Do aakhein Barah haath
Released in the yearr: 1957.
Produced and directed by: V. Shantaram.
Starring: V. Shantaram n Sandhya.
Music by: V. Shantaram
Background singing: Lata Mageshkar and Manna Dey.
This movie made in 1957 was departure from V Shantaram’s usual style of making films. But it made such raves that it was being appriciated world wide. The film is a message based and the message it conveys is termed modern even today. The message is about the reform of the criminals that fill the jails all across the country and talks about the human sides of the law breakers. It’s something Kiran Bedi tried with the Tihar jail criminals and her work had won her many prizes and recognitions. I am sure somewhere down the line this movie must have motivated and inspired the ’iron lady’ of India to bring about such a reform. After all it reflects the human side of all the ’humans’ even if they are hard core criminals.
The movie is about a jailer played by V. Shantaram who wants to reform the lives of six criminals. These are not just any criminals but are charged with brutal murders. The jailor takes them to a barren land and the only aim of their lives is to turn the land into lush green Eden. Thus begins the jailor’s experiment with these outlaws and the battle he has to undergo to keep them working. He is faced with a lot of opposition from his seniors, but his faith in the human spirit makes him take that risk. Very soon his efforts turn fruitful with the six of the criminals growing vegetables and fruits from what was once a barren land.
The only female element of this movie is Sandhya. She’s a toy seller and many a times a victim of the criminals’ eve-teasing. There is a lot of gaanaa-bajana whenever she’s around but in the end, after the jailer dies, she seems to carry his dream forward. There isn’t any romantic element involved but the movie doesn’t have any dull moments at all. Infact the scenes are inacted so well that one truely understands what film making is all about. And yes the songs of the movie add value to all the characters especially the ’Aye Maalik tere bande hum’ song extends the jailors view to be that of a wish from heavens.
SOME EXCEPTIONAL SCENES: There is lot of ill filling between the six of them when the jailor decides to let a son of one of the criminals stay with them. And there is a lot of fight between the criminals and other people who despise of them, not because they are criminals but because they are able to sell their vegetables at a lower cost. Again there’s one scene when a blind mother comes to see her crimial son and blesses the jailor for letting them meet. But she is too poor to pay back the jailor. So she gives him a little sweet she had brought with her. This particular gesture exemplifies her faith in the jailor and her faith in his mission even more.
THE BEST SCENE: Towards the end of the movie the jailor learns that all the six criminals are lying unconscious and that they are about to be attacked by a a raging bull. He fights the bull single handedly and eventually succumbs to the injuries he sustains in the battle. Now here is one person who gives away his life for people who are charged with murders. This for sure can turn even the brutal, inhumane criminal into a caring and loving human being.
Last but not the least you cannot miss the unusual style of Sandhya’s dancing. It gave yet another unusual angel to a topic which was not so usual in those days.
DO AANKHEN BARAH HAAT:This is one is a true epic. The symbolism of Do aakhen of the jailer and barah haath of the six criminals is brought about wonderfully. It’s the eyes of the jailer that those twelve hands of those six hoodlums fear the most. The scene when all of them run away, but eventually each one them returns back because of the fear of the eyes of the jailer that brings them back to the farm again. It’s surprising to know that all six of them are afraid of only one man, they could have run away easily, even killed him. But the faith of the jailer in them is so deep that they dare not betray him. ’Mujshe tumpe bahrosa hain’ is the single line that changes there lives forever.
Do Aakhen Barah Haath sure could have won an oscar had it been made in recent times. But I think it’s good that it didn’t, for it is beyond any awards!!