Producer: Raj Kapoor
Director: Raj Kapoor
ing : Raj
Kapoor, Nargis, Prem Nath, Cuckoo and introducing Nimmi
Music : Shankar Jaikrishan
Reviewed by: Tanmeet Kumar
tanmeet@indolink.com
Rating : 
(out of 
)
BARSAAT is a classic. In fact, the movie is so good, I am wondering whether or not I will be able to do it any justice in my review. Like any Raj Kapoor film, the movie is not even close to comparable with some of the trash movies that come out nowadays (INSAAF, RAGHUVEER, and TARAZU just to name a few) and is miles ahead of any good hindi film (QAYAMAT SE QAYAMAT TAK, AKELE HUM AKELE TUM, HUM AAPKE HAIN KAUN, and DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE). The movie stars Raj Kapoor as a Hindu man, Raj, who falls inlove with a Muslim girl (Nargis), Reshma. After Reshma's parents find out about the lovers, the father kicks Reshma out of their home. She is now a pauper on the streets and is subject to all kinds of degrading work and treatment. She falls ill and is taken into the home of a retarded Afghani man and his sympethetic father out of pity. The twosome nurse her back to health as if they were her own family. After Reshma regains her health, the man and his father expect her to repay them in the form of marriage to the mentally challenged son. Reshma is heartbroken but the two men imprison her untill the wedding day. Meanwhile, Raj is heartbroken about Reshma's sudden dissapearence and her parents regret what they have done. He goes into a period of drunkeness and gambling with his womanizing and caurousing friend, played by Prem Nath. One of the hightlights of the film take place when Raj and Prem Nath enter the house of a prostitute, expecting to be appeased sexually by her. While Prem Nath is all smiles for having sex with the woman, Raj is shocked and he declines. His conversation with the woman is perhaps one of the best movie moments of any Bollywood film ever. Reshma's wedding day arrives and she waits for her Raj to save her. Will he? Watch BARSAAT and find out.
Acting on the parts of EVERYONE is superb. Nargis is quite a beauty and has performed very well. Her acting in this movie is on par with her acting in MOTHER INDIA, one of the greatest hindi films ever. The story is superb and direction is fantastic. Nimmi is fanastic in her debut as a village girl who is in love with Prem Nath and dies of a broken heart when she finds out of his womanizing and unfaithful ways (an excellent subplot). Cuckoo has a guest stint as a club dancer who is beguiled by Prem Nath's charm. She is beautiful and dances very well. Music by Shankar Jaikrishan is a perfect 10 out of 10 and the soundtrack features the likes of a young Lata and a virtuoso Mukesh. Watch this movie. You will not be dissapointed. The film is black and white.
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