Vivah : Suraj R Barjatya regains synchronization with his kind of cinema
Nida Fazli the famous Urdu Poet wrote once –
Tum bhee likhna Tumne us shab kitanee baar piya paanee
Tumne bhee to dekha hoga Chajaje upar pura chand.
A loose translation –
(You also write to me how many times you drank water that evening
You also might have seen full moon from your balcony)
If you like this poetry and understand the romance in it then you can enjoy Vivah also. Vivah has several romantic moments which can happen between lovers of 18-24 years age.
In one such scene Amirta Rao says to Shahid kapoor,” Jab Tum barat lekar aaoge to hamare mohalle mein sab gharon mein chulhe par rotiya jal jayengee”
Shahid asks why? And she says” kyonki ladkiyan dulhe ko dekhne chaton par jo aa jayengee”.
If you enjoy the episode in Ram Charit Manas where Sita sees Rama first time in a garden then you can enjoy this film- Vivah.
Its not an intellectual film or a film for intellectuals who use only brains and their heart has either been dried because of fast paced life they are living or they are limited to certain kind of films only. If you can remain open while watching the film then you can enjoy the emotions spread all over the film. Suraj tries to establish ideals among the characters. If you are shy and low profiled then you would wish to have a friend like Anupam Kher, open hearted, sensitive and understanding. You would wish to have in your family similar father daughter bond like Alok Nath and Amrita Rao share in the film or the sister – sister bond which two sisters shares or brother – brother bond. You may wish to have a Bhabhi like character of Lata Sabbarwal, who holds hands of Devar when he is passing through personal trauma. You may wish to have family friend like character of Manoj Joshi or assistant at work like character of Dinesh Lamba.
Film deals with simple philosophies which we all know. We all know or atleast we are told that girl look image of her father in her husband and in Vivah Suraj has picturised this statement with such a beautiful command.
When Alok Nath comes to Amrita Rao and younger daughter to ask if Poonam(Amrita) also liked Prem (Shahid Kapoor) then younger sister replies “ haan”.
Alok Nath asks further,”sab puch liya beti?”
Poonam moves her head to say yes and when he asks ek do baar aur milna chahegee Prem se?
She denies and at this moment younger sister says,” Babu ji , didi kehatee hai we bilkul aap jaise hain”.
Watch out the calibre of actor residing inside Alok Nath. Wonderful expression of emotions and superb command over facial expressions. He is choked with emotions and embrace Poonam to say “ Pagli”.
We all search such characters and yet we ridicule Vivah like films that characters are so good there who are not possible. We search good friends, we search good spouse in real life and yet under our egoistic approach we try to pull down the efforts like Vivah or films of Suraj because we cant with stand the idea that his films have characters better than us. Goodness in his characters tease us.
Like his past films characters of Vivah also have touch of characters of Ramayana. Vivah is the film where characters take their own responsibilities. Unlike his earlier films no Manthara is here in the film which can poison the ears of one or some characters. Rama (Seema Bisawas) is not influenced by any bad person’s advise and she herself behaves with Poonam in bad manner because she is not her own daughter. Poonam is pretty and her own daughter is not that much good looking or fair in colour, the things deeply situated in Indian psyche. Rama does not like the special bond Alok Nath shares with Poonam. Good or bad, Rama lives with her opinion and thoughts. Seema Biswas has given a remarkable performance in this role of a mother who dislikes daughter of elder brother of her Husband. She has less dialogues but her facial expressions, eyes, body language all suggest in right manner how much disliking she cherishes for Poonam. Seema Biswas seems weak in performance only in one scene when she says to Poonam in hospital ” chal beti, apne ghar wo ghar jo tera mayka hai, jahan teri maa rehatee hai”.
Alok Nath is scene stealer in this film and he has consistency in his performance. His character is sensible, emotional, wise and responsible and ideal also. He does not feel any hitch in spending most of his savings to marry his niece. He loves her more than his own daughter. He is optimistic and religious in approach.
Amirta Rao plays role of small town girl who is pretty, wise and handles her emotions very well. She knows her realities and therefore does not take on heart what her chachi Rama says to her. She keeps eyes on love and affection her Chacha and cousin shower on her. Her Chacha is ideal man for her and she finds same genuine and honest nature in Prem. She is confident also and does not have any inferior complex to tell that she reads literature in hindi so she may not match up with convent educated Prem. She is not diffident girl and her confidence is unshakable. Director has shown her control over Prem also when he becomes mentally disturbed because of the distance from Poonam and work pressure and he declares on phone, that she is reaching to Poonam and she says ” Ruko” and he stops.
This is not unusual command in lovers. Poonam’s character is not awkward as few critics have been clamouring. She may belong to small town but she believes in her characteristics and strengths. She is very clear also in her approach. When Prem gives her an expensive necklace then she says her softly but in determined voice that “ can she wear it after marriage as they live in very ordinary way in that small town”. She ius very controlled in her behaviour and this is possible with such person who has lost her parents at early age and lives with her uncle and aunty, such people may get wisdom earlier then others as everything does not come in silver spoon for them. Especially emotional angle is different with such persons. Though Suraj has given role of Prem to Shahid Kapoor but heroic shades he has given to the role of Poonam. She is the leading lady of the film- the pivotal point.
Amirta Rao could have done better and she has spoiled few scenes badly. Like she tells Prem, how she could know that he was suffering from cold. Or when she tells him that her younger sister has put pillows under the quilt to give impression that Poonam is sleeping there. She did over acting here where she was needed to put dose of shyness. But she delivers well when she is getting ready because Prem and family are coming to see and meet her.
Playing Poonam with such performance may open new horizons for this actress. She will be noticed and will be considered for different roles now.
Shahid Kapoor perhaps does his best work till date where he is not gone out of the character’s range.
Anupam Kher as usual is good. His character is rich, wise, sensitive, clear headed and open hearted.
Suraj has shown life style of every character and has thrown light on minute details also. Poonam studies in BCom and she reads hindi literature and though her chachi Rama does not like her but she also has habit to read the books, rather she ready every evening. While Alok Nath spends his evening in listening religious discourse in small temple while Anupam Kher appeases his spiritual thirst by reading Osho Rajneesh’s books. Prem is bit confusing and he can handle his energies through sports only and he plays squash. Prem’s elder brother also has habit to have extensive reading of newspapers. Even Bhabhi of Prem also shown reading a book. This is good thing in Vivah that almost every character read the books.
Film has flaws and weaknesses but inspite of weak factors, film binds the audience. Though this is not as good film as MPK and HAHK were in any department. Manoj Joshi plays a jweller and Alok Nath plays a fruit merchant and Anupam Kher plays an industrialist and still Manoj Joshi and Alok Nath says, “Hamare samaz mein”. Which samaz?
When Alok Nath and family reaches Som Sarovar, then his house has a working telephone connection, pots have green plants and flowers are blooming, who is taking care of these things?
And as soon as they reach there, they wash 100 of clothes and they are drying here and there, spices are drying on roof.
First time Ravindra Jain has copied the music. Song in plane – Hamaree Shadi mein is straight copy of song of Kabhi Kabhi – Chahe chal jayen chhuriyan. It was pleasant to listen, Suresh Wadekar in very first song of the film.
If you have daughter, sister, niece etc and believe in family values then you surely can enjoy this film (and as said above, inspite of flaws). Its an emotional film and humanbeing never can go away from relationships and associated emotions.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
This is a typical Rajshiri brand, its a sweet movie nothing less and nothing more and it doesnt pretend to be anything more, which add’s to it’s success.
It’s worth a watch atleast once ideally on a sunday
Sangeeta, why not on friday or saturday evening?:-?
because it’s one of those sunday afternoon type of movies. you know when you are to lazy to do anythinga nd dont mind a dose of unrealistic romance
btw – my love story is going to be just like, the only way i plan to speak to my partner is through the eyes :D .. actually no i need to rethink that, he might get wrong idea or he might get used to my silence :(
“Its not an intellectual film or a film for intellectuals who use only brains and their heart has either been dried because of fast paced life they are living or they are limited to certain kind of films only. ” RK, while you may have liked Vivah, and with all due respect, I do have strong disagreement with this. Nor is my heart dried up, nor am I limited to certain kind of films. I can easily get carried away by films and emotions- for example in Lage raho.. the scene in which Munna apologises to Circuit almost choked me with emotion.:(( Vivah just left me cold.:-l
I loved Vivah. This is more an “Indian” kind of movie. In wake of multiplexes and copying from Hollywood, this is like a grassroot kind of cinema.
btw excellent write-up RK. I agree with you completely. Everyone with a closely knit family will love this. This is exactly the reason why the movie is still running to packed houses in small centers.
RK i agree with everything you have said and every point you have noted, its like you’ve took it right out of my head! I think i was a sweet family and ive actually watched it quite few times. I dont think jsut becuase everyone does not lie kthe film makes it bad. There are different genres of movis being made so i think theres a movie for everyone to like/dislike and people shuold be more open about what they watch.
Sangeeta: there is a saying ” If want to know the importance of silence then its possible only through love. when there is deep love then there is no need to say anything”.:)
Moreover Intution works better when you develop relationship which may work in silent mode also. Its not odd thing which is prevailing since ages that after some times partners start feeling each other’s necessities without expressing the desire.
All the best for your Silent love journey:d
JB: I just love ur writing.
Hey did you like same Amrita Rao in Mai Hoon Na?
Well not only you but Vivah left many in cold.
Psychologically I can understand why Vivah left us in cold. If I were chief of censor board then I would have given Vivah “A” certificate where less than 21 years old cant see this film, or would have asked Suraj Barjatya to change the treatment of film in later half (if he was bend upon to get a U certificate). But this is India and we dont care for certain things. It was not possible in advanced countries to get a U certificate for this film. Suraj’s softness either could escape that angle or may be being also a businesman he just ignored it.
Jwalant : thanks for comments
Jabina: I second your thoughts that if so many did not get same message director wants to convey then it does not make a film made. Depending on situations prevailing in real life people get an udnerstanding and everything appeals them according to that undersatnding only. One may afford to like few things and one may afford to like many things. Experience matters in making us what we are and what we like or dislike. Though there are certain products which are liked by almost everybody universally.
Yeah, I think she was quite cute in MHN. I could hardly recognise her under that thick coat of greasepaint. I understand what you think about the utopian world as seen by Sooraj…but I think Gowariker is much better at this as in Swades- intimate and touching. Vivah felt too artificial to me. Great sharing views & discussing with you RK, and I’m glad you like my writing.
Hi JB,
so nice of you that you allow free flowing of your views. I do admire them.
Vivah is one to one, personal relation.
Swadesh depicts big goals, where so many are asociated. canvas is big, goal is big and everybody feels good abt such causes, as energy level is high. an act is there which is well identified as a good selfless act, a benevolent one.
Vivah may look centralized to one’s need, but then thats the truth on earth. If basic unit is fine most of the things will be fine.
“film binds the audience”…:o.
Seriously dude? I guess I need a much stronger binding agent…I could barely tolerate the movie.
Tintin:
Very seriusly indeed, Else why film is making good money. Let alone, cinema halls collection, Please collect data about download of the movie, from website of Raj Shri Production and you will know.
On a much serius note:
I guess in some cities some cinema halls provide binding agents. :d
hi this is vir
i just want to tell surajju rrealy gold .because ur picture make me perfect .u give idial way to leave.icongretuat u &i say my self i so this movie 10 times in theatore &so many times in cd.i also love ur oter film i see ur ham sath sath hai arround40To 50 time i realy belive ur film is near to life.carry on indian tradition .we are with u.thanks for give great film.all t6he beat for next .do not trai mai prem ki divani hoo like movies cause u r made great massagiess film.i m ur good fan i wait ur new film
HELLO,
SIR,
I like your EVERY FILMS Very Much.
Specially,VIVAH & HAM SAATH SAATH HAI.
HELLO,
SIR,
I Am Shveta,
I like your EVERY FILMS Very Much.
Specially,VIVAH & HAM SAATH SAATH HAI.
Thank You.
Vivah is the Best movie of 2006. i watched it 5times.
Hello I m an Asstt proff in Agril univ.biochemistry deptjammu i dont have time for movies and so viewed this movie now. A movie full of natural emotions.I liked the song muje hak hai. and keep playing all the time.
Keep making movies which leaves impact on dil pe.
for seeing movie you need not be an intellectual
Vivah is the Best movie i have ever seen before and i can see it everyday.
wishes
Vivah is the best movie ever made by apekind!
I see it 3 times everyday. Infact i’m looking for a REHAB to get my addiction of VIVAH out of my system. Can anyone please help me? I can’t shit in the morning if i don’t see Vivah after waking up. I can’t go to sleep if i miss it for some reason.
VIVAH VIVAH VAH WAH WAH!
Be nice Mainak.
My apologies!
mainak =)) =)) =))
Mainak I have a cure for that: just watch “Hum Saath Saath Hain” once more! No, better watch “Main Prem ki Deewani Hoon”…See you at the Shrink’s!
Astt.Prof.Moni Gupta:
Hope you get more time to see good films. You are right to unite with a film audience does not need to be an intellectual and if a film is equally touching all kind of audience having different level of education, intellect and thinking ability then certainly thats a good example of cinema.
Vivah tackles emotional quotient and thats a need for humanbeing. What one may like in relationships, Vivah keeps that before us. Somewhat ideals in relationships.
Haan RK, its a very good writeup. I’d read this before as well.
:d/i like yhis flim very much becz there r many by which we can got the idea to spent the life i also love shahbaz he is my 1st andlast love in the world
every one pray 4 us kay hum ek din zaroor milay
hmm
vivah is amizaing flim beacue i have seen it 5 times. see i say that this flim will goo very very very very very well. isay that you must bring like this flim more.ilove rajashree pro flim . that want to tell you that i love the jodi of shahid&amrita’s it is wondureful……..
flower makes us smile
flower makes us fell well
flower makes us happy
like vivah flim make’s
mehappy,smile,fell well,and
like flower makes me happy………..
vivah is my favorte flim and i think soo that like this flim must goo super hit and well shahid was soo quite and shramila boy. when i use to see the film i was soo laugh that when he use to se amrita frist time . on her face there was soo nice slime i love his slime if any one say i dont care…………………… love you bayyes
This film is one of my huge favorites. I loved all the characters in this movie and specially Amrita Rao’s performance gives me a feel of someone made for me too…she portrays similar to my dream girl and I wish I find someone like her…but I know the reality…this is real life and its kinda hard to find someone like her as portrayed in the film, hehehe!
A beautiful family movie..worth watching as many times…wow! good work by the director Sooraj!
Dear Sir
I am Varun…my favourite movie is maine pyaar kiya….me searching that kind of roles only…dat Mr Salmaan did previously..look at me once…u find same innocent Salmaan in me…email-goel485@gmail.com,9868928593