Amazon.com

A persistent clash of cultures lies at the heart of Heat and Dust, the Merchant/Ivory team's most acclaimed drama prior to 1985's A Room with a View. The celebrated trio of director James Ivory, producer Ismail Merchant, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala were perfectly suited to this time-skipping story of thwarted romance, based on Jhabvala's novel, in which the colonial British find themselves perpetually at odds with the vibrant rhythms of India. In this most sensual of environments, two related British women, separated by six decades, discover that their independent spirits are not entirely welcomed within the confines of colonial etiquette. Olivia (Greta Scacchi) defies her stringent husband in the 1920s, while her great-niece Anne (Julie Christie) discovers, upon getting pregnant by an Indian local in the early '80s, that she and Olivia have more than a little in common. Jhabvala's feminism is subtle but forcefully dramatized, and under Ivory's sensitive direction, this tale of two women is a defiantly resonant tribute to love wherever one may find it. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Superb
I watched the movie almost twenty years back on Indian TV and was entranced by the romance of British India. I then ordered it on UK Amazon site, bought a code free DVD player, just to watch this movie. This is one of those rare instances when the movie is far better than the book. May be that has to do with the fact that the author was also the script writer. The cinematography is incomparable. The backbone of the story is the beautiful Greta Scachchi and her romance with an Indian prince.

Heat And Dust
This film should have an Oscar. Breathtaking and carefully crafted one of the best films I have seen. The film very cleverley shows the end of British as well as the end of Old mughal Nawabs in northern India. Though muslims by faith, the Nawabs or the Princes were far away from their faith and beliefs. It was an eye opener for me as well which explains the fact that such a great Mughal Empire just crumbled within a century.

THE HEAT OF THE ROMANCE...THE DUST OF ITS ASHES...
This 1982 Merchant Ivory production is a lush, atmospheric period piece based upon the well written book of the same name by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, who also wrote the screenplay for this film. Set in two distinct eras, colonial India of the nineteen twenties, during the time of the Raj, and the independent, freewheeling India of the early nineteen eighties, during the time when India was a mecca for disenfranchised youth, it explores Anglo-Indian relations through the power of romance. This is subtley done through the story of two women.

One story is that of Olivia (Greta Scacchi), the young and beautiful wife of Douglas Rivers (Christopher Casenove), a minor district official in colonial India. The film tells of her arrival in India, newly wed and in love with her husband, her subsequent boredom with the staid, British Colonial community, and her blossoming infatuation with the Nawab (Shashi Kapoor), a very handsome and charming, local Indian prince. It is her romance with the Nawab that is to result in a life changing action, one that would forever cause a permanent rift with Douglas, changing her life forever.

The second story is that of Anne (Julie Christie), a beautiful and independent woman, a descendant of Olivia's sister. Nearly sixty years after Olivia's transgression, fascinated by the story of the deceased Olivia, Anne goes to India, visiting those locations where Olivia had lived and those which would have been a part of her existence at the time. As did Olivia, she falls under India's spell. As did Olivia, she, too, has an Anglo-Indian love affair. Hers is with her landlord, Inder Lal (Zakir Hussain). Anne's life essentially picks up where the thread of Olivia's life left off, giving the viewer a powerful sense of de-ja vu and a suggestion of reincarnation.

This film is a beguiling story of two women from two different generations who come under the spell of India. It is is evocative of British colonial India, as well as of India of the early nineteen eighties. During both eras, Anglo-Indian relations are pivotal to the budding romances and the film is evocative of the rythyms of Indian life in all its richness and tumultuousness, as well as its lingering poverty and superstitions. Redolent of a time gone by, it is also an interesting dichotomy of the good and bad in both cultures, Anglo and Indian, and the influence that both cultures have on these two women, who are so different, yet so alike.

Julie Christie is perfect as the thoroughly modern, beautiful, free thinking, young woman who retraces her ancestor's footsteps. Greta Scacchi, in her introductory film role, is luminous as the lovely Olivia, a woman who did not let prejudice and narrow mindedness blind her to the charms of India, its people and its culture. Shashi Kapoor is perfectly cast as the handsome Indian Prince, whose veneer of culture and sophistication belies an injured pride, chafing under British colonialism. While the role of Inder Lal is well played by Zakir Hussain, there does not appear to be much chemistry between him and Julie Christie, in contrast to the smoldering chemistry there is between Scacchi and Kapoor. The seeming lack of chmistry btween Hussain and Christie is the one weakness in this film.

The film, one of the earlier Merchant Ivory productions, is beautifully shot. Gorgeous period costumes contribute to the sense of a time gone by. While the story bounces along between the past and the present, it is effectively done, as one sees the transformation of the past to its present. This is a film that will appeal to those who love period dramas, as well as those who simply love a good, entertaining story. Unfortunately, it is no longer available in video. It is, however, deserving of having its print transfered to DVD, as it is a film well worth having in one's collection.

Heat & Dust
This beautifully crafted film, largely set in India during two time periods, was referred to as a "sleeper" shortly after its release. In my opinion, it should have won an Oscar. The sets and costuming were beautiful, but most interesting was the story itself. Two women, having similar experiences in India sixty years apart. It ended with the subtle suggestion of reincarnation. Just beautiful. I've been attempting to purchase the video for two years now, to no avail. Why are the producers/studio not reissuing this outstanding film on video? I do hope this changes soon. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Siddhartha, adapted from the famous novel by Hermann Hesse, follows the spiritual quest of Siddhartha (Shashi Kapoor), a restless young Brahmin of India who leaves home to find inner peace. The son of a wealthy family, Siddhartha first renounces his possessions and wanders the country as a pilgrim, then indulges in sexual pleasure (with lovely Simi Garewal) and material success, but none of these things gives him what he yearns for. Finally, working as a ferryman across a river, he finds a way of being that calms his spirit. What keeps Siddhartha from being a stilted Cliff Notes version of a literary classic is the gorgeous cinematography of Sven Nykvist, who has worked with Ingmar Bergman, Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, and Louis Malle, among others. His careful eye gives Siddhartha a look that transforms its philosophical searching into a visual poem. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A German Writes of India
The movie is quite beautiful. The scenery alone is worth watching! Lush might be a better word; in many ways, it is what you would expect - and hope for - in a film version of Hesse's famous novel. If you have never read the book, be warned: it is not a fast-paced film. It is a story of finding "the true way" and the discovery that comes along with this. My only true disappointment came at the end when the scene between Siddhartha and Govinda did not meet my expectations - aside from that, I recommend it!

Captivating
I first saw this movie on television in the UK in the late 1970s. I remember being non-plussed by the first thirty minutes or so of the picture but, to be honest, I was more of a fan of action TV and comedy then. As the story progressed I became more and more entranced by the tranquility of the film, I also felt as if many of the struggles the leading character was facing echoed the changes I was undergoing in my own life at that time. Were I a man of literary leaning or a devout and knowing Buddhist I may have seen the faults that other reviewers have pointed out but, as a "simpleton" in these matters, I remember finding the film to be simply and truly moving.

The spirit of the film remained with me lifelong and I felt driven to enquire if the film was to be released on DVD. I was delighted to discover that the release was imminent. While waiting I dutifuly read the book and was delighted that the story was still so familiar.

Twenty five yeas later the film does not dissapoint. Occasionaly it is a little strident in an architypal 70's way but, other than that, it remains quite enchanting and a tribute to the plaintive existence.

wasted $32...
my favorite book became a dull movie....
and I wasted $32 on this....the only two
parts that I liked: the interview with director
and the 9 blind sadhus singing.....
rent it, do not buy it....

Sad and Offensive
As a Buddhist and a fan of the book this film not only offended me as a follower of the Buddha but as a fan of Mr. Hesse's novel. This film has nothing in common with the reality of either. The sound is not very good either. If this film were made of the story of Christ with the same liberty, the filmmaker would have been dragged through the streets. Fortunately, Buddhists just sigh and turn away.

A Visual Meditation
Wow...how can I even find words to talk about this film? From start to finish, I felt like I was in swept up in a meditative state--the captivating music of Tagore's poetry, the beautiful cinematography, and the quiet simplicity of the film. I suddenly found myself on Siddhartha's same journey, the quest of who am I and what am I doing here? And in the end, I felt totally complete--with all the answers and none at the same time. Some have said "there is not enough" in this film. Not only do I disagree, but I think that's the whole point! In an age where we are bombarded by special effects and other distractions, what a delight to see something that is not "trying" to be something! It just "is"--and leaves it up to you to see the beauty, which is abundant for all the senses. Again, it is an adaptation so of course not everything can be included, but I felt Rooks "kept it simple" in Buddhist style and I didn't miss a thing. Everything I needed to see and hear was there. Also thought the casting was perfect--Shashi Kapoor dead on as Siddhartha and I thought had great chemistry with Simi Garewal who plays Kamala.

A special note about the bonus features: Don't miss the interview with Conrad Rooks! That was almost as enjoyable as seeing the film itself--his synchronistic and humble tale of how the film overcame substantial obstacles to finally be made. I don't think I've ever heard as much behind the scenes info on a film! You're on the edge of your seat to hear what happened next....

Truly amazing, a delight for the senses. I can't even think of anything I DIDN'T like from this film--it did that much for me. I felt totally at peace. If you are spiritual at all and open to someone else's interpretation of the book, you will not be disappointed!

Enjoy! ... Read more

Description

Merchant Ivory Productions, The Criterion Collection, and Home Vision Entertainment are proud to present The Merchant Ivory Collection

The Householder is the story of a shy, young, underpaid Delhi schoolteacher (Shashi Kapoor) who marries and then, little by little, gets to know his young wife during their first year together. She is a charmer with a mind of her own, yet is as little prepared for marriage as he. Their story is full of a variety of subtle but shining pleasures and charming touches of humor. The characters they encounter are unforgettable, especially his mother-in-law, a tearful tyrant who comes to live with them, and the platitudinous headmaster and obsequious senior master at the school. The wonder of this story derived from the culture of modern, middle-class India is that it is able to transcend national boundaries and relate to the problems common to young couples everywhere. This landmark film also marks the first collaboration between producer Ismail Merchant, director James Ivory, and screenwriter Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (adapting her acclaimed novel for the screen), a productive artistic relationship that has continued for forty years and produced many award-winning films. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Film!!
This is a great film from India about a newlywed husband being troubled by his independent wife who seeks advice from his overbearing mother and his American friend.It's a must see great film!! ... Read more

Description

Elegiac and atmospheric, Shakespeare Wallah was the feature film that put Merchant Ivory Productions on the international movie map, winning them great critical acclaim, and is now recognized as a classic. Starring Shashi Kapoor, Madhur Jaffrey, and a young Felicity Kendal, the film’s inspiration lies in the real-life adventures of Ms. Kendal’s family as a traveling theater group in India during the final days of English colonial rule. They try to uphold British tradition by staging Shakespearean plays but are unable to compete with the wildly popular Bollywood film industry. The film also traces the developing relationship between the acting troupe’s young ingénue, Lizzie (Kendal), and Sanju (Kapoor), a wealthy Indian playboy. But their romance is beset by hindrances, not the least being the machinations of Manjula (Jaffrey), a fiery Indian film star who is also in love with Sanju. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

bittersweet
PROS:
This is a great film to watch on a rainy Sunday. The actors
are all top rate and the story unfolds seamlessly. Perhaps
not as "polished" as later Merchant-Ivory fare, but it certainly
is more realistic and heart wrenching.

CONS:
Some parts are a bit slow, the dialogue can be stilted at times,
I wasn't thrilled with the ending. ... Read more

Description

India, 1825: the country is being ravaged by the Thugees, cult members also known as "The Deceivers," who commit robbery and ritualistic murder. Appalled by their activities, English Captain William Savage undertakes a hazardous task: in disguise he will infiltrate their ranks. He is at constant risk of betrayal and vengeance and undergoes a disturbing psychological transformation as he experiences the cult's bloodlust firsthand. Starring Pierce Brosnan and stunningly photographed by Walter Lassally, The Deceivers is a gripping adventure—reportedly based on a true story—that charts one man's daring exploits. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

underrated classic
THE DECEIVERS is a surpisingly captivating film, seducing us as well as the main character -- before any of us know it, we're all caught up in the Thuggee world. The movie wisely underplays its hand, eschewing narration and letting us follow Captain Savage's descent into near-madness. The movie also deserves plaudits for not giving us a cut-and-dried "happy ending," making the film far more haunting than if the filmmakers had left things neat and tidy.

Pierce Brosnan turns in a sterling performance as Captain Savage, capturing every nuance of his situation. Some reviewers have singled out Brosnan's performance for faint praise or outright disdain, but I can only figure that they're reacting to the "Bond" image rather than actually viewing Brosnan's performance (or bothering to truly evaluate and understand his career, which is punctuated with many challenging roles and first-rate performances, from a bit part in THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY to THE FOURTH PROTOCOL to THE TAILOR OF PANAMA). Make no mistake, Brosnan's is a great performance, and THE DECEIVERS may be my favorite of his films.

The great game & the enchantress Kali
This is a Merchant/Ivory film before they became masters of their craft, nonetheless this is a worthwhile film for those interested in the secret society of Kali worshipping assassins known as Thugs(pronounced Tugs), a society which some historians believe began as a pagan cult in ancient times. What makes the Thugs so dangerous is that they are consummate actors and so able to pass themselves off as respectable citizens and thus befriend their victims. Furthermore the cult is impenetrable to the British who seek to flush them out because even those non-thug Indians who know of the thugs existence either fear reporting them or tolerate them because they serve a goddess.
Captain Savage is a soldier who at the beginning of the film finds himself attracted to an Indian woman about to commit sati. In an attempt to save her he 'goes native'. This Indian woman has captured his desire more than his new wife. As we get to know him we can see he is particularly vulnerable to the mysterious allures of the land he is in. In the Indian disguise which he takes great pleasure in wearing he begins to uncover the secrets of the Kali sect but as he uncovers the secrets of their strangely sensual form of murder he also becomes attracted to it for the pleasure of serving Kali it is said elicits the greatest bliss.
In a moment of deep delirium Captain Savage now in deep cover and a member of the sect he is investigating goes over to the other side....or does he?
The film leaves no doubt just which side Captain Savage comes out on but I won't spoil it for you. The film is admittedly as gaudy as the subject matter, nowhere near the majesty of later Merchant/Ivory productions, but it is a fascinating study of the strangely malleable nature of colonial identity.
The best acting here is done by the Indian actors, the English parts are all played by mere mediocrities. Brosnan plays the lead and, well, he does an adequate job. An actor with a believably dark side would have been better suited to take this perilous journey.

A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF A MURDEROUS CULT...
This is an interesting exploration of the Thuggee cult of India, as it existed in the mid nineteenth century. Members of this cult worshipped the goddess, Kali, and were called "Thugs". Known to each other through secret phrases and rituals, the Thugs, who were an organized group of professional robbers, had a most interesting modus operandi. They would kill innocent travelers by garroting them with a weighted scarf, relieve them of their worldly goods, and then bury them so that they would seem to have vanished off the face of the earth. During their existence, members of the Thuggee cult were estimated to have killed over two million people, before being wiped out by the British, with the cooperation of the existing Indian government of that time.

This film, based upon a book of the same name by John Masters, explores this ancient, secret society. It features Pierce Brosnan as a British officer, William Savage, who comes upon this cult in action. He further investigates, but his efforts prove futile, until he manages to infiltrate this cult, disguised as a native of India. He does this with the aid of a Thug, who believes that the goddess Kali has turned her back on him.

As the film progresses, Gophal, as William Savage now calls himself, becomes enmeshed in the activities of the cult. So great is his involvement, that he is in danger of losing himself to its tenets. It is as if he were undergoing a personal psychosis. It is not until his Thug informant realizes what is happening to him and tries to assist him, resulting in British troops coming to the rescue, that Gophal/William snaps out of his role playing. It is William's infiltration of the Thuggee cult, however, that is the catalyst for subsequent action taken to wipe out this evil and murderous society.

This film, shot entirely in India, is well acted, for the most part. The only problem is Pierce Brosnan, who, in the lead role, is decidedly miscast, though he does a more than passable Indian accent. He is simply not a good fit for the role. Nonetheless, this is still an intriguing film that deals with a little known, though fascinating, segment of Indian history and worth watching.

The Deceivers
This film describes in detail the Indian Thugee cult and how one British officer fought to destroy it. The cast are very good and the locations are excellent.

Deceivers- an exceptional true adventure
I am both a fan of John Masters (author of the historical novel, "The Deceivers") and a professional anthropologist dealing with the cultures of India. This film is an undiscovered masterpiece! It is faithful to the written version in a rare way; but, it also portrays India, its culture, its peoples, and its history during the Rajput era in a manner that remains unexcelled by documentary films more explicitly tailored toward so doing. I recommend this movie to anyone seeking a good mystery; a good adventure; or a worthwhile excursion into Rajput era India. It is a shame that it has not been reissued. P.S.- Brosnon is at his own very best in this film! ... Read more

Description

Based on the Booker Prize-nominated novel by Anita Desai, In Custody—producer Ismail Merchant’s directorial debut—is a wry, lyrical drama about the contemporary Indian culture. Nur (Shashi Kapoor) is considered the greatest living Urdu poet, and Deven (Om Pore) hopes to rekindle interest in the language by recording Nut reciting the magical verse. But multiple problems block Deven’s path, the greatest these being Nur’s two shrewish wives, his love of drink, and the vastly bloated poet himself. Deven’s monstrous task quickly becomes a central odyssey that follows humorous paths to an unexpected conclusion. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Excellent movie, awful DVD
This is one of the most disappointing releases I have ever had the misfortune to come across. The movie is very beautiful, with masterful performances by all concerned. The music is sublime, one of the best in a long while in Hindi/Urdu cinema. Enough has been written about the movie by previous reviewers, I agree with most of the comments.

So here's the reason for the low rating: the DVD is just awful. The widescreen transfer is alright - not the sharpest nor with really good colors. But the bad part is that it's Letterboxed widescreen, NOT Anamorphic as specified here on Amazon. That means on widescreen TV's you need to watch it in zoom-mode (or equivalent). And that brings us to the next problem - the subtitles CANNOT be turned off. That not only means you have the irritation of having English subtitles always there, but also that the lower portion of the subtitles get cut off in the zoom mode.

The sound is also just Mono (not Stereo, let alone 5.1) - the music is therefore just wasted. It makes the whole experience just not worth it.

All in all, NOT a DVD I was expecting from the Merchant-Ivory Collection. Certainly not worth having the Criterion name associated with the DVD.

"What fool has come here to see me?"
In this film--the very best film created by the Merchant/Ivory team, Professor Deven (Om Puri) teaches Hindi at a small college in India. Deven's passion, however, is for Urdu. Deven writes articles for a small magazine, and his editor charges Deven with the task of seeking an interview with Nur (Shashi Kapoor) "India's greatest living Urdu poet". Deven's attempts to interview Nur are thwarted by a cult of fans, Nur's resentful second wife, and by Nur himself. The results are at once darkly amusing, and infinitely sad.

"In Custody" is an incredibly rich film with many interwoven themes. Deven worships Nur as a poet, but the huge difference between Nur, the great poet, and the realities of Nur, the flawed human being, overwhelm Deven. Deven has worshipped Nur, and meeting him in person comes as a terrific shock. Deven (played with marvelous subtlety by Om Puri) is a quiet man devoted to Urdu poetry. No one seems to take either Deven or his determination to promote Urdu poetry seriously. Few people are interested in Urdu anymore. Times are difficult. India is changing, and this is underscored by society's fading interest in Urdu and in a similar vein, Deven's colleague cannot afford to maintain his inheritance--a vast magnificent, crumbling palace reminiscent of former splendour. There is little extra money to be thrown around, and interviewing a poet who chooses to write in a language in which India is losing interest seems frivolous to Deven's colleagues, and to Deven's wife. Deven's project begins as an uphill battle, and it doesn't get easier.

Nur and Deven share a love of Urdu poetry, but as human beings they are opposites. "In Custody" shows the domestic arrangements of both men, and they both fail to inspire any respect from their wives, but for different reasons. Nur's second wife is a domestic tyrant, and yet she also suffers from living in her husband's shadow. She longs for recognition and respect, and she's destined never to receive it.

"In Custody" is a stunningly beautiful film which contains scenes I shall never forget. This--combined with an incredible soundtrack creates a unique and amazing film--displacedhuman

"...where Urdu is still chaste..."
"In Custody" is an excellent movie about disappointment and mortality.

Om Puri, with his trademark dour dignity, plays a lover of Urdu.In spite of his love, when he was a young man he became responsible for a wife and then a child, so he had to take the post of teacher of Hindi.Urdu uses a Farsi-Arabic script, and Hindi is supposedly the official language of India and the tension between them is tough -- to go deeper into that bucket of worms is a labor I do not relish.The story of a man devoted to Urdu who teaches Hindi is your first hint of what direction this movie shall take.I won't provide a synopsis, as that has been done already, but will share impressions.

The camera shots are just as compact, beautiful, and definitive as poems.Oxcarts, courtyards, and rivers are all presented to us as individual wonders.

The poems recited in this movie are magnificent creatures which come from the mouth of a jaded and corpulent old man.Our poor poet, the author of such marvels, is so fat he can hardly move.The part where the group of *admiring* vultures push the massive man on a garlanded swing as part of their drunk revels is just unbearable to watch.This is the creator of beauty: he later collapses and vomits in his wife's quarters.She is wife number two, very prettily sculpted of the most bitter wormwood.Yet she achieves household status because she has borne a son.

When you see Wife No.2 sing a ghazal, you will understand how easy it would be to fall in love with the angel-faced harpy, even as she twists the knife deeper.

Wife No.1 is a materialistic matron who has a very cold eye for reality.Neither wife is a very sympathetic companion.

And the glorious recital of poems by the great poet takes place in a hot, reeking brothel.One realizes that this recital is indeed the poet's swansong.

One would think the scenario no more than pathetic: yet it is truly dignified by the beauty of the poems.The movie ends with a gutted palace, due to be completely demolished.All physical things pass.But poems, the work of man, transcend man's own fate.It is a comfort amidst the melancholy.

What can one say about "In Custody?"
Being a person native to the tongue of Urdu, I was more than appreciative of this truly Epic tale.

I had seen this movie when it first came out and truly fell in love with its tale, dedication and Urdu playwriting.

For as long as I can remember, I have followed Shashi Kapoor's family's career and was surprised to see him in a role such as this one. It is not the typical role for Kapoor's family.

Omm Puri is a fantastic actor and often plays an Urdu speaking role. He was in "The Ghost & The Darkness," and many other great movies such as "City of Joy" with Patrick Swayze. Perhaps he has a fondness for the language and the contribution of Urdu in India.

Shabana Azmi is a family friend of my father's, and for her to be part of this movie made it so much more enjoyable to watch.

You have to realize that Urdu poets (or Shairs) are in a class of themselves. Urdu is derived from Farsi and Arabic. As most know both the Persians and Arabs were great poets. However, the uniqueness of Urdu and its trance/hypnosis type effect on the soul of a person is unlike any of the afore-mentioned languages.

I would like to point out that this movie looks at the last remaining days of a great poet. Ironically, there is, nor was, a poet that is portrayed by Shashi Kapoor. The poems are from other Shairs. Similar to Jagjit Singh's style whereas, he does not write the poetry, but rather sings and choreographs the music.

If you would like to experience a movie about a true Urdu Shair, you have to see "Mirza Ghalib" with Naseer-Udeen Shah. Ghalib is one of the greatest poets the world has seen. To understand Ghalib it to truly understand the human soul.

Shah is also in "Monsoon Wedding" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" with Sean Connery. He is a fantastic Actor.

To sum it up, I liked this movie, loved the music, the tale and I think that it was superbly done. Sorry for the folk who do not speak Urdu, but like everyone learns a second language (as I learned Spanish), there is nothing stopping you from experiencing Urdu and its greatness.

Unparallel, is by far an understatement. Cheers!

Could have been better
I'm slightly disappointed with the movie.This movie will be hard for most foreigners to appreciate.First of, this movie for most part in Urdu, one of the most melliflous and poetic language ever.Secondly, the setting is so Indian, it escapes a foreign viewer the cultural ethos of the country.However, the essence of the movie is simply 'human'. For all its cinematic shortcomings, this movie genuinely tries to explore the human indifference and shifting cultural values.

Deven (Om Puri) is a Hindi professor who was sent to interview a great poet, who is past his prime.He is obscurely important to the fading culture once patronized by kings and nawabs.The poet Nur Shahjehanabdi (Shashi Kapoor) is blissfully removed from day to day to reality and dwells on the bygone mystique of chaste Urdu poetry.He is accompanied by a circle of sycophants, who in all reality wants nothing more than free food and drink, whose condasance is mistaken by the poet to be genuine platitudes.Added to his woes are his polygamy and the two wives who live with him.Amidst all these the real story somehow is reduced to a sub plot.

This is where director Ismail Merchant fails to indulge his audience in his movie.The whole exercise of Deven, tryingto get an interview from this great poet is a meandering tale sort of black comedy of errors.Although most characters are beleivable, director does not let them develop fully.The role of Shabana Azmi as the poet's dominating second wife is basically overbearing.The other peripheral characters such as Murad Beg, Mr. Siddiqui played respectively by Tinnu Anand and Parikshat Sahni are quite good.

Overall, I walked away from the movie with a genuine appreciation for Mr. Merchant's effort.Frankly, I didn't care much for the movie after a point.If not for the Urdu spoken in the film and the fond memories of a mushiara, the movie doesnt quite add up.But, I'm a romatic fool and chaste urdu suffices for me. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Surreal and Real
Sammy & Rosie is one of my top 5 movies of all time. It's difficult to find, and not available on DVD, but worth buying, even used. Director Frears' usual ability to probe sexual mores, ambiguities and absurdities is brilliantly mixed with the politics of power, class and race.

Raw London
Sammy and Rosie Get Laid is a real picture of London in the mid-80. The story is based in a couple living in London during the clash between police and demonstrators. The unemployment was too high and there was the minorities, like coloured didn't have a chance for survive. Sammy and Rosie believe in free love and have lovers. The relantioship is based in free wheeling. Sammy has a father, Rafi, an former politician in India that moved to London. Rafi intends to live in London forever and find his mistress that he left 30 years ago. Rafi met Victoria (or Danny), a coloured man with no job. Victoria lives in a trailer and walks away. Sammy hates his father, but Rafi give his money to Sammy. Rosie is a feminist and supporter of lesbians, gays and unemployers. A real and raw London you cand find it with a great finale. Enjoy it! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

In the realm of the delicate
Ijaazat captures a moment in time whose reality is construed by memories of times gone, some forgotten, some remembered. The movie explores the intricacies of a love triangle in which sincerity , love and fidelity are as if doomed by the triangular pattern. All characters have the sincerest of feelings and the best of intentions but remain helpless before the irony of their situation. The subtlety of the film matches the delicacy of the subject it approaches, as it meanders through moments of intimacy to depict emotions that loom like invisible giants: unsaid, unexpressed but keenly felt and haunting. All characters are as distinct as they are remarquable : Maaya(Anuradha Patel), the intractable and independent free-spirited girl evasive as the morning breeze and like it, always lingering behind; Suddha(Rekha), the composed Indian wife with a quite and docile Eastern beauty. Mahinder (Naseerudin Shah) caught between on one hand, his devotion for his wife and on the other, his strange attraction for Maaya. The action revolves around Suddha's unannounced decision to leave home after learning of her husband's repeated contacts with Maaya. Five years from the day she leaves and unknown to her, Mahinder suffers a heart attack, they accidentally meet in a railway station. Smoothly and unconsciously, each glides into his former role, he the careless husband and she the wife, bringing order with her touch, now as before, his better half. In the one night that they spend together waiting, each grapples with a past that had long since remained dormant. One questions and the other explains, one narrates and the other mourns. They journey through a host of memories more vivid perhaps in the recollection that they were in the living. It's a trail of tears and laughter, of joy and sorrow, of anguish and ecstacy. Conjuring up from the past some figments they lived together and others they missed out upon, they tie up all the ends left loose - almost. Nothing can prepare the reader for the final irony of the movie. By the most relentless of criteria, the movie qualifies as sublime - the acting, songs, music, poetry, the story-line as much as the conception - all is top-notch.

A Classic - Must have
This would definitely be one that you have to add to your collection if you are true Hindi Movie buff, especially classic movies. The songs are chillingly effective to keep you interested. It takes you back to the beautiful parts of India and at the same time deals with the issues surrounding true love and social/cultural values.

A very simple depiction of complex situations with relationships and harsh realities of life. Some excellent direction with great outdoor photography.

Top notch performances from stalwarts, Naseeruddin Shah, Rekha and Anuradha Patel. Being an older movie, the quality is not DVD grade, but it gives you the older rustic print taking you back in time. ... Read more