Silsila (1981)

From 1981, from legendary director Yash Chopra, with a soundtrack worthy of the epic story, I give you Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Rekha and Sanjeev Kumar in Silsila (a “Series” in English).

This is one of the movies, as with Deewar, where not only do you as the audience find yourself questioning everything you see, and think and believe. But you also realize how many shades of gray one can find in a single lifetime. The movie is about a man who is torn between the pragmatic love between himself and his wife Shobha, played by Jaya Bachchan, and the passionate love of his former flame Chandini, played by Rekha.

Oh I do love this still

Silsila is filled with shades of gray and for me, the only character throughout the movie that is solidly “good” is Sanjeev Kumar’s doctor character. Where the characters of Amit and Chandini (played by Rekha) are stuck in their past and unwilling to let go of it, and Shobha (Jayaji’s character) although moves on and rightfully falls in love with the man that takes care of her, still should not have put herself in the position to have to be married off to begin with. What I am trying to delicately to say is- if you’re going to have sex before marriage, use a condom, whether or not it’s with your future spouse.

This is one of the movies that you can cite when you tell people about a belief that you hold because it truly can help you see things, see people, think about love in different shades. The movie defines marriage and love in a way that most people will never be able to experience in their lifetimes and therefore, will never be able to distinguish or understand between the pragmatic, long lasting love of Amit and Jaya, er Shobha, and Amit and Chandini’s torrid, passionate love.

The movie, in true Yash Chopra style, demonstrates the reality of love and life.

But this one is, was and forever shall be my favorite

This movie’s soundtrack deserves a post of its own. Not only are the dialogues of the movie to die for, the romance in the songs themselves fill you up with dreams and even nightmares, when love is lost. With songs sung in Mr. Bachchan’s incomparable baritone, with Dr. Harviansh Rai Bachchan’s words, the soundtrack of this Silsila is worth listening to…over and over again.

Shashi Kapoor’s brief but memorable scene in this movie is also worth a mention. Although I’m not a big fan of Mr. Kapoor, I have to say, his brief appearance is to be appreciated…the drunk scene with Amit, as always, is memorable.

See what I mean about too handsome?

And Amitabh Bachchan as the poet, playwright and actor Amit in the movie leaves the audience in a khwab, a dream. Looking more handsome than usual, the baritone somehow carries through the movie and into your very soul the words spoken by a skilled poet, and a soul that is searching for someone to accept it.

I love this movie, and I love what it says and narrates about love, life and faith. Whatever the supposed back story, I leave that to your discretion, but I highly recommend watching this movie to question your own beliefs about everything you know.

Time to go find a tulip field,

Ish.