Aug 30, 2010 08:39 PM
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(Updated Aug 30, 2010 08:46 PM)
It is the novel, 'The Guide' by RK Narayan which prompted my watch of the movie. Did the movie justify the book? The movie complements but not replaces.
It is not easy to make a full commercial film with full art elements. Guide is one film attempted that big risk. First applaud need to give for the confidence the makers put on the book by RKN. The story and metaphors are close to the heart of an average viewer. This made the film and the book enjoyable to the audience/readers even in their lightest movements and when they are spirited to think. The art element added depth.
The plot is the hero of the film and the director, Vijay Anand made best use of it. The director knows the pulse of the audience and kept the film acceptable to them. One who read the book will realise the hard decisions the director had to take to make the film work. The writer director succeeds in making the film a commercial success despite a huge budget but at the cost of failure to comprehend the characters and scenes for art layer. For one who identifies with RKN's metaphors the film failed it negatively. For example, Marco represented Mount Batton and the gem belongs to Rosie aka Kashmir. Once the Marco (British/MB) succeed in convincing Kashmiris aka Rosie that the signature is forged that inspired the Kashmir's soul abandoned India aka Raju. However in the film she is sacrificing herself to be part of India. In climax, RKN wanted to show the wickedness with which the fatherhood of success was assigned but the film thought to go with the popular sentiment. The saint Raju lies, but the film saves his face. If RKN wrote a son who abandons his mother and forcefully possessed Rosie, the film saves his soul by making him as a typical bollywood hero. This way, the imperfection the author thoughtfully created to represent a world of reality was turned by the movie makers to one of an ideal world. To the merit of the makers, the movie helped readers to identify with many of its metaphors. For example, I could not substantiate the metaphor of Nehru by reading the book, but a scene from the movie solved a lot of puzzle pieces to bring meaning, including Mr & Mrs Mount Baton and the gossips surrounding Nehru and Mrs. Baton. A clue is not a clue, but it can be a master key for many conclusions. The speed of Gandhi, Smartness of Nehru, Lethargy of India after independence & the role of media in the propaganda....the film is a good puzzle to solve for one who takes interest.
If the fail to possess the book and its characters, whether the film deserves applauds? Yes, because it manage to create another soul and another spirit keeping some of the book's fine messages.
Performance by Dev Anand is simply brilliant. He lives the character. Waheeda Rahman on the other hand lifted the film a step higher. Her dancing skills helped but that doesn't over shadow her performance. Excellent! Rest of the cast (including Kishore Sanu & Leela Chitnis) had only miner roles and did their part well.
Music was the soul of the movie. Generally I give a skip to songs while watching on DVDs unless they are extremely brilliant. The songs from the movie is so brilliant, I watch all of them along with the movie and can watch many times repeatedly for its excellent lyrics, soulful music and heart touching singing. The choreography too is fantastic. Aaj Phir Jeene ki tamanna hai....the song lives the hope of the heroine and how it passes to the audience!! Tere Mere Sapne...was a soul touching song with its lyrics and feel. The snake dance in the movie created its own lyrics without https://lyrics. Piya tose Naina Laga Re, Gata Rahe Mera Dil...Each song carries the soul and spirit...With excellent contribution from the choreography, cinematography and performance, these songs become the soul of the film and its commercial success. Lyrics by Shailendra, Music by RD Burman, Songs by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi & Kishore Kumar Cinematography by Fali Mistry and Choreographer Harilal - my salute to all.
Cinematography is excellent. Each frame is filled with colour suiting the emotions. Excellent contribution there! Take any five minute of the film and you can capture many 'sceen saver scenaries' from a digital print. Brilliant!!
The film's length is over 3 hours. Still, the skill of editor is visible.
Overall, the film qualifies the excellent tag for a mile. It permits a smooth sail once we ignore the waves at shore. When we float beyond shores it reminds of the depth and the enemies waiting for our head. It is a call to a young nation not to surrender the freedom it recently brought. Like all classics, the film's message is more relevant today than in the days it was written or made. Marco's brothers had sent a parcel with a ''Shining Rose' and requested for a signature. Do we sign or forge? Both ways, we are trapped.
The film may not be worth calling the greatest one to assemble the art and commercial cinema, but it is definitely belongs to the higher league and worth calling classic. When we consider the era it was made, we have no option but to salute the heroes who made this possible. That made the film worth our wonders and it is a reminder how we grow small each passing day. When do bollywood released such a thoughtful and beautiful movie last?
