1974 film 'Kora Kaagaz' is a lesson how misunderstandings and pride can ruin relationships

Released in 1974, film 'Kora Kaagaz' is a Bollywood masterpiece that even after 50 years feels fresh and real, and is still talked about. It is one of those films that goes beyond the script and makes you feel like you are living it yourself. 'Kora Kaagaz' can also be taken to mean 'colorless life'. This groundbreaking film of relationships is the story of two people who start their married life happily, but soon, misunderstandings and egos take over. The story is about a simple, honest, literature professor, Sukesh Dutt, and a gentle daughter of an upper-middle-class family, Archana Gupta. They meet on a crowded bus in Mumbai and their first meeting is awkward but sweet. This is not the usual love at first sight with songs and dances of Bollywood. The two slowly get to know each other and their love blossoms in a very real manner. Archana's father is a very good person and supports their relationship, but her mother is strict and always thinks that her daughter deserves better than a lower-middle-class professor. Well, after the two get married, Archana's mother keeps sending expensive gifts to her daughter and keeps interfering in her married life, which makes Sukesh feel small and unwanted. Archana tries not to upset her mother and balance her love for Sukesh and her duty towards her parents, but slowly the distance between the husband and wife grows. Sukesh feels insulted by his mother-in-law's gifts. These expensive gifts remind him that he is poor and cannot provide Archana with the comforts she wants. The fights between Sukesh and Archana are not as dramatic as in other films. They are quiet when they are angry, sometimes just a stern look or a few words but you can feel the pain. With time conversation between the two stops. Archana feels lonely. Soon, their love story, which started with a lot of hope, turns into a silent war and sleepless nights. The two separate.

Years pass and both try to move on with their lives. Yet their hearts are still stuck in each other. Finally, fate brings them face to face at a railway station and after so many years, they finally talk to each other honestly and decide to give their love another chance.

Kora Kagaz Cast Performance Shines with Emotion

The cast of Kora Kagaz was perfect for the story. All the actors brought life to the fullest. Vijay Anand was mostly known as a director, but he played the role of Sukesh with mature and quiet dignity. The film showed how pride and silence can hurt even the strongest love. Jaya Bachchan (then Jaya Bhaduri) as Archana brings out the innocence and dilemma of the character who is torn between her parents and her husband. Her struggle can be seen in her eyes. The supporting cast includes A.K. Hangal as Archana's father, Achala Sachdev as her interfering mother and Deven Verma, Nazneen and Sulochana Latkar, Dinesh Hingoo, Ramesh Deo, Seema Deo, Arvind Rathod, Master Shahid who bring life to the story with their characters.

Behind the scenes, the making of 'Korra Kagaz' was not at all easy and smooth. Director Anil Ganguly was passionate about the story. He got the chance to make film after fourteen years of struggle but before the shooting could start, he faced a big problem. The financier who had promised to give money for the film changed his mind at the last moment. Ganguly was heartbroken, but he did not give up. He spent the entire night standing outside the financier's house. He refused to go home until the funds were paid. His stubbornness and determination worked and the film was back on track and finally, shooting resumed on the floor.

The casting of the film was also difficult. The role of Sukesh required a mature actor, but most of the mature stars of the time like Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, Rajkumar, Manoj Kumar, etc. did not want to play such a middle-aged, troubled husband. Vijay Anand, better known as a director, was finally chosen as he could bring the right depth and seriousness to the character. Jaya Bachchan's role in the film was as strong as the hero's, which was unusual for that time.

The music of Kora Kagaz is unforgettable and gentle,  the composers Kalyanji-Anandji created songs that are loved even today. The most famous is the song "Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz" sung by Kishore Kumar, which became a huge hit and topped the Binaca Geetmala charts in 1974.

Here are some more lesser-known facts :

M.G. Hashmat was debuting as a lyricist for four films simultaneously, writing for this and three other films.

Lata Mangeshkar's "Roothe Roothe Piya" also brought him fame in those days. Other songs from the film, such as, Mera Padhne Me Nahi Lage Dil Kyon? also became very popular.

Kalyanji-Anandji won their only Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for this film, and the songs are still considered classics.

Kora Kagaz is a remake of the Bengali film 'Saat Pake Baandha' (1963), which itself was based on a novel by Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay. But the Hindi version stands out for its precise, sensitive direction and amazing acting. The film was a huge hit with both audiences and critics. It won the National Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, and several other awards for acting, music, and lyrics.

Some other interesting facts about this film are as follows.

The film was not even completed, but already it's makers were so worried that it may not be liked by the audience so they thought of re-editing it.

But just one song, "Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz," became so popular that it carried the entire film to success.

'Kora Kagaz' was the only film in which Vijay Anand and Jaya Bachchan worked together as the lead pair.

Kora Kagaz had such a strong story that it was later remade as Chalte Chalte starring Shah Rukh Khan almost 30 years later.

The core of this film may be love, but it is not a simple love story. It is an eye-opening lesson for married people on how petty misunderstandings and pride can ruin relationships.

Even after 50 years, the message of the film rings true for every generation.

Kora Kaagaz won several awards, including the National Award for Best Popular Film and the Filmfare Award for Music and Lyrics.

It was the only film for which Kalyanji-Anandji won the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director.

If gossip is to be believed, Asrani was offered a role in the film, but he refused as he felt his role was too small compared to Deven Verma's and so Dinesh Hingoo replaced him.

The song 'Mera jeevan kora kaagaz, kora hi reh gaya' also had a third stanza, which was not part of the audio release.

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