Chitchor (1976)

There never can be another one like Amol Palekar. He has such a special and unique spot in the history of Hindi cinema that I don't see how anyone can come even close. When I think of "simplicity" in context of Bollywood, I invariably think of him- not just in terms of how natural and close-to-home his acting felt, but also the kind of scripts he chose. They feel like a breath of fresh air even today, more than 30 years after they were originally released. And the thing is, they were refreshing back then as well. In an industry dominated by larger-than-life heroes and storylines, Amol Palekar's filmography almost feels like a refuge from all the intense drama and action that was going on elsewhere.

You don't even have to look too far to understand the significance of Amol Palekar (and Basu Chatterjee, I suppose, but I haven't really seen more of his movies so I don't think I'm equipped to talk about him)- just compare Chitchor with its atrocious remake Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003). In fact, when I first discovered that it was a remake, I refused to believe it. The former is beautiful, and even though it has lots of potential for overblown drama, it restrains itself and stays in the realm of "realistic storytelling". It's a movie that can be revisited multiple times, and one that will always leave a lingering smile on your face. The remake, meanwhile, is BAD. It's one of the worst things that ever came out of early '00s Bollywood, and the cringe will only intensify with time. If you were ever attacked by Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon, I urge you to go watch Chitchor and cleanse yourself. Amen.

Also, let me just talk about Zarina Wahab for a second here. Her character is so brilliantly written- I love, love, LOVE a headstrong queen who is not afraid to choose what kind of a life she wants for herself, even when the timings couldn't be more "wrong". If you still need me to tell you another reason to go watch this movie, it's my girl Zarina and her #feminism. Kareena Kapoor's Sanjana could NEVER. Literally. Big middle finger to Suraj Barjatya for ruining this character, instead of elevating her. Or just, letting her be. That man has blood on his hands, I'm telling you.

In conclusion, K.J. Yesudas' voice healed me, and 'Tu Jo Mere Sur Mein' is officially on my list of best love songs ever. Watching Chitchor just to reach that song is #selfcare, and basically, I really cannot recommend this movie enough. Go watch it!

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