So let’s
talk about Aakhree Raasta (The Last
Option), directed by Bhagyaraj from 1986, with our amazing Amitabh Bachchan as
David/Vijay (father/son), Sridevi, the lovely Jayaprada and Anupam Kher.
This
movie very happily, very tastefully and with your full consent rips you completely
apart, exposes your very soul and lets you think about what’s been exposed
before allowing you to pick your self up. In this way at least, it resembles my
beloved Deewar.
Actually,
the movie shares another quality with Deewarthat I love, which is that it is all shades of gray- nothing black and white
about the situation the father and son are forced into, nor does it give you
any easy ways to find your way through the shades of gray.
What’s good?
What’s
bad?
Who’s right?
Who’s wrong?
It doesn't give you the answers- Aakhree Raasta
simply feeds you thoughts and situations and showers you with emotions that you
might never experience in your lifetime, and then it sits back and watches you
squirming to find your way through what you’ve just been exposed to. Suddenly
the story of the torn father and son finds the audience questioning their own
reality in the way only Hindi movies can- sprinkled with dialogues that can
only be delivered by the remarkable Mr. Bachchan.
I cannot
imagine another actor being able to so distinctly play two different
characters, who can so easily morph from one character to another and never let
the audience in on the secret that, as he stands in the graveyard, he’s really
talking to himself!
Even as I
write it, it seems almost impossible to think of Vijay and Daniel being played
by the same actor.
There’s also another point I would like to make about this movie- Jayaprada.
She
needs to get more attention. She is, in fact, a rarity. She is not only
stunningly gorgeous, she is also a damn good actress, and one of the only ones
can be visible standing next to the Shahenshah of Hindi cinema. She delivers
lines and emotions as convincingly as Mr. Bachchan himself at times. And in her
role as David’s Mary, her somewhat brief appearance still burns itself into
your mind.
Those
reading this, who have had the fortune of having already seen this remarkable
movie are already familiar with the brilliance of the graveyard scene. But I also
ask you two watch the scene where Vijay’s character finds out the truth, and
really watch the little baby that is crying alone in that dark room; and think
about all that the scene means and represents.
I have
nothing but praise for this movie. I urge you to watch it and share the
experience of this well-made movie.
Also, a
thing to note is Mr. Bachchan’s injured hand in the movie, visible throughout,
and startling so at times!
Enjoy!
I’m
gonna go learn my ABC’s now-
Ish.
Note: The last images is one of several screencaps I created because the emotions on that beloved face need to be shown when one is talking about this movie, and this amazing actors abilities.
