tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post2067730871403254899..comments2024-03-24T08:18:33.058-04:00Comments on Conversations Over Chai: Naya Daur (1957)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-36457894118096327642014-10-26T10:55:15.831-04:002014-10-26T10:55:15.831-04:00True. It was the bane of Hindi films that (contrad...True. It was the bane of Hindi films that (contradictorily) you had to be 'modern' to be strong ('traditional' meant being a doormat) but that if you were 'western' and had short hair, you were either a) a bad woman or b) would be changed by the rustic hero into a sari-clad, long-haired woman.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-61956200446802607762014-10-25T05:30:21.687-04:002014-10-25T05:30:21.687-04:00Actually these women were strong within their boun...Actually these women were strong within their boundries. The "modern" woman, as you have so often observed, either grew long hair and took to sarees (if it was Nanda, Mumtaz, etc.) or repented and died (if it was Helen, etc). While on this topic I also liked Hema who in Khushboo refuses to go to her husband's house until HE comes to take her.Nalini Ikkandathnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-20608849710451457432014-10-24T08:13:04.706-04:002014-10-24T08:13:04.706-04:00Nalini, that is a fine observation about women in ...Nalini, that is a fine observation about women in movies. And yes, definitely worthy of a post. (Thanks for the idea.) There have been many, though we were also treated to the ideal versions of the '<i>Bharatiya naari</i> as well. What I found intriguing about some of those (former) characterisations was that the woman was strong even <i>within</i> the boundaries of tradition. It was not just the 'modern' woman who was strong; traditional heroines were equally self-respecting characters with wills of their own. <br /><br /><br /><br />Thank <i>you</i> for reading and commenting! I'm glad you enjoy my posts. :)Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-57838881129336759192014-10-24T04:50:31.120-04:002014-10-24T04:50:31.120-04:00After I read the review I realised that I have see...After I read the review I realised that I have seen this movie, long, long, ago, in the dark ages of Doordarshan. And liked it too in spite of not being a big fan of Dilip Kumar. However I have often noticed that back then (60's and even upto the 70's), many women (in movies) did have a mind of their own, e.g. Meena Kumari in Parineeta (the way she confronts Ashok Kumar when she considers herself married to him but he thinks she's married to another man) and Paro in the old Devdas when she tells him,'mujhme roop bhi hai, gun bhi hai, tumme doono nahi hai' or something to that effect. See, a nice idea for a blog too, heroines who stand up for themselves. Anyway glad to read all the new blogs Anu. Thank you. The Shammi one (which I read first) was extremely well researched.Nalini Ikkandathnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-49510769137561850712014-10-20T09:00:44.483-04:002014-10-20T09:00:44.483-04:00It is so sweet of you to take the time out to read...It is so sweet of you to take the time out to read my post, Shilpi, when you are so busy running around!Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-26220481065028372012014-10-20T08:59:43.108-04:002014-10-20T08:59:43.108-04:00Thank you, AK. :)
As for your question, it is so...Thank you, AK. :) <br /><br />As for your question, it is something that leaves me (and I daresay, Madhu, as well) scratching our heads. It is as if the women have no agency in their own lives at all. They are supposed to be happy being passed around like parcels for some stupid man-code. In this film, it is worse - Shankar <i>knows</i> that Rajni loves him; but he is willing to 'let her go' because his friend Krishna loves her as well. I mean, what the heck is wrong with the man? Couldn't he have just told Krishna that he and Rajni love each other? I actually liked Rajni's response when Shankar blames her for his falling out with his friend. <br /><br />Laughing at the idea of Rajni bringing roses to the <i>puja</i>. Perhaps the only flowers that were available in the region were marigolds and jasmine. :)Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-52026741161507637332014-10-20T08:41:49.239-04:002014-10-20T08:41:49.239-04:00Anu,
A very nice review as usual. Man versus machi...Anu,<br />A very nice review as usual. Man versus machine - a beautiful film is Charlie Chaplin's <i>Modern Times</i> I got to see a number of times recently. No preaching, but powerful all the same.<br />On the question of how to figure out which guy the lady loves, I have a very dumb question for film experts like you and Madhu. Why couldn't they simply ask the lady to settle the question? If that was delicate, the next best alternative was the <i>bahen</i>, but since she was an interested party, they could have sought the help of the Ma, Mausi or Chaachi to talk to the girl. Even Ekta Kapoor would do better than think of a convoluted plan of marigolds/ jasmines, and someone swapping them. What if the lady went with roses?<br />AKSongs Of Yorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-9820506585707789692014-10-19T13:37:59.502-04:002014-10-19T13:37:59.502-04:00Whew! Finally managed to find some time and read t...Whew! Finally managed to find some time and read this one. I had seen the film ages ago on Doordarshan, I liked it, actually I like the film's songs, I am not a Dilip Kumar fan but I am definitely a fan of Vyjantimala the graceful dancer. I just love to watch her dance and then there were my two other fav dancers Minoo Mumtaz and Kumkum in <i>reshami shalwar</i>, so yes it was a good watch.Shilpi Bosenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-56919494365795684182014-10-19T11:17:54.474-04:002014-10-19T11:17:54.474-04:00Hey, hey, hey, find your own kuttichatthan! Mine i...Hey, hey, hey, find your own <i>kuttichatthan</i>! Mine is alive and well in my home. :) <br /><br />And see, the point about looking where things 'are' doesn't work, when you don't find them there. They have been moved, I tell you. <i>kuttichathans</i> are quick! And as I wrote, a <i>kuttichathan</i> by any other name is just as effective in nicking things. So you probably have his cousin or long-lost uncle or someone living with you. :)Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-74253387596052678702014-10-19T11:08:49.684-04:002014-10-19T11:08:49.684-04:00I'm glad that the RK scions have not given in ...I'm glad that the RK scions have not given in to the trend. So far. Rishi Kapoor was rather vehement about <i>not</i> colourising them, so I guess we are safe for now. :(<br /><br />How nice it would be if, instead, people spent some time cleaning up prints of all our old films and archiving them properly!Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-20360744804145548602014-10-19T11:06:23.222-04:002014-10-19T11:06:23.222-04:00That was a very sweet thing to say, Shyam. Thank y...That was a very sweet thing to say, Shyam. Thank you. You've made my day. :) Now I really have to work hard to justify your faith. Will do my best.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-46953477138985154342014-10-19T10:29:12.602-04:002014-10-19T10:29:12.602-04:00I have been laughing for the last 22 minutes or so...I have been laughing for the last 22 minutes or so. Does Kuttichathans only live in Keralite 's home or can he wander off to other people's home too. I am sure he does in ours and has been for many years :).<br />I had read somewhere that the reason something is lost is, that you are not looking where it is. Well that may sound very logical but I like your explanation better.Neerunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-7124225570811296302014-10-19T01:10:45.746-04:002014-10-19T01:10:45.746-04:00I agree, Anu - I can't understand this penchan...I agree, Anu - I can't understand this penchant for colourising B/W films. <i>Mughal-e-Azam, Naya Daur, Hum Dono</i> and the odd song here and there from other films which have been colourised in recent years all look uniformly unnatural (garish, too, though in <i>Hum Dono</i> that wasn't so much the case - there, for some odd reason, all the vegetation looked more grey than green). I wish they'd spend all that time cleaning up the prints instead.dustedoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-14687273699164446022014-10-18T22:50:47.772-04:002014-10-18T22:50:47.772-04:00As I have seen the Rajya Sabha TV program earlier ...As I have seen the Rajya Sabha TV program earlier I could say that. I know you need time for watching that and for the kind of work you do.<br />So I expect a wonderful piece on a remarkable person.<br />Thanks.shyamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-4262906054634641492014-10-18T22:41:49.262-04:002014-10-18T22:41:49.262-04:00It is funny you should say that, Miranda; of the t...It is funny you should say that, Miranda; of the triumvirate, I thought Dilip and Raj were the two who could have played the rustic without issues. <br /><br />Do watch, even if you have to swig brandy to get through it. I can assure you that you will find it enjoyable. :)Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-29727589111882819462014-10-18T22:34:03.611-04:002014-10-18T22:34:03.611-04:00I still haven't watched the TV program that Ne...I still haven't watched the TV program that Neeru linked to, but I hope to be able to do so tomorrow. I wouldn't mind writing about him at all - he sounds very interesting. But it is going to take me some time to research.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-91857974522094793982014-10-18T22:15:39.658-04:002014-10-18T22:15:39.658-04:00I don't know if it was because I saw Dilip in ...I don't know if it was because I saw Dilip in mostly urban and urbane roles first, but I have watched the first 20-30 min of this multiple times and always get put off by the "gaonish" version of Dilip's character. I have yet to develop a taste for his "rustic" avatar. My guess is that one gets used to it, but I think that's ironic, considering that you mention Ashok turning down the role for the same reason. (That I can't see it all, though, so good choice Ashok!) Worse, Vijayanthi is far from my favorite heroine of the time. However, it's such a touchstone piece from what I gather that it's probably a film for one of those brandy nights when I'm inclined to be indulgent ;) Loved all the backstory info in your review, btw.Filmi~Contrasthttp://filmi-contrast.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-55756704864262384132014-10-18T12:54:17.278-04:002014-10-18T12:54:17.278-04:00Though the Rajya Sabha TV program was good, it st...Though the Rajya Sabha TV program was good, it still was incomplete or inadequate. I think he did choreography for 25 films or so. Many of his meaningful or beautiful lyrics have not been mentioned even. Examples, Jagte Raho and sawan. I remember Salil Choudhury mentioning somewhere about his contribution for tunes of Teki Main Jhooth Boliya, Aye Mere Pyare Watan.<br />I hope you would write on Prem Dhawan at some point in future.shyamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-22609847872673754162014-10-18T11:28:00.170-04:002014-10-18T11:28:00.170-04:00Hoye, I wasn't offended. I was just explaining...Hoye, I wasn't offended. I was just explaining what I knew and what I didn't. :)Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-17876693608716729842014-10-18T11:15:33.055-04:002014-10-18T11:15:33.055-04:00Sorry Anu, I did not mean that you were not aware,...Sorry Anu, I did not mean that you were not aware, it was just a general sentence of information about Prem Dhawan. Neerunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-36611458855937018512014-10-18T10:02:34.903-04:002014-10-18T10:02:34.903-04:00Neeru, I know Prem Dhawan was a lyricist and music...Neeru, I know Prem Dhawan was a lyricist and music director. I also know that he had penned a couple of scripts. I didn't know that he was a choreographer as well.Thanks for that link - will watch it later today.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-10479629550345623762014-10-18T10:00:28.156-04:002014-10-18T10:00:28.156-04:00Prem Dhawan was quite versatile, Music Director (S...Prem Dhawan was quite versatile, Music Director (Shaheed, Pavitra Papi ) are the two well known, but there are others, will have to di some names up., Lyricist and Choreographer. "Kachhi hai umariya.... Mujhe bhi rang deta jaa" was choreographed by him too. Your favourite song Anu, Ae mere pyaare watan is also penned by him. I watched a program on him by Rajya Sabha TV that you might enjoy.http://youtu.be/9W3iTutOFEoNeerunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-56851308711553688552014-10-18T09:11:22.117-04:002014-10-18T09:11:22.117-04:00Thank you, Shyam. Yes, I should have mentioned Pre...Thank you, Shyam. Yes, I should have mentioned Prem Dhawan for his choreography. And I would have, if I had known he was the choreographer. :( I agree that it is a shame that technicians rarely get their due. I particularly liked the cinematography as well - Wikipedia mentions a M.Malhotra. Again, I have no clue who he is.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-78112272626769574172014-10-18T09:08:46.586-04:002014-10-18T09:08:46.586-04:00Thank you, Madhu. :) It is a very enjoyable film,...Thank you, Madhu. :) It <i>is </i> a very enjoyable film, and it had been a long time since I had watched it. With so many other films to watch and books to read and things to do, one never seems to have the time to revist old favourites. I'm so glad I gave in to temptation that day when I put this in to confirm which song preceded or followed <i>Ye desh hai veer jawanon ka</i>. Honestly, it is also the fact that I had the remastered B&W version (Yashraj Videos) that made me watch it again. Somehow, I hate the 'coloured' versions. I've never understood this fascination for colourising B&W films - why not simply clean up the old print? There is a beauty about B&W films that gets ruined by the colourising process - I think it was VK Murthy who pointed out that the film used was different and just colourising the old prints made it look rather garish. Pet peeve that. Sorry for the rant. :(<br /><br />I too liked Ajit in <i>Mughal-e-Azam</i>, and wish that he had done more such roles. He would have done very well as a good parallel lead, or as a character artiste. But then, I suppose there really weren't that many roles that demanded a good parallel lead. Neither did they write in good characters other than the heroes/heroines. In that sense, I suppose he was lucky to have become the main villain for so many years.<br /><br /><br /><br />I remember reading about <i>Pathan</i> - in the comments on one of your posts on your blog, I believe. Theirs is a very sad love story. :( As was Dev Anand's and Suraiya's.Anu Warrierhttp://anuradhawarrier.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2309362817539389132.post-58807651534314719892014-10-18T04:05:58.502-04:002014-10-18T04:05:58.502-04:00Good review as usual. Should have mentioned the mu...Good review as usual. Should have mentioned the multifaceted Prem Dhawanji for his wonderful choreography.<br />Somehow some people don't get their due.shyamnoreply@blogger.com