Movie Review – 1942: A Love Story

Musically Yours

There have been movies which I watched just because I love that one song in the movie but there hasn’t been an entire album which has been as grand and romantic as that of ‘1942: A Love Story’. That too being a non-native, the way it has affected me couldn’t be expressed so easily in words. Movies like ‘Amadeus’ could be watched for the musical genius but when you watch an Indian movie where you know songs by heart it’s a truly different feel. That’s incomparable to others.

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The music here doesn’t stop only with the songs, the BGM too is terrific. It’s a movie which would be equally good if you hear too. My friend had this weird habit of converting a movie to mp3 file and listening to it while working. I heard it then for some time, which surprisingly was interesting. But the movie I heard around that time was ‘Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa’ which I know by heart and love it too. So, thought may be because it’s a movie I liked, I was able to enjoy listening to it. But with ‘1942: A Love Story’ I guess it’d have been a thrilling experience to even hear it new.

The film follows a story of Naren Singh (Anil Kapoor), son of Diwan Hari Singh (Manohar Singh), a loyal British employee, who falls in love with Rajeshwari “Rajjo” Pathak (Manisha Koirala), daughter of Raghuvir Pathak (Anupam Kher), a revolutionary fighting against British rule. It’s love at first sight for them and them being from diametrically opposite families, none approve of their love. How Naren breaks all odds and whether he’s successful in getting to her, forms the story.

All through the film I found similarity of ‘1942: A Love Story’ with ‘Dil Se’. Obviously ‘Dil Se’ came later and may be would have been a bit inspired from ‘1942: A Love Story’ but the comparison was stunning and lovely. Especially the first meet where both the movies have a great scene, and the background music is by far the best of respective music directors and both the films happen in a political turmoil, also Manisha Koirala is there in both movies. Could it just be coincidence, I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s lovely. Also, the thirst of power and all elements conspiring against their love, it felt like a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ story too. But what love story is not a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ love story in India.

The film and the story line didn’t appeal to me as such. The characters were straightforward and template driven so there isn’t much of a surprise. And a new character gets introduced at an abysmal junction, in the form of a refugee, Shubhankar (Jackie Shroff). Even though he muscles through the film, still the character could have been given a proper arc instead of just infusing when one major character dies. Watching any old film would lead to the same problem where everything looks highly glorified, like a ‘Mughal e Azam’. Movies like these are the ones we should have lived through, instead of watching to know about its glory. ‘1942: A Love Story’ too falls in the same category.

Whether or not you like the movie or its storyline, the making of it is brilliant. The way music embraces the screenplay is a thing to note. The movie had a special director for songs in the form of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. I’ve never heard of a term called Song Director. But here there was one. It’s not just a choreographer but a director, mind it. So, each song has a proper entry, exit and a subject it takes us through. That’s why the feel is lovely. Even in the climax sequence, as silly as it may look, the making again is prolific and the orchestra is lovely. This is one of the rare movies which shows its grandeur in minimal settings and easily brings out a not so famous period feel. If it had been 1947, the feel would have been easier to get, but as its 1942, it’s a little more evolved and artistic. ‘1942: A Love Story’ could be a great study for an epic commercial love pathos story.