One of the few Hindi movies with an O’Henry style twist in the tale, Ijaazat rates among Gulzar’s finest works. A movie with three main protagonists and their complex relationships with each other, it stars the Bollywood Diva Rekha, with one of India’s most accomplished actors, Naseeruddin Shah. Anooradha Patel forms the third angle to the story. The entire tale is recreated in reminiscences and reflections, when Mahinder (Naseeruddin) and Sudha (Rekha) accidentally run into each other at a desolate railway station waiting room, on a rainy night.
Mahinder a bohemian photographer living in the city has a passionate and tumultuous live-in relationship with the impetuous Maya (Anuradha Patel). However under pressure from his family, he is forced to marry his childhood betrothed, Sudha, when Maya does one of her whimsical disappearing acts. Maya’s presence loom large even in her absence (somewhat akin to Rebecca’s character in Daphne du Maurier’s classic) in the newly weds lives. The situation gets trickier when Maya reappears one fine day. How the three protagonists react to the situation forms part of the rest of the flashback. Do the misunderstandings take their toll on the marriage? What happens next to the man who tries to sail on two boats? And then…where does the present lead?
Ijaazat as a movie, takes a sensitive look at the emotional dilemmas of the protagonists. The story is the backbone, and treats us to some authentic vignettes of modern day middle class conjugal existence in India. The situations are handled realistically and steer clear of melodrama though the emotional undercurrents are constantly flowing in every scene. The narrative finely weaves in the reminiscences of the past, into the present. The performances of the lead trio are beautifully understated and realistic. The music score is exceptional (2 national awards for lyrics and best female playback) and includes the haunting ‘Mera Kuchch Saaman’ and melodious ‘Katra Katra’. The movie definitely qualifies as a classic in mainstream Indian cinema. Don’t miss this one.
Rating ****