Abhimaan

Yesterday I watched a movie titled Abhimaan made in 1973. It was a good movie. The director was Hrishikesh Mukherjee and the main actors were Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan. While studying in college my friend was a huge fan of this couple. In this movie Amitabh Bachchan is a succesful singer. He has many fans and holds many shows. He also has a friend called Chitra with whom he has phone conversations. His career is managed by Asrani who advises him to not be friends with chitra. One day he goes to visit his aunt in a village. In the village while walking around he hears a beautiful singing voice. It is the voice of a girl. He asks his aunt about the singing. His aunt said it is a neighbor a daughter of a saintly man. His aunt wants Amitabh to meet the saintly man and his daughter the next day but Amitabh has to get back to his career in the city the next day. While taking leave his aunt told Amitabh to go to the temple before leaving. He goes to the temple and meets the girl who sings to whom belonged the singing voice that he heard the previous day. It is Jaya Bachchan. He speaks to her. And then has to leave to the city. But he misses the flight comes back to the village and meets the saintly man and his daughter and the marriage is fixed and takes place. Amitabh goes back to the city with Jaya and introduces Jaya to his friends. A wedding reception is held and both sing at the reception. A person in the music industry hears Jaya singing and thinks she is very gifted. Even more gifted than Amitabh. It was decided that she would sing with Amitabh. Both of them start singing. However her popularity starts soaring. She has fans and she has shows and recordings. Amitabh starts to feel resentful of Jayas success. Angry words erupt. When Jaya realises this she decides to stop singing. No understanding is reached. Amitabh goes to chitras house and comes back drunk. Then he spends a lot of time there. Jaya goes to chitras house to bring him back. Amitabh says very angry words and Jaya is deeply hurt. She goes back to her father. She is expecting their first child. Although the aunt, Asrani etc persuade Amitabh to go to see Jaya he refuses. For Jaya it is time to give birth. During the delivery the baby is not saved. Jaya falls into a deep depression. One day her father tries to get her back to singing and she retreats as though in shock. For her singing has become something that caused a rift in her marriage and stopped Amitabh from singing. The aunt and Asrani scold Amitabh about his responsibility toward his wife and he goes to fetch her. He brings her back to the city and consult many doctors. She continues to be like a stone. Then Asrani and the older person in the music industry says if Amitabh sings Jaya will sing. So a show is held. Amitabh starts singing and it brings a lot of memories for Jaya. It is difficult for her to stand up even but she finally with everyones help sings with Amitabh. And there is a great apllause and they leave. In the last show the audience has Chitra in it. I liked how this movie sensitively handles the things that can go wrong in a marriage. The emotional upheavals of life. I did not understand the role of Chitra in the life of Amitabh. Why does he take refuge with her. Why is Jaya not jealous? I liked the songs. I wish they did not lose the baby. That frightened me honestly.