Navrang (1959) is directed by legendary director V. Shantaram and its really classic gem of Bollywood cinema. This movie should be remembered for its vivid use of color and its unique blend of fantasy, music, and social commentary. The story behind creation of this movie is also very interesting. V. Shantaram temporarily lost his eye sight due to an accident during his movie "Do Ankhein baarah Hath" when his eye patches removed first time, actress Sandhya decorated whole house with beautiful colours and paintings at that time V. Shantaram imagined this movie. Later Sandhya and V. Shantaram married each other in real life too and she never worked in any other director except V. Shantaram.
The story revolves around Diwakar during 18th century when Britisher were on path of slowly capturing Indian kingdoms. Diwakar was poet who immerses himself in his own fantasies and created character of Mohini, his imagined muse who mirrors his wife. This duality between reality and imagination is one of the film's most compelling elements, as it delves into themes of artistic obsession and conflict with real world. On one hand Diwakar's wife is a conservative woman who want live a traditional life, while his muse Mohini is a playful beautiful dancer and singer. Diwakar created various songs in imagination of Mohini and slowly he starts gaining recognition from society and his patronage king. But with passing time, his patronage king lost his kingdom to britisher and Diwakar lost his position as court poet due to his loyalty towards old king. This movie focuses on the time period when Indian artists were losing their position in Indian society and people were accepted western culture.
In Indian literature tradition there's a concept of "Kavi Prerna" and as per my understanding the main focus of this movie is to explain relationship between a Kavi Diwakar and his "Kavi Prerna". The concept of 'Kavi Prerna' in Indian literature is slightly different from concept of muse in greek drama, 'Kavi Prerna' is often in form of mythical characters like Gandharva, Yakshini or Apsara and Sandhya ji really justified her role in every form. Every song in this movie are movie is masterpiece of classical music and dance and the metaphor used while imagining Mohini are really beautiful, she's imagined like a bird in one song while like a apsara or Gandharva in other song. In famous Holi song 'Arre ja re hath nathkhat' she's imagined like a Ardhanari which can be considered one of the most difficult dance ever shown on screen. Anyone who has studied literature of Kalidasa can find some similarities between imagination of kalidasa's characters and imagination of Diwakar.
The film's hallmark is its stunning visual style, especially considering the use of Technicolor in Indian cinema at the time. V. Shantaram's direction brilliantly contrasts Diwakar's vivid, fantastical world with his drab, real-life circumstances. The dream sequences are filled with bright colors, elaborate sets, and striking choreography, which are still admired today. This movie is a visual treat for anyone interested in Indian dance and poetic traditions.
The music by C. Ramchandra is another highlight, with songs like "Aadha Hai Chandrama" and "Shyamal Shyamal Baran" becoming iconic. The lyrics, penned by Bharat Vyas, reflect the internal conflicts of the protagonist, making the soundtrack integral to the story's emotional depth.
However, Navrang may not appeal to all audiences and appeals to only those who have some understanding of classical literature and dance tradition. For anyone who appreciate art-house cinema with a poetic touch, Navrang offers a rich, thought-provoking experience.
Overall, Navrang is a bold, visually arresting film that challenges the boundaries of storytelling in Indian cinema. It's a must-watch for those interested in the evolution of Bollywood's artistic expressions, especially in the use of color and metaphor to explore the complexities of the human psyche.
