Jyoti means Light. And it was the Light in the darkness. I couldn’t wait to see this movie yesterday. I found out about him only two days ago, when after watching the film "Son" I found a lot of information about him. I decided not to put it in a long drawer and watch it immediately, out of turn. I scoured the internet, but the movie is everywhere with subtitles. I took a breath and decided to watch with subtitles. But with subtitles to look failed, too many words for one minute of time have, and phrases flash so that you do not have time to blink, not that read them. I had to stop every shot to read every sentence. But I only had 10 minutes of this viewing, so you spend the whole night, moving at such a snail's pace, you can't watch at all. I left the case and went looking for more. Praise be to the Lord for my search. I found this film with voiceover, it is certainly amateur, but multi-voiced and very good, and the quality of the film is high. And of course I was happy to see it. Now I am sharing my impressions.
Niranjan Pratap Singh is not the stepson of the landowner, but his youngest son from his second marriage to his second wife. He is also the heir to Zamindar's estate, and his older half-brother Govind. Govind from the age of two was raised by his stepmother, who hated him, and decided to give all the property of his husband only to his own son Niranjan when he grew up. But Govind is the chief heir to all the property of his father and her husband. And then she decides to make him incapacitated, begins to give the boy a small pill every night before going to bed, supposedly to make him sleep better. But these pills are not simple, but opium, and naturally the child quickly gets used to them. This caused a brain disorder in the child, he never went to school, can not read and write, and at 25 years is very far behind in development from his peers. In the body of a grown man, there is a child. And all this happens under the watchful control of his stepmother. She, having made every effort, admits Govinda to be insane, and now her son is open to riches. But as long as her husband lives, her own son cannot become an heir, and so they just wait.
In the meantime, the life of Govinda has been turned into a real hell. He is whipped every day by his younger brother, a very vicious and cruel type, humiliated by his stepmother and her maid Chitramani, poisonous as a snake. But his nanny raised him since childhood (who for some reason can not even say a word against his stepmother, although she knows about pills), and one servant, they are very fond of Govinda since childhood. And the father of the family does not know what is happening under his nose (as usual).
It always surprises me how the heads of rich families can be so naive that they believe every word of their wives, who brazenly lie right in the eyes, follow their lead, and also turn out to be weak in health (they constantly die from heart attacks, paralyze them, and arrange accidents for them). Are they so busy working and earning money that they see nothing beyond their own nose?
In general, all this has been going on for more than 20 years, and once the father of the family - Mr. Raja (Ashok Kumar), meets in one of his villages, a very brave and independent girl Gauri (Hema Malini), the daughter of a local village doctor. He likes the courage of Gauri and decides to marry his youngest son Niranjan. But Niranjan himself and especially his mother, who are categorically against such a daughter-in-law, are strongly opposed to such a zamindar, and they suggest that the zamindar should be given to Gauri for Govinda (Gitendra, but she will not stick her nose in their affairs). And he of course obeys his wife and marries Govinda to Gauri. But everything about the state of Govinda is clarified only after the wedding ceremony. But Gauri no longer intends to retreat, and decides to carry this cross to the end. Since she is the wife of such a husband, no one will wipe the sindur off her face. She begins to care for her husband, treats him with love and respect and slowly he comes back to life. But what about the dependence of Govinda on opium? Will Gauri be able to be happy in marriage? Will there be peace and justice in the palace? All questions are answered consistently as you watch the movie.
Hema Malini is simply irresistible here. Bold, decisive, kind, treating with respect to her father-in-law, and especially to her husband, very patient. One step at a time, one drop at a time, one millimeter at a time, she moves toward her goal of helping her husband adapt to normal life. At the same time, confront the treacherous and greedy mother-in-law and her cruel son, and open her father-in-law’s eyes to everything that is happening. I just admired Hema the whole movie. And she dances divinely, of course.
Gitendra is also great as a lunatic. Everything is very accurate and believable. I believed him. Well done.
Shashikala as an evil stepmother. I don’t think she’s very good at this role. It is too wooden, like a puppet doll, where you turn, there and moves. Her threats and anger were not natural. I think another actress would do better in this role.
Ashok Kumar in the role of landowner also somehow not very pleased. His image is too simple, and too calm. Whether it was Raza Murad or Amrish Puri, there would be real passions.
Vijayendra Gatge (Niranjan) was, on the contrary, overly vicious and repulsive. It's an unpleasant image. Aruna Irani in the role Maliki, his beloved dancer, on the contrary was magnificent. But Aruna is not used to such roles to play, they are brilliant.
But of course, the film is entirely based on Hema and Jeeta. They're both gorgeous. No wonder I was looking for this movie with voiceover, and watched it immediately. You just can't get away from them.
Music Bappi Lahiri always pleases, and there are so many beautiful songs, especially I liked the very first, which Govind sang on his birthday, and the post-wedding song Gauri and Govinda, very melodic and romantic.
A good film, touching, showing what kindness and love can do. I advise you to see if such stories of family relations, the struggle between good and evil, the confrontation of truth and lies are interesting. A worthy film, all fans of Hema and Gitendra will be very pleased.
10 out of 10