The movie, based on the initial struggle story of Amul, with Dr. Varghese Kurien at the centre, is a reminder of what timeless bolly wood classics stand for.
The movie, available on Zee 5, just captivates your mind from the word go. Watching this 1976 film even in today’s times was such a pleasing experience, that it enthralled even my 13 year old younger daughter.
The movie has such a natural earthy feel to it that it passes before your eyes like a breeze. Right from the hilariously picturised scene of open defecation to absolutely bindaas nose picking by Naseeruddin Shah, the movie never fails to amuse you.
The fiery dialogue delivery by Smita Patil in the first half of the movie are so engaging that, you just end up waiting for her to appear in every scene, and start reciting the dialogues yourself in her typical Gujrati village accent. Her entire rustic demeanor right from scolding her child, to walking barefoot on village paths carrying milk pot on her head alongwith her child in her arms with even the pallu intact, or calling the Competative Society as “Sisoty Vaale” comes so naturally that not for once you feel that Smita is just acting and not actually a village belle. But her sudden silent helplessness and bewilderment in the second half is also so equally convincing that you start feeling sorry for the character.
Girish Karnad is his usual sauve self throughout, while Naseeruddin Shah remains silent for the first half with only his eyes doing the talking. But in the second half his power packed dialogues and acting literally carries the movie forward when Smita Patil becomes more or less silent.
And of course, not to forget the evergreen and absolutely raw folk song by Preeti Sagar :
Mero Gaam Katha Parey Ja…
Dudh ki Nadiya Vahe Ja
Koyal Ku Ku Gaye Ja
Maare Ghar Aangan Aana Bhulo Na..
… which is like an icing on the cake….
… the one and only one of its kind in the entire bollywood library of songs, which immediately makes you tap your feet even if you don’t understand the lyrics …
… a song that won Preeti Sagar not just the Film Fare Award for the Best Female Playback Singer but also a special performance invitation to the Buckingham Palace with an opportunity to sing before Prince Charles!!!
The movie also highlights the problems that Dr. Kurien must have faced in starting the co-operative movement in the illiterate caste ridden villages of India. But, which eventually made India the largest milk producer and consumer of the world.
The movie also rightly highlights the importance of believing in oneself, in ones capabilities for the success of any revolution that, ‘yes, I can do and I can do it by myself’.
Please do find time out of your busy schedule, and for once put all the latest movies and series on the OTT aside, and revisit this ageless wonder.
