Monday 30 August 2010

Aulad (1987)

keeping this blog is becoming more of a challenge but still, i'm committed to the cause, apologies for my short absence. The fourth film in Sridevipalooza is a remake of a bollywood classic i reviewed a while ago, follow the plot write up and see if you're able to guess correctly

Wealthy and successful Anand is under intense pressure to get married from his Uncle (Saeed Jaffrey) he takes poor street dancer Devki (Sridevi) as a pretend bride, the two fall in love and Anand marries her


Following their marriage and while on honeymoon in Kashmir, their intimate moments while romancing in a garden is cut short by torrential rainfall, both couples take refuge in a nearby house which belongs to another newly married couple Vikas (Vinod Mehra) & Yashoda (Jaya Prada), both couples become friends


Upon returning to Bombay Devki finds out she's pregnant, simultaneously in kashmir Yashoda finds out she's pregnant too. Months later and Devki gives birth, following the doctors orders to take their new born away from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai, they catch a train to Kashmir, also on their way to Mumbai are Vikas and Yashoda. In a weird case of coincidence both trains crash into each other which claims Vikas's life, Devki is also feared dead

Nevermind the accident made use of Toy train models


Anand and Yashoda end up in the same hospital, Yashoda gives birth to a still born, and Anand not wanting to break her heart further seeing she's just lost her husband decides to give her his own son, he asks the doctor (Ramesh Deo) to keep this a secret betweeen them


Years go by and Anand starts visiting Yashoda just so he'll be able to see his son, the boy is now named kishen and Anand becomes increasingly attached him and Yashoda which leads to her mother in law speculating about a possible relationship, she's warned not to drag the family's name into disrepute (but surely she's now a widow, shouldn't she be allowed to see other men na?)


She's warned not to see him again, this new decision proves difficult as kishen is already developing a strong bond with Anand whom he sees as a father figure

The sweet Baby Guddu as Kishen

Meanwhile Devki who had been feared dead turns up alive at Anand's house, its revealed the accident had left her with memory loss but she had regained them upon seeing a speeding train which clearly reminded her of her accident (easy, isn't it...lol)


Anand is shocked and equally scared as Devki asks about their child, without hesitating Anand lies saying he had died in the train accident


Poor Devki is distraught, but decides to move on, hopeful she might bear another child, but as destiny would have it, she's receives another bad news when the doctor tells her she will never be able bear another child again


Devki accepts her destiny but later becomes suspicious of Anand's clingy behaviour towards Kishen, plus she notices they seem to share some traits, she confronts Anand about this and he confirms Kishen is indeed her son


Thus begins a custody battle between Devki and Yashoda on who gets the child


If the story of this film sounds familiar, that's because it's an uncredited remake of 'Chirag kahan Roshni kahan' (1959) which i've reviewed here, Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan is by far the superior film, this 80's knock off just doesn't have the restraint & melodramatic goodness of the original plus the songs in this are nowhere as fab. Some twists have been added to the story here, but 'Chirag kahan Roshni Kahan' still comes out on top in my opinion.

Now Aulad is still a decent watch if you're in the mood for some 80's style melodrama, the perfromances are decent albeit in that melodramatic 80's kind of way, Jaya Prada definitely had big shoes to fill as she reprises Meena Kumari's role in the original, now God forbid i compare Jaya to Meena but she does a decent job, she even did the whole Lady in white sari thing a la Meena. Overall watch Aulad (Child) if you're a fan of any of the actors or if you're in the mood for some 80's style melodrama


Some More Screencap goodness


bahut khoob bahut khoob


Stunning Jaya


Ramesh Deo still so handsome despite all that Grey hair



Rather average songs from Laxmikant Pyarelal, but as i said they just couldn't match Ravi's outstanding soundtrack in Chirag kahan Roshni Kahan, highlights are 'Tan tan ghadie main' a nursery rhyme style song clearly modeled after 'Tim tin karte taare' from Chirag kahan Roshni kahan' and 'Raste kamal saste' my favourites of all the songs is 'Dhak dhak dhadke jiya'




Paisa Vasool rating: 5/10

Aulad is available with English Subtitles in 21 parts on Youtube

11 comments:

sunheriyaadein said...

I had seen this film more than a decade ago. Nothing great about the film but from what I remember there wasn't anything bad about it too. At least it wasnt as loud as other films of the era.

Nasir said...

Nice review BD especially your comparison of the movie with Chiragh kahan Roshni Kahaan is outstanding to say the least. I always get confused with the name AULAD as there were several of them. In fact, I was reminded about Jeetendra-Babita's AULAD. That was n enjoyable movie and loved those songs there, especially ARMAAN THAAH HAMEIN JINKA and AB KE BAHAAR AAYI HAI TUMHAARE NAAM SE. So I guess this Aulad is better than the later one.
Oh yes, regarding your question:
(but surely she's now a widow, shouldn't she be allowed to see other men na?)Now this subject too has been flogged in many Hindi movies since widow-remarriage was and perhaps is, looked down upon in Indian culture. PREM ROG (1981) dealt with this. So also EK HI RASTAA (1957) and some earlier movies too.

Anonymous said...

As soon as I saw that you'd reviewed Aulad, I thought: "Ah! One film I've seen!" But no, the Aulad I've seen is the Jeetendra-Babita one. I am not a fan of 80's Jeetendra, so will stick with looking out for Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan instead!

harvey said...

So if Sridevi gets the role of Minoo Mumtaz, it can't have been bad!
so the ending must be bump off the widow!
Poor jaya!

Sharmi Adhikary said...

Starting to read the post I thought the story sounded similar to Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan, and then of course you confirmed it. Great post. But, I'm stull going to be in favour of Rajendra Kumar-Meena Kumari than Jeetendra, Jaya and Sridevi :)

bollywooddeewana said...

@ Sunehri It is indeed rather subdued as compared to a lot of their other melodramas

@ Nasir thanks'i'm familiar with those other films as well, and i'm on the look out for the jeetendra/Babita one

@ Dusted off Lol by all means stick to that one

@ Harvey It would have been more interesting if she got the role of Minoo Mumtaz but they made a few hcanges and her character ends up not having the fierceness of Minoo and i myself was expecting Jaya to meet that end but thankfully she was spared

@ Sharmi Thanks, lol...like dustedd off by all means favour that one

"THE BARD WHO DOESNT HAVE TO TRY TOO HARD" said...

baap re!!..wat drama!!..d review itself was enough 2 blow me out ;)

Anonymous said...

Jaya is always superb and soothing to eyes. She in yesteryears was like Goddess Durga or Lakshmi not like sridevi who beat the goodas jumping from a five storyed house. But she somehow destroyed Jaya's career intriguing with another south heroine and some producer/directors. Here Jaya with wet hair looks heavenly. may GOD bless Jaya with peace, good health and success for rest of her life.

Unknown said...

At last who wins the custody?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I like Jaya prada performance in this movie. She look calm compose beautiful in this movie