Year: 1973

Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri, Bindu, Asrani, David

 

How artiste rivalry and a male-female ego equation in a showbiz marriage (in full public glare) could lead to wounded pride is a theme of this moving film.

 

When director Hrishikesh Mukherjee paired Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri in this film, he couldn’t have made a better casting choice. This lead pair had the perfect credentials to fit into this complex plot of romance gone sour with envy. Not only were they in love; but they were almost experiencing a similar situation in real life. When the movie was made, Amitabh was a struggling actor trying to find the elusive hit whereas Jaya was already recognized as a top heroine.

 

Coming to the film’s plot: While on a vacation, a renowned singer (Amitabh Bachchan) comes across a village belle (Jaya Bhaduri). Her simplicity, rustic charm and melodious voice simply bowl him over. He marries her and brings her to the city.

 

Much against her wishes, he makes her accept professional singing assignments. But as her superior singing talent and soaring popularity start overshadowing his own artistic image, the sweet romance gives way to bitter jealousy. Their love diminishes by the day and sullen silences and heated arguments damage the marriage beyond repair. It was music that had earlier bonded them for life; it was music that had created the rift between them; can that music now heal their bruised egos and scarred personas?

 

Hrishida’s directorial finesse and the star-cast’s excellent performances made Abhiman an emotional roller-coaster. Bachchan as the husband envious of his wife’s growing professional success; Bhaduri as the wife hurt and finally broken by her husband’s hostility; Asrani as the couple’s loyal friend-cum-secretary and Bindu (in a surprisingly sober role of) the husband’s compassionate friend played memorable roles.

 

Since the story was about two singers, the music was an integral part of this film and it was exceptionally composed by Sachindev Burman. Songs like Meet Na Mila Re Man Ka, Teri Bindiya Re, Loote Koi Man Ka Nagar, Ab To Hai Tumse, Piya Bina Piya Bina and Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina are eternal classics.

 

Lata Mangeshkar once recalled how she was baffled by Jaya Bhaduri’s dutiful presence at all the Abhiman-recordings. But she realized the reason, when she saw that film. Right from her choice of sarees, Bhaduri had absorbed each and every Mangeshkar-mannerism into her screen portrayal.

 

In fact, if industry grapevine is to be believed then Abhiman was a hypothetical look at Mangeshkar’s marriage (that never happened!) and how any husband would have faced serious ego problems while dealing with her tremendous popularity and artistic achievements!