to keep herself away from this group and becomes the target of barbs for her apparent snobbishness.
Enter Mansukhji (Naseeruddin Shah), the Dubai based villager who is on a visit with his bucks and gifts. With all the trappings of phoren land, he impresses the kids as well as the women who are missing the presence of a man in their surroundings. Mansukhji being a playboy and rascal sleeps around with most of the women. Even the hoity Taku is unable to resist Mansukhji’s charms and eventually ends up in bed with him. In a few days, Mansukhji returns back to Dubai and its time for the menfolk to arrive on their annual vacation.
After the initial bonhomie, all hell breaks loose when it is discovered that two of the women are pregnant with Mansukhji’s seed. One of them is Sukhi (Neena Gupta) who, terrified of her husband Roopji (Mohan Agashe) quietly aborts her pregnancy. However, Taku is adamant on continuing with her baby. While Amarji is initially aghast at his wife’s infidelity, he rationalizes it by comparing it with his own flings in the city. However, he is not able to reconcile with Taku’s decision not to abort the baby.
The matter reaches the male dominated panchayat which orders Taku to go ahead with the abortion. But after an impassionate appeal by Taku, the women of the village take a bold and radical stand in her favour and force the panchayat to change their decision. In this way, the women eventually find themselves freed from the rules laid by the male dominated society. Hence the title – Rihaee (Liberation)!
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Based on a true story, this could have become a powerful though controversial medium to convey the fickleness of the man-woman standards of fidelity in a marriage. While the male is able to satisfy his needs without getting encumbered, the woman is left to bear the burden of such an act.
The same subject if handled by a strong director say, Govind Nihalani and having actors like Smita Patil, Om Puri etc could have been a much more effective product. However, Aruna Raje (who recently directed the ill-fated Tum) is unable to make the proceedings gripping. The music by Sharang Dev is a big distraction. With unnecessary songs like “Dilli mein mujhe dil na mila” etc. the film drags on endlessly until the climax.
The casting is the weakest link.
While Hema Malini with her quiet dignity is able to look the part, she is unable to portray the complexity of Takubai’s character and the dilemma she faces. Vinod Khanna looks too filmy though he gives a sincere performance. Naseeruddin does a good job but his appearance hardly befits that of a stud. Others in the cast like Pallavi Joshi, Neena Gupta, Mohan Agashe etc. provide able support.
All in all, a strong story badly handled!