Ankur, the title itself makes you think deeply. Ankur is a Sanskrit word, which means Seedling or a new beginning and the movie depicts the same. The plot of the movie is a true story happened in one of the rural areas of Andhra Pradesh state. The way it has been portrayed on the silver screen is really commendable. The notable thing is, this movie was the first venture of Shyam Benegal, a director who showed the new angle in the film making and went on to give us some memorable films. The irony is this one was also the first movie of Shabana Azmi, who probably is one of the greatest performers of Indian Film Industry. The stroy of the movie goes like this..
Every actor in the movie lived their roles. Probably this one is Shabana Azmi’s one of the greatest performances, and at the end you just remember her as servant maid Lakshmi (but not as Shabana) who is destitute yet defensive, remorseful yet rebellious if someone harms her love, her life and her self respect. The best scene of the movie comes in the very last frame, when a small boy throws a stone at the window of Landlord house. The personification of revolution, the personification of fall of a boulder is praiseworthy. Even the powerful, dominant landlord becomes cowardice when a small boy turns his back and ignites the flames of revolution by throwing a stone at landlord’s window and all this time landlord hides himself behind the closed doors weeping at the fall of a boulder, a boulder of unquestioning tyranny.
Even though this movie was made in 70’s, I feel it still fits to the current situations of the society. Slavery and oppression are still a part of the society in some places of independent India. The only change is, people stopped making these kind of movies, which is unwanted and unworthy and unyielding.
Surya (Anant Nag), the college-going son of a well-to-do farmer is forced into giving up his studies in order to look after the family property. He is married against his will to a young girl, Saryu (Priya Tendulkar), who would join him when she attains puberty. Bored and lonely in his farmhouse, Surya finds himself attracted to his maidservant Lakshmi (Shabana Azmi), wife of a poor deaf-mute potter Kishtaya (Sadhu Meher) but she spurns his advances. Kishtaya is caught stealing Toddy and is punished. Humiliated, he runs away from the village. Lakshmi, now destitute gives in to Surya who promises to look after her. Their brief idyllic association ends with the arrival of Saru who senses their past relationship and dismisses Lakshmi. Lakshmi, who is now pregnant, wakes up one morning to find Kishtaya beside her, giving her the money he has earned in his absence. Lakshmi breaks down but is reassured when he appears pleased at her approaching motherhood thinking the child to be his. Kishtaya goes to Surya asking for work and to tell him the good news. In a frenzy of conflicting emotions and fearing exposure, Surya beats him mercilessly. Lakshmi rushes to her husband's rescue and hurls a torrent of insults and curses at Surya. Surya cowers at his own pain and prevarication, coming to terms with his circumscribed life.
Every actor in the movie lived their roles. Probably this one is Shabana Azmi’s one of the greatest performances, and at the end you just remember her as servant maid Lakshmi (but not as Shabana) who is destitute yet defensive, remorseful yet rebellious if someone harms her love, her life and her self respect. The best scene of the movie comes in the very last frame, when a small boy throws a stone at the window of Landlord house. The personification of revolution, the personification of fall of a boulder is praiseworthy. Even the powerful, dominant landlord becomes cowardice when a small boy turns his back and ignites the flames of revolution by throwing a stone at landlord’s window and all this time landlord hides himself behind the closed doors weeping at the fall of a boulder, a boulder of unquestioning tyranny.
Even though this movie was made in 70’s, I feel it still fits to the current situations of the society. Slavery and oppression are still a part of the society in some places of independent India. The only change is, people stopped making these kind of movies, which is unwanted and unworthy and unyielding.
(for more info, click http://www.upperstall.com/films/ankur.html)
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