Satyam Shivam Sunderam, Worth while understanding this movie

From the Forum

Pratik:

"Satyam Shivam Sunderam," released in the late 1970's was perhaps one of the most controversial movies at the time as it involved scenes that were not allowed in the Hindi film industry, now known as "Bollywood." This were the kissing scenes where Shashi Kapoor, the younger brother of Raj Kapoor, kissing Zeenat Aman on the lips. But what this movie really showed that amongst many things is that sometimes what we see is not rally what it is. For this reason the late Raj Kapoor used the topic of a disfigured woman who falls in love with a man who hates ugliness and disfurement. At the time of making this movie, actress Zeenat Aman was (and I think that she atill is) beautiful but yet on side of her in the story she is disfigured, which Shashi Kapoor does not see until the night of their wedding and he thinks that this is not the same woman that he loves and throws her out but is then forced to take her back. But to be close to him, she re - hides her disfigurement and meets him secretly.

This movie has another message and that is that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and also god is ultimate.

Originally, Rajesh Khanna was to play the part that was played by Shashi Kapoor as he was considered to be the only actor who was and is capable of showing expressions in an appropriate manner as required by the director in front of a camera. But for some unknown reasons, the role was then offered to Shashi Kapoor. However the role that Zeenat Aman played as "Roopa," the disfigured woman, was offered only to her and no one else. The reason being is that she had a good figure and also as mentioned before - beautiful and lastly Rajji thought that she could handle this role very well. Lastly, this the film in which actress Padmini Kohlapure was introduced even though she was only a child - she played the role of "Roops" as a child. She later, off course went on to become a big time actress as have almost all Raj Kapoor protoge actresses. She also was the main actress in R.K.'s "Prem Rog."

This is one movie that has songs that are more like "bhajans" and does contain some beautiful photography, which is really worth while to watch. I would say that this was one of Raj Kapoor's most memorable films that he produced and directed. And off course, like all his films, it had a story to tell with a lot of meaning.

Sabzi_Nic:

Interesting post on this underrated film...
I havent seen it in a few years, deserves a re-watch :)

kkm:

@Pratik
nice write up
i would like to add that this film raj saab planned with lata in mind and lata agreed initially but backed off later
this film did not do well at box office and i read somewhere on the net that raj saab blamed zeenat
but still its a beautifull movie and the rythum of song stayam shivam sundaram is out of this world

RajKapoorFan:

I don't think that Zeenat can be the Problem in this movie I believe that the People that go to see that Just don't like to see that the hasband think that he marry to other woman and go to the woman that he think that she is his lover but she the same woman that marry him. I think that it woes the people that don't understand the movie. But I Do like the movie. My Siser hate this movie only beacuse what that Raj Kapoor do to Zeenat face.

Sabzi_Nic:

I think the film wasn't receieved well in its time because of the partial nudity, it must have been shocking for people, I think it was tastefully done though.

RajKapoorFan:

You Right Sabzi It also can be a problem.

kkm:

chk this out
Zeenat tried her best to find recognition as a good actress but unfortunately never succeeded. She made one last attempt when she tried her best to impress Raj Kapoor. She played the true Indian woman who was more soul than body, according to Raj Kapoor in his film 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' but like Raj Kapoor himself confessed, 'people will come' to see Zeenat's body but will go back seeing the soul of my film. It is through her beautiful body that I am discovering the soul of the beauty of a woman.' Both Zeenat and 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' flopped at the box office which was a major setback for Raj and left Zeenat a heart broken actress.

RajKapoorFan:

It is wily Sad I sorry for Both of them.

http://z6.invisionfree.com/RKForum/index.php?showtopic=546&st=10

Raj Kapoor: The Face Behind The Star

Book: Raj Kapoor
Author: Ritu Nanda
Publisher: R K Studios and Films
Page: 221

Lata Mangeshkar was the inspiration behind Raj Kapoor’s Satyam Shivam Sundaram and he wanted to cast her in the 1978 R K Banner film, reveals Raj Kapoor’s daughter Ritu Nanda in her latest book.

“I visualised the story of a man falling for a woman with an ordinary countenance but a golden voice and wanted to cast Lata Mangeshkar in the role,” the book quotes Raj Kapoor as saying.


“I visualised the story of a man falling for a woman with an an ordinary countenance but a golden voice and wanted to cast Lata Mangeshkar in the role,” Ritu Nanda quotes Raj Kapoor as saying.He believed that love and faith were contingent on purity of any relationship not on beauty. The book Raj Kapoor further says that Lata who had initially agreed to act in the film later declined the offer.

The book, which is a Hindi version of 2002 published book Raj Kapoor Speaks, released recently at a function held in the capital.

The book talks at length about Raj Kapoor’s relationships with his female co-stars particularly his bonding and later estrangement with Nargis. “Raj Kapoor’s egoistic tendencies and the futility of the future of their relationship made the ending of the relationship inevitable,” believes the author.

Raj Kapoor later recalled, accepting Mother India was probably the toughest decision for Nargis. She had to decide whether to continue a relationship with Raj Kapoor without any future or to create a new life for her by leaving R K Studio, Ritu says.

Although Raj Kapoor never defined their relationship, he once said, “We understood each other. I cannot express my feelings towards her. No, it was not love, although I liked her very much. Probably it was a great emotional bonding of two great artists.”

Nargis inspired Raj Kapoor in many ways. He met her when he was working on his first movie Aag. Describing his reaction, Raj Kapoor said that Nargis was a ‘fairy’ and later used this very scene in his movie Bobby.

It is quite clear that despite all the hardships that they faced, their respect for each other was mutual. Even the RK logo is somehow inspired by the legendary actress. Inspired by a still from his second movie Barsaat in this famous scene Raj Kapoor is holding Nargis in his one hand and a violin in the second.

This exalted image of love, beauty and music became the logo and identity of RK Studio. Perhaps the greatest irony of the showman’s life was that his best movies flopped badly on box office and pushed him into great financial troubles.
He could never get over with the failure of Mera Naam Joker and Jagte Raho,(his last movie with Nargis). These movies remained very dear to him. Raj Kapoor felt that these movies were ahead of their times and could not appeal to the public at that time.

Raj Kapoor’s love for the common public was represented in his movies. He said, “From my very first movie, I have played ordinary characters. I never tried to play the role of a blue eyed handsome young man in my movies.”

Raj Kapoor believed that the audience had to identify with whatever was happening on the screen. It was his measure of making the right movie. “Never make anything in which you have no faith… I had the offer of some great movies which had all the material to be successful but I did not make them because they failed to inspire me.”

Raj Kapoor, who has often been criticised for exploiting the nubile charms of his leading ladies had a very liberal view on presenting women, the book says.

Questioning this criticism he once said, “We are shocked to see nudity, we need to get mature. I have always respected women but don’t understand why I am accused of exploiting them. Fellini’s nude woman is considered Art but when I show a woman’s beauty on screen, then it is called exploitation.”

Commenting upon his “miraculous popularity” in Soviet Union, the showman believes that the Russians fresh from a mass revolution identified with his ordinary hopeful heros.

“My miraculous popularity in Russia has often left me wondering…Probably it had to do with the fact that Awara and Shree 420 were released there at a time when they were going through a great cultural revolution. My heroes became a symbol of their own struggles and aspirations,” the book says.

Cinema was Raj Kapoor’s life, his soul and the reason of his very existence. They signified the struggle and dreams of a nascent nation in search of a new identity.

His movies represent eternal hope. In his own words, “When I die bring my body to my studio. It is quite possible that I may wake up amid their lights shouting Action…Action”.