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| studio = [[Mehboob Studio]] <br /> Natraj Studio
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=
| runtime = 133
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
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'''''Aandhi''''' ({{translation|'Storm'}}) is a 1975 Indian [[political drama]] film starring [[Sanjeev Kumar]] and [[Suchitra Sen]], and directed by [[Gulzar]]. At the time it was alleged that the film was based on the life of the then-Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] and her relationship with her estranged husband, but in reality, only the look was inspired by the politician [[Tarkeshwari Sinha]] and [[Indira Gandhi]].<ref name=hin/> The story is based on a chance meeting of an estranged couple after several years, when wife Aarti Devi, now a leading politician happens to stay in the hotel run by her husband during an election campaign.{{sfn|Lalit Mohan Joshi|2002|p=123}} The movie is noted for its songs composed by [[Rahul Dev Burman]], written by Gulzar and sung by [[Kishore Kumar]] and [[Lata Mangeshkar]].
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==Plot==
J.K. (played by [[Sanjeev Kumar]]) is a Hotel manager. One day he gallantly comes to the rescue of a politician's drunk daughter, Aarti ([[Suchitra Sen]]). Aarti falls in love with J.K. and both get married in a small ceremony. After few years, the married couple face many differences due to which they decide to separate. Years later, J.K. and Aarti meet again when she is an established politician. Despite the separation, both of them feel the closeness but fearing that her name might be tarnished and
But at last when the opposite party holds a rally to defame Aarti Devi and
People believe her and are really impressed by her speech and sacrifice.
J.K. also reaches there and supports her, she is very happy and leaves the spot.
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==Cast==
*[[Sanjeev Kumar]] as J. K.
*[[Suchitra Sen]] as Aarti Bose aka Aarti Devi
*[[Om Shivpuri]] as Chandrasen
*[[Manmohan (actor)|Manmohan]] as S. K. Agarwal
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*[[Om Prakash]] as Lallu Lal, Campaign Manager
*[[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]] as K. Bose
*[[Master Bittoo]] as Aarti's daughter Manu
==Production==
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===Script===
An early version of the film's story was written by veteran screenwriter [[Sachin Bhowmick]], however it did not go well with Gulzar. He had an idea of an estranged couple meeting in a hotel after years, and started developing it. Hindi writer [[Kamleshwar (writer)|Kamleshwar]] joined as the writing crew, as the film started shooting. He later went on to write a full-fledged novel, ''Kali Aandhi'' (Black Storm), which is quite different from the film.<ref name="hi"/> Subsequently, the film was written simultaneously along with another Gulzar film, ''[[Mausam (1975 film)|Mausam]]'' (1975), which was also written by Bhushan Banmali and Gulzar.<ref name="hindu"/><ref name=toi121>{{cite web | title = 'Sir' wouldn't lose her sleep over awards | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Sir-wouldnt-lose-her-sleep-over-awards/articleshow/28981326.cms | date = 18 January 2014 | access-date = 2014-03-24 | work = The Times of India | archive-date = 25 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140125214314/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Sir-wouldnt-lose-her-sleep-over-awards/articleshow/28981326.cms | url-status = live }}</ref> Along with ''[[Khushboo (1975 film)|Khushboo]]'', ''Aandhi'' also released in the same year; 1975 proving to be the most prolific for director-screenwriter Gulzar's career.<ref name="hindu13">{{Cite web
===Casting===
The lead role of Aarti Devi was offered to actress [[Vyjayanthimala]], who refused as she was fazed by physical resemblance of her character with Indira Gandhi. Later in 2011, she recounted ''Aandhi'' as one of few films she regretted not doing besides ''[[Mr and Mrs 55]]'' (1955) by [[Guru Dutt]] and ''[[Bandini (film)|Bandini]]'' (1963) by [[Bimal Roy]], "I admired Indiraji (Gandhi) so much so that I got cold feet when the role was offered to me."<ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111127/spectrum/book5.htm | title =From Naagin to nritya
In the early 1960s, director Gulzar had approached Suchitra Sen, with screenplay for a film to be produced by Sohanlal Kanwar, however when she suggested some changes which Gulzar didn't agree upon, the film never got made. For film ''Aandhi'' producer [[J. Om Prakash]] insisted upon Gulzar to approach Sen again and actor Sanjeev Kumar was also keen on working with Sen. This time when the new script was done, Gulzar went to meet her in Kolkata, she agreed without any script issues, resulting in a ''casting coup''. In fact, Sen now promised Gulzar to not suggest any changes, and she stuck to her promise all through the filming.<ref name="hindu"/><ref name=toi121/> For the role Aarti Devi's estranged husband [[Sanjeev Kumar]] was already cast, who had previously worked in Gulzar's ''[[Koshish]]'' (1973), again as an older man. Kumar, one of the finest actors of his generation, went on to collaborate with Gulzar in numerous films, like ''Mausam'' (1975), ''[[Angoor (1982 film)|Angoor]]'' (1981) and ''[[Namkeen]]'' (1982).{{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|p=97}}
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| caption2 =<small>"Tum Aa Gaye Ho" was shot around [[Pari Mahal]] gardens, Srinagar.</small>
}}
Like most of Gulzar's films, including ''Mausam'' and ''[[Ijaazat]]'', the narrative of Aandhi also unfolds through various [[Flashback (narrative)|flashbacks]]. {{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|p=220}}<ref name="RahejaKothari1996">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HixlAAAAMAAJ|title=The Hundred Luminaries of Hindi Cinema|publisher=India Book House Publishers|year=1996|isbn=978-81-7508-007-2|page=103|author1=Dinesh Raheja|author-link=Dinesh Raheja|author2=Jitendra Kothari|access-date=10 October 2016|archive-date=2 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902055325/https://books.google.com/books?id=HixlAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was almost shot together with ''Mausam'', with Sanjeev Kumar playing the lead of an old man in both the films. Though Aandhi was released first, it ran into political controversy and portions of it has to be reshot, meanwhile Mausam was completed and released.<ref name="hindu">{{Cite web
==Themes and influences==
In her memoir, daughter Meghna mentioned that Gulzar's wife Rakhee had once said to him, "Agar aap shayar na hote, to bade hi ordinary hote" (If you weren't a poet, you would have been very ordinary), this line was paraphrased and spoken by Aarti Devi to her husband in the film. {{sfn|Meghna Gulzar|2004|p=168}} The film looks at the life of a career-minded woman in the political arena, which is large dominated by men. Aarti inherits the legacy of her ambitious politician father, and comes in conflict with her role as dutiful wife. Soon she has to make choices to resolve the conflicts, and part ways with her husband, giving career rather duty as a daughter precedence over her personal life. When they meet again after nine years of separation, the dominating personality created under influence of her father has mellow and wisdom risen and she sees what she has missed. Yet she finds herself at a choice point once again, should she give up her political career or settle for matrimonial life.<ref name="Madangarli"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/gulzar-aandhi-not-just-that-film-on-indira-gandhi-sanjeev-kumar-suchitra-sen-explore-relationships-8017379/|title=Gulzar's Aandhi is not just 'that film on Indira Gandhi', Sanjeev Kumar-Suchitra Sen explore how lack of ambition can ruin relationships|date=9 July 2022|access-date=10 July 2022|archive-date=10 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710005431/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/gulzar-aandhi-not-just-that-film-on-indira-gandhi-sanjeev-kumar-suchitra-sen-explore-relationships-8017379/|url-status=live}}</ref> Aandhi takes on a feminist theme, also taken up in Ray's ''[[Mahanagar]]'' before, as it questions the price women often have to pay for political aspirations or career aspiration for that matter, when her unambitious hotel manager husband refuses to support.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sûrya India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Vo8AAAAMAAJ|year=1989|page=71|publisher=A. Anand.}}</ref>
It also satirizes the political opportunism in Indian democracy, where politicians visit the common man only every five years, at the time of elections. Through the lines of the song "Salaam kijiye aali janaab aaye hain, ye paanch saalon ka dene hisaab aaye hain. (Bow to the masters.. They have come after five years...).<ref name="Madangarli">{{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|author-link=Bhawana Somaaya|author2=Jigna Kothari |author3=Supriya Madangarli |title=Mother Maiden Mistress|date=17 April 2012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dtec0Ykfo1sC&pg=PA1973-IA1|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|isbn=978-93-5029-485-7|pages=1973}}</ref>
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The film released in February 1975 amidst controversy, as rumours abound that it was based on the life of Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]]. Some of film's posters also hyped the similarity, with lines like, "See your Prime Minister on screen" and "the story of a great woman political leader in post-Independence India", were featured in a film magazine. Eventually, the film was given a go-ahead after it was seen by two staff members and then [[Minister of Information and Broadcasting (India)|
Information and Broadcasting minister]], [[I.K. Gujral]]. After the release, similarity was seen in the dressing and mannerism of lead Aarti Devi, played by Suchitra Sen and Mrs Gandhi, including the [[saree]]s and streak of white hair. During the June [[Elections in Gujarat|Legislative assembly election]] campaign in Gujarat, some opposition politicians showed scenes of the film, depicting Aarti Devi smoking and drinking. As the film gained momentum, some ambitious exhibitors even started promoting the film with the line, "See Indira Gandhi in Aandhi", by now film was openly courting controversy, despite being only a mild satire on politicians. The film was eventually banned after 26 weeks after its release.<ref name="hi"/><ref name="Vittal">{{cite book|author=Anirudha Bhattacharjee Balaji Vittal|title=R. D. Burman: The Man, The Music|date=21 July 2012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tg49WV0j0IAC&pg=PT25|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|isbn=978-93-5029-236-5|page=25}}</ref><ref name="Vasudev1983">{{cite book|author1=Aruna A. Vasudev|author2=Philippe Lenglet|title=Indian Cinema Superbazaar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CzQAAAAMAAJ|year=1983|page=194|publisher=Vikas|isbn=978-0-7069-2226-4|access-date=10 October 2016|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901092943/https://books.google.com/books?id=8CzQAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> In June [[The Emergency (India)|State of Emergency]] was declared in India by Mrs. Gandhi and on 12 July despite heavy press censorship, ''[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]'' managed to carry the headline on its front page, "Screening on Aandhi banned".<ref name="Kanungo2001">{{cite book|author=Chitra Kanungo|title=Freedom Under Assault|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A4KoSCutpAcC&pg=PA133|year=2001|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-7648-226-4|page=133}}</ref> Gulzar who had then taken the film to [[Moscow International Film Festival]] got the news of the ban prior to the screening. He was also informed that the film publicity posters be taken down and the prints sent back.{{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|p=425}}{{sfn|Lalit Mohan Joshi|2002|p=44}}
Subsequently, while ''Mausam'' was being premiered in December 1975, portions of Aandhi were being reshot.{{sfn|Meghna Gulzar|2004|p=78}} It included the controversial drinking scene and to establish the fact it was not a biopic, a scene with Aarti Devi looking at the framed image of Indira Gandhi tells her father that she wants to serve India like Mrs Gandhi, "Woh meri ideal thi" (She is my ideal) was inserted.<ref name="hi">{{Cite web
==Critical reception==
Some critics, including [[Subhash K. Jha]] have drawn thematic parallels between Indira Gandhi and her father [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] as depicted in the film also references to their personal lives. Also the role of Sanjeev Kumar, having shades of Mrs. Gandhi's husband.<ref name="Prasad1998">{{cite book|author=M. Madhava Prasad|title=Ideology of the Hindi Film: A Historical Construction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ|page=140|year=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press, Incorporated|isbn=978-0-19-564218-6|access-date=10 October 2016|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806001954/https://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JhaBachchan2005">{{cite book|author1=Subhash K. Jha|author2=Amitabh Bachchan|title=The Essential Guide to Bollywood|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8u9kAAAAMAAJ|page=1974|year=2005|publisher=Lustre Press|isbn=978-81-7436-378-7}}</ref> All through the controversy, Gulzar denied any connection with Indira Gandhi, it was only after she lost the national elections in 1977 and Janata Party came to power, did he admit, "Yes, the film was made with Indira Gandhi in mind". Sanjeev Kumar on his part said, only the [[characterisation]] of his role was based on [[Feroze Gandhi]].<ref>{{citation |title= Aandhi |page=75 |year=1977 |volume=98, Part 2 |work=The Illustrated Weekly of India }}</ref>
==References==
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[[Category:1975 films]]
[[Category:1970s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:
[[Category:1970s feminist films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]▼
[[Category:Films scored by R. D. Burman]]
[[Category:1970s political drama films]]
[[Category:Works about the Emergency (India)]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Films about politicians]]
[[Category:Films shot in Jammu and Kashmir]]
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[[Category:Films with screenplays by Gulzar]]
[[Category:Films directed by Gulzar]]
[[Category:Political controversies in India]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Indira Gandhi]]
[[Category:Political controversies in film]]
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