Art mimics life in Abhiman (1973) starring Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri
Everyone loves a bit of filmi gossip. I have been meaning to watch the film Abhiman (1973) ever since I discovered sometime in elementary school that Amitabh Bachchan was actually married (and now an old man) and to none other than Jaya Bhaduri. Like other Bollywood classics that are spicily known to mimic life itself, such as Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) or Silsila (1981), Abhiman too has a wealth of behind-the-scenes parallels.
The film tells the story of a husband and wife singing duo—and the rift that forms between them as her career far overshadows his. Before I discuss the gender stereotypes that run rampant in this film, did you know that Abhiman is rumored to be based upon real-life singer Kishore Kumar’s relationship with his first wife Ruma Guha Thakurta? Given that Kishore sings half the songs of this film, it gets pretty juicy. Ruma was a hugely successful Bengali singer and actress (not to mention the niece of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray!) whose career was soaring during the time of their marriage. Ruma’s songs were super hits in the Bengali industry and she acted in more than 100 films, starting as a child actress. Kishore and Ruma married in 1951, had a son together Amit Kumar (who was a reasonably successful playback singer himself in the 80s), but the two divorced in 1958. In fact, Kishore proposed to his next wife Madhubala while still married to Ruma. Don’t you just love it?
Kishore Kumar with his first wife Ruma Guha Thakurta and their son Amit Kumar (circa 1953).
The gossip gets even better. After filming Abhiman, Jaya Bhaduri edged out of the acting industry to play housewife while Amitabh continued to make some of his greatest hits—the reason? At the time, people strongly suspected it was in order to prevent art mimicking real life! She was afraid of her own marriage suffering the fate of the marriage they had portrayed together on screen. Whether that’s completely true or not, we certainly don’t know—but their rocky relationship (and Amitabh’s later affair with Rekha) was certainly a hot subject of tabloids for years.
Furthermore, Jaya actually went to Lata Mangeshkar studio recordings for research for her character. In the film she mimics how Lata used to hold her saarii and stand on stage. You might even go so far as to say that this film represents what might have happened to Lata Mangeshkar herself had she married! Ah, the drama.
As far as the movie goes, beyond pure gossip value and an amazing soundtrack, Abhiman doesn’t do much but make your blood boil in one long heteronormative manifesto.
Jaya Bhaduri plays a rising singer in Abhiman (1973)
Amitabh can only be happy when he is the bread-winner and when praise of his wife reflects a praise of his decision to marry her. But when Jaya is recognized as an individual talent, he is unable to bear the competition—she’s a better singer, brings in better money, and let’s face it, better looking. So naturally, being a modern man, he turns to alcohol and the company of other women. Meanwhile, the pure-hearted wife stays a social recluse in her husband’s house, yearning for his return.
Amitabh Bachchan plays a jealous husband in Abhiman (1973)
The film takes an interesting twist—Jaya miscarriages and Bollywood simplifies this emotional tragedy by turning Jaya into a living statue whose only hope for recovery will be to hear her husband sing again. After all, that was her only wish in life, right? Amitabh even goes so far as to suggest electric shock therapy for her. I almost died.
The film’s overt “male gaze” turns Jaya into unintelligent object of curiosity and manipulation–a far cry from that vibrant and talented woman who once threatened her husband’s social sphere. There’s something disturbing about this message, but hey, what do I know. If you’re looking for a far more realistic portrayal of a similar situation, check out Judy Garland’s performance in A Star Is Born (1954), but otherwise enjoy S.D. Burman’s sublime soundtrack without tainting it with what Abhiman will attempt to pass off as completely normal gender expectations of the period.
– Mrs. 55
Jaya Bhaduri and Amitabh Bachchan struggle to save their marriage in Abhiman (1973)
Mr. & Mrs. 55 - Classic Bollywood Revisited! 
Your post is on a very interesting subject! You describe how gender norms are perpetuated in the film very nicely! However, would you like to share your opinion about whether Bollywood movies should perpetuate gender norms or attempt to challenge them?
Ah, an interesting question! I don’t necessarily think that any filmmaker should attempt to conceal something negative about their own society if doing so could harm their own population. That’s one of the great powers of the movies–history has shown that what is portrayed on screen can have a great impact on shaping society in many ways. So if there were gender disparities in the 70s in Bombay (yes, there certainly were), then I think it would be correct to incorporate them into the film–whether as commentary or simply to add verisimilitude to the setting. However, Abhiman, in my opinion, twists these tensions with such histrionics that the effect is more farcical than critical.
Of course, all Bollywood movies can’t and probably shouldn’t attempt to turn their story in a socio-political message, but when such a theme is so central to the heart of the film, it’d be nice if it was done with less distracting melodrama.
But I’m open to other opinions 😉
Unfortunately society has locked Indian woman into too many victims roles, long suffering wife, vamp,career woman who can’t have the family, Mother who suffers, etc, and they all seem to suffer without the male in their life or are drunk. But by doing so it doesn’t allow women to be seen as strong woman who can be good and vital to the community without giving up values and careers which many woman are really trying to do and are doing in this day and age. It may not have been true in that age I agree. The freedom of choice and strong supportive males also seems to be lacking in Bollywood.
I agree! The role of wife and mother often became an unpleasant stereotype in classic Bollywood films that, as you say, made it hard for a woman to be shown as strong and powerful outside those realms (although of course many films existed glorifying the purity and dedication of the mother-wife). Stay tuned for more posts exploring this subject–and on the songs that fortified them!
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life imitating art………………………..in fact jaya went on to share an award with dimple-the academy could not ignore that powerhouse performance-and resulting in an industry first