Satyakam is one of Dharmendra’s finest films. His performance as a ram-rod straight, honest to a fault, PWD engineer is arguably his career’s best. Directed with trademark simplicity and sensitivity by Hrishikesh Mukherjee it is one of his most underrated works, perhaps because it did not do too well at the box office.
The film, which interestingly is set in the late 40’s and early 50’s- the time of India’s new found independence when hopes were high and optimism for a bright future all pervasive, honestly and minutely examines the malice of corruption in Indian society through the eyes of its protagonist-Satyapriya Acharya played by Dharmendra.
Dharmendra as the crusading engineer not only battles for honesty and probity in public life but also struggles for complete integrity in his personal life as well for which he has to face tremendous adversity and pain throughout his life.
The story is narrated by Sanjeev Kumar in a voice-over who plays his best friend and his classmate of engineering days. He narrates the trials and tribulations of Satyapriya’s life.Dharmendra is a brilliant student coming from a highly religious and cultured family.The family has a long tradition of upholding the highest values and ideals of society where honesty is not a choice but a way of life.His grandfather (Ashok Kumar in a brilliant cameo!!!)is considered the high priest of morality in his village.Therefore it is but natural that Satyapriya too imbibes the same values and beliefs.
On his first job Dharmendra is employed by a ruler of a small princely state.There he meets Sharmila Tagore an orphan whom he feels protective towards but in a moment of weakness is unable to save her from the lecherous designs of the ruler.He stops her from suicide and asks her to start afresh by marrying someone..to which Sharmila retorts..’’Kaun karegaa mujhse shaadi...aap karenge..baatein karnaa aasaan hai..nibhana mushkil..’’This hits him like a whiplash and already feeling contrite for unable to defend her..he marries her.
She gives birth to a child which is not his..he accepts the child but never hides the truth-that it is not his..even from his Dadajee who already deeply hurt that he has married someone outside his caste asks him if he married to conceal his ’’paap’’..to which he replies that he has done no ’’paap’’ as he is not the father of the child.Its such courage and conviction in the character that holds you spellbound..Dharmendra even tells Sanjeev Kumar the truth behind his marriage and the child at which Sharmila is aghast!!!
At work as a civil engineer he refuses to toe the line of the contractors and his employers who ask him to be a little ’’practical’’..duniyadaari as they say in hindi.His only answer is that he will refuse to do anything against his conscience..He keeps changing jobs till he finally lands up in the same department as Sanjeev kumar who incidently now is senior to him though he was at best an average student. Its clearly shown that Sanjeev Kumar has become part of the corrupt system as he is not strong enough to withstand it. Dharmendra gets a reputation of being difficult and headstrong in the department and is suspended by his senior. He ultimately contracts cancer(Maybe indicative of the cancer of corruption which has strangled all parts of Indian public and personal life) and dies..leaving behind his penniless family of wife and only child.
The film doesn’t end there but it has a rousing and humdinger of a climax.(watch it guys!!!)where Dadajee proclaims that ’’Sach bolne ka abhimaan nahin..sacch bolne ka saahas chahiye..’’ This film is bleak..yes..and depressing too..it offers no solution..Dharmendra’s charecter is so headstrong and pig-headed about morality and honesty that you sometimes want to box him in the face for his foolhardiness but you can’t but admire his steadfast honesty and uprightness even when all the beliefs and ideals he held dear are crumbling and collapsing before his eyes.
Its an interesting character as there is no attempt to portray him as a saint in the film..he smokes..sings..jokes..does everything which a normal person does..only his steadfast and unshakable ideals makes him extraordinary. He has his weaknesses..though he marries Sharmila in the film he never really accepts her which is brought out very well in a poignant scene.
The film has some of the finest dialogues ever written for a hindi film.Sample this:when Sanjeev kumar praises Dharmendra by comparing him to gold..’’Bhabhi..Satyapriya toh sona hai..’’Sharmila retorts..’’Par sone ke jevar banane ke liye..usmein bhi kuch milaawat karni padti hai..’’
Finally the performances in this film are memorable though Dharmendra is the one who shines brightest, there’s no denying that without the able support of Sharmila tagore, Sanjeev Kumar and Ashok Kumar this film wouldn’t have been what it is..
This is one film which is a must-see for all you fans of garam dharam and aficionadoes of good cinema!!!
CHEERS!!!