Katha

During school days everyone would remember the old story of the race between Tortoise and Hare. Sai Paranjape here depicts the same story but using male characters as Rajaram (Naseeruddin Shah) for Tortoise and Bashudev (Farooq Sheikh) for Hare. The story is based on the background of the chawls in Mumbai where there are day to day common issues of common toilets, filling water early in the morning, residents acting as one family, the social and cultural meetings for various occasions etc. We see Rajaram suffering each day in order to help others but his happiness for helping others supersedes the pain in suffering. In perfect contrast, Bashudev acts to help others and this way fulfills his own wish, without even the other person realizing that he/she is actually getting used by him…Rajaram believes in the aspects of truthfulness and honesty. But for Bashudev conman ship is the act of life. Bashudev believes until you get caught enjoy your way out and once caught or fulfilled the wish, time to say 'Alvida' (Good bye)…

Both the actors have marvelously done their part. I don't think Farooq exceeded himself in any of his other movies. Sir Naseer is of course a gem of an actor. The more we appreciate the less said it is for his caliber in acting. In between the two male actors, Dipti Naval as Sandhya (read the prize for the race) also does a splendid job. The supporting casts do play their roles properly. But hats-off to the director Sai Paranjape for making one of the masterpiece in Hindi cinema.

With repeated viewings, I could find a lot of scenes which depict the genius in both direction and acting, e.g.

1. Rajaram repeating his "Main permanent ho gaya hu"(I am confirmed in my job) quote to neighboring Bapu, but Bapu only concerned about fulfilling his own small needs. When Bapu is done with his demands, Rajaram modestly asks him "Aur kuch kaam Bapu..."(Anything else?) and leaves Bapu's room… 2. Rajaram asking his love Sandhya to not call him Rajaramji (Ji stands for Sir) but Rajaram….and she replies "Aapke personality main hi 'Ji' hain" (Your personality reflects Ji)… 3. When Rajaram is asked by his boss as how he liked the new ad-movie about their product(Footprint Shoes), he is the only person in the audience who honestly replies that movie is waste and such an ad-movie would make their product appear funny…As what happens with such lone opinions(despite of being honest) the boss humiliates him "Obviously you know more about office files then about Art" 4. Bashudev flattering the owner of 'Footprint Shoes' and getting a precious job for himself…Rajaram is in grave surprise that Bashudev neither has any qualification nor any experience but still has a better job than him… 5. Bashudev flirting with his boss's wife in the party thrown by the boss himself… 6. Nearing climax when after listening the whole story by Sandhya…Rajaram still claims honestly that his decision and love haven't changed…

One scene which stands out and shows Sir Naseer's caliber is,

When Sandhya's parents come to Rajaram's place to talk about Sandhya's marriage, Rajaram blushes to the maximum but when he realizes that they(Sandhya as well) expect groom as Bashudev…his expression changes from vast happiness to severe sadness…

This movie is a rare combination of entertainment on offbeat ground. This is was a rare occurrence in those days. In whatever way, this movie can be watched on either view viz. to see pure Art or to get entertained. On the concept of real human philosophy, this is not a cinematic grandeur worth missing.

This 1983 Naseeruddin Shah- Deepti Naval- Farookh Sheikh starer is a take on the popular children's tale- 'The Hare and the Tortoise'. It is a light-hearted comedy with a simple narrative that shows the daily hustles and bustles of a Mumbai 'chawl', and how the life of the simple- helpful-naive-idealistic Rajaram (Naseeruddin Shah as the Tortoise) changes when the confident-clever-manipulative-complacent Bashu (Farookh Shiekh as the Hare) re-enters his life. The sequence of events brings out a stark contrast between the two characters and how they approach each and every situation and life in general. Very subtly the film also paints a comparative picture between the 'high society' and the 'chawl class people'. The unity that binds the 'chawl' people and the way they enjoy simple joys of life is shown in a very adept manner. Although this is an ensemble cast film, there are almost no sub-plots or distractions and the movie sticks to its core idea. The end is beautifully done and is really thought provoking. The old story has it that the tortoise always wins. But in today's times, as a character rightly sums up- 'yeh jeet bi koi jeet Hui?'

A very little known classic by Sai Paranjpaye movie- this certainly deserves a watch. No big budget- no foreign locales- no big stars- no popular songs- no thrills and action- just a simple engaging story that will make you smile a lot. Farookh Shiekh plays the brat really well and Naseer excels as the simpleton. In a way this a role reversal of sorts as Farookh Sheikh was known to play simple sad characters and Naseer would be thought of as more suitable for what his anti-thesis in the movie is.

For my views on more such lesser known movies from the world of Hindi cinema, do check moviesandnomore. blogspot. com

Why do all directors have to make an "epic" these days? What happened to the good old 'story telling' without making too much about it? Why no one makes movies like these anymore?

Simply told, it is a story of Rajaram, a modern day tortoise and his friend Basu, a modern day Hare and their race against each other. As the simile suggests, Rajaram is a simple and honest clerk who doesn't let go off any opportunity to help others, even absolute strangers whereas Basu is a smooth talker and a conman who doesn't have any qualms in stealing from his own friend. Even Sandhya, Rajaram's neighbor whom he fancies for a long time gets dazzled by Basu's glitter leaving Rajaram heartbroken. Just like the classic story, will Tortoise win against Hare in these modern times? This is a satire, a tragi-comedy and character analysis at its best.

The movie was actually shot in a chawl and the real residents played their parts as the neighbors of Rajaram and Sandhya. Naseer as Rajaram, Farooq Sheikh as Basu and Deepti Naval as Sandhya fit their parts like hand in a glove. Normally you would expect Naseer to play Basu's role and Farooq to play Rajaram's role but the accomplished actors that they are they disappeared into their characters.

No gimmicks, no technical wizardry, just plain old simple art of story telling.

One of the best, but not very well known satires to come out in the 80s. The comedy is very subtle, repeated viewings sometimes brought out some hidden gems. Naseeruddin Shah as Rajaram is amazing, but it is Farooq Shaikh who steals the show as a twisted charmer. Usually he excels in films as a helpless onlooker type of character, but here he tries out a completely different type of role. Set in a chawl in Mumbai, the atmosphere is brought out perfectly, notice the constant background "chawl noise" throughout the film. Watch it !!

Gone are those days when films were more about storytelling and that too simple stories that one can relate to.

Well Katha is one such film that grabs your soul right from the beginning and neither tries to impress nor amuse you randomly. It just shows the events as they could appear.

Performances are outstanding and the entire cast is too perfect with Naseer and Farooq being the perfect leads.

Overall a great experience and really worth watching!