Shaque (1976)

शक़

A story of a marriage worn down by fear and suspicion, Shaque ("doubt") has a very strong start but takes a few unfortunate turns that leave the film overall with a very unsatisfying heft. 

Vinod Joshi (Vinod Khanna) is a witness to a murder in his workplace.  He cooperates with the police investigation; there is an arrest and a trial at which Vinod testifies; and Vinod's colleague Subramaniam is convicted of the crime.   Vinod  and his wife Meena (Shabana Azmi) do their best to forget the harrowing incident, thinking it is behind them.  Ten years later, Meena receives an ominous letter from a man called Maan Singh (Utpal Dutt), who claims that Vinod was more involved than he let on and allowed an innocent man to be convicted in order to cover his own crimes of embezzlement from the company.  Meena is troubled by the letter, but while Vinod assures that it's nothing but the baseless ravings of disturbed old man, Meena can't shake the dreadful feeling that Vinod hasn't told her the whole truth.  She launches an investigation of her own, behind Vinod's back - but their marriage bends under the strain of her suspicions.

Shaque is at its best when its focus sticks to the relationship between Vinod and Meena and the strains placed upon it by Meena's suspicions.  Vinod Khanna and Shabana Azmi are understated and sweet in the scenes establishing their relationship early in the film, and the realist style of their performance lets tensions grow between them without too much overwrought dramatizing.  The tension is delicately enhanced by some very nice camera work, framing shots like the one pictured above.  Their tenderness and passion is apparent too, illustrated in a handful of touching, intimate scenes.

Unfortunately, the film's masala elements - especially the supposedly suspenseful confrontations towards the film's end - contrast with the delicacy of its study of the marriage, in a distracting rather than an effective way.  And Meena makes some very questionable judgments that make it hard to identify with her.  Her poor judgment about Maan Singh when it's painfully obvious that he's blackmailing betrays her as naive, and her incomprehensible suicide attempt seems like drama-mongering.   Neither paints a sympathetic heroine.  The film would have done better to give us a sensible woman caving to the temptation of doubt, rather than Meena almost wrecking her own marriage through stupidity.   In the end, the weaknesses outweigh the strengths, and even though Shabana and Vinod give the best performances they can under the circumstances, Shaque isn't much more than a forgettable timepass, despite its well-crafted moments. 
 

Comments

[veracious]

Wow, can you believe I blissfully forgot about the suicide attempt? I swear, such a dramatic turn of events never fails to be a complete WTF moment. So sad. If only Gulzar had directed this. With some movies the blend of introspective and kind of artsy and totally masala works okay but usually a film should just make up its mind.. (Though I don't think the setting here was ripe for masala in the first place, so so much for that!)

[Shalini]

It's been a while since I saw this movie, but I agree with your overall take on it - it's a frustratingly unsatisfying movie. What irritated me was the most was the deteriorating arc of Shabana's character. She starts off strong and interesting but devolves into a ninny. Arggh!

Since you're a Shabana fan, you might enjoy (if you haven't already seen them) "Ek Pal" (Nasserudin Shah, Faroque Sheikh) and "Ek Baar Kaho" (Naveen Nischol). Both movies have a sweet, understated feminist undertone to them that makes them deeply moving and satisfying watches.

Shalini

[Ramsu]

If you liked this movie, maybe you should consider watching this Sanjeev Kumar starrer called Qatl, another movie involving marital distrust and murder but quite different otherwise. I think it was one of Sanjeev Kumar's last films. It eventually has one contrivance too many, but overall, it is quite an interesting movie to watch.

~r

[Vee]

Hi, nice blogs! I have read a lot of your reviews and do agree with many of them. However, I am surprised to see that you haven't watched any Sridevi movie! May I recommend Chandni, Lamhe, Chaalbaaz (an 80s take on Seeta aur Geeta)? Also, for a tear jerker you can watch Sadma, originally made in Tamil with Kamala Hasan. Sadma is the Hindi title.

[carla]

Vee, thank you so much - I am glad you like the reviews.

I have felt very ashamed for a long while that I've never seen any Sridevi movies. It seemed like a big whole in my experience of Hindi films.

But now I am happy to say that I've recently watched *Mr. India* and will be reviewing it here soon. As a quick preview - I thought Sridevi was delightful, and can't wait to see more of her. *Chaalbaaz* is certainly in my future, at some point, and I appreciate your other recommendations as well; I will add them to my list.

[bawa]

Okay, you might as well have my 70s list
Guddi: you have to see Jaya in her first role, and why half the girls in the country admired her so much: for once, there was someone on screen who you could relate to as a real person, who could be You, who was spunky, something which you can't really do with the likes of anyone from NoorJehan to Madhubala to Waheeda to Hema Malini...
More of Jaya in Upkaar, Zanjeer (Amitabh's baptism in the angry young man role), Abhimaan, Anamika, Parichay, and of course, Koshish with Sanjeev Kumar, Kora Kagaz, Naya Din Nayi Raat, Mili, Naukar.
Others: Garam Hava, Dastak, Mera Naam Joker, Kabhie Kabhie, Khilona, Heer Ranjha (for being the only Indian film totally in verse) but this last is difficult to find.

By the way, totally agree with you regarding Anand and Sholay :))

[carla]

Ah, the 70s list! Your lists are great and very helpful bawa.

I have *Guddi* and have been meaning to watch it for a long time; same with *Abhiman*, *Koshish*, and *Mili*. I also have *Kabhi kabhi*. I think I have *Anamika* although it may just be one I want to see but haven't picked up yet. The others you mentioned I will look into.

You noted *Garam Hawa* - this is a film I am just aching to see, as it is the work product of both of Shabana Azmi's parents, and for other reasons as well. I have not yet come across it, but it's one I am always on the lookout for.

[bawa]

Garam Hava is a tough one to watch (emotionally). So much of it can be related to even contemporary events that fill our newspapers. Kaifi Azmi is in his element and it has one of my favourite actors, Balraj Sahni: he always lifted any film with his presence just so. It really
Speaking of Balraj Sahni, have you seen Kabuliwallah, based on a Tagore short story? truly heart-wrenching.

When you watch Guddi, see if you can work out why us 70s-teenage-girls-in-India adored Jaya Bhaduri so much!

[bawa]

oh, and you should put Dastak (By Rajinder Singh Bedi) in the Garam Hawa category of must-watch films. Music by Madan Mohan is an additional treat, and Sanjeev Kumar is well, Sanjeev Kumar.