"Phir Ussi Mod Par" A Very Topical Timely And Ticklish Theme Of Triple Talaq'

Never has there been kind of concern shown for content in our films. We are still the world's largest makers of films in so many different languages, but the concern for content continues. And when there is an enthusiastic effort made to make content the King or queen, the film raises any number of controversies, like we have seen in some very big films which tried their best to give content prime priority, but the result was heart burns and sleepless nights for the makers. These films which try to cast the searchlight on true stories or real life and everyday issues become victims of some learned people, other filmmakers, film historians, film analysts and experts and above all the growing number of film critics who I am not so sure whether they know their jobs and their responsibilities. But in looking for the opinions of all these people with the power, the common man who spends his/her hard earned money to see films of their choice is grossly neglected.

The most recent example is the last film made by one of the most successful and enlightened filmmakers, the late Lekh Tandon who had proved his prowess and skill in tackling a very topical, timely and ticklish theme,“Phir Ussi Mod Par". The film based on the burning issue of ‘Triple Talaaq' surprisingly opened to good houses in most places, but as was also expected created a controversy of sorts. It was in this backdrop that I decided to ask some knowledgeable and mostly the aam aadmi's views and here are some of the snippets from the talks I had with them....

JAVED SIDDIQUI, veteran writer, playwright and literary figure--I have been hearing about this film for some time now and was a little curious to know how the film would be made because I knew how a subject like   ‘Triple Talaaq'could raise a hornet's nest in a country of sensitive people like our people. I have done a lot of research and interacted with people, both men and women who have gone to this excruciatingly painful experience, I am a Muslim, but I am not in favour of this kind of a draconian practice. If you ask me for my personal opinion, I am totally against‘Triple Talaaq'about which so much has been written and films and plays made. I would have loved to see the film, especially because it has been directed by Lekh Tandon who was one of the few directors whose work I was an admirer of. But, my problem with my acute eye disorder, I will not be able to see the film. But I appreciate and congratulate Mr Trinetra Bajpai for taking a bold step with his very first film as a producer and I hope “Phir Ussi Mod Par"puts the subject in the proper perspective and succeeds in sending home the message it must have been made for. And I also hope that people go to the theatres to know more about a reality of life which has been neglected for ages and has now reached a crucial phase when the Supreme Court has had its say and it is only for the Rajya Sabha to make the practice of‘Triple Talaaq'a practice which must be put to a stop before it does more damage or for the generations to come.

MANOJ KUMAR--I have always believed that films have been and must be an effort to entertain alright, but they must also try to have some kind of a message for the people of this country which is largely illiterate and ignorant.‘Triple Talaaq'has been a curse, of I may say so and as I see it and should have been done away with a long time ago. However, it is better late than never and I sincerely hope that this film made by Lekh Tandon and produced by a man who could have been happy with his life as a leading chemical engineer, but as I have come to know from my friend, Ali, he is a man with a passion for good cinema and good music. It is filmmakers like him who must be encouraged because I know how important it is for the first film of any man to succeed in every way. I know it, because I have gone through it. I wish the unit all the very best and may God and the people who are the ultimate judges whether it is films or politics be with the film.

ALI PETER JOHN-(Veteran film journalist, writer and poet)--I have never claimed to be a learned critic or a film historian, I have only been an observer and a witness to all that has been happening in the world of Indian films for five decades. I have seen the works of the greatest filmmakers and the works of those who treat and deal with films like any other business. I know that business is and must be an important part of filmmaking, but I also know that filmmaking is a powerful medium to entertain and to enlighten.

I have lost count of the number of films I must have seen and I remember filmmakers who have made a huge contribution and left memories that can never be erased or easily forgotten. Lekh Tandon was one of them,a director who knew the right and wrong of making a film and the paths he could take in the name of entertainment and the paths he couldn't cross according to his own principles and his own conscience, besides knowing his responsibilities as a filmmaker who could lead or mislead people. I had been a follower of his work from his very first few films like“Andolan"and“Jahaan Pyar Miley", followed by big and ambitious films like “Professor",“Prince",“Amrapali",“Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan",“Agar Tum Na Hote"and a small film called“Dhulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye"which was the biggest hit of his career and the history of Rajshri Productions and then his switching over to the new medium of Television equally successfully.

I had the honour of knowing a man like him. He had introduced me to Trinetra Bajpai, the kind of lover of films and music I have yet to see (no exaggerations, even though he is now a very close friend and guide in my rudderless life). I had seen him and Lekh Tandon making one of the biggest TV serials,“Bikhri Aas Nikhri Preet"with the passion and sincerity which was going out of filmmaking. The serial was a huge hit and led to their teaming up again to make a film“Phir Ussi Mod Par"based on‘Triple Talaaq'. I had seen the eighty-five year old Lekh Tandon working on the film with the same vigour and vitality he was known for over the years.

I had the privilege of seeing the film during various phases of its making. It was a shock when Lekh Tandon died almost as soon as he completed the shooting of the film. But he had made sure that the post production and the music would be taken care of by Bajpai.....

The film is a slice of life story of two generations, the father and his son both indulging in what they think is their belief and their right. The story is told in a very simple way so that everyone can know what the film was trying to portray and say.Bajpai with his extensive knowledge of Hindi film music was given the challenge to score the music for all the wrongs written by well-known poets like Naqsh Layalpuri, Ahmed Wasi and Irshad Kaamil. There is criticism of the slow pace of the screenplay and the music being old fashioned. But, those who level these charges should know that it is a serious subject which has all the reasons to be told so that the story and dialogue sink into the hearts and minds of the people. And as for the music, how could a serious like this have the kind of noise that we have in the music of most films? And could anyone think there was any scope for an item number or a rap or disco song in this film? Like some of the greatest films made, this film too may not appeal to or satisfy all, certainly it was no “Dhoom"or“Total Dhamaal"(with no malafide intentions to run down these filmmakers who have all the right to make their films their way).“Phir Ussi Mod Par"may not be one of the greatest films ever made, but it will certainly be one of the films made with the most noble intentions. I would have saluted the octogenarian Lekh Tandon for making this film, but in his unfortunate absense, I give all the credit to Mr Bajpai for not making any compromises in his effort to give content and melody the respect they have been losing.

PROF.M.Y KHAN (head of department of English literature in a suburban college in Mumbai)--I had stopped seeing Hindi films more than twenty years ago, but there was something about this film and as it had something to say about a practice in my community, I took my wife who was seeing a film for the first time and my two daughters to see the film and I couldn't believe the impact the film had on me as an experience professor and my wife and daughters who were seeing their first film.

ASMA  GUJARATI,SADAF GUJARATI,ZAINUDDIN  KHAN & AJAY ACHARYA--They saw the film in a group without any expectations, but were very happy after seeing it and like Asma said,“It's good that we saw the film. I am a Muslim, but I didn't know most of what‘Triple Talaaq'was till I saw the film with my friends.

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