Bollywood Rewind | Haqeeqat: ‘Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo’

As we have now seen in recent times, cinema and politics are extra interwoven than we want to consider and whereas one may consider this as a current phenomenon, that’s probably not the case. Again within the Nineteen Sixties, India was a nation that had solely seen one Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, and far of the narrative that was accepted by the folks of the nation was the one which got here from him and his allies. When India misplaced the Sino-India Warfare of 1962, it demoralised the nation in a approach that it had not skilled because the aftermath of the Partition. A few years later, Chetan Anand’s Haqeeqat documented a small chapter from that battle the place Indian troopers emerged as victorious. The movie gave the impression to be Nehru accepted.

The 1962 movie Haqeeqat is presumably the primary full-length Hindi battle movie that was made within the Indian movie trade. From the opening titles, it’s clearly said that the movie is devoted to Jawaharlal Nehru so you understand that that is the model that doesn’t entertain any ideas concerning the unhealthy decision-making of the administration, or the shortage of sources and manpower that the military confronted whereas in fight. However regardless of these restrictions, director Chetan Anand made Haqeeqat as an ode to troopers who fought till the very finish, even after they had been tasked with unrealistic targets.

Haqeeqat demonstrates the horror of battle for an viewers that had by no means seen what battle might appear like. (Photograph: Specific Archives)

Watching Haqeeqat in 2021 may remind you of the numerous JP Dutta movies which have since made the style fairly formulaic however you will need to word that Chetan doesn’t amp up the familial emotion because the movie explores private relationships. A mom is glad to ship one other son to the border, and a spouse longs for her husband, and a father who has to sacrifice his son for his nation – Haqeeqat explores these storylines via its supporting characters and offers sufficient character to those characters that makes us look after them.

From a business movie’s standpoint, Haqeeqat is led by Dharmendra and Balraj Sahni. Dharmendra performs Captain Bahadur who falls in love with native Ladakhi woman Angmo (performed by Priya Rajvansh) fairly early on. Balraj Sahni performs Main Ranjit, who can also be struggling together with his heartbreak. The primary hour of the movie offers plenty of undue consideration to the love story however given how brutal the second half is, it will have been essential for the makers to make it palatable by softening up the introduction of the movie.

The love story between Priya Rajvansh and Dharmendra’s characters just isn’t probably the most fascinating a part of this movie.

Haqeeqat was the primary movie to be shot in Ladakh and although it’s monochromatic, the scenic landscapes right here look breathtaking. The aerial photographs, the lengthy pans, and the outline of the visuals in dialogues insist on translating the great thing about this paradise. The visuals supply a stark distinction in opposition to the brutal violent fight that should have been heart-wrenching for the viewers of that point.

The nation was in collective mourning after the 1962 battle because the Chinese language actions had been perceived as betrayal. The slogan ‘Hindi Cheeni Bhai Bhai’ was popularised within the Nineteen Fifties when India was working in direction of constructing a powerful relationship with China. In Haqeeqat, the slogan is used with a sarcastic stench by Chinese language troopers who consistently shout it within the megaphone from their barracks. The movie additionally makes it some extent to remind you that India is a non-violent nation and would by no means encroach on another person’s territory and by the identical precept, they may by no means be the one to open fireplace.

Balraj Sahni in a nonetheless from Haqeeqat. (Photograph: Specific Archives)

Haqeeqat, very like many different battle movies, talks about killing within the identify of loyalty to the nation in a really matter-of-fact approach and doesn’t discover the nuances of battle. Treating troopers as battle weapons, sacrificing human lives within the identify of serving the nation – these ideas aren’t even talked about right here. However regardless of all of that, Haqeeqat does fire up a patriotic feeling within the viewer and big credit score for a similar goes to music composer Madan Mohan.

With ‘Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo’, Madan Mohan created a music that’s nonetheless performed with delight. With lyrics by Kaifi Azmi and vocals by Mohd Rafi, the music has a sure pathos that leaves you teary-eyed, even with out watching the movie. ‘Ho Ke Majboor’ the music which was the unique inspiration for Border’s ‘Sandese Aate Hain’ is one other monitor that’s nonetheless cherished.

In 2021, the mainstream Hindi cinema is but to crack the code of creating a nuanced battle movie and from that standpoint, Haqeeqat nonetheless works because the illustration of the patriotic sentiment is essentially the identical.

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Haqeeqat is streaming on ZEE5.