Jurmana

Jurmana has the classic Hrishikesh Mukherjee stamp. It is rooted in simplicity and made on a modest budget. The film belongs to Raakhee. Amitabh plays a playboy with grey shades in his character. The movie was started before he gained his cult status.

Raakhee excels in the role of the simple girl who goes through severe and unnecessary tribulations. Amitabh is subtle and plays his playboy persona with a tongue in cheek element of mischief and exudes charisma. Farida Jalal as the bubbly friend is endearing. Vinod Mehra is the weakest link mainly due to poor characterization. The script is the culprit.

Jurmana's tries to draw its drama from Vinod Mehra's wimpy act compounded by Dr Lagoo (playing Raakhee's father) playing the conservative patriarch who just banishes his daughter without even trying to understand the ambiguous situation she is pushed into. The sequence where Vinod Mehra heaps blame on Raakhee instead of understanding her situation leaves the viewer with no sympathy for him. Given the way Vinod Mehra looks after Dr. Lagoo it almost felt like a bond of misogyny arising from patriarchy.

The music by RD Burman draws heavily from his father's repository. Saawaan ke jhoole pade is a timeless classic.