Release Date: 5 June 1981 (India)
Director: K. Balachander
Writers: Inder Raj Anand (dialogue), K. Balachander (screenplay)
Stars: Kamal Hassan, Rati Agnihotri and Madhavi
Writers: Inder Raj Anand (dialogue), K. Balachander (screenplay)
Stars: Kamal Hassan, Rati Agnihotri and Madhavi
Genres: Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance
Story line :
Hindi-speaking collegian Sapna lives a wealthy lifestyle in Dona Paula, near Panaji, Goa, India, along with her Professor dad, Kundanlal, and mom. Their immediate neighbors are Tamil-speaking vegetarian tenants, V. Sivaramakrishan, his wife, Vandana and son, Vasudevan, and detest the Kundanlals' meat-eating habits. Both families are aghast with surprise and anger when they find out that Sapna and Vasudevan are in love with each other. Strong opposition only strengthens their romance, forcing the families to compel the couple to stay away for a year, and not to communicate to each other in any manner. Both agree, and Vasudevan leaves for Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, to work for G. Haribabu, a Chartered Accountant. Vasudevan befriends a widow, Sandhya, and learns how to dance as well as read and write Hindi, while his dad arranges his marriage with Tamil-speaking Tulsi. While on a trip to Mangalore he finds out that Sapna has got married to Chakravarty...
Review :
What really sets 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye' apart from other love stories, is its disturbing ending. Otherwise the film itself is no different than other love stories regarding star-crossed lovers that have been made several. Some of the songs are nice (but not great) and mostly forgettable. The use of the language barrier between the two characters was something different and new. Also there are some nice sequences that prevent it from being just another romantic film. The director deserves credit for executing them. Performances are quite decent. Rati Agnihotri does well for a newcomer. Madhavi is very good. Kamal Hassan is quite alright in a few scenes and very bad in some. He seems to just not get the right expressions particularly in the crying scenes (which are unintentionally funny). However, the guy can surely dance! Shobha Khote is extremely annoying and almost want to press the mute button. 'Ek Duuje Ke Liye' is certainly one of the better films of the 80s. A different love story it is and I'd recommend it to viewers who enjoy romantic films but beware of its disturbing conclusion.