Anand (1971)

आनंद

This is one of the most difficult reviews to write of any since I started this blog.  I usually get a perverse kind of pleasure from writing about films I didn't enjoy, but this has not been the case with Anand ("joy," as well as the lead character's name), which I watched months ago and haven't brought myself to review until now. 

Dr. Bhaskar Banerjee (Amitabh Bachchan) is a young physician with a gloomy outlook.  A workaholic, he takes his work to heart and doesn't see much to enjoy in life.  Then his mentor introduces him to Anand (Rajesh Khanna), a cheerful soul who brightens the spirits of everyone he meets, including the dour doctor.  But Dr. Banerjee is dismayed to learn that Anand has an inoperable, terminal cancer, and a prognosis of only a few months to live.  Anand is determined to spread as much joy as he can in the short time he has left, and from him Dr. Banerjee learns to appreciate all aspects of life. 

I wanted to like Anand; I love so many of the films of its director, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and I adore the performances of young, pre-stardom Ambitabh Bachchan.   And The film is so widely loved, and had been recommended to me by so many different people, that I feel like an insensitive philistine for failing to appreciate it.

Yet just about everything about it grated, starting with the hyperactive cheerfulness of Anand himself.  I've not found a single appealing quality to Rajesh Khanna, between his froggy smile and his mumbly, droopy-eyed diction; here, he combines these traits with a ferret-like energy that is by multiples more annoying than charming.  But it's not merely that Anand's idea of cheerfulness is too shouty and bouncy to appeal to me; it's that everyone in the film is as delighted by it as I am irritated.  Even the somber doctor, a man who looks like he should be getting migraines from Anand's very presence, is instead moved to the depths of his soul.  I understand how I am supposed to feel, but I can't get on the train; instead of being charmed by Anand's joy, I just want him to shut the hell up.  Anand is not merely terminally ill; he's terminally annoying. 

Beneath the surface - of course - Anand harbors some melancholy, which shows itself only in quiet moments when he thinks he's not being watched.  This feature of Anand's character is such an obvious cliche that it adds no depth to him at all, and I found myself only rolling my eyes when it was revealed.  It's just one more predictable step in the very predictable arc of this entirely by-the-book story.  Anand's inevitable end - the conclusion is painfully apparent from the moment Anand is introduced - brought me no tears, just relief that it was finally over. 

I suppose the saccharine sentiments would have been forgivable if the characters had worked, but between Anand's hysterical babble and the doctor's sour-lemon demeanor there wasn't much to sink my teeth into.  The entire experience was like biting into a puff of cotton candy and finding it artificially sweetened, bitter with aspartame aftertaste.  Though one of the best-loved emotional tear-jerkers of Hindi cinema, Anand's delicacy was completely lost on me.   

ETA:  I feel somewhat less self-conscious and thick about disliking this film after reading Philip Lutgendorf's astute (as always) comments on it.  He notes, as I did, that whether one is moved by the film depends upon whether one is charmed or irritated by the character of Anand; he also observes that Anand is an archetype of the manic, self-centered embodiments of romance heroes all over Hindi cinema. 

Comments

[maxqnz]

Thanks, carla. I'd read other reviews that raved about this film, but the plot summary left me cold. Now that I've read your review, I know that is one movie I do not wish to see. Your description of your reaction matches what I felt after reading about this elsewhere, so I'm going to trust to our similar tastes and not waste my time on this misnamed film.

[Sanni]

Karan Johar does his version of the story (or so he claims) in Kal Ho Na Ho, a movie I want to anti-rec to you; that is, I doubt you'll like it, I doubt you'll even tolerate it, but I'd like you to see it anyhow as for one, would be interesting if you DID like it and two, I want to see you review it (snark it? rip it to threads?). *grin*

[Nirvana]

Hi,

We dont really share the same opinion on this movie. But i actually expected you to put in a few lines on the songs in Anand. Some of them are quite nice

Regards

Nirvana
@
http://www.nirvana73.blogspot.com/

[carla]

Nirvana, there are a couple of reasons I didn't mention the songs. First, it's been a long, long time since I saw the movie. I usually write reviews right away - within a week at the outside - but my surprise at my response to *Anand* paralyzed me. As a result I have completely forgotten the music. Also, while watching the film I was so irritated as to not really be able to process or enjoy the music - as during Anand's melancholy song, which was probably lovely but was such a dreadfully eye-roll inducing cliche of a scene that the song itself is kind of lost in the "you're kidding, right?" Finally I did not enjoy writing this review at all, and I just wanted to be done with it, so instead of taking the time to refresh my memory of the music I left it out - knowing that I could count on my readers, as always, to supplement where my instincts toward brevity require me to omit details.

max, I would love to hear from other people who don't get what the fuss is about *Anand*, and so I'd like you to see it if only for that. :)

Sanni - I think you've said that to me before about KHNH, and I'm flattered that you have faith in my ability to savage a film that's not to my taste. :D I wouldn't be surprised if I stumble across it and see it some day.

[Beth]

All the worst parts KHNH sprang to mind immediately - this sounds so perfectly, stupidly saccharine.

[maxqnz]

Carla - for you, anything! Beth - "All the worst parts KHNH sprang to mind immediately " - there were good bits of KHNH?

[Beth]

Tee-hee. Only "Pretty Woman" and "Maahi Ve," to my way of thinking :)

[MBarnum]

Carla, even though I LOVED this movie, I still got a good laugh out of your review and enjoyed reading your thoughts on it!

You might go back and listen to the music, however, as ANAND has some of the most wonderful songs ever!

Michael

PS: I love your blog and this is my very first post on it (your reveiews have caused me to buy several DVDs lately that I never would have thought to pick up)! And thanks to your links section I have found so many wonderful Bollywood sites to visit!

[Amba]

Carla, have you seen "Mili"? I think you may prefer it to "Anand" - it's much more quiet and reflective, and the insufferable Rajesh Khanna is replaced by Jaya Bhaduri. In "Mili", the terminally ill character isn't an irritating guru-figure who mercilessly meddles in other people's affairs, she's an ordinary young woman, and the romance that unfolds between her and Amitabh's character is quite lovely

[Sanket]

I agree with your review of this movie and have loved virtually every H. Mukerjee film I have seen. I asked my parents and they said this movie was very popular in it's day due to the original story but mostly due to the supernova-like success of Rajesh Khanna. My mom never really was enamored with his Captain Kirk/William Shatner from 'Star Trek' overacting but he was all the rage then and anything he touched became box office gold. I heard all the songs before seeing the movie & therefore able to appreciate them on their own merits. This film does have a mystique about it but it seems to have more to do with what it tried to be instead of what it ultimately was - a simple film with a nice message that was drowned out by Rajesh Khanna's sniffling & overacting.

[Shweta]

At last- a rflection of my own dislike of Rajesh Khanna (eughhh) and his grotesque acting (?) skills. The best part of Anand was the fact that he finally dies- whew!

[carla]

Michael - thanks so much for your kind words. I'm delighted to know that you've enjoyed the reviews!

Amba: I haven't seen *Mili*, but I do have it and will watch it eventually. I like the idea of "replacing" Rajesh Khanna with Jaya ji - it tickles me.

Sanket: You've mentioned that William Shatner analogy before and it never fails to crack me up!

Shweta and everyone: I am relieved to hear that there are folks out there who also don't think *Anand* is all that and a bag of chips. On those occasions when a classic beloved by Indian audiences leaves me cold I am always worried; I hesitate to trust my own judgment about the film, and I don't want to put off my readers by dissing something close to their hearts. So it's comforting to know that it's not just me, and that even if "Indian audiences" adore this film, there are individual people out there who do not.

A reader asked me in email if I thought there was a cultural divide happening here, but I don't think there is - I just didn't like the film. It was vapid and cloying, and its hero - meant to be sympathetic and charming - made me want to throw things at the screen. I think that last is the main point - I have no problem with being manipulated by melodrama if all the elements work; Rajesh Khanna, for me, just doesn't.

[Sanket]

Nowadays when I see Rajesh I see William Shatner instead :) I too loved Mili and although it has precious few songs they are wonderful (from S.D. Burman)! Maybe our next joint review?

[Amodini]

Carla,
Anand is way over-rated (like Sholay). KHNH isn't exactly "deep", but SRK's twitches over Rajesh Khanna's anyday.
And while I'm confessing :-) I also hate Raj Kapoor and the cliched versions of himself he put on-screen (Kehta hai Joker, etc.). Talk about pathetic (AND BORING).
Also do note, that you are not the only one to get a "perverse" pleasure from writing about films you don't enjoy; shredding to bits a film I didn't like is one of the "perks" of reviewing a film.

[Bitterlemons]

Carla,

I've always disliked Anand as well, and I remember seeing it several times as a child. I thought the movie very cheesy even then. Hrishikesh Mukherjee had so many other lovely movies, I wish he was known for some of those rather than this one!

Rajesh Khanna...well, his overacting then is compared to SRK overacting now....*occasionally* when I am in a suitably maudlin mood, I can enjoy some of his movies like Amar Prem, but for the most part, prefer Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar from those times.

Do give the music another chance though - it *is* wonderful.
Bitterlemons

[carla]

Bitterlemons and Amodini - your posts have made me feel so much better about my tepid response to this film! I was afraid to criticize it ...

[Vinay]

I am not a big fan of Anand myself, like many of my friends are, but I certainly don't hate it :). I think your irritation with the film stems mainly (not solely may be) from the fact that a "shouty, cheerful" Anand doesn't appeal to you. But I feel that what looks like a cliched idea to you (which it probably was for international audiences; in fact it was rumored that HM got the inspiration from Kurosawa's Ikuru) was the very thing that appealed to Hindi movie audiences then. For Indian viewers it was still a largely underdone and novel perspective. IMHO, it is this newness of idea supported with Gulzar's dialogues, and some brilliant music by Salil C (with help in no little measure by Yogesh's words) makes it a well-loved fare.

As much as I remember from my last viewing of it (which was about 8-10 years back) Anand - the character - was annoying to me too. And probably a lot of it was because Rajesh Khanna in general is. But even though I wouldn't like to see the movie again or wouldn't put it on as high a pedestal as many of my friends and critics put it, I still like it for Gulzar, Yogesh, and Salil C's work.

[MovieZen]

Everyone from the boomer generation raves about Rajesh Khanna and those looks. I could never understand it. I found him just plain ---- oily. "Froggy smile" - very well put. Amitabh Bachchan just blows him away in Anand, IMO.

[Amba]

Like you, I don't find Rajesh Khanna physically appealing in the slightest, MovieZen. In fact, I have the same cold response to Rajesh Khanna as I do to Shah Rukh Khan; in both cases I find aspects of their performances/personae unappealing, but I suspect the real roots of my antipathy lie in the fact that I don't find either of them physically attractive, and that's a big stumbling block when it comes to romantic leads.

[Shalini]

As someone who came here by way of BollyWhat, I’m delighted to be introduced to your blog via an unappreciative review of "Anand" - a movie that I actively dislike.:-)

You and Phillip Lutgendorf captured my key frustration with "Anand" perfectly - the relentless, insistent bonhomie of Anand. I lost count of the number of times, I wanted to reach into the screen and box Rajesh Khanna's ears.:-)

I do second the suggestion to give the music of "Anand" a second chance. It really is wonderful.

I'm not familiar with your tastes, but apart from "Mili", (a movie I disliked only a little less than Anand) you might want to check-out "Aakhiyon Ke Jharokon Se." In the "dying young" genre of movies, I found this one the most affecting.

Shalini

[Compulsive Dreamer]

Hi, I stumbled onto your blog and was pleasantly surprised to read your point of view on "Anand". I also agree that the character "Anand" was more annoying and irritating than appealing. But then mine was the lone voice in dissent among the hordes of others who loved the movie and loved the character. But then I have also noticed that in real life, while everyone is charmed by sweet talking people who seem to make friends quickly and are the apple of everyone's eye, I normally tend to stay away from them and am usually not charmed by their behavior. So I guess, like you later mentioned, like the movie would depend on whether you like or dislike such characters

[Akshay Shah]

Another splendid piece on one of my all time favorites!

[carla]

Shalini, thanks for stopping by and thanks for your (very eloquently-phrased) comments on *Anand*. To both you and Compulsive I would say - why do we have the impression that everyone loves this movie? It seems my cautiously negative review has brought out lots of folks who don't quite see the charm.

Akshay - thanks for your kind comments, on this post and the others. And thanks for going easy on me even though *Anand* is one of your all-time favorites! :D

[Vikrant]

Well, I got on the train and I enjoyed the journey for most part.

I agree that Rajesh Khanna is overrated. Never actually liked him in any other movies. I am not sure if I will enjoy this film if I watch it again.

I loved this film for its songs, especially lyrics. I think 90% of the songa written in Hindi films are in some or other way related to love and/or lovers whether its their beauty or separation or heartbreak...I am fed up...The film had good scope for philosophical musing and Hrishida decided to do that through songs. I still love these songs for its melodious music and its metaphoric poetry.

[carla]

I wish my understanding of song lyrics was just a touch better than it was. At the moment I tend to favor lyrics I, as a mere learner of Hindi, can understand. :P That means I adore Javed Akhtar, whose lyrics often manage to be evocative while still accessible even to me, and I can only gaze in wonder at the likes of Gulzar, whose poetry is beyond my meager grasp. It's not the same in translation. I will say, though, that I enjoy the songs of *Anand* much more than the film itself.