tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post7527782823475754214..comments2023-11-10T08:26:51.182-06:00Comments on Beth Loves Bollywood: SilsilaBeth Loves Bollywoodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05540154833326987567noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-41391214638082527542014-08-07T14:21:16.260-05:002014-08-07T14:21:16.260-05:00To respond to some of the criticisms you propose -...To respond to some of the criticisms you propose - <br />1. While it is true that Jaya and Shashi did not face moral objection for their pre-marital relations, this is because no one knew about it till then. However, once the society would have found out that Jaya was an unwed mother, she and the child would have been stigmatized. Amitabh marries Jaya to save his brother's child from being labelled a bastard. It is not spelled out in the movie because as an Indian, this sacrifice is very common and laudable. <br />2. He then has the affair because of the miscarriage. The reason for the marriage is no more and he feels no obligations towards Jaya anymore. (No doubt this was very selfish!) <br />3. I agree with you that the ending was a total cop-out and un-justified. But consider the fact that Jaya agreed to do the movie, even though she had semi-retired from films, primarily to send a message to the gossipers. Rumor has it that she made Yash Chopra change the original ending, where Amitabh and Rekha elope, to the unsatisfactory climax where her husband comes crawling back to her. Life imitated cinema and eventually Amitabh also dumped Rekha and went back to Jaya, thus robbing real life bollywood voyeurs of their fantasy ending as well!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05301197746535770675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-13599390757669863462010-02-17T09:13:59.152-06:002010-02-17T09:13:59.152-06:00http://bethlovesbollywood.blogspot.com/2009/02/sil...http://bethlovesbollywood.blogspot.com/2009/02/silsila.htmlfire breathing angelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08403694229463388003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-31246143433849118702009-02-12T23:49:00.000-06:002009-02-12T23:49:00.000-06:00Well said, Amrita! I totally agree that this film ...Well said, Amrita! I totally agree that this film could have been ground breaking, but alas, fell awfully short. The Triangle was clearly the big draw here.<BR/><BR/>Beth you completely summarized every major issue I've had with this film. Conclusion: love it for its songs. Also love "shashitabh" :) too funny.desipolitanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09814872146149457255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-31215270180801082782009-02-07T19:58:00.000-06:002009-02-07T19:58:00.000-06:00Hi Beth LOL at PPCC's SAD and your SARS! Some how ...Hi Beth <BR/><BR/>LOL at PPCC's SAD and your SARS! <BR/><BR/>Some how this film never did interest me. To this day I have not bothered to see a DVD if some one was willing to lend me it to me for free. <BR/><BR/>This movie was made to boost AB's career at that time and to cash on the AB-Rekha affair. It flopped - people do know what movies they enjoy. <BR/><BR/>The fact that YR films is promoting this movienow is perhaps they are trying to sell it in vain via DVDs yrs on.<BR/><BR/>MeeraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-9605890235252181182009-02-07T14:19:00.000-06:002009-02-07T14:19:00.000-06:00I guess this movie made more sense back in the day...I guess this movie made more sense back in the day as Amit's decision was just something that you did not really question. Nonetheless this movie will be remembered for the amazing songs and the 'outing' of Amitabh/Rekha. Alot of the scenes between Rekha & Jaya - no one was really acting they say.<BR/><BR/>When we watch the movie nowadays we just watch till (SPOILER ALERT) Shashi dies, the movie is kind of a buzz kill after that. I did a review of it as well - <BR/><A HREF="http://www.docbollywood.com/2006/08/25th-anniversary-of-silsila.html" REL="nofollow">Silsila</A>Sanket Vyashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00410998671085464946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-29799829043399942582009-02-07T10:43:00.000-06:002009-02-07T10:43:00.000-06:00Beth, I share your puzzlement that Silsila is cons...Beth, I share your puzzlement that <I>Silsila</I> is considered a romantic classic in some quarters. I did my own <A HREF="http://exoticandirrational.blogspot.com/2008/06/forbidden-love-silsila-and-lamhe.html" REL="nofollow">joint review</A> of <I>Silsila</I> and <I>Lamhe</I> and found that <I>Silsila</I> worked neither as a Krishna-Radha fantasy (Amit and Chandni's behavior towards their spouses is too self-involved and cruel) nor as a tawdry slice of realism (reality has already been left far behind by the time of the ludicrous rescue of Dr. Anand and the 180-degree turn of the ending).<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://bollyviewer-oldisgold.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Bollyviewer</A> has said that every Yash Chopra film has a fatal flaw; <I>Silsila</I> has several. At least, there are the songs--though they don't redeem the movie, they are pretty great, especially the two you mention.Pessimisissimohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04223566131580795337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-26764781203854949162009-02-05T05:38:00.000-06:002009-02-05T05:38:00.000-06:00It was also a well used practice in the eastern ar...It was also a well used practice in the eastern areas of my country for the widow sister in law to be married to the brother of her deceased husband.<BR/><BR/>And I had no problem with Amit choosing to marry Shoba trying to save his dead brother's child and help his grieving girlfriend to do that. <BR/><BR/>I also can understand how two people can succumb to their desires and try not to judge. <BR/><BR/>Having said all of the above, this film sucked. <BR/>Except the Rang Barse song, I simply love the song and Amitabh lipsynching to it :)eliza bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01997101330508195099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-3307637731350929042009-02-04T15:25:00.000-06:002009-02-04T15:25:00.000-06:00Well I was more charitable to this film than most,...Well I was more charitable to this film than most, I think. It's been more than two years since I've seen it but at the time I found it a series of very delicately wrought and effective moments, embedded in a very flawed matrix. On the subject of those flaws, Bollyviewer's observation that the the pre-marital romance was tacked on to justify the extra-marital one is, I think, very astute. <BR/><BR/>Having said that I am more sympathetic than most to people who for whatever reasons find their passions driving them to extramarital affairs, and I don't necessarily equate such actions with selfishness. I think the story did a reasonable job of motivating the affair to make it something other than mere selfishness or horniness, and that's really all I can ask. <BR/><BR/>The outcome - Amit deciding to commit to his marriage - is acceptable to me, but I agree (as I think I said in my review) that its execution is one of the film's ugliest warts. The reverse outcome would also had been fine had either just been motivated! I told Beth right after she watched this film that the reason Amit decided to commit was because the film was coming up on three hours and that's the outcome Yash Chopra wanted.<BR/><BR/>See *Arth* and *Masoom* - really, everyone, please see *Arth* and *Masoom* - for some different perspectives on extramarital affairs, both starring Shabana Azmi, who was at the time of course quite keenly aware of the issues raised by adultery and its far-reaching effects.Filmi Geekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03452657736759131107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-52515193755474223942009-02-04T13:24:00.000-06:002009-02-04T13:24:00.000-06:00AT the time this movie was made, it was a well acc...AT the time this movie was made, it was a well accepted practice in Punjab for a brother-in-law or sister-in-law to step in to marry widows/widowers, especially where there were children to be taken care of. The same situation was the basis of Hum Aap ke Hain Kaun, if you remember. <BR/><BR/>I doubt if such a theme will carry much weight these days, but this film is more than 30 years old. They may not have beat you on the head with it, but it was largely understood by the Indian audience at the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-4395537292553501132009-02-04T10:44:00.000-06:002009-02-04T10:44:00.000-06:00Oh Thank you! I hated this movie, and always have ...Oh Thank you! I hated this movie, and always have (it seems to be a favourite of Sony TV's and shows up fairly regularly on their late night lineups when I'm working). <BR/><BR/>You made all the points that irritated me about the movie...I've always thought that Jaya's catatonic act might have a been a way of disassociating herself from the real trauma of the relationship - wasn't there some rumor that she was "compelled" to do this movie? <BR/><BR/>BitterlemonsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-9137545736123042822009-02-04T08:47:00.000-06:002009-02-04T08:47:00.000-06:00As Rum would say, this film is pie-inducing.That i...As Rum would say, this film is pie-inducing.<BR/><BR/>That is all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-19138480575428924152009-02-04T02:26:00.000-06:002009-02-04T02:26:00.000-06:00Hi friend, ur blog is fine.. If u want link exchan...Hi friend, ur blog is fine.. If u want link exchange with our blog <BR/><BR/>http://bollywood-actressphotos.blogspot.com then mail us to <BR/><BR/>actressphotos@symbi.inrajhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14914502496934767931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-73727797094731497372009-02-04T00:52:00.000-06:002009-02-04T00:52:00.000-06:00Bollyviewer, though abortion is perfectly acceptab...Bollyviewer, though abortion is perfectly acceptable in Indian society, it's a complete no-no in Indian films. It's usually the vamp or the rich, spoilt girl who wants to keep her figure who opts for abortion in the movies. <BR/><BR/>Beth, thankfully, 'Silsila' was a flop. I think most of the audience found it boring, and self-indulgent. And the end came so unconvincingly. <BR/><BR/>What it did start was this trend of people-empty, plant heavy foreign locations. Very tiresome.Bannohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03855784743978203037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-83705920064141449142009-02-04T00:15:00.000-06:002009-02-04T00:15:00.000-06:00Silsila affected rage syndrome is a very apt descr...Silsila affected rage syndrome is a very apt description of my feelings while watching this movie. Just reading your post makes it all come back. My poor screen was in danger of having something thrown at it. <BR/><BR/>That said, I did like the scenes with Shashi, I thought Shekar and Shoba were rather cute together. But the rest I have no desire to ever see again.<BR/><BR/>I wonder whether fighter pilots are particularly prone to father children prior to marriage in the movies. Neetu's father in Kabhi Kabhie was a fighter pilot, too. Maybe they are just more likely not to make it to the wedding day.gebrusshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14449996937991587866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-4279672215793110632009-02-03T22:58:00.000-06:002009-02-03T22:58:00.000-06:00Spot on!People keep talking about this one and Kab...Spot on!<BR/><BR/>People keep talking about this one and <I>Kabhie Kabhie</I> as the counterpoint to AB's angry young man roles. Frankly, if his alternative to beating people up was being the self-centered jerk he was in these two movies, I'd much rather he did the former, thank you very much. <BR/><BR/>Like Shweta and Amrita say, it was all about the triangle. If you take the casting coup out of the picture, there's very little left. <BR/><BR/>It does have one interesting scene, though. The one with the Holi song where Amit and Chandni are so lost in each other that Shobha and Anand are left gaping. Apparently, the only reason Sanjeev Kumar agreed to do the role was because of the potential that scene offered in conveying something without dialogue.<BR/><BR/>~ramsuAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-53571207030317984872009-02-03T22:26:00.000-06:002009-02-03T22:26:00.000-06:00ok, from what I remember of the movie, your subtit...ok, from what I remember of the movie, your subtitles screwed up because Shobha's mother has a conversation that hints that Shobha should really have an abortion. What is true is that Amit decided on his own to be the noble self-sacrificing friend. And now that I look at that shower scene, I'm beginning to get more than a little icked out at the implications for Amit's and Shobha's marriage later on. Bleurgh. <BR/><BR/>One of the reasons the movie makes no sense is because Yash Chopra chickened out at the last minute and sent Amit back to Shobha as though he really cared. If he'd stuck to his original idea, then the two selfish asses i.e. Chandini and Amit would have gotten what they deserved, which was each other and their sulky fits, and Anand and Shobha in the long run would have been better off. <BR/><BR/>However as it all turns out, Chandini is an idiot, Anand is a doofus and Shobha is all wet while Amit is a prick. While I can't say I hate this movie, I agree with Shweta that its intrinsic value in the Bollywood line up is that it starred The Triangle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-84302755518645291162009-02-03T21:37:00.000-06:002009-02-03T21:37:00.000-06:00Beth, you've put your finger on everything that bo...Beth, you've put your finger on everything that bothers me about this film. Why the hell couldnt Jaya's character have an abortion (its a perfectly acceptable solution in the Indian context) or let on that she had adopted a child if she was ashamed to own the kid as her own? And why couldnt AB's character have explained his problem to his gf instead of ditching her without a word? Or... well so many other sensible choices.<BR/><BR/>After much thinking I've come to the conclusion that Yash Chopra wanted to make a film about an extramarital affair and also capitalise on the real-life affair between AB and Rekha. But since he didnt have the courage to show a lead pair indulging in adultery, he plugged in the prior romance to justify the "sudden blaze of passion" when the two accidentally meet!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-78060171696670016632009-02-03T20:46:00.000-06:002009-02-03T20:46:00.000-06:00So I'm a dork and didn't even finish my comment be...So I'm a dork and didn't even finish my comment before sending it. Okay, trying again...<BR/><BR/>Aw, harsh!<BR/><BR/>I also found it a total downer, however I did enjoy the songs very much. As I mentioned, I think, I wasn't really going through Hindi films with the fine-toothed comb I use now back then, so I didn't evaluate the contrived plot with any critical eye. Plus, I just find it so cheeky to capitalize on the adultery gossip in such a brazenly meta way!<BR/><BR/>But I am shocked - SHOCKED!!! - that Shashi's Shekhar didn't appeal to you. He was so hilarious and adorable! I wouldn't say he was self-important so much as, hmm, self-aggrandizing in an endearingly screwball way (like meeeee!). Totally my movie boyfriend.a ppcc representativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03533616493105736109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-84835572538306767082009-02-03T20:45:00.000-06:002009-02-03T20:45:00.000-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.a ppcc representativehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03533616493105736109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15977843.post-10447148349321586592009-02-03T19:29:00.000-06:002009-02-03T19:29:00.000-06:00I think the movie was made primarily to milk the A...I think the movie was made primarily to milk the Amitabh-Jaya-Rekha rumors- :S other than that, I really liked all the Shashi parts- everything before and after I'd fast forward. Esp all the Amit brooding :D<BR/><BR/>Also- no clue why Rekha and Sanjeev were paired up- they dont look good together- maybe his persona was supposed to underscore her supposed prettiness (?). eh :SShweta Mehrotra Gahlawathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13543438271055378809noreply@blogger.com