Purab Aur Pachhim

Purab Aur Paschim review :

Before Akshay Kumar took over the mantle of "Deshbhakt", it was Manoj Kumar who made an entire career out of pulp patriotism naming himself Bharat in all his endeavors. While Upkar (1967) was based on PM Lal Bahadur Shastri's clarion call of "Jai Jawaan Jai Kisaan", Purab Aur Paschim was an interesting take on the cultural gap between the east and the west.

Bharat (Manoj) goes to London for higher studies and is shocked to see the huge cultural difference between desi Indians and the immigrants staying there. The pretty Saira Banu is called Preeti and the gorgeous beauty plays the blonde haired chain smoking beti of an Indian immigrant (Madan Puri), who hasnt even heard of Bhagvad Gita or Sita Mata.

It is a perfect setting for Bharat to propogate the Indian values to these misguided folks (Manmohan- Om Prakash angle for starters) and then sing it aloud at a local club "Bharat Ka Rehnewala Hoon Bharat Ki Baat Batata Hoon".

I liked Manoj Kumar's handling of the sensitive subject plus his technical finesse in certain scenes deserves a special mention. The film opens in pre-independence era in black and white and then shifts to colour as India gets independent. The London outdoor sequences are well shot just like Raj Kapoor's Sangam (1964) was.

Saira Banu looks like a lovely fragile baby doll and it is difficult to take your eyes off her. Manoj's regulars Pran and Prem Chopra are effective as ever. Madan Puri leaves a mark in a positive role.

Most importantly, Manoj Kumar's intent was noble and applause worthy and he followed up this hit with yet another social drama Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974) which also achieved critical and commercial acclaim. Purab Aur Paschim remains my personal favourite Manoj Kumar movie. Akshay Kumar gave it a befitting ode in Namaste London (2007) which dealt with a similar plot and Akshay even references this inspiration in one pivotal scene. "Main Manoj Kumar ki Purab Aur Paschim ki DVD bhej doonga", he says.

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.