Though the movie is based on the central theme of Eric Segal’s Man, Woman and Child, Shekhar Kapur did a magnificent job while bringing out the conflict in a totally acceptable Indian context. In fact the Martin Sheen starrer Hollywood adaptation of book not only validated Shekhar Kapur’s better (perfect!!) handling of complex and fragile human relationships but also bowed down to the superior quality of Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi in the lead roles.
The best part of the movie is the subtle way in which the complicated relationships are shown – no melodrama, no discussion on morality, nothing – just five people in a house and the way they connect with each other. A father coming to terms with an orphaned son he bore out of wedlock! A mother torn between her husband’s betrayal and a young child in her house! And three innocent children having the time of their lives without the faintest idea of the turmoil that threatens to destroy their family.
Gulzar and RD Barman, at their best, only made sure that the movie took the audience through an emotional rollercoaster – through a saga that has no parallel in Indian cinema till today. And that look in Jugal Hansraj’ eyes (see picture) will remain with anyone who has seen the movie as an uncannily appropriate symbol for the movie’s title.
