After making a series of short films for the Institute of
Filmmaking, Vinod Chopra’s first major Hindi film was
Parinda. Probably the first Hindi film that said the story
of a true-to-life underworld character who wore kurta-pyajama
instead of the flashy three-piece suits.
While Parinda was critically acclaimed by the critics and wooed
by the audiences, his next big venture 1942 A Love Story didn’t
quite receive the same warm welcome.
And the only reason for that could be the fact that the expectations
from this one were way too beyond one’s capabilities. In retrospective
the film is what it promised to be and more.
As the name suggests the film is a love story set during the
pre-Independence times precisely in the year 1942.
The protagonists of the film are Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala alongwith
Anupam Kher. Kher plays the role of a freedom fighter. And Manisha
is his daughter. They come to a town for the only reason that Kher has to
make a bomb that will enable to blow up the place where General Douglas is
to come.
Anil Kapoor is a carefree lad whose father works for the British
and he could care less about the British or his own country. He dresses up
as an Englishman and enjoys his father’s status and money. From the
moment he lays eyes on Manisha he falls in love.
And sings the ever-hummable
Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga …..
a song that Javed Akhtar penned. The situation given to Akhtar was to
express the feelings of a young man who has just seen a very pretty girl.
Ek ladki to dekha to kaisa laga? Akhtar kept asking himself and wallah!
Came up with some amazing https://lyrics.
Ek ladki ko dekha to aisa laga …..
Jaise ujli kiran ….
Jaise ban mein hiran ….
Jaise khilta gulab ….
Jaisa shayar ka khwab …..
And the ladki i.e. Manisha did look all that and more. Although she is very
pretty naturally. But Vinod Chopra took extra care for her to look extremely
petite and innocent. She was put on a special diet and her alcohol intake was
cut.
The surprise packet of the film, however, was Jackie Shroff who makes his
presence just before the interval at the point where Kher is blown up with
his own bomb.
Jackie’s entry was his best till date even in comparison to the films where he
has played hero. He is also in love with Manisha but is a man on a mission.
So while Jackie is fighting for the country’s freedom and trying to protect his
love interest the story moves on. And to prove his love Anil Kapoor moves out
of his father’s house. Although he doesn’t turn into a freedom fighter himself
but does make a difference.
The film is shot too well alongwith being scripted well. And the music is just
wow. It officially is R D Burman’s last score for Hindi films. The best song
apart from the romantic ones is the one picturised on Jackie.
Yeh safar bahut hai kathin magar
na udhas ho mere humsafar …..
nahin rehne waali yeh mushkilen
ki hain agle mod pe manzilen ….
Meri baat ka tu yakeen kar ….
Na udhas ho mere humsafar ….
Great performances, great story, great music, great direction, great cinematography
… what else could one ask for?