Doosra Aadmi Movie Review: Raakhee Wows with Her Performance

It unfortunate that an actress of the calibre of Raakhee Gulzar (August 15, 1947) has been forced into semi-retirement, more one suspects due to a lack of good film offers than anything else. This doe-eyed beauty from Bengal, made her debut in Bengali films and won rave reviews for Badhu Baran (1967), her first movie. That earned her a ticket to Bollywood and landed her a role in Rajshree's Jeevan Mrityu opposite Dharamendra in 1970. But the film which shot her into fame was Sharmilee (1971) opposite Shashi Kapoor. She played a double role in this film. The Seventies saw Raakhee peak in her career. Her most notable films in that era were opposite Amitabh Bachchan, the rising superstar.

But before her jodi with the Big B, the temperamental actress delivered a power house performance in Yash Chopra's Daag (1973). That film saw her pitting her talent against the other Bengal tigress Sharmila Tagore. She bagged the Filmfare award for Best Supporting actress for Daag that year. So, the film was the winner in the end. Raakhee put in another remarkable performance in her role as the sole bread winner of a middle class family in Tapasya (1976), opposite Parkishit Sahni. That film went on to win the actress her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress.

By now, she was recognised as a volcano of talent. Her forte was drama and she excelled in dramatic scenes. Even though she could never quite rid herself of her strong Bengali accent, her accented Hindi served her well enough and the Hindi audiences accepted her wholeheartedly.

One of the most important phases of Raakhee's career was linked to the rise of the superstar Amitabh Bachchan. When Amitabh started out, there were few heroines who were able to match his stature and talent. Jaya Bachchan had retired, Sharmila Tagore was on the verge of semi-retirement and the likes of Neetu Singh, Parveen Babi and Zeenat Aman were yet to match him. Raakhee was the best option. The Amitabh-Raakhee duo may not have created the sizzle that Amitabh-Rekha did, but they still formed a very made-for-each-pair on screen. She was all soft and feminine while he was the brooding man. Something definitely clicked and some of the best movies of the Seventies saw them create magic at the box office - Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1977), Trishul (1978), Kasme Vaade (1978), Kaala Pathar (1979), Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981).

Besides these typical masala films, the duo also worked in two very memorable films directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Jurmana (1979) and Bemisaal (1982). There is a lot written about the chemistry between Rekha and Amitabh. But one just has to watch Bemisaal and feel the crackling chemistry between Raakhee and Amitabh. Raakhee was an actress first and hence when Shakti happened in 1982, she was not averse to playing mother to Amitabh.

Afterall, she was cast opposite the great Dilip Kumar in this Ramesh Sippy venture.

Gradually, her appearances as a leading heroine started decreasing. There was the odd Shraddhanjali and Basera (1981), and Paroma made in 1984 by Aparna Sen. But she was gradually moving towards character roles. Her strength as a dramatic actress was in evidence here as well, even when she played mother, be it in Ram Lakhan (1989) or Karan Arjun (1995). Her last film in Hindi was Dil Ka Rishta in 2003. In between, she found time to act in Rituparno Ghosh's Bengali film Shubo Mahurat, opposite old rival Sharmila Tagore and again walked away with the honours --- a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress.

The actress is now retired from films. She makes rare appearances at filmi functions and has become a recluse of sorts. But she can sit happy knowing that she has worked with almost all the top heroes of her time, be it a Rakesh Roshan, a Dharmendra, a Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Dev Anand, Raj Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, the Big B of course, and even Dilip Kumar. She has worked for the best of banners, the Sippys, the Rajshrees, the Chopras and Hriskikesh Mukherjee.

Besides playing the normal heroine roles, Raakhee was never averse to experimenting. Doosra Aadmi (1977) directed by Ramesh Talwar, sees her playing an interesting role of an older woman who creats havoc in the life of a young man. The young man in question is Karan Saxena. He has just married his sweetheart Timsi (Neetu Singh), quite against his father's wishes. Karan is eager to do something on his own and prove a point ot two to his father. He decides to open an ad agency. He needs a good creative head and the only person whose name comes up immdiately is that of Nisha (Raakhee). She is the best in her field, is a freelancer and has definite mind of her own. Nisha is an independent woman who lives by her own rules. Remember that the film is made in the Seventies and so it is quite bold for the heroine to be seen drinking and smoking and enjoying it. Nisha does it all with relish. She is stylish -- printed silk sarees with a sleevless blouse with sunglasses perched on her head. Raakhee looked quite gorgeous in the role and made quite a style statement of sorts at that time.

Nisha agrees to his proposal and starts working for him. The reason is disclosed a little later in the movie. Karan bears a striking resemblance to Nisha's dead boyfriend Shashi Saigal, played by Shashi Kapoor. (Being a paternal uncle of Rishi Kapoor, Shashi did bear a slight resemblance to Rishi and that worked for the premise of the film). Nisha is heartbroken over his death and is yet to get over the entire trauma. When she meets Karan she is struck by his uncanny resemblance to Shashi. And that is the only reason she agrees to his proposal. Karan is in his early twenties while Nisha is in her forties. Karan gets attracted to her and she starts reciprocating.

The director has handled the film beautifully. If it was any other film, it probably would have been called Doosri Aurat and not Doosra Aadmi! But seriously, what is novel about the film is the manner in which it depicts the so-called other woman. Nisha's character is treated with sympathy and compassion. She is blinded by her love for Shashi and just cannot get over him. It also makes a difference that Shashi Kapoor, who plays the role of the dead lover, makes a very charismatic presence in the movie. In the Seventies, Shashi Kapoor had more than half the female population crazy after him. And when you look at his role in Doosra Aadmi, you can probably guess why. So even though the first half of the movie is about the Karan-Timsi romance, once Nisha enters the scene, the focus is on her life.

Nisha instigates Karan and lures him in but clearly does not mean to harm anyone. It takes a lot of tough talking and love by Shashi's best friend, Bhisham (Parikshit Sahni) which finally awakens her to the truth. She realizes that she cannot re live her past with Shashi, with Karan. And especially, when he is married. Both Karan and Timsi emerge from the encounter a little wiser about themselves and each other. The character you have the least sympathy for is that of Karan's. He walks into the silken trap laid by Nisha, despite the presence of Timsi in his life.

The music of the film by Rajesh Roshan is definitely above average and has some exquisite Lata Mangeshkar-Kishore Kumar gems like 'Nazron se keh do' and 'Chal kahin door nikal jaayen'. Like the film, which is about love and romance, the songs by Roshan reflect the mood as well.

The story of the film has been rendered most sensitively on screen. There are no villains in Doosra Aadmi just as there are no villains in life. There are just circumstances. Nisha is no villain but a victim of the circumstances. When she is finally pushed into opening her eyes and taking a reality check by Bhisham, she steps away from Karan. Raakhee is superb in her rendition of this role. She carries of the role of uninhibited, bold Nisha with ?lan. Her expressive eyes bring out the brittle state of Nisha's mind as well. Her heart is in turmoil when she meets Karan. The actress manages to handle and portray the complex emotions of Nisha with great dexterity. Doosra Aadmi will surely remain as one of Raakhee's most mature and seasoned performance ever.

Providing able support to her is Rishi Kapoor. One of the most underrated actors of Hindi films, he is a treat to watch. This man is such a natural actor that he just never seems to be acting. He makes the whole business of acting seem so effortless. No matter how complex the role, Rishi works his magic on it and what comes out is a finely nuanced performance. Neetu Singh is a good foil. But one feels that here character could have done with a little more meat. But perhaps it would need another film to do that. Parikshit Sahni, plays the supporting friend well.

It is to Ramesh Talwar's credit that he is able to impart a compassionate dimension to the clich?d story of a young man and an older woman. A well told tale, there is little fault in the film.

Ultimately, it is Raakhee's film and she carries it on her shoulders with her high-voltage performance as Nisha. She does full justice to her role and the film remains one of those lesser known gems in the annals of Hindi cinema.