tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post2118780472537506756..comments2024-03-27T14:57:37.031+05:30Comments on Jabberwock: Flashback series: language, education and a great romantic pairing in Gunga JumnaJabberwockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10210195396120573794noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-31218957823403222952019-04-24T06:44:02.110+05:302019-04-24T06:44:02.110+05:30I don't quite agree that Vyjayanthimala's ...I don't quite agree that Vyjayanthimala's acting is particularly stylized<br /><br />It may be so in this film. But hardly the case in her films with say Rajendra Kumar - Zindagi, Saathi, Sangam, Aas Ka Pancchi. Or the film she did with Uttam Kumar - Chhoti si Mulaqat - my personal favoriteshrikanthkhttp://skuve.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8204542.post-42749094245556030342019-04-19T20:24:07.674+05:302019-04-19T20:24:07.674+05:30I remember feeling overwhelmed by 'Gunga Jumna...I remember feeling overwhelmed by 'Gunga Jumna' when I saw it some years ago, and feeling that I didn't have words enough to praise the film. It's a very skillfully constructed movie with so many brilliant scenes that seamlessly flow on from one another. It probably features the finest and most moving performances of both Dilip and Vijanthimala. The supporting cast was also wonderful; notably Kanhaiyalal who you've mentioned as well as others. There were many scenes that I loved, but just to mention one; there's that scene in the forest where Gunga announces that he's going to stop being a dacoit and turn a new leaf. Dhanno is elated, and says that she'll go to the village and beg everyone's forgiveness on Ganga's behalf. She utters a prayer to the effect of 'God, we haven't forgotten you, please don't forget us. Help us out of this and bring Jumna back to us'. Then they hear news of Jumna's having returned to the village as a police superintendent and approach him full of hope. Part of the scene is on youtube: <br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2e865smk38<br /><br />It's a very affecting scene, and the way these characters have been depicted just seems so convincing. There's Gunga who can talk to Dhanno so savagely (the 'hat' sounds so crushing and awful) and yet he loves her so much. You empathise with the couple, and Ganga has every reason to feel conflicted about turning himself him, though I do broadly identify with the film's underlying stance, in that it:<br /> <br />'endorses the rules of civilized life – reiterating that no crime, however provoked, should go unpunished – but retains empathy for a man who was a victim long before he was a “sinner”.' <br /><br />I think that is a very sound position, though tough cases do sometimes come along which seem to challenge it. Netflix seems to be full of highly depressing documentaries on people who have had the most terrible lives imaginable, and go on to do terrible things, and you don't know what to think. Some of these people were brought up in environments where they would not have been able to grasp at any concept of right or wrong. Their lives make it look as though Gunga actually had it pretty good in comparison. <br /><br />I also feel that some of the films 'Gunga Jumna' inspired such as 'Deewar' (while entertaining enough in their own right, I suppose) don't come even close to it, in term of the feelings they elicit. I find it a bit difficult to explain why. Perhaps Amitabh's 'Vijay' isn't quite as appealing as Dilip's earthy, at times endearing and very realistic seeming Gunga. Perhaps it has something to do with the writing; though 'Deewar' is well-written, IMO the script doesn't have the brilliance or spark of Gunga Jumna. Some people might strongly disagree with me, but I don't think of 'Deewar' as a 'classic' (I just think of it as a good, solid, entertaining movie, much like 'Sholay'). This Wahajat Mirza fellow must have been a highly talented as well as very versatile script writer; he was also one of the writers of 'Mughal- e-Azam'. As Dilip is also credited for the script, I don't know how it worked out between them; whether it was a collaborative effort or whether Dilip made significant changes to Mirza's original script. Anyways (yes that evil linguistic concoction, lol), Dilip can justly be very proud of his contribution to this film. It is a magnificent film and its no surprise that's it's so highly regarded. silverambrosiahttp://www.silverambrosia.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com