AROMA OF LOVE... Review on Khushboo 1975 -

Every Sunday I look forward to something telecast in Doordarshan- ‘Woh Guzra Zamana’(I think that’s the name) wherein classic films of the bygone era are shown… On one such Sunday, the movie Khushboo was televised. A treat followed: -

Khushboo is a 1975 film based on the novel "Panditmashai" by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay; produced by Prasan Kapoor and directed by Gulzar.

The film stars Jeetendra, Hema Malini, Asrani, Durga Khote, Farida Jalal, Sarika and Sharmila Tagore: -

Jeetendra renders an excellent recital: sober, solemn and mature acting. Sharmila Tagore shares little screen space but her portrayal of a distraught village girl is memorable. The supporting cast did all they needed to weave an aura of heartrending tragedy around the milieu; a special mention to Asrani who gives the best non-comical performance of his career(probably after Khoon Paseena). But it’s Hema Malini who outshines all with her show of a jaunty village girl, deeply engrossed in miseries of a failed love, yet as zealous with gusto as ever…

The dialogues are above average but it is the cinematography by K. Vaikunth that took me by surprise- exceptional work done- right from choosing of location to picturisation to camerawork to what not… Brilliant!

The soundtrack of Khushboo was composed by R. D. Burman. He did a great job in making Asha Ji render two of her best numbers- ‘Ghar jayegi…’ and ‘Bechara dil kya kare…’ splendid singing and awe-inspiring lyrics by Gulzar saab. ‘Do naino mein aansoo bhare hai’ sung by Lata Ji was another touching number. But it was Kishore Da’s ‘O Majhi Re…’ that’s easily the best rendition in the album. Great lyrics and superb singing…

PLOT

[The Bollywood classic Khushboo is a typically lavish musical spectacle blending tragedy and romance. It tells of childhood sweethearts before their class differences doomed them to adulthood separation. Nevertheless, love promises to bloom afresh, only to have fate threaten its destiny time and again…]

A child marriage broken off before adolescence because of land disputes between two families, has Kusum(Hema Malini) feeling lonesome for she is adhering to the vows made when she was but a child, even though in a fit of despair she has tried to burn off all memories of her wedding, including the tattoo on her arm.

Brindavan(Jeetendra), her betrothed and now a doctor, returns with his young son Charan(Master Rajoo) and the meeting of the two is triggered by a sickness(more of an epidemic) in Kusum's village. Poignancy flows with tenderness from Sarat Chandra's pen as the story unfolds, and Kusum's antagonism fades towards Brindavan as his perceived infidelity from his marriage to now-deceased Lakhi(Sharmila Tagore) turns out to be yet another case of unjust separation.

A natural bond of mother and son develops between Kusum and Charan, and watching them together is a delight.

Will family rows end? Will Kusum and Brindavan reconcile their differences? Do not wait for a TV channel to air it- procure a CD, watch it…

Masterfully woven into 2+ hours of very touching screenplay, Gulzar gives us the viewers many moist-eyes moments. A true tour de force… A work of genius…