Gharaonda

Gharaonda is an Indian drama film released in 1977. It is helmed by the acclaimed Bengali director, Bhimsain, who is celebrated for his excellent storytelling and attention to human behavior and cultural aspects. The film primarily stars Amol Palekar, Zarina Wahab and Sadhu Meher, who deliver robust performances, adding depth and rough edges to their carefully etched characters.

The narrative revolves around the simple yet complex life of a middle-class couple living in cosmopolitan city Mumbai, trying to survive in a society fraught with rampant capitalistic growth. The story starts with the central characters, Sudeep (Amol Palekar) and Chhaya (Zarina Wahab), as young lovebirds who connect and bond over their shared ambitions and dreams of owning a house in the fast-evolving city. Sudeep is a diligent employee in a firm, while Chhaya is an independent working woman. Their characters and their relationship provide a mirror, reflecting the aspirations, struggles, and survival tactics of the middle class in the turbulent times of a rapidly developing metropolis.

The character of Sudeep is portrayed as goal-oriented, reserved, pragmatic and, at times, quite ruthless, embodying the typical ethic of the working class. Palekar breathes life into this character role with a nuanced performance that effectively portrays the urban middle-class male with his dreams, dilemmas, and compromises. On the other hand, Chhaya gives shades of vulnerability, idealism, and longing, an absolute contrast to Sudeep, played to perfection by Wahab. Their relationship is at the center of the plot, which revolves around their dream of a future together in a house of their own 'Gharaonda.'

Sadhu Meher appears later in the plot as a foil to Sudeep, inviting a tension that becomes the underpinning of the plot's dramatic core. His character provides a contrast to Palekar's Sudeep encapsulating an alternate vitality of existence, which is free-spirited, carefree, and less materialistically geared.

One of the impressive aspects of this film is the intrinsic realism it brings to the complicated struggles and insecurities of acquiring a home in an ever-growing city. It touches upon the nerve of the socially pertinent issues of housing in a city that demands exorbitant prices for a roof over the head. Conversations about mortgages, loan payments, and savings for the future are genuine and resonate with the audience, serving as a reminder of the harsh realities of the real world without dipping into the fantastical or melodramatic.

The film showcases Bhimsain's fantastic direction skills as he casts a keen eye on the urban landscape’s industrial loneliness, the subtle tension of daily routines, and the compulsion of living hand-to-mouth, thereby providing an undercurrent of intensity to the otherwise simplistic plotline. His portrayal of Mumbai as a character in itself is another stroke of brilliance that sets the film apart. The city, in its relentlessness, shapes the lives and relationships of the characters, ushering them into unforeseen circumstances and compelling them to make choices - both tough and inevitable.

Gulzar's profound lyrics set to the hauntingly melodious tunes of Jaidev form an integral part of Gharaonda's appeal. The music is soulful and deeply emotive, echoing the aspirations, despair, hope, and desolation the characters experience, further enhancing the film's underplayed dramatic intensity.

Gharaonda, although set in the 1970s, makes for a timeless creation with its relatable characters, pertinent social commentary, and finely drawn emotional dynamics. It is indeed a shining gem of Indian parallel cinema, offering a poignant exploration of the human condition, urban anxieties, and the pursuit of dreams. As much as it is a love story, Gharaonda is an ode to the urban struggle, shedding sharp light on the complexities of adulthood, relationships, and survival amidst the harshness of societal realities. It is a must-watch for explorers of meaningful cinema that delves beyond the sheen of regular glamour and commerciality to offer a profound understanding of life.