Pyaasa (1957)

I have a harder time evaluating "Pyaasa" than someone watching it in India. That's because here in the States, we are pretty much stuck with whatever DVD copies we get of Indian films. Some have wonderful translations and some are horrible and unwatchable. While "Pyaasa" is not horrible, it's not particularly good and I would love to know if there is a better company making this disc in English. Eros Video's copy does what some annoying DVD producers do--they provide no translations of the songs--so you only can guess as to what they are saying. While it's easier with Indian films to fill in these blanks than with films from most other countries (since the songs are about the action taking place immediately before and after the songs), it still is wrong not to translate them--and does an injustice to the filmmakers. Additionally, a few times the translations are a bit scrambled. It's a shame--but STILL I recommend you see the film because it's very, very good.Vijay is an educated man. However, despite his ability to make money and live the life of a middle-class man, he is a poet by trade and in his heart. Though he'll starve, he'd rather create art and sees life through very romantic eyes. Through most of the film, he's an undiscovered genius. He also has two problematic relationships---one, his ex-girlfriend who has chosen to marry for money and security (and who has broken his heart) and another who is a prostitute who ADORES him and his art.About halfway through the film, however, the film makes a HUGE change in direction. I loved this, as the first half of the film was only mildly interesting. After the twist, the film REALLY came to life. You see, through some odd circumstances, people think Vijay has died. And, like some great artists, after his 'death' he's discovered and adored by the masses! What's next is completely unpredictable and clever--and well worth seeing. I'd say more but I really don't want to spoil the film. It's a classic and well worth seeing. A truly unique and enjoyable plot about love, success and art.

The mannerisms, the tastes, the cultures depicted are from a time so long ago that they have almost stopped having any relevance as of today. Could there be cops once who addressed people as Babuji? Was there really once a time when notch girls carrying on their trade were more subtle than a despicable society which condemned them? Was there really a time when the contrast between moral and immoral, right and wrong so starkly defined? Perhaps yes. For merely a decade old country still nursing the wounds of partition and not knowing what to do with it's independence once having achieved it, perhaps such was the general state of affairs when the society had not yet finished designing the veil that would cover it's abscesses and sores and everything was still raw and on the face of it. Or maybe the film was just a peek into Vijay's world view. However, there are no ambiguities regarding the central theme or the message it wants to convey. A message which transcends time and has been applicable always, in varying degrees, to all of India.A line in the movie is translated as "I complain against a world that worships no humans but idols and tramples living beings under feet."Still so familiar and haunting.A literal poetry in motion that reflects the zeitgeist of India in it's time.

Its so amazing how these days movies are made which are such a far cry from reality that people actually start forgetting what reality actually is. But the fact remains that real is what reality is. This movie shows this by portraying it most amazingly and truthfully. There is not one soul on earth who would not have burned when Rafi sings with the face of Guru Dutt - 'Jala do jala do jala do yeh duniya'. This movie is not a portrayal of India in the 50s but its the portrayal of life, the world and the people in it picked up from any time-line of its existence. I feel honored to have watched a movie like this and disgraced to have lived in a world like this.

Pyaasa is a fairly unique Hindi movie. The story is reasonably complex and the direction and acting grounded in reality. However, calling this film a classic is an over-exaggeration.One of the biggest problems with the movie is that it is difficult for the audience members to identify with the lead character. It is clear that the protagonist is chronically depressed; however the story indicates that this depression is rooted beyond his circumstances. However it does not investigate much in this direction.Secondly. the story employs some cheap tactics to get out of tricky situations. Particular cases in point are the escape from the asylum, and his self-announcement through poetry on arrival. This shows a lack of imagination on the part of the story writer.The story indicates female repression, through the characters of the mother, and the past girlfriend who accept the decisions of the male members of their family without question. This thread is also left hanging and is not investigated further.The last big problem with the movie is that of hypocrisy. The film preaches human values of non-materialism and places them at a higher pedestal than others; however the film itself is designed to make money for the makers. This is clear in hindsight with the following development: when the director's next movie did not make money, he stopped directing movies completely.Other than the direction and the story, the music and poetry in the film are very good. However poetry lovers would probably be better off reading a good book of poetry instead of looking for high quality literature in this movie. The songs, on the other hand, are considered to be all time classics in Indian cinema.Lastly, the cinematography is excellent and there is beautiful use of light and shadows. So overall, it is a reasonably good film but certainly not a classic.