Page 34 - Seniors Today October 2020

Cover Package | Films
Time is of
the essence
With memorable music, a star-studded cast and despite the most improbable
storyline, Waqt remains literally a family favourite, writes Deepa Gahlot
Waqt (1965)
It was in 1970 that Yash Chopra set up his
own production company, Yash Raj Films –
the YRF logo now being mainstream Hindi
cinema’s calling card wherever Bollywood
spreads its entertainment wings. The
company, now headed by his son Aditya
Chopra, is celebrating 50 years, though it
was three years later that Yash Chopra’s first
film under his home banner came out, which
was Daag. Till this time, his elder brother BR
Chopra produced films for him.
After assisting his brother, Yash Chopra
started his independent directing career
with two serious black-and-white films—
Dhool Ka Phool (1959) and Dharmputra
(1961), both making a case for communal
harmony; both were appreciated but neither
set the box-office on fire.
Then, in 1965, he burst into full showman
mode with the multi-starrer Waqt, and
henceforth stayed resolutely mainstream.
The film reinvented the lost-and-found
formula that remained popular for decades;
he got together an enviable cast of stars,
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put them on lavish sets, dressed them in
sumptuous costumes (by Bhanu Athaiya),
gave them great songs (Sahir-Ravi),
memorable lines (Akhtar-ul-Imaan), and
made sure that over half a century later, the
film still delivers emotion, romance, action
and entertainment neatly packaged.
Family saga
The film begins with Lala Kedarnath (Balraj
Sahni), inordinately pleased with his success
— he is about to inaugurate his new carpet
and dry fruits shop on the birthday of his
three sons (only in Bollywood could three
boys, a couple of years apart, be born on the
same day!). The function to celebrate that
includes the memorable serenade Ae Meri
Zohra Jabeen, from Lalaji to his blushing
wife Lakshmi (Achla Sachdev).
He scoffs at the prediction by an astrologer
warning of rough times ahead, claiming he
has written his own destiny; when he tells
his wife of his grand plans for the future, he
tempts fate. An earthquake hits, destroying
his shop and home and scattering his family.
Meanwhile in Delhi, Vijay is having a
Ae meri zohra jabeen is practically an anthem for mature
lovers
Torn asunder
The youngest boy Munna (who grows up
to be Vijay – Shashi Kapoor) remains with
the mother, while the rest go missing. At the
rescue camp, Lakshmi is told that her husband
is dead. She ends up doing menial work in
people’s houses and then taking in sewing.
The oldest son Raju (later, Raja – Raaj Kumar,
who has the immortal line “Ye chaku hai, lag
jaaye to khoon nikal aata hai)” ends up in an
orphanage, while middle son Babloo (later,
Ravi – Sunil Dutt) is found on the road by a
rich couple, who take him home and raise him
as their own.
Lala Kedarnath manages to find out where
Raju is, but when he goes to the orphanage
he discovers the boy has run away, because
of the ill treatment and beatings by the
manager (Jeevan). In a rage, Lala kills the man
and goes to jail. Raju becomes a pickpocket
and then a smart thief, working for Chinoy
Seth (Rehman). He falls in love with Meena
(Sadhana) and decides to reform, only to find
that she is all set to marry Ravi, who is now a
lawyer.
When he decides to kill Ravi, he learns that
he his long-lost brother. Meanwhile, Meena’s
parents break off her engagement with Ravi
because they are told he was picked up off the
street.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #16 | OCTOBER 2020
college romance with Renu (Sharmila
Tagore), who happens to be Ravi’s foster
sister. He has to move to Bombay to seek
treatment for his ailing mother and finds
employment as a driver with Chinoy.
Kedarnath, released from prison, comes to
Bombay in search of his family. In typical
movie fashion, he does run into his sons, but
they do not recognise one another.
Revelation and murder
Raja decides to reveal to Ravi that they are
brothers, at a party hosted by Chinoy. An
employee misbehaves with Meena, and
Raja threatens to kill him. Later, when
Chinoy ends up murdering the same man,
it is convenient to dump the corpse in
Raja’s cupboard and frame him. The sole
witness, Vijay, is silenced with money for his
mother’s medical care.
Raja is arrested and Ravi defends him
in court. In a dramatic court sequence, he
proves his brother’s innocence. Lakshmi
arrives in court looking for Vijay, is spotted
by Kedarnath; all brothers are already there,
so there is a tearful reunion, and a happy end
with Lala Kedarnath & Sons resurrected. But
the boastful Lala has been taught his lesson
— the fate of humans is controlled by time —
Waqt.
The film had an almost three-hour running
time, but not a dull moment. The high-
powered cast was supported by Motilal,
Shashikala, Surendranath, Leela Chitnis,
Sumati Gupte, Madan Puri, Manmohan
Krishna, Mubarak, Jagdish Raj…obviously,
no expense spared.
Add to that the lovely songs— Aage Bhi
Jaane Na Tu, Chehre Pe Khushi Chhaa Jaati
Hai, Din Hai Bahaar Ke Tere Mere Iqrar Ke,
Hum Jab Simat Ke Aapki—and the film is a
timeless ode to the best of Bollywood.
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