Enough said. A successful surgeon visiting his past and never realizing the havoc that was caused in the multiple lives (that he genuinely cared for) due to something that he neglected to do. There was a reason of course, but a superficial one which he recognizes too late. The plot revolves around the life and heartbreaking fate of Chanda and her daughter Kajali due to his self-absorption. In the first half Sanjeev presents a master-class of immense acting...you cry when he cries ( he cries only once) but you also cry when he is hit with a proverbial emotional brick. He totally reveals the complex emotional whiplash that he suffers as the details on Chanda and later Kajali' lives are revealed. The last quarter belongs to Sharmeela in the daugher's role. What she does when she finds out the real identity of Sanjeev ....is extremely impactful and masterfully emoted. That scene makes the movie come together in ways that otherwise would not be possible. There are some minor flaws that do not impact the plot....not much is revealed about Sanjeev's current life. Also the peripheral characters in Sanjeev's life are given only a weak presentation although the women in Sharmeela's life are given the needed depth. But they do not distract from the powerful emotionality of the movie....This movie was made more than 40 years ago. It is interesting to think if Bollywood is capable of making this movie again?? possible but perhaps unlikely--and it is not because talents like Sanjeev Kumar may not be available (which may indeed be true)-but primarily that Bollywood "mores" on handling the love stories have changed...watch the movie closely ---and watch what Kajali's only love Kundan does when he loses her. It is a powerful scene in its own right. Would you blame Kundan? How will Gulzar rewrite Chanda's character if he were to write this story today??? same or different? See it and be amazed.

Mausam is a masterpiece. The more you watch it the more you understand it and you start developing a bond with the actors in the film. There are people who debate whether mausam is better than Aandhi or vice versa, although both the films are based on somewhat a similar subject which involves the actors making a mistake in their early life and living through it to the latter part of their life filled with remorse and guilt.I will go with mausam as a better movie than Aandhi mainly because of Sanjeev kumar's acting (not that his acting in Aandhi was bad but the story of Mausam is sanjeev kumar centric) who makes you feel for him and his helplessness as Amarnath Gill. He comes back after 25 years to the place of his love and has not married yet. Gulzaar Saab has left it upon us to think whether amarnath was right or wrong in his decision of not returning at the earliest and it is these moments in the movie that trigger our imagination and establish a bond with the characters. Sharmila Tagore has played a character that you will have in mind whenever you go to Darjeeling. I recommend to see the movie twice and in absolute peace. The songs just suck you even further into itDisclaimer: Watching the movie repeatedly might start to trouble you emotionally ;-)

Gulzar's Mausam tells the story of Dr. Amarnath Gill, who returns to Darjeeling after many years and after a while decides to look for his past love there. Just like Aandhi, Mausam is about a missed opportunity, only that here the separation is inevitable as in Aandhi the pair separated for good and only later realised what they had missed out on, and here, it was unintentional. Mausam is excellent in writing, direction, cinematography and acting. It's authentic to the core, it's beautifully shot, it's emotional and melancholic, and it just presents a moving episode of mainly three characters, while it is mainly seen through the eyes of Amarnath. Wavering between the present and the past through flashbacks, memories and confessions, the story is narrated exceedingly well. Gulzar gives the script a touch of tension and suspense, and several proceedings are completely unexpected and surprising.Gulzar shows his characters going through many trials and tribulations, and yet he never tries to victimise them or dramatise their stories when he presents the motives behind their current state. The movie in large portions works as a character drama, and is a very poetic, intense and atmospheric piece. Moreover, while the casting of one actor in two different roles has often not been justified in Hindi films, in Mausam it is very symbolic actually, showing what a cruel and ironic game destiny has played with Amarnath by taking away his love and making him meet her lookalike daughter who is a completely different person, namely a prostitute. I was very impressed by this part of the film, particularly by the portrayal of the brothel which looks most lifelike and real. You will see none of the mess or the caricature girls one is used to seeing in Hindi movies dealing with prostitution.There can be no doubt about Sanjeev Kumar's extraordinary acting talent and following Aandhi, in which he played a similar part, here too he plays his character's regret and pain with depth and ease. Sharmila Tagore got her best roles in Satyajit Ray films, and Mausam may be one of the best parts she received in Hindi cinema. She is astonishing in both roles although it's the role of Kajri, the daughter which lets her do a full emotional cycle. Not for a single moment in the film did she overdo her part, not the cute young girl, not the foul-mouthed prostitute, not the woman who lost her mental sanity. The transformation of Kajli looks very natural and due credit goes to her. She exudes a warmth and her emotional scenes towards the end, particularly the final scene of her realisation, are amazingly forceful. Among the supporting actors, Dina Pathak and Om Sivpuri play their parts excellently.The film was released after the death of its music director Madan Mohan. I liked his compositions very much and "Dil Dhoonta Hai" is my favourite. The film's ending is very touching, and it provides a great moment of relief and optimism. Mausam is another example of Gulzar's craftsmanship and of his unique storytelling. Just go and watch it.

This movie is a slow-paced drama about broken hearts. The first half an hour can be entirely skipped. The movie takes off when the doctor first sets sight on Kajli. Early in his life, he had ended his love due to shame of professional failure. His lover agonizes about it all her life and dies a lonely death. Her daughter, Kajli, is the product of poverty and a dysfunctional family. She takes to being a prostitute and harbors grudges against her mom's unrequited love, the doctor's betrayal and the society in general. The movie is all about the doctor's efforts to make amends for his past by offering Kajli a family. Kajli's conflicted emotions range from her mocking his fatherly behavior to actually forgiving and accepting him. Her fatalism and near-addiction to her prostitute lifestyle is very well portrayed.The high point of the movie is the song - Dil dhoonta hai. It never fails to bring back images of lost love from bygone years.