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

[Vikrant]

wow...Javed Akhtar...I like his work too...my favorite is 1947 Earth (probably the only Deepa Mehta film that I liked).
I recommend Javed Akhtar's 'Tarkash'...its my favorite. It is online in both Hindi and English http://www.javedakhtar.com/. I think you will like it.

"I like his work too...my favorite is 1947 Earth (probably the only Deepa Mehta film that I liked)."

Nice to hear from another fan of 1947:Earth. It's my favourite Indian movie, period, and the reason for my Nandita fixation.

[carla]

Thank you for the *Tarkash* recommendation Vikrant - I've actually been working my way through it for some time. It's my current Hindi study project. :D

[Christiane]

I´m a little late with my reply as I´ve just discovered your blog but I´m so relieved to finally read a review of "Aanand" that matches my own impression. My (Indian) boyfriend told me that this was one of the greatest and most touchin movies in the history of Bollywood and a definite must-watch. So I watched the movie, pretended, I´d liked it a lot and started to worry whether there´s something seriously wrong with me since in fac the movie left me quite cold. At first I thought that maybe it´s my non-Indian perspective but even most of the phirang reviews I read were enthusiastic.
Good to know that I´m not alone. Loved the songs though.
Great blog by the way! Regards from Germany!

I feel that Anand is very good film & I learn that we should happy everytime in our life because lifie did’nt come back again. Anand alive very happy his hole life

[V. Manohar]

Super Star Rajesh Khanna - The Cary Grant of India
Super Star 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. Super Star Rajesh 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. Super Star Rajesh 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. Super Star Rajesh 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. Super Star Rajesh Khanna is a Greatest Legend because he kindles our affections at the highest denominators and that is a life nobly lived means.

[Veer]

Once it was a fashion to swoon over Rajesh Khanna and now its a fashion to HATE him......cant we have a balanced opinion?

[Veer]

Also i see so much of attention.....so many comments....Is it the "Law of the soggy potato chip" at work?

[Jo Pattabiraman]

For folks who are still interested in Anand, you can watch it and other Hrishikesh Mukherjee films online at www.moovieshoovie.com for $3. It's instant gratification and at DVD quality. I'm the founder and CEO, so more than a little biased. Do let me know what you think.

Thanks !

Jo

[carla]

Veer, I am an outsider and relatively new (4-5 years) to Hindi films, so I don't know about fashions - I only know what resonates with me and what doesn't. I don't suppose there can be such thing as a "balanced opinion" - an opinion is by definition just one person's perspective and is necessarily colored by that person's background and perception. For whatever reason, Rajesh Khanna and Anand don't do it for me.

[smitha]

Rajesh khanna's performance in anand is one of the greatest roles in indian cinema.

The review is just a piece of shit fit to be consigned to the duistbin.

[smitha]

A bull shit review. Rajesh khanna's performance in anand is one of the ebxt ever performances in indian cinema.

Don't insult him by coparing him with a novice like shah rukh khan.