The Black & White Classic Based upon Ashutosh Mukherjee’s acclaimed short story, “Nurse Mitra”, Khamoshi stands apart in all aspects of filmmaking and storytelling. The way the narrative picks up the pace was something unique in the 70’s mainstream. With Asit Sen’s vision, an acclaimed story, Hemantda’s music, and Gulzar Sahab’s lyrics, the movie became a Black & White masterpiece featuring some of the finest, most poignant performances of the 70s decade. Along with Guide (1965) and Reshma Aur Shera (1971), Waheeda Rehman delivered her finest in Khamoshi, especially the last part.
A Masterpiece Khamoshi is unusually extraordinary in various aspects, the story, the narrative, the deliberate choice of Black & White cinematography, the cast, and the music. Before “Khamoshi” Asit Sen had already made a film based on the same story, “Deep Jwele Jaai (1959)” with Suchitra Sen in the lead in fact, Khamoshi is the remake of his Bengali language film. In Khamoshi, I think Waheeda Rehman was the most appropriate choice for the nurse’s role. Rajesh Khanna delivered a fabulous performance as a rejected lover, his intense bearded look suited the character. If I were to list the top five performances by Rajesh Khanna from the 70s, it would have Khamoshi as one of them. Dharmendra’s special appearance makes the flashback more impactful.
The Story Khamoshi’s story is one of the most poignant and ground-breaking stories featured in the 70’s mainstream, revolving around an extraordinary nurse (played by Waheeda Rehman) who puts her heart and soul into serving the two patients and helps them recover from their mental illness (first Dev, played by Dharmendra then Arun, played by Rajesh Khanna; patient no. 24). In both the cases, what needed more was love, warmth, and care, which Radha provides like no one in the world but what about Radha’s feelings for Arun (earlier Dev), after all, she is a human being too. And after her job is done, she is asked to cut all ties with the patient, and this very question forms the basis of the story.
The Divine Music Irresistible music and songs, a divine collaboration, Hemantda’s music with Gulzar Sahab’s lyrics. I can literally listen to every song from Khamoshi on loop for infinity, be it, Tum Pukar lo (by Hemantda), Wo Shaam Kuch Ajeeb thi (by Kishoreda), Humne Dekhi Hai Un Aakhon Ki (by Lata ji) and all three are my favorites.
P.S. Also, enjoy “Tum Pukar Lo” and “Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi” from this classic in my voice, link below
“Tum Pukar Lo”- https://youtu.be/lkWHLbz08GI
“Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi (short)”- https://youtu.be/P8sPk63vMc0
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