Ijaazat
Tags: flashback

Plot synopsis:
The movie is a powerful story that deals with feminism and patriarchy in the middle class India. It is about the present and past of Mahender and Sudha together as well as separately. The movie starts with Mahender (Naseeruddin Shah) getting down at the railway station and making his way to the waiting room just as it starts to rain heavily. A woman, Sudha (Rekha), is already sitting in the waiting room. On seeing him, she tries to hide from him but later they confront each other.
It is revealed that Mahender has an accomplished business dealing with photography. He respects his grandfather (Shammi Kapoor) immensely. Incidentally, he had been engaged to Sudha for 5 years but always made an excuse to delay their wedding. However, this time his grandfather has fixed the wedding in the first week of the following month. He reveals to Sudha that he is involved with one of the most radical representations of feminism, a woman named Maya (Anuradha Patel). He returns to tell Maya, but Maya has disappeared, leaving him some poetry. Mahender then marries Sudha and is quite happy, but the sudden return of Maya causes tensions in their married life. Mahender frequently tells Sudha about all the beautifully poignant, loving gestures Maya did for him during the years that they lived together. When Maya attempts suicide, Mahender starts spending time with her. Sudha, not knowing about Maya's suicide attempt and therefore believing that Mahender is being unfaithful to her, feels that her marriage was a mistake, and questions Mahender about his intentions. He then tells her strongly that he is going to bring Maya home to talk to her. Sudha is adamantly against this, but Mahender leaves with determination. However, Maya hears Sudha's anger on the phone and by the time Mahender reaches to pick her up, she has gone away. When he returns home without Maya, he finds that Sudha has also left. Mahender, unable to bear the shock, gets a heart attack. In the days and months that follow, he is looked after by Maya. Sudha continues as a teacher in Panchgani. As time passes, Mahender is beginning to feel convinced that it is time for him to bring Sudha back home. He then gets Sudha's letter saying that she is releasing him from their marriage and that he is free to marry Maya. A sudden uncontrolled outburst from Mahender makes Maya realise that she was the cause for Sudha's departure and that Mahender misses Sudha deeply. Maya feels estranged at this abrupt change in their relationship and, in the night, rides off on her motorbike. Mahender rushes to follow her in his car to stop her. Maya's scarf gets entangled in the rear wheel of her bike, which strangles her to death.
Ending the flashback, Sudha is deeply saddened on hearing about Maya's end. Later, as the time for their train approaches, Sudha's husband (Shashi Kapoor) bursts in unexpectedly to pick her up, and Mahender realises with a shock that Sudha has remarried. As Sudha's husband leaves the waiting room with her luggage, Mahender asks her to forgive him. She touches Mahender's feet as a plea for his forgiveness and for his permission (Ijaazat) for her to leave him, something which she had not received the last time they had separated. Mahender grants her wishes, speaks well of her husband, and gives her his blessing for a happy life. Sudha's husband returns to see what is holding her up, and then, seeing Sudha's teary face, realises that this man must be her former husband. The movie ends with Sudha and her husband moving on along the platform, and Sudha lingering a little with regret, as if not wanting to leave, while Mahender stands outside the waiting room looking on forlornly as she recedes from him.

Review: Gulzar's Ijaazat is easily the benchmark for Indian movies.
What I liked best about the movie is the passion displayed in the sophisticated style of Gulzar.
The song " Mera Kuch Saaman" is amazing in its rendition and also the perfect description of the situation between the protagonists.The humor displayed by Naseeruddin in the scene when the couple are back from their honeymoon, on the flight when Rekha is a little upset with him and he says "Don't get off half way" says everything about Gulzar's immense talent to use subtle humor in every situation.
The story is a love triangle between Mahinder (Nasseruddin Shah), Sudha (Rekha) and Maya (Anuradha Patel).
When the film begins one night, we meet two of the three main characters- Mahinder and Sudha in the waiting room of a train station in the middle of nowhere while it rains relentlessly outside.
Then, through a series of sporadic flashbacks, we are transported to the past where we find some answers to our questions Mahinder was expected to marry his childhood friend Sudha but while he was away from home, he had fallen in love with Maya (titled so aptly as she would later play the 'other woman' and hence symbolizes selfish greed for the protagonist, Mahinder) and Mahinder confides in Sudha that he wants to get married to Maya.
Circumstances however act against his wishes and Maya disappears and he, having thought that she had walked out on him (something which is never confirmed in the film), ends up marrying Sudha.
Her flavor through the windows and her demons under the carpet; she is omnipresent- in the nooks, crannies, cobweb ridden closets and basements, her memories linger on and she lives on between Mahinder and Sudha like those articles of old furniture one develops a sentimental fixation for and hence, neither is ever discarded.
You know how the tumultuous waves of the capricious oceans return and bring to the shore an unmistakable sense of sweet sad Deja Vu and so, one can almost hear the patter of Maya's feet upon the antediluvian seashore of Mahi and Sudha's house.
They are part of a different dimension where time, space and place were of no consequence and they live on still, in the house of memories, ever so fraught with her undeniable presence It is this state of turmoil that Mahinder finds himself to be in.
Should he stay on with the sweet reality of Sudha or try to grab the beautiful, mirage like illusion of tempestual, blissful happiness in Maya?
This is probably the best script/screenplay Gulzar has ever written.
It makes you wonder, what was said, what was unsaid, what was implied, what was hidden, what was meant I especially loved the way the characters are written and developed.
Through simple acts like hanging a towel, combing one's hair, fiddling with a light switch; character motivations are brought forth in a stunningly unique and beautifully subtle way.
Some examples- Sudha: "Kya Ghar Abhi Bji Wahi Hain" Mahinder: "WAHI Toh Kuch Nahin Raha Par Haan, Hai WAHEEN, Usi Jagah" & Mahinder: "Yeh Duniya Bhi Toh Ek Waiting Room Hi Hai" Ijaazat.A remarkable story of two lovers whose love story was incompleteA movie about love- lost, found and lost again.
Poignantly poetic and tremendously metaphoric with allusions of the concept of a Waiting room and the illusions of Maya, Ijaazat has a classic absorbing story, stunning performances, outstanding poetry & beautiful rhythmic music.
The passion between Rekha and Naseerudin Shah and between Naseeruddin and Anuradha has been dealt with amazing finesse and sophistication.
The passion between Rekha and Naseerudin Shah and between Naseeruddin and Anuradha has been dealt with amazing finesse and sophistication.
Someone rightly said that he film takes off from the moist surreal world of olive branches dripping with Gulzaresque poetry and goes right into the hearts of the characters.
The film sees them all- the pure and serene Sudha, an unsolvable cipher like Maya and the tragic Mahinder- through a beautiful albeit maudlin prism.
Not only was their love incomplete in the film but more broadly, this movie is also representative of a time bygone, an innocence lost.
Ijaazat is an unusual and ingenuous movie in the sense that it sees sophisticated poetry in the most ordinary situations, lives and events.
ijaazat is gulzar at its best.
the film takes off from the moist surreal world of dripping branches with panchamda's out of this world music right into the heart of the characters.
nasiruddin, rekha are in the performances of their lives and anuradha, you can't help falling in love with her.
A very nice movie with good scripting and great 'kavithas'.
The movie draws very strong performances from the three main characters Nasrudeen Shah, Rekha, and Anuradha Patel.
The melancholy that pervades the night at the train station and slow revelation about the character's past through flash backs are both done very neatly.If you watch carefully, a lot of subtle attitudes and character sketch is done through very simple acts.
A movie with a love story to remember.
One of the most touching love stories which leaves the heart yearning for more to see the love tangle....with an ultimate solution!The song MERA KUCHH SAMAAN PADA HAI reveals the cravings of a young heart.Definitely a must see movie.Nassiruddin shah has been to the very peak of a hidden but sincere relationship.His self control is witness to his character and this bears testimony of an undaunted personality.It is a rare love storey in itself.I wonder if I can venture to establish a parallel with the movie MASOOM where again NASSIRUDDIN SHAH succeeds in revealing an outstanding personality of his own as a lover and then as that of a caring husband.Rekha is as usual the very epitome of a devoted wife but careful!no bargain no sharing can be allowed or tolerated if this may someday endanger the very conjugal happiness.Both REKHA and Nassirudin Shah have had the execellence of expression through their performance.Coming out of the theatre the spectators must have definitely felt the lump in their throat..
I suggest this movie for all those people who are or were in love at some point in time in their lives.This is Gulzar at his best.Naseeruddin, Rekha and Anuradha Patel have done a splendid job with Panchamda's music providing the icing on the cake..
'Ijaazat' was like a remarkable anthology full of beautiful poetry.
There are some wonderful poetry recited by the actors but the film itself is a colourful poem: the characters, the music, the story...all poetry.
Directed by a poet himself, Gulzar, takes us into a journey of complex emotions of complex people.Gulzar starts his movie with a view of beautiful landscapes and a passionate song sung by the legendary Asha Bhosle.
Here he meets Rekha and then, as flashbacks, we see their story.Mahinder (Naseeruddin Shah), a young photographer, is madly in love with the wild and impulsive Maya (Anuradha Patel).
However, his marriage has been arranged (by his grandfather) with his childhood friend Sudha (Rekha).
Sudha, trying to deal with the fact that Mahinder still has strong feelings for her and Mahinder, dealing with his feelings and with the fact that Maya is the past.
Sudha tries to accept things the way they are but the more time she spends with Mahinder, the more difficult it gets.All the songs are beautifully song by Asha Bhosle, giving life to the poem this movie is and then Maya's poems which add to the intriguing mystery of the character and her relationship with Mahinder.
Anuradha Patel as the mysterious Maya is brilliant.
As Maya herself is heartbroken that because of her own impulsiveness she lost Mahinder, she tries to prevent herself from reaching out to Mahinder but can't help herself from contacting him.Rekha is amazing as the strong but also vulnerable Sudha.
Sudha gradually sees hope that she'll have a happy marriage until she soon comes to terms with the fact that Maya will always stand between them.Only an actor like Nasseeruddin Shah can do justice to a character like Mahinder.
His scenes with both Anuradha and Rekha are examples of how fine acting and a display of a quiet but powerful chemistry.'Ijaazat' is Gulzar's poem which he beautifully recites.
Ijaazat has a very real and wonderful story with absolutely excellent performances by Rekha and Naseeruddin Shah, and superb direction by Gulzar.
One wonders where such talent lies today, films like this keep one living in the glorious past of Indian cinema..
Gulzar is the best narrator of a story.
While watching the movie, it was like i am listening to a bed-night story.The screenplay is excellent.
If u r a gulzar fan and u haven't seen this movie then what r u doing here, go watch it now.
Just watched this masterpiece from Gulzar and fell in love with him, his narration, timing of the flashbacks and the way he puts it all together....Each dialogue carefully chosen and crafted, sheer poetry, GEM of a movie...!More than brilliant performances from the lead actors Naseeruddin Shah, Rekha and Anuradha Patel...and Shammi Kapoor's short role add a much needed mystical touch too...
And "Katra Katra" and "Mera Kuch Samaan", I do not know of any other songs which had so much impact in a story line...Who says songs do not fit in a movie especially when you have 3 magicians - RDB, Gulzar & Asha to create something like this...!
I have always liked movies made with true human relations and emotions.
People say flashbacks are days of 2011, but Gulzar used flashbacks so beautifully almost 25 yrs ago, I can not remember any other movie blended so beautifully in past and present, that is Gulzar's signature style.
I have watched everything filmed by Gulzar and probably Ijaazat stands the tallest in my list.
The way she acts in the movie as a mature wife, I simply fell in love with her.
She got some beautiful dialogues to say, for example "aadate bhi chali jati hai, adhikar nahi jate, so wonderfully said in the movie.
There is no physical attraction between the characters but emotional attraction, and it's shown beautifully by Gulzar.
Movie's location, Mahinder's house, Sudha's house and everything else is so beautifully shot.
Why don't people make more movies like this?.
I simply saw it because it was a Gulzar directed film, and it had Naseerudin Shah in it.
And I love the Asha Bhonsle song, "mera kuch saman tum hare pass hai".
I use to love those earlier films, with R.D.Burman's music, and Gulzar's lyrics.
To think this film is about, in real time, one whole rainy night in a train station !
It contains, Gulzar's classic trademarks, from his other films, eg the flashback technique, meaningful story/theme, and has songs so its still a middle ground mild masala and art type film..
This is the way of making a good movie .
The movie is directed by Gulzar .
His screenplay makes you feel as if you watching a poetry on celluloid .
Music by R.D.Burmun and lyrics by Gulzar are just great !!!
But the pillar of this film is the acting by lead actors !!!
A subtle poetry of love.
The movie deals with love story.
But in a very different sense.Mahinder (Nasir) is in love with Maya (Anuradha Patel).
He confides in Sudha that he loves Maya and Sudha lets him go.
No reason mentioned here but in later half one gets a feeling that Maya does have some psychological problem with the kinds of act she does.
Mahinder walks back to his family and marries Sudha.Mahinder still cannot forget Maya.
This understanding of her makes Mahinder love Sudha in a different way.
Time passes and one fine day Maya arrives and calls up Mahinder congratulating him for his marriage.
This shows that slowly but surely Mahinder now loves Sudha.
The whole story above is in flashback, where today Mahinder and Sudha have met each other in a railway waiting room.
The truth which Mahinder and Sudha disclose to each other as what happened when they were separated for this period is something which leaves the viewers stunned till the end.What a depiction of love story!!!
Gulzar has woven this tale of love with beautiful poetic verses.
I don't remember Nasir and Rekha in any other movie and here their chemistry blends so brilliantly.
This fits very well with the classy music of R.D. Burman.If one adores deeply rooted love stories, this one is not worth missing..
I just watched this movie.
All praise to the director Gulzar the movie is above average not doubt about it.
One point I think most of the viewer must have noticed the augmentation of characters according to theater respective scale for example Shammi Kpoor(As dadoo) reciting Sanskrit shlokas, this all creates the magic which blends best with the main story.
The simple script, the lovely music, and the brilliant acting makes this film a must watch!
Whilst during the film, I felt annoyed with Mahendar's character (Naseerudin Shah), Gulzar directed the film in such a beautiful manner, that by the end one ends up feeling sorry for him.
Gulzar is the best teacher of subtlety and sensitivity The movie that has such an enormous array of emotions and the trauma associated, is dealt with matchless subtlety and sublime sensibility.
This movie brings smiles and also tears along but those come from heart as after a few minutes into the movie, my mind stopped and it was only heart that saw it unfold.A story that's bound in a waiting room on a railway station is interesting but make no mistake, this is not one of the typical sob sob dramas, its hugely realistic and highly authentic.
In one dialogue, he says I love Maya, this is truth and I am trying to forget her and this is right.
Sudha is the epitome of a normal house wife but also is very extremely open minded too and believes to do what heart likes is to do the right thing.
Maya is an aberattion who is very strong minded and very firmly believes that marriages ruin lives.
So the characters itself are so strong and different that it is really hard to correlate to anyone but still the story as a whole is very relatable to those who have been in an affair prior to their marriage.Though the film is supremely indifferent to modern day mindset it still roots for tradition and the importance of human values.
Like double shadows of Rekha while is in waiting room, and though the power has gone in railway station, the faces of Rekha and Nasseruddin and clearly visible which would have been better if it was just dialogue in the dark.Apart from the technical flaws, the movie is still great coz it has a very sensible story.
I am very critical of Ashok Mehta, the cinematographer and highly appreciative of Gulzar.This is 4/5 for a story that is very very poetically told..
Great movie.
This is one of the best movies that I have seen.
The character Maya is slightly eccentric but still exudes innocence and childlike qualities, Excellently performed by the actress.
The songs are very very good and feels fresh every time I listen to them.Overall it is a must watch movie as it is one of the few movies that could be termed as timeless classics.Every art loving person should watch the movie for its artistic value..
The acting,story,songs everything is outclass.
Must watch the best romantic film by India.
Music is out of this world.The story is a love triangle which is the old topic of Indian cinema but it has been pictured in a different way.
After years of watching this movie, i still remember it and appreciate the acting, cinematography, dialogues and everything of this movie.
The pacing can be slow for the modern viewer but it is part of its beauty.The romantic atmosphere of the movie just stays there and you can feel that you are watching a masterpiece..
Ijaazat is an unusual movie in the sense that it sees poetry in ordinary lives and events.
But the film sees them all through a beautiful but melancholic prism, an effect that is highlighted by using upbeat lyrics for the ordinary wife, and a contemplative, sad lyrics for the other woman.
An incomplete love story equipped with stunning duologue's & excellent performances by naseeruddin shah & rekha.
Ijazat..A remarkable story of two lovers whose love story was incomplete at the end of the day.ijazat is basically a two dimensional story focusing on some bitter realities of life..the classic touch in the whole film as its amazingly absorbing story, stunning performances , outstanding poetry & beautiful rhythmic music.
Poetry was indeed a very brilliant aspect of this movie as Maya's poetry has throughout created a strong impoact on the audience.
...as far as the lyrics go,this is the best movie ever in bolllywood(wont even use arguably for it).......mera kuchh saaman probably is the best song ever in terms of lyrics..any gulzar fan cannot have enough of this movie...watching the movie is like living a lifetime...10 out of 10 is like stating the obvious....
An intense love story with the most beautiful song in the world.
The song 'mera kuch saman' tells everything about the story....
Maya's love for mahinder in the movie is truly intense and impact full.
A beautifully directed movie.
The situations and events in the film just touches your heart.
The way Gulzar the lyricist have used the words to describe how the woman feels when she is away from his husband and recollects all those small small memories, the laughs, the smiles, the cryings, the sadness with her husband before they parted, is just so beautiful.
The sheer magic of Gulzar's poetic treatment is evident throughout the film.
The last scene when Rekha asks Nassir for the permission to leave completely justifies the title of the film.
A must watch for someone who love subtle romances.