Movie Analysis: 1942 A Love Story
From the very beginning of Indian Cinema in 1913, the concept of love, romance, passion, often referred to as “Pyaar”, “Mohabbat” or “Ishq” (synonyms for love/ romance in Hindi and Urdu) has been extremely popular. The Indian audiences, love films with epic love sagas, probably because it introduces them to a strong romantic emotion that they have never experienced, but desperately want to. A common way of depicting this strong, almost dreamy, love is through songs. “Ek Ladki ko dekha toh aisa laga”, sung by Kumar Sanu, from the film “1942, A Love Story” is one such song.
“1942, A Love Story”, is a love story between a girl from a Revolutionary family and a boy from a British Loyalist family, set amongst the struggles of Indians against the British. The film involves their familial tussles, which force them to actively take up roles in India’s Freedom Struggle. It also elaborately highlights the concept of forbidden love, with the animosities between the ideals of both their families, which prevent them from being together, until the very end. The film was released on 15th August 1994 (India’s Independence Day) and is directed, produced and written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It stars Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala, supported by Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff, Pran and Danny Denzongpa.
The British came to India (then referred to as “Hindustan”) as traders in the early seventeenth century. They established their presence with the British East India Company in Bengal and slowly monopolized the Indian trade with the help of their military prowess, political intrigue and ruthless ambition. ("Learning Zone." How the British Gain Control of India. BBC, n.d. Web. 7 Jun 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/how-did-the-british-gain-control-of-india/13349.html >.) In 1857, a large majority of Indians revolted against this despotic British regime. The Revolt of 1857 is often, also referred to as the First War of Independence, “The Sepoy Rebellion” or the “ The
“1942, A Love Story”, is a love story between a girl from a Revolutionary family and a boy from a British Loyalist family, set amongst the struggles of Indians against the British. The film involves their familial tussles, which force them to actively take up roles in India’s Freedom Struggle. It also elaborately highlights the concept of forbidden love, with the animosities between the ideals of both their families, which prevent them from being together, until the very end. The film was released on 15th August 1994 (India’s Independence Day) and is directed, produced and written by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It stars Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala, supported by Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff, Pran and Danny Denzongpa.
The British came to India (then referred to as “Hindustan”) as traders in the early seventeenth century. They established their presence with the British East India Company in Bengal and slowly monopolized the Indian trade with the help of their military prowess, political intrigue and ruthless ambition. ("Learning Zone." How the British Gain Control of India. BBC, n.d. Web. 7 Jun 2013. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/how-did-the-british-gain-control-of-india/13349.html >.) In 1857, a large majority of Indians revolted against this despotic British regime. The Revolt of 1857 is often, also referred to as the First War of Independence, “The Sepoy Rebellion” or the “ The