Film: Meera (1979)

Meera is a 1979 Hindi-language film by Gulzar.

PLOT: *****
MUSIC: *****
PERFORMANCE: *****
CINEMATOGRAPHY: *****

Starring

Hema Malini, Vinod Khanna, Shreeram Lagoo, Shammi Kapoor, Dina Pathak, Vidya Sinha, Bharat Bhushan, Amjad Khan

Review by Dr Usman Latif Khwaja

A SAINT OR A SINNER?

The magnum opus by Gulzar is a very underrated movie. It received critical acclaim but was a commercial flop when released in 1979. It is historically accurate, and the making was immaculate too, but our audiences want masala, and that was absent. Hema Malini was devoid of her nakhras, wigs, elaborate sarees or dancing, especially post-Sanyasi, so it was rejected. But it remains Gulzar's best effort and the only historical movie he has ever made.

Unfortunately, the only two historical movies which are accurate like Meera were flops too, like Shatranj Ke Khilari and Jahan Ara.

It was a movie based on the real life of Meera, the Rajput princess who was in love with a god, and this was not traditional as such. She was found guilty and punished for being in love, even when the love was neither human nor physical but merely spiritual and metaphorical. The account of the trial is one of the most creative moments in Indian cinema, as well as the very subtle ending, which has never been seen in Hindi cinema before or after.

The cast is headed by Hema as Meera and Vidya Sinha as her cousin, who is pledged to marry the neighbouring prince, Rana (Vinod Khanna). But, as circumstances have it, she has to sacrifice herself, and Meera takes her place as the bride, although she has vowed herself to Lord Krishna for eternity.

The drama unfolds in a very natural manner, without any hysterics or melodrama, until Meera is banished from the palace and takes to the road barefoot, with an ektara and in a simple white saree. This then gives in...