'Ijaazat' was like a remarkable anthology full of beautiful poetry. There are some wonderful poetry recited by the actors but the film itself is a colourful poem: the characters, the music, the story...all poetry. Directed by a poet himself, Gulzar, takes us into a journey of complex emotions of complex people.
Gulzar starts his movie with a view of beautiful landscapes and a passionate song sung by the legendary Asha Bhosle. After that, we see Nasseeruddin stepping out of the train while we hear torrential rain in the background. Here he meets Rekha and then, as flashbacks, we see their story.
Mahinder (Naseeruddin Shah), a young photographer, is madly in love with the wild and impulsive Maya (Anuradha Patel). However, his marriage has been arranged (by his grandfather) with his childhood friend Sudha (Rekha). He confides in Sudha and tells her the truth. Sudha advises him to speak to his grandfather and arrange for Maya to meet him. All of a sudden Maya leaves. Things don't work out as expected and Mahinder decides to marry Sudha. The couple seem to be happy in their marriage yet they're both trying to deal with Maya. Sudha, trying to deal with the fact that Mahinder still has strong feelings for her and Mahinder, dealing with his feelings and with the fact that Maya is the past. Maya appears every contacts every now and then. Sudha tries to accept things the way they are but the more time she spends with Mahinder, the more difficult it gets.
All the songs are beautifully song by Asha Bhosle, giving life to the poem this movie is and then Maya's poems which add to the intriguing mystery of the character and her relationship with Mahinder. Anuradha Patel as the mysterious Maya is brilliant. Her facial expressions (especially with her eyes) are amazing. As Maya herself is heartbroken that because of her own impulsiveness she lost Mahinder, she tries to prevent herself from reaching out to Mahinder but can't help herself from contacting him.
Rekha is amazing as the strong but also vulnerable Sudha. She plays her part subtly and manages to convey a lot by her presence alone. This is a fine example of how subtle acting stands out. Sudha gradually sees hope that she'll have a happy marriage until she soon comes to terms with the fact that Maya will always stand between them.
Only an actor like Nasseeruddin Shah can do justice to a character like Mahinder. He's excellent as the helpless man torn between two women. His scenes with both Anuradha and Rekha are examples of how fine acting and a display of a quiet but powerful chemistry.
'Ijaazat' is Gulzar's poem which he beautifully recites. It's a poem about three lives. It's a poem that reflects life...
