Dreams and ideals. Review on Tere Mere Sapne - 1971

We start out in life with both dreams and ideals. As long as both complement and fulfill each other, life is rosy and pink. The castles of dreams are made with tender love and sweet satisfaction. But time can sometimes deal a mighty blow and bring many a castle crashing down.What happens then when somebody?s unthinking cruelty changes the course of your life ? What happens when dreams start clashing with ideals ? What happens when a committed doctor goes against the very motives that drive him and determines to transform into a money-making machine ? What does he gain and what does he lose in his quest ?

This, in essence, is the story behind Tere Mere Sapne

___________________________________________________________________

Anand (Dev Anand) joins the village practice as a young, idealistic doctor who wants to make a difference by using his skills and education to help the poor. He meets here Dr.Jagannath Kothari (Vijay Anand), a top-notch gynaecologist and a disillusioned drunkard who had joined with the same noble dreams as Anand. In spite of this (or is it because of this ?) Anand and Jagan strike a deep friendship. Anand soon settles into life in the village and wins over many a heart, including that of the young, idealistic and beautiful school teacher, Nisha(Mumtaz). Soon, Nisha and Anand are making plans to be married.

One day, Anand is forced to come to deliver a child for a woman because Jagan is drunk. The couple, who have been childless for many years, are eternally grateful to Anand for this. Phoolchand, the newborn boy's father, expresses his faith in Anand.

Anand and Nisha get married and lead an idyllic, happy life. Their happiness is only enhanced by the news of Nisha's pregnancy. Jagan becomes their good friend. Tragedy strikes one day when a rashly driving Seth Madho Chand (Prem Nath) hits Nisha with his car. Nisha not only loses her unborn child but may never conceive again. While Nisha is grieved, Anand is filled with rage, further fuelled Madho Chand's smirking attitude.

In court, the witnesses turn against Anand and testify that the accident was caused by Nisha's own carelessness. This causes Anand to vow to become a rich man. He leaves the village and moves to the city where he finally becomes rich and famous.

But his lust and pursuit for money has changed Anand into someone Nisha neither knows nor loves. She realizes this when she becomes pregnant a second time. Yearning to share this news with Anand, she calls up to find out that he has unthinkingly left for an appointment with a big filmstar, Malti Mala (Hema Malini). With further blindness, Anand fails to notice Nisha's growing alienation till she finally leaves for the village.

When Phoolchand loses his son due to Anand's carelessness, he realizes the web of deceit he has woven around himself. In his quest for money and power, he has become exactly what he so despised. His hatred for himself is heightened when Jagan comes and tells him of Nisha's state.

After many tense moments, all ends well when they are both united and Nisha becomes a mother.

_____________________________________________________________

Acting The movie belongs to Mumtaz, even though the stoy is that of Anand. Her grace, her innocent beauty and her courage set her apart as actress. Till now just a pretty face to me, her acting prowess is impressive. Dev Anand looks a bit foolish and blustering but is credible as a dedicated doctor, a loving husband, a greed-driven fanatic and a repentant man. The supporting cast, especially Jagan, is convincing to boot. Hema Malini as a poor little rich girl has a brief but strong role to play.

Storytelling and Direction The story is gentle, yet engrossing. It is a very real look at life, an insight into the issues that drive and obsess men and women. The characters come across as strong and willful.

Music melodious and poignant. The Jeevan ki bagiya song keeps recurring in the background, bringing poignance to Mumtaz's happiness and grief. One of the best scores is Jaise radha ne mala japi, which starts just as Nisha is leaving Anand. Others - maine kasam li are equally unforgettable.

Conclusion

It is after many days that I have seen a movie that moved me, enriched me, gave me something to think about and urged me to write. It is after many days that I have watched something that is relevant to life and our present times. It is even more ironical that this movie appeared on TV in close vicinity of the release Salaam Namaste, which is touted as a movie about a ''girl and boy living together''. Though I have nothing against commercially successful movies, it makes me sigh to note how few relevant and impactful movies are being made today. How many of us will watch these movies and feel that they have added to our lives rather than just subtracted three hours ? How many of us will think about the dreams and ideals that we started out with and evaluate what many we have retained and gained over time ? And how many will have achieved the balance between both ?