While lot of people may have several grudges against YouTube, I stumbled across something fantastic there earlier today. Saath Saath, a 1982 classic was one of the several movies available there in a rapid 15 minute version. Having seen this several years back, it was a great reminiscence to watch it again, albeit a 15 minute version. The great chemistry between Farooq Shaikh and Deepti Naval, Direction by Raman Kumar, soundtrack by Kuldeep Singh, lyrics by Javed Akhtar and the melodious songs by Jagjit and Chitra Singh, Saath Saath is superb package.

Saath Saath 1982

The storyline is something like this. Avinash is a student with socialist values and Geeta, daughter of an industrialist, falls in love with his principles and they marry despite parents disapproving. Avinash refuses to compromise on his principles wherever he works and as a result, is forced to quit his job. Geeta works as a teacher to keep the home supported financially. In order to meet their growing needs – as they are expecting a baby soon – Avinash makes a compromise and joins his college friend Satish in his publishing house. Soon, due to the nature of work and the materialistic views that Satish endorses and promotes, Avinash undergoes a transformation. His values, socialistic views are shelved and he becomes a money-minded individual who does not mind falling in the standards that he vouched and vowed for earlier. Geeta however, does not like this change in Avinash and things eventually reach a state where she finally decides to leave Avinash and his house. In the end, it of course ends on a positive note with Avinash introspecting on his downfall; and decides to save his love by leaving his job with Satish and join another press that is in line with his old ethos and principles.

I do not know how the movie did commercially then. However, the movie had very high standards and production values that I am sure very few movies of that decade would have met. The lead pair has put in a great performance. Farooq Shaikh portrays the principles that Avinash lives for, his frustration with inadequate money and transformation into a ruthless person, very well. And is equally complimented by Deepti Naval, who showcases Geeta’s discomfort with this transformation. In a decade that was dominated by the angry young man phenomenon, Saath Saath is clearly a big milestone in the parallel cinema in Hindi. I wish these movies can be made again.