When I first saw Sangam back in 1965 on its initial release in Malaysia, I was a young boy whose deep impressions of the film was the lady in a white sari. I saw it again in 1974 on its re release. For the second viewing, it was the music and the songs. Unfortunately I had seen "Bobby" by then and thought all the three leads looked far too matured for the "teenage" and "young" characters they were playing on screen. But that was the trend of those bygone days when older actors played younger roles. It is rare for any musical that every single tune is as enduring to the ears as in Sangam. Only "My Fair Lady' "The Sound Of Music" and "Bobby" (1973) comes to mind. Since then with the convenience of television and now the DVD I had seen watched it once every few years and I revisited the film again last night. The male bonding and the sacrifice of Rajendra Kumar is very Asian and may well be on its way to be extinct. This sense of Asian obligation and moral value was and to some extend still is prevalent is a sense of maintaining a status quo and not rock the boat in a bad situation for want of not turning it worse. It is not a wrong or right decision. Everything that needs to be said about the acting, about the cinematography and its importance in Hindi cinema by taking the musical numbers out of the studios to exotic locations has been elaborated in these pages. What strikes me is the way in which Raj Kapoor with the use of music and only three principal characters hold our attention for more than three hours. All other characters appear briefly solely for narrative development. Although it is not a masterpiece, it is an enduring example of a simple love story (which has been done a million times over); with its chemistry between the characters and its music does not seem dated and still shine above others more than 40 years after its premier.

The story is a little contrived and the acting melodramatic, but the songs make the movie. The songs are really very well situated amidst the beautiful and breathtaking scenery. Vyjantimala's spontaneous dance in the European hotel has never really been successfully duplicated in Indian cinema. It is a classic that was shot in one take I believe. The songs are really and truly memorable and are still heard today in the collections of Mukesh. Also, Raj Kapoor's acting was so effortless and natural in the boat scene where he captures Vyjanitmala and pulls her into his boat. The song is Mehbooba and is terrific. Another excellent song is Mere Prem Patra and the location shot is absolutely stunning and very colorful.

Raj Kapoor, was probably the most co-ordinated of the actors, just watching him, during the song "Her Dil Jo Pyar Karega" he is playing an accordion,singing,dancing and acting when some of his counterparts couldn't walk and chew paan at the same time!!. No wonder this immensely talented actor was known all over globe and was adored as the Indian "Charlie Chaplin". He took a big gamble with a subsequent magnum opus-encompassing the life and tribulations of a Joker-"Mera Naam Joker", almost bankrupting this Producer/Actor/Director known as the flamboyant Showman of Indian Cinema. This Movie was the culmination of many years of his efforts and one of the best he ever made. This celluloid classic was shot extensively in Ootacamund (Ooty-a Heavenly hill station near Bangalore-the song "Oh-Mehbooba" was shot in the Ooty lake), London, Rome, Switzerland. When Sundar (Raj Kapoor)is deemed to be dead, the rekindling of the romance between the erst wile caretaker-friend Gopal (Rajendra Kumar) and Radha (Vijayantimala) starts with barren,desolate and lifeless tree and then, there is this most beautiful scenery of fully blossomed trees-when the music changes from a sullen to a lilting tune coming from a 'Veena' and the subsequent interlude is probably the most romantic song-sequence ever filmed. This was the genius of Raj kapoor at work. He had the greatest ensemble of talent, musicians Shankar-Jaikishan, singers Mukesh and Lata, lyricists Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri,cinematographer Radhu Karmarkar, who enriched this visual splendor. Then there is the guilt ridden flashbacks of Gopal and Radha, when he sings "Dost Dost Naa Raha". This vivacious and talented actress was aptly rewarded with the best actress award. This is a movie, that everything came together, like the Indian "Sound of Music". Raj Kapoor had style, class, and passion for film making that no other film-maker shared. "Sangam" is a flawless Diamond that will shine as a quintessenstial Jewel in the Crown of Indian Cinema.

Gopal (Rajendra Kumar), Sunder (Raj Kapoor) and Radha (Vyjayanthimala) have been friends since childhood. When they become adults, both men fall in love with Radha - she loves Gopal. But Gopal, out of a flawed understanding of friendship and commitment, doesn't dare to speak his mind as Sunder, his best and closest friend, is also in love with Radha and is courting her. Many misunderstandings follow (especially by Sunder who seems to be completely blind to everyone around him and their feelings) that has as consequence that Gopal sacrifices both his love for Radha and her love for him. But the problem of the threesome remains by the close relationship of the two men with each other. Thus the ensuing conflicts can only be solved by a final breakup of this threesome...On the surface a rather exasperating melodrama, but in depth one of the most unsettling stories of traffic in women between males (though I am not sure that the movie was really meant to be that critical). In this story, two men rather sacrifice a woman's happiness (and at least one of them his own) than bringing their own relationship - the emotional depth of which seems to go well beyond "ordinary" friendship - into jeopardy. They indulge in their own martyrdom and commitment to each other, while they use the (ostensibly beloved) woman as a gift to each other and as a proof of their mutual friendship/love. Though she sometimes speaks out her mind in quite a bitter way, she can never get what she really wants, no-one is interested in her feelings and wishes.Though not a perfect film and sometimes even a bit unnerving by the constant misunderstandings in the plot, still very interesting (and unsettling) psychologically. Great food for feminist/gender analysis... :)One of the best parts of "Sangam" is the honeymoon sequence in Europe, that is - in contradiction to the melancholy and fatality of most of plot - very lighthearted, with some pricelessly lovely and funny moments (Vyjayanthimala dancing in sexy "Western" clothing in a Paris hotel room) - and even a kissing scene (though enacted by non-Indians). The playback singers (Mukesh for Raj, Lata Mangeshkar for Vyjayanthimala, Mohd. Rafi for Rajendra) are great as always, the songs are beautiful.