Source: imdb.com
Movie's Name - Paheli (2005)
Creator's Name - Amol Palekar
Genre - Drama, Romance, Thriller
Release - 24 June 2005
Runtime - 2h 20min
Language- Hindi
About the Director
The movie is directed by Amol Palekar. The actor, director, and producer have an array of works in Hindi and Marathi cinema to his credit. The producers were Juhi Chawla, Aziz Mirza, Sanjiv Chawla, and Shah Rukh Khan.
Synopsis - Non-Spoiler Alert
The movie is a feminist tell-tale where a ghost falls in love with a newlywed woman, Lachchi (played by Rani Mukherjee) whose husband, Kishan (played by Shah Rukh Khan) leaves for a trading expedition.
The ghost takes the form of Kishan and lands up, convincing everybody that he is Kishan. However, in his encounter with Lacchi, he does confess the truth. This depiction of the consent and agency of the woman that should exist in a relationship adds beauty to the narrative.
The movie delves into humor, drama, and romance. The ending with several enticing and praiseworthy special appearances of- Amitabh Bachchan, Rajpal Yadav, Juhi Chawla, Suniel Shetty, etc. adds a lot of screen charm to the story. The movie is narrated by Ratna Pathak and Naseeruddin Shah who play puppet guardians to the ghost who falls in love with Lacchi.
An adaptation?
It is believed to be a remake of the Hindi movie Duvidha(1973) by Mani Kaul based on the short story written by Vijayadan Detha in Rajasthani. Reportedly it was also partially inspired by the 1997 Kannada movie Nagamandala based on a play by Girish Karnad.
Themes Involved
The movie is primarily based on the inherent patriarchy in society and the social complexes that oppress women and the requirement of honesty and the need for a woman's agency that is absent in any patriarchal setup. The movie's most heartwarming element is its hard-core female bonds.
The women in the film support each other, while the men try to put other men down. All through the film, the women in Lachchi’s family are supportive of her, be it her friends, her sister-in-law, or her mother-in-law. When they find out that a ghost had fathered her child, they do not disown or ridicule her as is, generally, seen in such stories.
Instead, they console her by saying that if they could not identify their own son, how can they expect that she would know that it is a ghost. The sexual desires of a woman and how they embrace it is also beautifully depicted. The ghost is a metaphor for a woman's desire as I explicated in a dialogue of the film.
Public Verdict
The movie was collected average at the box office however a large section of the audience received it very well. The plot, acting, direction, and of course the visual appeal were highly appreciated. The soundtrack of the movie composed by MM Keeravani and written by Gulzar was also dearly loved and won several awards including the 53rd National Film Awards for Shreya Ghoshal for best playback singer for Dheere Jalna.
The movie was also India's official entry to the 79th Academy Awards.
What makes it a must-watch?
The visual experience that the movie yields is irreplaceable. A warm, calming movie that also tells so much in such a short period of time. A story of love and warmth. A feminist story that will make you laugh and get you teary-eyed all at the same time.
The Bottom Line
A path-breaking movie with a well-narrated and depicted storyline. The music plays on a loop inside your mind for a long time. The casting is apt to the core and there are instances where you just want to give a warm tight hug to certain characters.
The charm of SRK and Rani Mukherjee is indefatigable and makes you smile and shed tears with them, them. Juhi Chawla's plot is short yet unforgettable. Her story shows the underlying suffering women have to bear when men prioritize their or their family's pride without paying heed to what the woman and the children have to go through.
My ratings for the movie - are 4 out of 5
You may watch the movie on Netflix
Written By - Ananya Verma
Edited By - Riya Dabas
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