There are movies I like and movies I don’t like. There are movies that like just because of the music; some that I like just because of the actors. And I like a lot of movies from 50s-60s and even 70s. There are many movies from this period, that even if I don’t like a whole lot, I find something nice about them. But there are some movies from this period, which are talked about a lot and are considered “Classics” that I just don’t get!
Here are three such movies – supposedly classics, but I just can’t get these. I have tried many times, but I find it a torture to sit through these movies. Every time any of these comes on TV, I try, really make an effort. But every time I just get majorly annoyed and bored, and finally give up!!
Mughal-e-Azam – 1960
Big names like Dilip Kumar, Prithviraj Kapoor, Madhubala and Durga Khote! Big sets and battle scenes! The famous Sheesh mahal song in colour and music by Naushad!!! This is talked about as a real Classic!! Everyone considers this as a master piece, but I can’t understand that at all.
I loved Prithiviraj Kapoor in Sikandar as the Sikandar. I also liked him a lot in Awara. He was the best part later on in Kal Aaj or Kal. But in Mughal-e-Azam, I don’t know whether it is a problem with the recording or dubbing or what! But I just don’t understand what he says!! All his dialogs in this movie sound like “aasdsd rer ereregdfg ggfdgg ttfhgtuu” to me!!
Salim (Dilip Kaumar) is supposed to be madly in love with Anarkali (Madhubala), but I don’t feel that while watching Mughal-e-Azam. Dilip Kumar seems to be least interested. It seems like he is mouthing the dialogs without meaning any of it!
Madhubala, of course looks beautiful!! I don’t know ANY movie, in which she didn’t look anything but simply gorgeous. But she can’t dance at all! The Sheesh mahal song, I am sure was a very big achievement when it was made. In colour; so many mirrors showing Madhubala; beautiful, and with all the finery; it must have been really a big thing. But I cringe every time I see that song!! I keep wishing that either it was someone who could really dance or they had not made Madhubala dance!!
Also, it is a very long movie. With a Madhubala who can’t dance, a Dilip Kumar who seems more disinterested that I am feeling and Prithviraj’s dialogs that are not comprehendible in many parts, I end up giving up on this movie half way through!!
Music of course, is good. But between Mughal-e-Azam and Anarkali, I prefer Anarkali’s music. It is more intense and haunting…
Sangam – 1964
OK, this is again a movie that is talked about a lot and considered a classic. But I don’t get this one at all!! I don’t like anything about the movie, except the music. I like watching “Mai kya karoo raam muzhe Budhdha mil gaya”, but that’s about it.
I don’t like Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar or Vaijayanti Mala in this movie. I don’t like the plot, I don’t like the melo-melo-melo drama in this movie!
I don’t get the Hindi movie variety of love triangles. If Radha and Gopal love each other, why must both of them “sacrifice” their love, hide it from Sunder AND why should Radha marry Sunder?? Isn’t she cheating him in effect? She is marrying him when she is in love with someone else. So isn’t she going to be thinking about her love? Is she going to be able to forget her love easily when she marries Sunder? If yes, then doesn’t that mean that she didn’t really love Gopal that much?
And in the end, why does Gopal have to die?? I mean, come on!!! If there is a love triangle, does the person who does not “win” the love, have to die??? And in this movie, he kills himself!! Oh, PLEASE!!!!
Pakeezah – 1972
Lovely music. That is the only good thing I have to say about this movie. Honestly!! I must confess though, that this is a movie I have not seen completely even once! I have tried a couple of times and given up. In this movie, Rajkumar sees Meena kumari in the train. And it seems he doesn’t really see her at all, he sees only her feet. And before deboarding, leaves a note for her saying “Aapke pao dekhe, bahut haseen hai. Inhe Zameen par mat rakhiye maile ho jayenge”. And that is supposed to be very romantic!! And I am going like WHA…. ??? huh?? Sorry, that is, WHA…. ???? WHAT???? What is more, she then goes and falls in love with him, only because of this letter.
Then, I don’t quite remember how, but he is in the jungle, living in the tent and she ends up there… I guess, this is where they “discover” they are the people who had met in the train. That is, if you call a crazy guy seeing someone’s feet, meeting…
Then it turns out that he wants to marry her and takes her to some hill, and they sit down and all and are about to get married – but then she gets up and shouting “Nahin….” Runs away… That is where I say “Nahin….” And switch the channel!!
But anyway, in the end it is revealed that Ashok Kumar, who is Raj Kumar’s uncle (paternal, I think), is Meena Kumari’s real father. And because he didn’t take care of her mother, she ended up as a Tawaif… But my understanding of this movie could be completely wrong because, I have not really seen it fully ever! Its always bits and pieces – and I have kind of put them together in my mind.
Can anyone explain to me why any of these movies is considered to be a classic???
Here are three such movies – supposedly classics, but I just can’t get these. I have tried many times, but I find it a torture to sit through these movies. Every time any of these comes on TV, I try, really make an effort. But every time I just get majorly annoyed and bored, and finally give up!!
Mughal-e-Azam – 1960
I loved Prithiviraj Kapoor in Sikandar as the Sikandar. I also liked him a lot in Awara. He was the best part later on in Kal Aaj or Kal. But in Mughal-e-Azam, I don’t know whether it is a problem with the recording or dubbing or what! But I just don’t understand what he says!! All his dialogs in this movie sound like “aasdsd rer ereregdfg ggfdgg ttfhgtuu” to me!!
Salim (Dilip Kaumar) is supposed to be madly in love with Anarkali (Madhubala), but I don’t feel that while watching Mughal-e-Azam. Dilip Kumar seems to be least interested. It seems like he is mouthing the dialogs without meaning any of it!
Madhubala, of course looks beautiful!! I don’t know ANY movie, in which she didn’t look anything but simply gorgeous. But she can’t dance at all! The Sheesh mahal song, I am sure was a very big achievement when it was made. In colour; so many mirrors showing Madhubala; beautiful, and with all the finery; it must have been really a big thing. But I cringe every time I see that song!! I keep wishing that either it was someone who could really dance or they had not made Madhubala dance!!
Also, it is a very long movie. With a Madhubala who can’t dance, a Dilip Kumar who seems more disinterested that I am feeling and Prithviraj’s dialogs that are not comprehendible in many parts, I end up giving up on this movie half way through!!
Music of course, is good. But between Mughal-e-Azam and Anarkali, I prefer Anarkali’s music. It is more intense and haunting…
Sangam – 1964
I don’t like Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar or Vaijayanti Mala in this movie. I don’t like the plot, I don’t like the melo-melo-melo drama in this movie!
I don’t get the Hindi movie variety of love triangles. If Radha and Gopal love each other, why must both of them “sacrifice” their love, hide it from Sunder AND why should Radha marry Sunder?? Isn’t she cheating him in effect? She is marrying him when she is in love with someone else. So isn’t she going to be thinking about her love? Is she going to be able to forget her love easily when she marries Sunder? If yes, then doesn’t that mean that she didn’t really love Gopal that much?
And in the end, why does Gopal have to die?? I mean, come on!!! If there is a love triangle, does the person who does not “win” the love, have to die??? And in this movie, he kills himself!! Oh, PLEASE!!!!
Pakeezah – 1972
Then, I don’t quite remember how, but he is in the jungle, living in the tent and she ends up there… I guess, this is where they “discover” they are the people who had met in the train. That is, if you call a crazy guy seeing someone’s feet, meeting…
Then it turns out that he wants to marry her and takes her to some hill, and they sit down and all and are about to get married – but then she gets up and shouting “Nahin….” Runs away… That is where I say “Nahin….” And switch the channel!!
But anyway, in the end it is revealed that Ashok Kumar, who is Raj Kumar’s uncle (paternal, I think), is Meena Kumari’s real father. And because he didn’t take care of her mother, she ended up as a Tawaif… But my understanding of this movie could be completely wrong because, I have not really seen it fully ever! Its always bits and pieces – and I have kind of put them together in my mind.
Can anyone explain to me why any of these movies is considered to be a classic???
Agree with you on all of them movies, except that last one... I'm not saying Pakheeza is a classic, its just that I'd gone to see it in a hall (movie theater) with a bunch of friends, and we commented and gali-ied, and laughed and laughed through the whole movie so much, that it turned out to be one really hilarious movie!! it remains in my mind, solely for the reason! :-)
ReplyDeleteGood post! :-)