SAATHI HAATH BADHANA

Song 34:


Rafi and Asha too were exceptional together. Rafi's voice had that rustic, son of the soil, close to mother earth appeal. Asha, when need be, could also shed her dancing diva/siren shenanigans and sound just like a village belle. The magic was more than evident in all the songs of this iconic movie called Naya Daur.

Yes, unlikely choice for this collection but today, when my maid goes for one month holiday to her gaon, I appreciate her more than anything. My world simply collapses without her support system. I have also been tweeting about how at night our locality is like a maid's carnival. After working hard all day, they step out of their little one room tenements (where often families of 5-6 live), to catch some fresh breeze. They are chirpy and chatty, talking away on their mobiles, laughing, bickering in corners, slapping their kids lovingly. It is such a sight. They still have community, bonding and communication.

All the residents of our society of course at that time are engrossed in their TVs and laptops and hardly step out, isolated in their little islands of power. I really enjoy this fun glimpse into the life of a multitude of people who make our life so much easier, but live in the shadows, the background. But these people, these teaming millions are the real strength of India, a resource, provided we empower them and give them opportunities. Now it is for wise statesmen to decide what these opportunities should be, food or livelihood to earn their own food. India debates the Food Security Bill and there are divergent views emerging. There is speculation that probably it will be yet another scheme meant to fill the coffers of corrupt politicians and middlemen and whether the food reaches the needy in totality is a question mark.

This movie Naya Daur is set in post-independence India where industrialization is slowly creeping in. The focus is on tongawallahs who earn their living transporting people on tongas (horse carts). Their livelihood is threatened when the son of a rich landlord (Jeevan) begins operating a bus service in the town, which he subsidizes heavily with the sole intention of first driving the tongawallahs out of the town and then making profits. 

Dilip Kumar plays one of the tongawallahs who petitions the landlord over this injustice. Jeevan's character proposes a competition to decide which service is the best: The bus or the Tonga? It is decided that there will be a race between the vehicles. If the bus wins, the tongawallahs will not complain further. If the Tonga wins, the bus service will stop. This competition was a farce from the start since nobody could dream that a horse cart could beat a machine. Kumar, however, accepts the challenge to everybody's surprise. His logic is that they would be driven to starvation if the bus service continues. This race at least gives them an opportunity to try to do something. 

The rest of the tongawallahs do not share his hope. They blame him for his foolishness. In the end, he is left alone with nobody's support except his sweetheart, played by Vyjayanthimala. As the movie unfolds, a hopeless situation begins to turn around because of the way the people come together. Mishap after mishap occurs, but nothing can deter the determined. The highlight of the film is definitely the heart-stopping final race where the underdog wins.

The movie probably inspired that other great Aamir Khan starrer Lagaan, from what I can see. Never underestimate the power of the common man.