| Junoon | |
|---|---|
DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Shyam Benegal |
| Produced by | Shashi Kapoor |
| Written by | Shyam Benegal (screenplay) Satyadev Dubey (dialogues) Ismat Chugtai (dialogues) Ruskin Bond (novella, A Flight of Pigeons) |
| Narrated by | Amrish Puri |
| Starring | Shashi Kapoor Shabana Azmi Jennifer Kendal Naseeruddin Shah |
| Music by | Vanraj Bhatia |
| Cinematography | Govind Nihalani |
| Editing by | Bhanudas Divakar |
| Release date(s) | 1978 |
| Running time | 141 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi English |
Junoon (Hindi: जुनून, translation: The Obsession) is a critically acclaimed and award-winning 1978 Indian Hindi language film produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Shyam Benegal. The film is based on Ruskin Bond's fictional novella, A Flight of Pigeons, set around the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The film also had award-winning soundtrack, composed by Vanraj Bhatia, and cinematography by Govind Nihalani.
Its cast included Shashi Kapoor, Nafisa Ali, Tom Alter, Shabana Azmi, Jennifer Kendal, Karan Kapoor, Kunal Kapoor, Sanjana Kapoor, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Naseeruddin Shah, Deepti Naval, Pearl Padamsee and Sushma Seth.
Contents |
The story is set around the Mutiny of 1857. Javed Khan ( played by Shashi Kapoor )is a feckless feudal chieftain, whose world revolves around breeding carrier pigeons. His elder brother, Sarfaraz Khan ( played by Naseeruddin Shah ) is politically awakened and actively plots the fight for Indian Independence. The mutineers attack the local British administrators while they are in Sunday Worship at Church, massacring them all. Miriam Labadoor ( played by Shashi Kapoor's real-life wife, Jennifer Kendal ) manages to escape with her daughter, Ruth ( played by a young Nafisa Ali ) and seeks refuge with the wealthy Hindu family of Lala Ramjimal ( played by Kulbhushan Kharbanda ). Lala, torn between his loyalties for India and his privileged position under the British, takes them to the feudal landlords, where smitten by Ruth's beauty, the family is offered sanctuary by Javed. This leads to jealousy on part of his wife, Firdaus ( played by the inimitable Shabana Azmi ) and anger on part of his brother, who ultimately gives in to the Indian tradition of offering hospitality and sanctuary even to uninvited guests. Various situations ensue due to cultural misunderstandings in the domestic routine of the Muslim household with its new White guests. Javed falls in love with Ruth, and the two engage in a love affair under the watchfull, suspicious eyes of Firdaus.
Meanwhile the Mutiny runs into problems and the British are defeating the ill-organized Indian forces. In a stormy scene, Sarfaraz destroys Javed's pigeon coops and sets his pets aflight after he finds out that the mutineers have lost the Battle for Delhi. There is a delayed recognition by Javed of his subjugated identity as an Indian colonised by the British. Sarfaraz dies in a battle against the British. The Labadoors return to the protection of the re-deployed British contingent, smuggled by Firdaus, who only wants to save her marriage. Javed withdraws heart-broken to his pigeons. Ruth and her mother return to England.
| Junoon | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Vanraj Bhatia | |
| Released | 1978 |
| Genre | Film soundtrack |
| Label | HMV |
| Producer | Kersy Lord |
The soundtrack features 4 songs, composed by Vanraj Bhatia, with original lyrics from Yogesh Praveen and other lyrics by Amir Khusro, Jigar Moradabadi and Sant Kabir.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Manthan |
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi 1978 |
Succeeded by Aakrosh |
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