Saamna

सामना (1974) – Giriraj Pictures – Black & White
Produced by: - Ramdas Phutane
Directed by: - Dr. Jabbar Patel
Story & Screenplay by: - Vijay Tendulkar
Music by: - Bhaskar Chandawarkar

Awards: - 3 National Awards, 7 Maharashtra State Awards, Three Filmfare Awards, Selected for Berlin Film Festival, 1975।

Reviewed here by: - Swapnil B. Walunj

The Story in short:-

Hindurao Dhonde- Patil (Nilu Phule) claims to have established a co-operative empire on the deserted lands of a village and has now become an uncrowned king of the region। With the help of his brother – Sarjerao (A local goon) – he has acquired a great muscle and created a terror in the area by running a parallel government। His only priorities now were to develop the region to the maximum possible extent and safeguarding his stronghold over the region. Anyone who challenged him in these areas was his enemy and he never gave it a second thought before eliminating him in all the possible ways. Maruti Kamble (Mohan Agashe) is one such enemy of kingdom that Hindurao has eliminated. And now this empire has no threat from anyone, and suddenly “Master” (Shriram Lagoo) arrives in this village.

Master (an undisclosed identity throughout the movie) is an aged Gandhian. He is on a move in life looking for the answers of many troubling questions। Always drunk, trying to forget the unfortunate death of his daughter in an accident, he is now leaving a life of a vagabond. Travelling indirectionally and fully unaware of the destiny, sticking to his existence and waiting for the death to come. And thus one day, he gets thrown out of a bus and lands in Hindurao’s empire.

Hindurao accidently meets Master and keeps this intellectual stranger as an employee on his farm with some plan in his mind. Initial friction between the two gradually develops as a very good friendship. As everything starts to become normal in Master’s life, he hears about Maruti Kamble. The constant gossip about Maruti Kamble’s whereabouts unsettles him. And due to the same curiosity he now faces Hindurao’s wrath. Persistent Master keeps on questioning Hindurao in spite of his warnings. And as Master starts knowing the reality, what starts between the two is a fierce battle – “Saamna”.

The Plot and Background:-

The backdrop of this movie is taken from the very familiar picture present in Western Maharashtra where the sugar barons have acquired lot of power in the name of development of the region through co-operative efforts। And how does such concentration of power gets social acceptance that further strengthens their hold in the region. This movie has been gifted with a very strong storyline, screenplay and dialogues of Late Shri Vijay Tendulkar. Unforgettable performances by Dr. Shriram Lagoo and Nilu Phule and Dr. Jabbar Patel’s unique style of direction took this movie to the greater heights. This movie has won a great praise from critics. Also it has won 3 National Awards, 7 Maharashtra State Awards, 3 Filmfare Awards and selected for Berlin Film Festival, 1975.

My take on Movie: -

For me, this movie is “A Clash of Titans” of Marathi cinema। One of their best performances given by both Nilu Phule and Dr Shriram Lagoo। Very simple but strong story line, superb direction has made this movie as a great epic. The two songs - “Kunachya Khandhyavar Kunache Ojhe” (the burden, which is meant to be carried by someone, is actually being carried by someone else) and “Hya Topikhali Dadlay kaay?” (What is hidden beneath this cap – A metaphor used to comment on the behaviour of politicians who wear Gandhitopi.) - leave a very long lasting impact on you by pinpointing the contrast present in the society. The players might have changed but the situation is still the same. A really hard to miss movie. One of the best movies I have ever watched.

- Swapnil B. Walunj (pgp07.swapnilw@spjimr.org)

Sinhasan

सिंहासन (1979) – Sujata Chitra – Black & White.

Produced by: - D.V. Rao & Dr. Jabbar Patel

Directed by: - Dr. Jabbar Patel
Storyline: - Based on Arun Sadhu’s novels "सिंहासन" & "मुंबई दिनांक"
Music by: - Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar
Screenplay by: - Vijay Tendulkar

Awards:- - 8 Maharashtra State Awards, 2 National State Awards for Best Film and Best Director।

Reviewed here by:- Swapnil B. Walunj

The Story in short:-
The movie starts with an assembly session where Chief Minister (Arun Sarnaik) has to leave the heated discussion to attend an urgent call. The caller (claims to be a well-wisher and informer) informs CM that some the members from his own party are secretively planning to remove him from his chair. The phone call changes the political scenario in the state and many activities start taking place behind the curtains. CM obviously doubts the Finance Minister of the state (Shriram Lagoo) who has started gathering the support of MLAs for trying to pose himself as a better candidate for a Chief Ministerial Post. In this chaos, certain factors like Media (Nilu Phule – Digambar - A journalist), a Union Leader named D’casta who has decided to take head on with smugglers (see a young Nana Patekar – a small time criminal) gain high bargaining power. The struggle for the power reaches to the peak when CM deals with the issues like Hunger strike, worker’s strike, famine and deaths due to malnutrition. Digambar (who is already troubled in his personal life) observes all these negotiations, compromises and Horse-trading that are happening in the political arena. Union leader announces a conference where he is going to reveal some secrets, FM almost manages to gather the required numbers and CM tries to judge who is on which side. And as a last nail in the coffin, one of the confidants in Police informs CM that Police is about to arrested his (CM’s) brother-in law with the charges of smuggling.
The FM faction is about to start the celebrations and suddenly a news strikes that shocks each and everyone involved. What is that news? Is it really true? What impact would it have on the political scene? The future events are very fast and unimaginable. Would a common man like Digambar be able to cope up with these changes? And what happens to Digambar? THE END leaves you stunned.

The Plot and Background:-
Acclaimed as the first political film in India, "Sinhasan" has its own historical importance. The film was made in the post-emergency period when the Janata Party was in Power. Well known journalist & novelist Arun Sadhu's two novels "Mumbai Dinank" and "Sinhasan", both great works of literature became the base for Sinhasan's screenplay, brilliantly crafted by internationally known playwright Vijay Tendulkar.

Treating the stark 'Power Game' in black & white, Director Dr. Jabbar Patel with his strong theatre background brings out the inner turmoil of people in power, their helplessness for the mere survival in the ruthless political arena.

"Sinhasan" boasts of a starcast that has been rarely seen elsewhere, featuring the who's who of Marathi Cinema & Theatre. Shriram Lagoo, Nilu Phule, Arun Sarnaik, Datta Bhatt, Nana Patekar, Mohan Agashe, Satish Dubhashi with 35 major actors, give in their Lifetime's Best performances.

"Sinhasan" was shot on the real locations like the Secretariat, the residence of the ministers, the Chief minister's Cabin and the press conference room, all thanks to the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Sharad Pawar.

Sinhasan has a huge commercial success at the box office; Sinhasan also won huge critical acclaim. It bagged 8 Maharashtra State Awards & 2 National Awards for Best Film & Best Director. The movie scribbles a perfect guide for the young aspiring politicians. The twists and turns that high profile political rooms observe is perfectly depicted in "Sinhasan".

My take on Movie: -

This is a story of greed, fear and struggle for survival. A story of those, who do anything for their ambitions or go to any extent for mere survival. The story of those, who struggle all along their lives and finally give up when there is no hope to survive for. And also of those, who can see narrow window of opportunity in absolutely hopeless situation and immerge as winners. A power packed political drama with high class direction and screen performances. You rarely get to see a movie like this. A very good story line, high entertainment value and good songs and memorable acting. A must watch movie in my opinion.
- Swapnil B. Walunj (pgp07.swapnilw@spjimr.org)