Movie Review : Saaransh

Rating : 4/5
Genre : Drama
Year : 1984
Running time : 2 hours 17 minutes
Director : Mahesh Bhatt
Cast : Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi, Soni Razdan, Madan Jain, Haider Ali, Akaash Khurana, Nilu Phule, Suhas Bhalekar
Kid rating : PG-13

Recently re-watched Saaransh, after many, many years. It is a rather old film and its stars Anupam Kher and Rohini Hattangadi were young then, although they play an aged couple. It remains one of the best films I have seen, a reminder of the times when Mahesh Bhatt actually produced quality.

B.V.Pradhan (Kher) and his wife Parvati (Hattangadi) have lost their young son Ajay. He was working in New York and was stabbed to death in a mugging. Hoping to alleviate their loneliness and bring in some extra income the couple decide to house a paying guest. A young woman Sujata Suman (Soni Razdan), an actress decides to rent the room and moves in. Her boyfriend Vilas Chitre (Madan Jain) helps her move. Sujata and Vilas hope to marry soon, but Vilas hasn’t yet told his politician father about Sujata.

It comes to light that Sujata is pregnant with Vilas’s baby and presurrizes him to speak to his father. However when he does so, Gajanan Chitre (Nilu Phule), facing impending elections and fearing a scandal, refuses to give Sujata and Vilas his blessings. Vilas is cowed down, and breaks off his relationship with Sujata. Gajanan puts his henchmen after Sujata and tries to persuade her to abort the baby. Pradhan and Parvati support Sujata, but Gajanan is a powerful, evil man and will stop at nothing to ensure an election win.

This is a wonderful film, filled with impeccable direction and great acting. Bhatt manages to portray emotions just right, not overdone or overflowing with pathos, but truly heartfelt. There is great nuance, and great empathy here. The screenplay is beautifully scripted, and Bhatt pauses at just the right moments to show us the reality of life – Pradhan and Parvati’s great sorrow at the loss of their son, Pradhan’s empathy for another young person’s hard life, and above all the old couple’s grit and determination to do the right thing despite all the threats and dangers that come their way. Bhatt also reflects on the way society reacts to a crisis in its midst; most people turn away, unaffected. It is a few who take a stand, and Pradhan is one of those people.

I will always remember the heartbreaking way some emotions are rendered in this film. There is a scene in this film where Pradhan goes to apply for a librarian’s job in the city. There he meets Haider Ali, a friend of his now dead son Ajay. Pradhan greets Haider and asks of his welfare, and Haider, who has come to apply for the same job, lies and tells Pradhan of his booming business and US trips, and his wanting the job to while away the time. Not in reality having a booming business or trips abroad, and unaware of Ajay’s death, he even tells Pradhan that on his last, very recent trip abroad he has spoken to Ajay and that Ajay is doing well. Pradhan, a bent, frail old man, looks at Haider’s shabby clothing and scuffed shoes and listens silently, sorrow in his eyes.

Kher and Hattangadi’s mannersism refelected the ages of the old couple – a halting walk, a love of habit, and a tolerance which can only come with the years. Razdan, Jain and Phule are also very good. This film hasn’t lost any of it’s beauty or resonance with age – highly recommended.