Samajh Dekh Man Meet Piyarva,
Aashiq Ho Kar Sona Kya Re?
Paya Ho To Den Le Pyare,
Paye Paye Fir Khona Kya Re?
Rookha Sookha Gum ka Tukra,
Feeka Aur Salona Kya Re?
Jab Ankhiyan Me Neend Ghaneri,
Takiya Aur Bichona Kya Re?
Kahet Kabir Prem Ka Marag,
Sar Dena To Rona Kya Re?
(Understand perceive O beloved mind
How can you slumber and be a Lover?
Having received then share it all
Or would you rather lose it possessing?
If crumbs be all that you have to fare
Does it matter if it is salt less or tasty?
When eyes are loaded with deep sleep
What is then the pillow and bedding?
Says Kabir, such is the path of Love
Why lose heart having committed yourself)
-Kabir, the sufi poet, the fakir, the wanderer.
I have read so many times, and at times felt it too that the poets, specially Sufis, have the soul of a woman. how else can they leave everything and treat God as a beloved? No matter what stones are cast at them, they went on their merry way. praising the beloved with a doggedness and ensuring that the world, or at least those around them benefitted from the fragrance of that love. No wonder Sufi poetry or rather Sufism is thought of as the feminine element, with the Lord being the male element of the equation.
Gulzar is another such man. who can get into the head, and more importantly, the heart of a woman. If you watch Izaazat, or Kinara(which my Mom tells me is wonderful) or Khushboo, you’d be surprised at how beautifully and effortlessly he can slip in the mind of a a woman who has lost her love in an accident, or a lover who has lost her love to fate or circumstances. No wonder, in most of his films, women have a strong presence. Ok, I have indulged myself enough, now lemme come to the film.
Khushboo, based on a novel by SaratChandra Chatterjee, again explores the theme of a woman who is waiting for her beloved. Kusum(Hema Malini) is a young, haughty woman who was engaged in her childhood to Brindaban(Jeetendra), but due to misunderstandings between the two families, she is abandoned by her prospecive in laws. The audience, at the very onset, is given a glimpse of Kusum’s personality when we see her burning her arm where Brindaban’s name had been tattoed. Both families move away and Brindaban becomes a doctor, while Kusum is living with her brother, Kunj(Asrani). After many years, he returns to the village with with his mother(Durga Khote) and son Charan(Master Raju). He is a widower, his wife Kamla(Sharmila Tagore) having passed away. Kusum, however, refused to marry anyone else, and yet has mixed feelings about Brindaban. She initially rejects overtures from Brinda’s mother, returning th bangles the matriarch gave her(a bit patronisingly though). You get a glimpse of her pain when she sheds bitter tears in front of her friend Manno(Farida Jalal) and says, "Suhaag bhi loon to bheekh mein?" There’s a softer, maternal side to Kusum as well, which comes to the front when she interacts with young Charan, whom she insists on calling her Ma(in one of the most beautiful scenes in the film). Their budding relationship is a joy to behold. Kusum changes her perception about Brindaban when he explains the circumstances, and expresses a willingness to accompany him the next day. As fate would have it, Brindaban is prevented from fetching her and Kusum is shattered. She breaks her bangles in grief, and the same are sent to Brindaban.
As far as the performances go, Gulzar succeeded in making actors out of the then stars, Jeetendra and Hema.In fact, it was quite a shock seeing the Jumping Jack eschew his latke jhatke and Hema donning a non-coiffed look. Since the very first scene Hema surprises with her powerful performance. Kusum’s sadness, ego, happiness, stubbornness, self respect, self destruction, zeal to survive, struggle and determination to get the desired result, Hema Malini has brought to live each trait of this mesmerising character. Even if she considers herself beholden to her man, she has her pride and self respect. There’s a word in hindi, "Maanini" and this word fits Kusum to a T.
Jeentendra, was again a surprise. He has managed to hold his own against Hema, who got what would be considered a powerful author-backed role. He doesn’t have many dialogues but his eyes and expressions are quite eloquent. I guess, here he proved that he was a director’s actor. In fact, his mannerisms, hair style, dress(Kurta pajama) and spectacles resembled Gulzar a lot. Master Raju was a wonderful child actor, and this role was a cake walk for him. Same for Asrani, Durga Khote and Farida Jalal. Sharmila Tagore was wonderful in a cameo, and her theme was further explored in Namkeen.
Coming to the music, again, the Gulzar-RD combo worked wonders and came up with gems like "Bechara dil kya kare", "Ghar jaayegi, Tar jaayegi", "O Majhi re" and "Do nainon mein aansoo bhare hai", which is my personal favorite. Lyrics like "Jhoothe tere vaade pe baras beetaye"(Do nainon) capture the essence of the film. R D proved he could also set to music a neat boatman’s song a la SD with O manjhi re, a number that has been magnificently sung by Kishore and vintage Gulzar: Kagazon ki kashtiyon ka kahin kinara hota nahin.O manjhi re, apna kinara, nadiya ki dhara hai.. as for Lata, Asha and Kishore, des anything need to be said regarding their vocal powers?
Once again, I am astounded at the silent power which Gulzar imparts to his seemingly powerless female characters. Kusum is no bra burning feminist, but she has a self esteem and pride which is reflected in every aspect of her personality. She reminds one of calm waters which run deep, all turbulence underneath, and a calm, placid exterior hiding it. Brinda is the epitome of a male’s confusion who can never understad what she wants, and then there is Gulzar, the poet, who so easily gives the viewers a peek inside a woman’s heart, which wants to be persuaded gently, and yet masterfully, which loves unconditionally, but wont give up its pride. More than a quarter century after it was made, Khushboo’s fragrance still lingers on.
P.S. oh well, I saw an older review of Khushboo posted under this category, so bhedh chaal ka prayog karte hue, I also went down the same lane. MS, pls help!