Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam (1962) :
A subtle and serious take on lonely wife's desperation, her sacrifices and fall of feudalism. The film depicts very much from it's title and ostensibly it is a story of 3 people drinker Sahib (Rehman), his lonely beautiful wife (Meena Kumari) and lowly servant (Guru Dutt). But actually it is more subtle and the 4th character is equally important of Jaba played Waheeda Rehman. Sahib, Biwi Aur Ghulam tells a story set in Bengal about down fall of haveli-dom and how a lonely sacrifices all her rites to get love of her drinker husband. Although, the main character is quite away from all these issues but his contribution somehow makes the climax go on honour killing way. From the beginning film sets everything alright, it has Fun, it has romance for an hour and so and then tragedy begins and film loses the pace and all entertaining elements. However, the tragedy is full of content which was missing in Bollywood that time therefore making it a serious take on such topic which have been explained only in regional novels in our country. Guru Dutt nails his role with perfection from accent to expressions. Meena Kumari in drunken scenes was just Amazing and set a benchmark for other actresses. Waheeda Rehman, another beautiful character and another beautiful performance. Hemant Kumar's music is suitable to the theme and Period but lacks repeat Value. Directorial Controversies of this film are well known and somewhere that hurt the film commercially. Nevertheless, the direction is Good and subtle, the only problem is the film has been dragged unnecessarily in the middle of the show. If that part had been taken cared well then i guess the film would have been more engaging. Overall, a gutsy and mandatory attempt on Novel oriented content is well done and performances of all actors makes it even better.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest
A subtle and serious take on lonely wife's desperation, her sacrifices and fall of feudalism. The film depicts very much from it's title and ostensibly it is a story of 3 people drinker Sahib (Rehman), his lonely beautiful wife (Meena Kumari) and lowly servant (Guru Dutt). But actually it is more subtle and the 4th character is equally important of Jaba played Waheeda Rehman. Sahib, Biwi Aur Ghulam tells a story set in Bengal about down fall of haveli-dom and how a lonely sacrifices all her rites to get love of her drinker husband. Although, the main character is quite away from all these issues but his contribution somehow makes the climax go on honour killing way. From the beginning film sets everything alright, it has Fun, it has romance for an hour and so and then tragedy begins and film loses the pace and all entertaining elements. However, the tragedy is full of content which was missing in Bollywood that time therefore making it a serious take on such topic which have been explained only in regional novels in our country. Guru Dutt nails his role with perfection from accent to expressions. Meena Kumari in drunken scenes was just Amazing and set a benchmark for other actresses. Waheeda Rehman, another beautiful character and another beautiful performance. Hemant Kumar's music is suitable to the theme and Period but lacks repeat Value. Directorial Controversies of this film are well known and somewhere that hurt the film commercially. Nevertheless, the direction is Good and subtle, the only problem is the film has been dragged unnecessarily in the middle of the show. If that part had been taken cared well then i guess the film would have been more engaging. Overall, a gutsy and mandatory attempt on Novel oriented content is well done and performances of all actors makes it even better.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest