Koshish
Year: 1972
Director: Gulzar
Producer: Romu N Sippy, Raj Sippy
Cast: Sanjeev Kumar, Jaya Bhaduri
Music: Madan Mohan
Love is blind. But can it survive being deaf and dumb? In a profession obsessed with showing superfit people serenading each other with song and dance, Gulzar went ahead and made a film, which you didn’t need words to express love. The film delved into the world of those born with ear and speech deformities and gave out the message that one can overcome anything by putting an extra burst of perseverance. What sets the film apart is the taut screenplay which highlights the day-to-day interactions of the deaf and dumb couple and their ingenious solutions to everyday chores. They laugh, they cry, they quarrel and make up like any two normal married people. The most poignant scene in the film is when they try to see whether their newborn has normal faculties or not. Their relief when it is soon clear he’s all right seeps from across the screen and into your heart. Gulzar couldn’t have chosen better actors than Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri to play the lead roles. Both artistes had no hesitation in playing deglamorised characters. They don’t compete but play off each other and help bring out each other’s strength into play. The film met with a lukewarm commercial response but is considered a classic piece of cinema today.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gulzar and Sanjeev Kumar became fast friends on the sets of Koshish. This friendship resulted in such seminal films as Aandhi (1975), Mausam (1975), Angoor (1981) and Namkeen (1982) with Sanjeev Kumar excelling in each performance.
