Saaransh movie is a 1984 Bollywood Hindi-Language drama film, director is Mahesh Bhatt, while producers and distributors are Rajshri Productions. This film’s leading star cast are Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi, Madan Jain, Nilu Phule, Suhas Bhalekar, and Soni Razdan.
This film’s story is based on an old Maharashtrian couple who live in Mumbai and deal with the death of their only son. This was Anupam Kher’s first movie. Vasant Dev wrote the lyrics while Ajit Verman composed the music for the movie. Despite not being nominated, it was selected as India’s official submission for the 1985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Cast and Crew
- Director: Mahesh Bhatt
- Writer: Mahesh Bhatt (screenplay & dialogue)
- Story: Mahesh Bhatt
- Producer: Tarachand Barjatya
- Star Cast: Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi, Soni Razdan, Madan Jain, Nilu Phule
- Cinematography: Adeep Tandon
- Editor: David Dhawan
- Music Director: Ajit Verman
- Distributor: Rajshri
- Genres: Drama
- Release date: 25 May 1984
- Running time: 137 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
Saaransh movie 1984 Trailer
Star Cast
- Anupam Kher as B.V. Pradhan
- Rohini Hattangadi as Parvati Pradhan
- Soni Razdan as Sujata Suman
- Madan Jain as Vilas Chitre
- Suhas Bhalekar as Vishwanath
- Alok Nath as Pandit / Astrologer
- Akash Khurana as Chief Minister Shashikant
- Vijay Kashyap as Dr. Bhatt
- Kishore Jariwala
- Suresh Chatwal as Police Inspector
- Salim Ghouse as Gajanan Chitre’s Goon
- Arun Bakshi as Gajanan Chitre’s Goon
- Haidar Ali
- Nilu Phule as Gajanan Chitre
Story of the film
B.V. Pradhan gets up early in the morning to send a letter to his son Ajay, who resides in New York, at the start of the movie. Pradhan recalls the terrible truth halfway through the letter: Pradhan got a call from Ajay’s buddy informing him that Ajay had been murdered in a mugging in New York. Both Pradhan’s wife, Parvati, and his best friend Vishwanat,h are concerned that despite the passage of three months, Pradhan has not yet completely accepted the death of their only son. Pradhan admits to Vishwanath that he has lost all desire for life following the death of his son.
Pradhan had no income because their sonhad passed away, so they let Sujata Suman, a rising Bollywood star, stay in a room of their Shivaji Park (Mumbai) flat. Vilas (Madan Jain), the sole son of powerful politician Gajanan Chitre, is Sujata’s romantic partner. Vilas wants to wed Sujata, but he is too cowardly to inform his father about her and keeps putting off their wedding.
A registered letter informing Pradhan that his son’s ashes and a few other items (such as a refrigerator, TV, and VCR) had arrived in India from the United States was sent to him in the meantime. Pradhan receives no assistance from the public relations officer and is treated disrespectfully when he visits the customs office to pick them up. The main head of the customs department is confronted by an angry and emotionally distressed Pradhan, who states that he has come just to get his son’s ashes and nothing else. When Pradhan sobs and insists that his son’s ashes be given to him right away, the officer comforts him and complies with his request. The officer promises Pradhan that the remaining things will be moved to him as quickly as possible and apologizes for any trouble.
Atheist Pradhan offers Parvati his son’s ashes, and Parvati then takes them to a Pandit. Pradhan and Parvati are informed by the Pandit that Ajay would shortly reincarnate close to them as a baby. Disappointed, Pradhan scatters some of Ajay’s ashes next to a park bench in the neighborhood children’s park. Pradhan attempts suicide by plunging beneath a speeding automobile after realizing the pointlessness of his traumatic existence, but his attempt is unsuccessful. Pradhan refuses to modify his decision despite Parvati’s entreaties. Ultimately, they both decide to consume poison together to die.
Pradhan and Parvati are on the verge of ending their lives when Sujata tells Vilas she is expecting. Sujata deems Vilas a coward and expels him from the house as he continues to be unsure about marrying her. When Pradhan learns, he offers to accompany Sujata to see Gajanan in the hopes that he will allow the marriage of Sujata and Vilas. Even though Gajanan is aware that Vilas is lying, he rejects their request when Vilas denies that Sujata is carrying his kid. He also threatens Pradhan and Sujata with severe repercussions if Sujata does not abort the child and leaves for a different location. But out of moral obligation, Pradhan gives a defenseless Sujata a haven in his home and would not let her go. When Parvati learns that Sujata is expecting a child, she begins to think that the child will actually be Ajay’s reincarnation. Her conviction that Ajay is reborn becomes even more solidified as she begins to care for Sujata.
To get Sujata not to have the baby, Gajanan uses every tactic in the book. His goons try to bribe Pradhan, harass him by turning off the electricity in his home, beat up Vishwanath (which stops him from bringing milk to Pradhan’s home), and even throw lit crackers into Pradhan’s home. At his clinic, where Sujata is due for a check-up, Gajanan personally convinces a local doctor to perform an illegal abortion on Sujata’s unborn child. When everything else fails, Pradhan is tricked by Gajanan into helping to support a prostitution ring (using illegally marked banknotes) through Vilas, who is ignorant of his father’s motives.
Red tape stops Pradhan from calling the Commissioner of Police for assistance. Pradhan dashes inside the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s office, the Mantralaya, in frustration. It turns out that the C.M. is Shashikant, a former pupil of Pradhan’s. In order to guarantee that justice is done, the C.M. calls up the Commissioner of Police at the Remand Home, where Sujata is being detained, and insists that Gajanan Chitre be brought.
Pradhan takes Parvati to the local children’s park for an early morning stroll as the film comes to a close. They see that where Pradhan earlier deposited some of Ajay’s ashes, lovely flowers have since grown. The true beauty of life, Pradhan continues, is that although we are all mortal, life continues.
Production
This film continued his foray into the confessional film genre, following his critically praised Arth (1982). U. G. Krishnamurti, the spiritual master of Mahesh Bhatt, lost his young son to cancer, and a Maharashtrian couple whose sole son was killed in New York served as its inspiration.
Anupam Kher, a Shimla native and graduate of the National School of Drama, was first selected to play the main part. Subsequent producers Rajshri Productions insisted on casting Sanjeev Kumar, a well-known actor, in the part. Kher, who had been getting ready for his debut for over six months, received the news two weeks before the start of the main shooting. After Bhatt verified the modification, he gathered his belongings and departed the city. But he contacted Bhatt before he left and told him how frustrated he was. He was then retained as the lead by Bhatt, and the producers concurred.
The first choice for the main character was Anupam Kher, a Shimla native and graduate of the National School of Drama. Sanjeev Kumar, a known actor, was eventually cast for the part by producers Rajshri Productions. So, Kher, who had been getting ready for his debut for over six months, received the news two weeks before the main photography was scheduled to start. He packed his things and departed town once Bhatt verified the change. But before departing, he saw Bhatt and told him how frustrated he was. The producers, therefore, concurred with Bhatt’s decision to keep him as the protagonist.
Themes
After the loss of their only son, who was the victim of senseless violence, Saaransh examines how the couple manages the loneliness, worries, and complete aimlessness of old age. The headmaster stays stoic and becomes fixated on his son’s recollections, while his wife turns to religion and faith for solace. He begins sending letters to his deceased kid daily in an attempt to connect with him, only to tear them up. It also emphasizes how crucial it is to rediscover life’s meaning and purpose at any age.
After the loss of their only son, who was the victim of senseless violence, Saaransh examines how the couple manages the loneliness, worries, and complete aimlessness of old age. The headmaster stays stoic and becomes fixated on his son’s recollections, while his wife turns to religion and faith for solace. He begins sending letters to his deceased kid daily in an attempt to connect with him, only to tear them up. It also emphasizes how crucial it is to rediscover life’s meaning and purpose at any age.
It also discusses corruption, the relationship between politics and crime, bureaucratic delays, widespread bribery, and red tape via Pradhan’s encounters with police and customs officials.
Music/Songs
Vasant Dev provided the words, and Ajit Varman provided the music.
- “Andhiyara Gehraya Suna Pan Phir Aaya” – Bhupinder Singh
- “Har Ghadi Dhal Rahi Sham Hai Zindagi” – Amit Kumar
Review
Anupam Kher and Rohini Hattangadi, the major actors, received accolades for their portrayals, which The Tribune called “immortal performances.
India’s Chander Uday Singh. According to Today, Bhatt has gotten excellent performances out of actors who have no background in filmmaking, except Hattangady and Phule. The only reason Kher falls short of brilliance is that he sometimes exhibits vigor that is inconsistent with the aging and fractured Pradhan. Fresh after Gandhi’s triumph, Hattangady is believable in the challenging part of Parvati.
Rediff.com’s Sukanya Verma noted in a retrospective review of the movie’s 30th anniversary in 2014 that Bhatt’s best film, which marks its 30th anniversary on May 25, is not comfort cinema. Saaransh is armed with a leading actor like Anupam Kher, who alone transforms its tale into an experience so intimate, moving, and profound that only the heartless can remain unaffected. It is free of joy and lies.
Awards
32nd National Film Awards:
Best Lyrics – Vasant Dev
32nd Filmfare Awards:
Won
- Best Actor – Anupam Kher
- Best Story – Mahesh Bhatt
- Best Art Direction – Madhukar Shinde
Nominated
- Best Film – Tarachand Barjatya
- Best Director– Mahesh Bhatt
- Best Actress – Rohini Hattangadi
- Best Supporting Actress – Soni Razdan
