Silsila (1981)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Yash Chopra

Writers:

Mrs. Preeti Bedi (story)
Yash Chopra (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 July 1981 (India)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Love is faith... and faith is for ever

Plot:

A story of love lost and found, but twisted by society's demands and conventions to appear as adultery.

Plot Keywords:

Adultery | Local Blockbuster | Marital Love | Based On True Story

Cast

Shashi Kapoor	...	Sqdr. Leader Shekhar Malhotra
Amitabh Bachchan	...	Amit Malhotra
Jaya Bhaduri	...	Shobha Malhotra (as Jaya Bachchan)
Rekha	...	Chandni
Sudha Chopra	...	Shobha's mom
Sushma Seth	...	Actress
Ravi Dubey
Sharmila Roy Chowdhry		(as Sharmila Roy Chowdhary)
Jagdish Raj
Vikas Anand
Ranvir Raj		(as Ranbir Raj)
Shyam Arora
Raj Bharti
Gauri Shanker		(as Mrs. Gauri Shankar)
Damyanti Puri

Also Known As:

The Affair (India: English title)

Runtime:

182 min

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

India:U

Filming Locations:

Film City, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Company:

Yash Raj Films

Trivia:

There were several cast changes for this movie. The original star cast was Amitabh Bachchan, Padmini Kolhapure and Parveen Babi. Then Smita Patil replaced Padmini Kolhapure before finalising with Jaya Bhaduri and Rekha, who had been recommended by Amitabh Bachchan.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Traffic Signal (2007)

Soundtrack:

Neela Aasman

Classic!!

Silsila is based on the true story of Amitabh, Jaya, and Rekha. As with many great movies that don't follow the typical Bollywood format this was a big flop when it was released, and yet there is no one today who hasn't seen it. Like most Yash Chopra films this one looks great and so are the songs, especially the first two: "sar se sareke" and "ladki hai yaa sholaa" (I probably didn't spell that right). Unlike most of Amitabh's films this is more of an ensemble piece and the whole cast delivers. Amitabh gives a powerhouse performance as the poet whose life is suddenly shattered and he's forced to give up his happiness for Jaya. Jaya is also perfect and matches him all the way. Sanjeev Kumar steals every scene he's in especially the one at the airport with Rekha and the one when he's talking to Jaya at the hospital. Rekha is good although her performance is the weakest of the four. Shashi Kapoor does what he can in his small role. The subject matter was handled nicely by the writers (they never get too preachy) and there are many scenes, especially the ones between Amit and Jaya, and Rekha and Jaya where you wonder how that scene took place in real life. They also succeed with making you sympathize with all 4 individuals - (that might be why they were all willing to make the movie). I give this movie a 9 out of 10. The only thing that stops me from giving it a 10 is the ending. We aren't given a reason as to why Amitabh makes the decision that he makes. Also the big revelation from Jaya at the end of the movie doesn't really make sense. Apart from that the movie is flawless and a must see.