Avtaar (1983)

अवतार

Hindi art films are often referred to as "parallel cinema," but it was watching the mainstream film Avtaar that made me feel I had stepped into a parallel universe. A parallel universe in which Rajesh Khanna is a mechanic with a healer's touch at fixing cars. A parallel universe in which flashbacks-within-flashbacks are a sensible way to tell a story.  A parallel universe in which Shabana Azmi dances around trees.

Unfortunately, that last aspect - the most straight-up-dashing-hero-swooning-heroine romantic song picturized on Shabana that I had encountered the time I first saw Avtaar - was close to the most interesting thing about this movie, and even it was not exactly good, not compared to some of Shabana ji's full-on masala performances of the 70s.

Avtaar Kishen (Rajesh Khanna) is a hardworking, pious, salt-of-the-earth type of guy.  He's an auto mechanic with a master touch.  He is happy and satisfied with his life - he has a beautiful, adoring wife of twenty-five years, Radha (Shabana), and two grown sons for whose success he has toiled and of whom he is very proud.  The domestic joy is fleeting, however - Radha and Avtaar's children selfishly betray them, leaving them destitute.  With the help of their loyal servant Sewak (the name actually means "servant"), Avtaar gets back on his feet and builds himself a wildly successful business, which he then manipulates to exact revenge from his sons.  On the more charitable side, he founds a home for elderly folks who have been abandoned by  their children, and employs its residents in his company.  His sons eventually relent and seek forgiveness - and Radha tires of estrangement from them - but Avtaar is a very proud man, there may be too much water under the bridge for this family to repair itself. 

The message of this peculiarly bitter film seems to be:  Old folks, don't trust your adult children, because they will screw you.  I'm all in favor of moralizing about the lack of respect that each generation shows for the one that came before it, and I can understand the need for social dramas that address the problem of erosion of the family, but it seems like there are more productive ways to send the message than in an angry cautionary tale.  The sense that the film's message is displaced is only enhanced by the fact that Avtaar and Radha, supposedly the elderly victims of youthful indifference, are played by a 40-year-old actor and a 32-year-old actress, made up - not very convincingly - to look some 25 years older.  Why not give the roles to some neglected older actors?  This, and similar details, lend the film an amateurish air, as it simply isn't a good enough movie for such details not to be distracting.

The music, which can sometimes be the sole redeeming feature of an otherwise unforgettable film, did little here to ease the squirming sense I had of suffering through a very bad movie in the name of fangirlish completism.  The picturization of the aforementioned romantic song, "Din mahine saal," was clunky and inelegant.  Another song, picturized on the members of the younger generation celebrating their freedom the annoying burden of their parents, was among the worst choreography and most embarrassing dancing I've seen in a Hindi film.  The one picturization I very much enjoyed featured Avtaar and Radha (in their younger, flashback form) carrying their seriously ill baby up a steep mountain trail in pilgrimage.   The song was pretty, and Shabana nailed perfectly a sense of exhaustion and despair.  But apart from a very few such effective moments, unless you are a raving fan of one of its principals, this film has little to recommend it.  I certainly am, and it pushed even my limits of tolerance.

Comments

[Beth]

Have you seen the similarly dreadful Baghban, with Amitabh and Hema as the betrayed parents? Bleh.

On a happy note, as of today I know enough Devanagari to read your header. I am inordinately pleased with myself.

[carla]

Someone told me that *Baghban* was either inspired by or based upon *Avtaar* - so others have noticed the similarity. I haven't seen *Baghban*, and I have to admit that I don't particularly want to.

re: reading the header, badhaaii ho badhaaii! Were you very surprised at what you found once you read it? Here's a little more for practice - I think you should know all the words:
नमस्ते बेथ! देवनागरी बिलकुल अच्छी है न?
Keep up the good work. :-)

[Beth]

I CAN READ THAT!!!! I'm having a horrible week, and that really made me happy just now. One of my friends at work was with me and he clapped when I finished. Awesome.

[Amit]

Ah, thanks for the trip down the memory lane. I saw this movie in India when it was released, and as a teenager, I liked it a lot! It was the first movie I saw that explored the generation gap and the treatment of parents by their children. So, it was a new (unique) topic at that time and it was well-acted. It's possible that if I see it now, it'll come across as cheesy :)

I think Avtaar just hardened his heart after all his negative experiences and couldn't bring himself to forgive his sons, even after his death. It was a unique storyline in the sense that run-of-the-mill movies had the elder protagonists take it all lying down and be at the total mercy of their sons/daughters. In this movie, he decided to give it back to them and just took it to the extreme in being very unforgiving. Which I agree is somewhat unconventional.

This movie briefly revived Rajesh Khanna's waning Bollywood career, and he proved that he still had the acting chops in him.

This issue seems to crop up in Bollywood cinema every 15-20 years. Interesting to see Amitabh Bachchan play a similar role in "Baghban" that his predecessor did in the 80s.

Congrats on 76th, and keep writing :)

-Amit

[carla]

Thank you Amitji. I like your use of the word "unconventional" to describe Avtaar's refusal to forgive his children. It's insightful - I shouldn't hold it against the movie, I suppose, that the story didn't go in the direction I expected it would go!

[maxqnz]

I thought of Baghban as soon as I read your synopsis of this movie, and I shuddered with the trauma of that memory. If you did not enjoy Avtaar, you would likely be as repulsed as I was by the vile manipulative propaganda fest that is Baghban. A little couplet for you:

You no like Avtaar?
Baghban avoid, yaar!

[this]

I think Baghbaan is a pathetic movie with overacting (specially salman) galore... and a stupid ending... Avtaar is far more superior in the sense that it involves two of the finest actors in the indian film industry and gives u a few kicks when you see the "dagabaaz" sons going down the dumps for having dumped their parents.. please consider such aspects before screwing up an okie dokie movie like Avtaar..

[vivek]

Avtaar-Trivia

The ONLY "English" [Non Hindi] dialog by Shabana in this Movie is "You are Heartless" being said to Rajesh Khanna during Climax .

[V. Manohar]

Super Star Rajesh Khanna - The Cary Grant of India.

Rajesh Khanna irrevocably impacted Indian cinema and culture like no actor before him. His acting perfection and application of talent were drawn solely from his inward vision. Khanna did not cultivate the phenomenal attributes that created his "superstardom" by reason or will, but through the connectedness to his own persona that the masses then idealized. For he is one who is impervious as to who is ahead and who is behind. Khanna’s inward vision, a special gift from the divine leads him always. Today he is the indomitable and highly respected veteran of one hindred and fifty films. For me, he is like the Cary Grant of India. Both actors are Capricorns that have played the widest variety of roles without ever bankrupting the fascination of the audience. Khanna is the platinum standard for landmark performances and sheer screen presence. Ever since the camera discovered his photogenia it has been having a love affair with it. His Byronic inspirations of romance as autographed elegantly on screen endure. Rajesh Khanna is a lovemark because he kindles our affections at the highest denominators and that is a life nobly lived means.

[carla]

Thanks for your comments V. Manohar.

Personally, Rajesh Khanna does little for me, and the comparison to Cary Grant strikes me as particularly inapt, but these things are just a matter of opinion, though at any rate I haven't seen all that many of Rajesh Khanna's films. And so I appreciate hearing the perspective of one who feels differently about him.

[smitha]

It is clear that this reviewer is biased in his opinion of khanna.

It is needless to say that Rajesh Khanna is one of the best actors India has produced.

[Omar Rawoot]

Rajesh Khanna is undoubtedly one of the best actors ever produced in India. NO wonder he was called The Phenomenon. His acting is brilliant and his portrayal of a tormented parent is brilliant. As usual Kishore Kumars vocals does it for Rajesh Khanna. It is true that roles were not written to suite Khanna rather he truly got into the character he was playing. From Akhri Khat,Raaz,baharon ki sapne, Andaz, Kati Patang, Prem Kahani, Saccha Juhta, Apna Desh, Anand, Bawarchi, Do Raaste, Aradhana, Amar Prem, Daag, Maalik, Avishkaar, Prem Kahani,Anurodh, Shehzada,Babu,Chaila babu, Naukri, Aan Milo Sajana,Dil duniya Daulat, Namak Haram,Haathi mere Saathi, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Dushman, Mehboob Ki Mehndi, Roti,Ajnabi, Aashiq hoon baharon Ka...The only actor to have 15 Consecutive hits. Need I say more.