Ayaash (1982)

Circa 1930 during the British Rule in India, while most Indians were busy agitating against the British to quit India, Thakur Jaswant Singh lives a carefree wealthy lifestyle, surrounded by... See full summary »

Director:

Shakti Samanta

Stars:

Sanjeev Kumar, Rati Agnihotri, Arun Govil

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sanjeev Kumar	...	Thakur Jaswant Singh
Rati Agnihotri	...	Mrs. Jaswant Singh
Arun Govil	...	Amal
Madan Puri	...	Sansar
Sujit Kumar	...	Shankar
Rajesh Khanna	...	Special Appearance
Helen	...	Courtesan
Padma Khanna	...	Courtesan
Heena Kausar	...	Courtesan
Beena Banerjee	...	Aruna (as Bina Pradeep)
Birbal	...	Lawyer's assistant
Chandrashekhar	...	Adalat
Asit Sen	...	Madhu Sudan
Meena T.	...	Vimla
T.P. Jain	...	Thakur's Munshi

Storyline

Circa 1930 during the British Rule in India, while most Indians were busy agitating against the British to quit India, Thakur Jaswant Singh lives a carefree wealthy lifestyle, surrounded by his friends, who are only there to have a good time drinking alcohol and watching dancing courtesans everyday. Jaswant's day starts when he wakes, and it could be early morning or late evening. Then one day one of his friends, Sansar, introduces a young man named Amal, a photographer by profession, and Jaswant hires him on the spot, with a generous salary and accommodations. Amal accompanies Jaswant everyone, including his frequent trips to assorted courtesans, and takes vivid photographs. Then Jaswant meets with an eligible young girl and marries her. A few years later she gives birth to a son, Naresh. Jaswant finds out that Amal has been taking an unusual interest in Naresh, including scolding him so that he can stop following Jaswant's footsteps. Jaswant warns Amal, only to find out that Amal ...

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Genres:

Romance

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Details

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Release Date:

15 October 1982 (India)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Sanjeev Kumar discusses with his friends about Arun Govil, just before Rati Agnihotri dies, Mic is visible on left hand bottom corner of the frame. We can also see that the mic keeps changing directions (points towards he actor who is delivering dialogue)

User Reviews

Destruction By Sloth

Shakti Samanta's 'Ayaash' is a period piece that takes place in 1930s India (when it was still ruled by the British). This was also the time that marked the downfall of the Zameendars (powerful property owners). 'Ayaash' focuses on one such Zameendar Thakur Jaswant Singh. Thakur is a carefree alcoholic who avoids responsibility as he constantly preoccupies himself with booze and women while his accountant, lawyer and employees slowly continue to rob him of his riches. Enter a young photographer (hired by Thakur) Amal who is shocked by Thakur's ways. Thakur befriends him but this would mean that Amal would have to embrace Thakur's ways. Things become more complicated when Amal discovers that his ex-girlfriend is married to Thakur.

In terms of execution, 'Ayaash' is nothing outstanding. The interiors of Thakur's mansion and costumes are quite lavish. Songs are too many. The first half actually required some editing as its flooded with one mujrah song after another. The film also focuses too much on the relationship between Thakur and Amal in the first half. The story is less predictable in the second half but it heavily rushes through the growing up of Thakur's son and his descension to his father's ways.

Sanjeev Kumar is amazing in a negative role. As the laidback Thakur, he shows a tenderness and gentle side but he's also pathologically stubborn. His torment in the later sequences when he discovers his wife's locket is portrayed brilliantly. Rati Agnihotri and Arun Govil are very good too.

Despite being very flawed'Ayaash' is strays away from the formula of the typical 80's Bollywood flicks. It's a brave attempt by Samanta and perhaps even ahead of its time.