Ready for coolness? I had this open WHILE WE WERE ZOOM TALKING and I made notes!!! So it’s like you were in the Zoom, even if you weren’t. And you can just pick up our discussion from where we left off.
Why is Vyjantimala’s character so awesome? What made you sit up and notice her?
Answer: Because she’s VYJANTIMALA!!! She’s so pretty and so ALIVE
Who is worse, Raj Kapoor or the Other One, and why?
50/50! Raj Kapoor is blind to anyone’s desires but his own, which is bad. But The Other One actually KNOWS WHAT IS HAPPENING and still makes bad choices, which is also bad.
What ending would have been better?
a) the two men kill each other and Vyjantimala gets all their money
b) Vyjantimala walks out with her suitcase leaving Raj forever
c) Raj kills himself and Vyjantimala gets to marry the man she wanted this whole time.
d) Vyjantimala ends up with her friend Sukina
Boring man or Raj Kapoor, who would be a better husband?
Boring man, because he is the husband she WANTS and that is all that matters. Or. my minority opinion, Raj Kapoor because he is capable of growth and adjustment and moving out of his own tiny world.
What does it say about class in modern 1960s India?
They had to give Raj Kapoor a freakin’ Parim Vir in order to elevate him to a level where he can marry Vyjantimala. And somehow that also magically makes him cosmopolitan and educated and all these other things he wasn’t before.
What does it say about how Raj Kapoor viewed women?
Almost as a different species, like some rare magical creatures. But at the same time, as a filmmaker, he was so honest in showing the way the female characters (Vyjantimala, the moms, her friend) all understood what was happening but were not listened to and could not affect the outcome. Very confused gender message.
And finally, suggestions for next movie for discussion!
Kuch Naa Kaho: Fun fabulous early 2000s rom-com, only available on einthusan
Jhoothi: 1970s female classic
Khoobsurat: Another 1970s female classic
Manaranjan: Another 1970s female classic with sex workers
Junglee: A 1960s female classic with Shammi!
