True Love knows no hurdles. Review on Silsila

In scripting an adulterous love story that dares to break the chains imposed by the society, Yash Chopra has displayed a vision way ahead of the time this movie was released. However, when it comes to delivering the knock-out punch, Yash Chopra sheepishly choose an ending which goes with the timing of release. The ending alone could perhaps be one big factor for the lukewarm response it received.

Amit( Bachchan) , a poet is passionately in love with Chandni ( Rekha). Destiny descends on this dreamer-lover and circumstances compel Amit to marry Shobha (Jaya Bachchan) , who is the sweetheart of his brother and close friend Shekhar ( Sashi Kapoor). Chandi is shaken, but moves on with life, before the next big twist happens.

Fate brings Amit and Chandni together again, but this time with a difference. Amit is married to Shobha and Chandni is married to a doctor ( Sanjeev Kumar). The lovers are drawn towards each other, but their obligations swoon them away. After an intriguing battle of emotions, their attraction overwhelms every obstacle and surges ahead. Caustic remarks of friends, suspicious eyes of the society , the guilt of cheating on their dutiful spouses – nothing can stop them. The couple decide to elope, but in a dramatic twist in the climax, they decide to restore their loyalties to their respective spouses.

Rekha s performance steals the thunder, along with her stunningly captivating and sensual looks. The movie is an example of how artistically and attractively a woman can be presented to the audience, without showing the slightest flesh. The picturization, done in the calm , clear and gorgeous Kashmir ( those were the days !!) , and the songs make it a treat for those who relish art. There are occasions when Rekha and the background compete for getting the better of each other when it comes to being gorgeous.

Jaya Bachchan has presented a superlative performance, expressing grief, love, anger and disappointment with her powerfully expressive eyes. Her role is more subdued than Rekha s role, but no less intense when it comes to performance. If the legend were to be true, the real life background to the movie might have dispelled the need for action, still, looking at the movie purely for what it is , it is the exceptional performance of these two lead roles that leave a stamp of class in this movie.

For someone who is used to delivering the number one performance, Amitabh must have felt strange to come behind Rekha and Jaya when it comes to expression. Talented actor that he is, Bachchan s performance is very real, but simply gets eclipsed by the performance of the heroines.

Sashi Kapoor and Sanjeev Kumar make an impact of their limited roles in a subtle and gentle way.

The film has some lovely songs which are evergreen memories. Shiv hari , a lesser known musician , has done a commendable job. Music and some wonderful cinematography of Kashmir make it a treat for the eyes.

Producing and directing the movie, Yash Chopra makes the audience feel heavenly until the climax, when he drops them back in earth with a heavy thud, literally. Strange that in a plane which has crashed, the seats still remain in tact and Sanjeev Kumar is still seated. In one shot, he messes up all the excellent work done throughout the movie.

Yet, the movie has to be appreciated for courageously portraying a theme that is shunned – Adultery. Instead of projecting them as villains, Yash chopra succeeds in portraying it sensitively. But , if we were to pick out one outstanding feature of this movie from the many it has, I would pick the fact that it was visionary movie. Silsila is a movie that will change the way society judges attractions between a married man and a married woman.