This time in the retro review, we are talking about the film Asthi- a courageous political satire which was engulfed in controversies through her story and characters related to Indira Gandhi. It is a story of ambitions, love and sacrifice, which is still considered a precious heritage of cinema.
Retro Review: Thunderstorm (1975)
artist: Sanjeev Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Om Prakash, A.K. Hangal, Om Shivpuri
director: Flower Garden
Music/Song: R.D. Burman/Gulzar
Box Office: Hit
Viewing Place: YouTube
Reason for view: Story of politics showing the impact on the personal life of politics
Learning of the story: Some people will say, people have the job to say
background
Former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi used to give an hour for yoga every morning. She used to spend almost the same time with her stylist. The confluence of these two things has a specificity in his personality- slim body, sharp move, adorned saris and a special white brain of his hair that became his identity. Indira Gandhi was at the peak of her popularity in the 1970s. The victory and ‘poverty removal’ campaign in the Bangladesh war made him the favorite of the general public and the upper class. Even the opposing parties described him as an avatar of Durga. In this period, director Gulzar created a storm by taking inspiration from his personality. Gulzar says that this film was not the life-story of Indira Gandhi, but its main character Aarti Devi was inspired by her and Patna’s famous MP Tarakeshwari Sinha.
However, at the time of the release of the film, it was promoted as Indira Gandhi’s biopic. Posters were written – “See the Prime Minister on screen.” This campaign was initially successful, but during the Gujarat assembly elections, Indira Gandhi’s opponents misused some scenes of the film. On the complaint of the Congress, the Election Commission banned the film 24 weeks after its release. Shortly thereafter, on 26 June 1975, Indira Gandhi’s voice echoed on the radio – “Emergency is declared.” The name of the storm now joined the memories of the Emergency forever.
Story
The story of the film revolves around Aarti Devi (Suchitra Sen)-a popular but internal scattered leader. During an election tour, she met her husband J.K. (Sanjeev Kumar). This conflict makes him aware of the prices of his past and ambition. The election atmosphere, the attacks of opponents, questions on personal life and rumors… everything makes a terrible storm around him. But in the end Aarti takes a shocking step and shocked everyone – and snatches the stage. Similarity in the life of film and Indira Gandhi is clearly visible. Like – Pandit Nehru did not like the marriage of Indira and Feroz Gandhi. The wedding took place in Vedic manner, on Nehru’s insistence. Feroz Gandhi was an independent -thinking journalist and MP who did not hesitate to criticize the government (exposing the 1958 LIC scam).
Indira and Feroze’s relationship remained complicated. She eventually returned to her father’s house, with her sons Rajiv and Sanjay. Aarti and J.K. The relationship of this gives a glimpse of this relationship. The difference is that the end of the film is pleasant, while Feroze Gandhi died of a heart attack. In one scene, stones are thrown at Aarti. She answers – “Violence is part of evil politics.” It matches a real incident when Indira Gandhi’s nose was stoned in a rally and surgery was needed.
Good, bad and bitter
Gulzar has threaded the personal and political world in this film in a very balanced manner. Suchitra Sen has put a lot of self -confidence and pain in the role of Aarti. The character of Sanjeev Kumar is quiet, deep and extremely effective. The non-wild style of the film is the specialty of Gulzar, which easily connects the ghost and the present. R.D. Burman’s music and Gulzar’s song of the film is Dil Hai – Tere Bina Zindagi and from this turn, not just songs, are the columns of the story. Om Prakash, A.K. Characters like Hangal and Om Shivpuri show the diverse colors of Aarti’s political world.
Problem: The climax of the film is somewhat weak. The last events seem a bit exaggerated, which do not match the depth of the story.
Decision
Despite these deficiencies, the depiction of a strong but flawed female leader was revolutionary for that time. This film is still relevant today because it shows how difficult it is to balance between love and power. Indira Gandhi lost the election in 1977. After that, when the typhoon was rejected by the Morarji Desai government, the audience took it in hand. The success of the film showed that Indira Gandhi may have lost, but was not broken. Just as the storm got a second chance, he also returned.
conclusion
The storm must be seen. To show its courageous writing, brilliant performance, beautiful music and human struggle hidden behind politics. This film reminds that a personal conflict is hidden behind every public face, and art – the fame is banned – is always alive.
While walking, an interesting thing … In the film, Suchitra Sen is shown in Indira Gandhi’s style – absolutely decent saris, and white hair in hair. Famous stylist Habib Ahmed once told that Indira’s hair was 99% white. Except for that white braid, the rest of the hair was dyed. First this work was done in France, then Habib took over in India. He used to meet the Prime Minister once a week, so that his iconic look remained intact.