Khamoshi (1969) User Reviews

Magnificent ! The Best of Indian Cinema

[darksideofmoon · 7/10 · 28 December 2004]

This film is simply mesmerising. I don't think Indian cinema has ever got better then this. Its one of the best Indian films which doesn't play with your sensibilities like the other Bollywood crap. The story, the acting, the background score, the music..its simply brilliant. Every time that song *tum pukaar lo* plays i can feel a shiver down my spine. Check out the scene where Waheeda is standing holding the book and her saree suddenly flows with wind and this song starts in the background...damn good.

Its a pity that not many people know about this film. It should be shown to all the present day filmmakers in India including Chopras and Johars who just take you for a ride. The soundtrack of this film is even better and Gulzar has proved again with *humne dekhi hai un aankhon Ki* song that he is a genius. I assure you the last scene with Waheeda rehman will leave a lump in your throat. After watching this movie u cant do anything but just sit back and admire this brilliant piece of work and you think that Why the hell they don't make such movies anymore?

A Spellbinding classic to be remembered...

[AZAM-KHORASANI · 9/10 · 19 December 2004]

A powerful insight into the strain put on a nurse (Waheeda Rehman) as she uses 'experimental' treatment methods to save a patient from tumbling into the abyss of madness using trust, dedication & affection as her only tools she combats desperation, paranoia, & animosity. Her patient unable to express his feelings to a woman who mistreated him by lulling him into web of deceit, where she uses him for his talents then discards him. The nurse tries in vain to convince the woman responsible for the affliction her patient suffers from that she is needed for his rehabilitation only to be admonished by the head of the hospital saying that she cannot solve societies problems even though society seems to be responsible for the constant stream of patients the hospital receives. This draws her down a spiralling staircase of depression as she is told to forget/deny her true feelings for a patient under her treatment which ultimately leads to her demise as she remains forced into silence (Khamoshi) instead of venting the emotions that she feels for the man that she loves...

An exquisite soundtrack from Hemant Kumar (composer & producer) along with songs such as Tum pukar lo.. (Hemant Kumar & Kishore Kumar) & Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi (Kishore Kumar) make this film an enduring classic which stands the test of time.

Haunting Film Haunting Melody.

[Herag · 7/10 · 28 December 2004]

If ever there was an haunting voice that had depth, resonance, it was Hemant Kumar. The song "Tum Pukar Lo," played on Waheeda Rehman and Dharmendra (a brief stint) is reflective of the melody that was the mainstay of Indian music composers the likes of Hemant Kumar, who preferred to sing his own compositions. Then there is Waheeda Rehman-God bless this woman for her eternal beauty and acting talent. She was incredibly convincing as the "mental patient." The scene where her face comes down on a barbed wire mesh-incredible piece of acting. Then we had the thespian of acting in a true sense of the word-Rajesh Khanna. Khanna and Rehman, were born actors and the duo were probably the best screen pair next to Guru Dutt and Madhubala. The movie is a bygone classic that very few appreciate. When you need some nostalgia and good cinema, this movie and "Anand" will take you back to the decade of the Indian cinema to be cherished since there will never be another Khanna, Rehman or maestro like Hemant Kumar.

An excellent film....

[JAGDEVS · 16 April 2002]

A very interesting idea. this film speaks of class. A story about a nurse in a mental institution whose revolutionary treatment's side effects get unnoticed. After falling in love with her first patitent and never telling anyone her love goes unnoticed as her patient moves on and another patient who after being betrayed by his first love is left on the brink of madness, is brought in. After failed attempts, her treatment is again called for but this time with disastrous consequences. A sad yet very moving drama.... a must see with a beautiful soundtrack.

Haunting classic

[ajugeorge2001 · 9/10 · 23 January 2006]

"Khamoshi" tells the story of a nurse Waheeda Rehman who is used by her Doctor, Nasir Hussein to test his theory on the treatment of male mental patients by showering love on them by female nurses. He conveniently ignores the fact that the nurse herself might fall in love with the patient. After successfully treating Dharmendra, Nasir wants Waheeda to treat Rajesh Khanna . She refuses as she had fallen in love with Dharmendra - who considered Waheeda only as a good nurse and wed his girlfriend, shattering Waheeda. But Nasir pressurizes her to take up the case of Rajesh Khanna. She tries to remain aloof from Rajesh but finds herself being drawn towards him. She cannot express her feelings to him as she is forced to accept that she is performing just a job. The "khamosh" feelings play havoc and she herself turns mad. She shrieks at the Doctor and tells him that she had not acted but had really loved Rajesh Khanna. Tragically, only by becoming mad was Waheeda able to remove the veil of "Khamoshi" on her feelings. The climax deeply pains & touches the viewer's heart.

Khamoshi, one of the great classics of Hindi cinema, revolves around Waheeda and its her best performance ever. With Dharmendra she is gay & chirpy, but with Rajesh she is sad & aloof, her eyes betraying the pain of unrequited love and foreseeing the impending doom. Gulzar's exquisite lyrics were beautifully composed by Hemant. The haunting music & beautifully etched performances linger on. It is a remake of a Bengali film "Deep Jale Jaaye" starring Suchitra Sen, directed by Asit Sen.

I will rate it 9 out of 10

Majestic

[folkpoet80 · 8/10 · 29 November 2003]

Waheeda Rehman has acted supernaturally in this movie. She sure knows how to hold an audience and make them use their lachrymal glands again and again. I would rate her as one of her kind, and this movie is an excellent example other than Kagaz Ke Phool.

********** Stars

Outstanding movie

[snmishra · 9/10 · 27 October 2002]

This is an outstanding movie about the life of a nurse at a mental rehab centre. Extremely good performances from all concerned with the movie. The movie really evokes emotions that you though didn't exist. Add to that the excellent soundtrack and you have a masterpiece on your hands.

Khamoshi

[hal_myshrall · 10/10 · 11 June 2020]

1969 film Khamoshi I have an original 35mm film in 5 tins by chance do you know the total run time and how many reels were to the film

Thank you

A classical magic

[vikasjoshi-99705 · 9/10 · 18 August 2018]

Director asit sen deserves full marks for showcasing emotions with excellent masterpiece musical score from hemant da ,Also gulzar penned lyrics & dialogue creates instant magic .. Excellent performance by waheeda rehman ..

Failed to impress...

[winak · 5/10 · 17 January 2019]

I had great expectations when I decided to watch this movie. It failed to impress. Hemant Kumar voice was heart rending, and songs were excellent. Unfortunately that's where the good points of the movie ends. There was no emotional buildup between the characters for the audience to feel the pain & solitude of their soul. A very abrupt treatment was given to all scenes, like the Director had someplace to go. The ending too left a lot to be desired. Dharmendra did not have any face time at all. The back of his head and a brief side profile was all we get to see, as if it was suspense of some sort. Rajesh Khanna was ok. Waheeda Rahman looked beautiful, didn't look comfortable in the role but did a good job. I feel this movie would have been far superior if it was directed by Gulzar who was the screenplay writer for this film, as only he has the sensitivity towards such subjects.

Thundering silence

[AvinashPatalay · 20 May 2011]

"Khamoshi" is a psychological tale which harbours somewhere between the Stockholm syndrome and the hunter eventually becoming the hunted.

"Khamoshi" belongs to Waheeda Rehman, period. Not two ways to that. Just about nursing her broken heart in realm of questioning the virtue of thankless job and grudges against the ungrateful world, her life as a nurse gets thrown into a quagmire when a patient bearing similarities to her former lover turns up in the rehab ward leading to the dilemma of duty versus obligation. The finer nuances used to communicate the whirlpool of emotions insides her and yet holding the reigns deserve a standing ovation.

For Rajesh Khanna "Khamoshi" was an opportunity of a lifetime that could have won him accolades endless. Sadly he is completely out-of-character to the extent of being termed as miscast. Dharmendra's role can be categorised as "blink-and-miss" though bears a lasting impact in the narrative.

Nasir Hussain, Iftekaar, Lalita Pawar lend adequate support. Anwar Hussain and Deven Varma attempt to humour but sadly works against the narrative. The initial reels and the relief moments should have been done away with. More footage was warranted to showcase the bonding between the nurse with the patient(s). The plot is solid intellectual and the narrative is loaded with references to Freud which makes the content non-succulent therefore not appealing to general audience.

Hand over heart, the sole reason I watched "Khamoshi" were the melodious songs which have been haunting me since my childhood. "Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi", "Humne Dekhi Hain", "Tum Pukaar Lo" - the credit for the immemorial classics goes to soulful composition by Hemant Kumar to the gems penned by Gulzar. If you haven't watched it, your best bet is to start off by listening to the songs and be rest assured you'll be drawn to a dimension of silence whose decibels have the power to awaken the manifestation of metaphysical within.

classical movie

[manu_m-96076 · 8/10 · 8 May 2018]

The movie based on human relation and a classic one , made during a time when such serious subjects were not a success . the film has a bengali cinema's touch because they appreciate such subjects .the star cast of the film is great and well acted especially wahheeda rehman , i can say her best performance . it is an emotional film what we feel and do how it affects our mind ,expressed beautifully . i still wonder if nurse radha really fell in love with arun .it does not have an adequate ending just like most of the indian movies .so have to guess what ? movie is interesting and very nice songs , excptional.

1969 film Khamoshi

[hal_myshrall · 10/10 · 11 June 2020]

I have an original 35mm film in 5 tins by chance do you know the total run time and how many reels were to the film

Thank you

disappointed

[ravikumar-mandadi · 4/10 · 4 September 2012]

watched this one essentially for waheeda rehman. the movie lacks continuity. there is a sense that scenes are not completed, an urgency to finish up telling the story, as if it were a TV series summed up. people use such kinds of words to describe this movie, i got much more guarded in understanding them literally. i agree some part of my disappointment could be cause of the tiresome makeup in 'every' scene, the stereotyped names 'radha', the excessively theatrical acting which becomes so inappropriate in modern cinema cf to stage performances. films demand much more subtlety than other platforms. waheeda rehman was not exactly the problem here. the songs are classic but they are standalones. don't bother to watch unless the period or some part of the movie is nostalgic to you !