Whatever happened to Libaas?

[ani...@yahoo.com]

Hello,

Does anyone know whatever happened to Gulzar's directorial venture
Libaas? Has its fate been permanently sealed or is there any hope of
seeing it in near or far future?

Best,

Anirban.

[harv...@hotmail.com]

During a chat, when asked this question Gulzar replied that one should
ask the producer and not him. It would have been nice if the film oculd
get atleast a video release.

Pramod

[V]

I would like to watch that movie if it was ever released. I think it
was shown in some film festivals in delhi, but not much beyond that.

[Pavan Jha]

It might come out soon.. keep your fingers crossed..

btw the same story is being staged these days as "Kachche Lamhe" in
mumbai (directed by salim arif, dialogues by javed siddique)..

Here is an old writeup of mine from gulzarfans archives for those
interested in details of the film..

*-*-*-

"Libaas remains one of the most special Gulzar movie for me... Its an
Unseen film for me, still I can feel the film like any other Gulzar
films.. I have read the film [It is based on a short story of Gulzar
titled "Seema" published in Ravi Paar] and I have also listened the
film [thru the songs and dialouges on Weston cassettes].. It was as
good as seeing the film...

The intesity of script and chracters can be felt in the dialouges...
Three main characters Sudhir [played by Naseer.. brilliant again as a
Theater Director who puts work at the top priority and treat relations
as secondary], Seema [Shabana Azmi, the rebel wife of Naseer, She is
more a character for the director husband than a wife]
and TK [Raj Babbar, as an old friend of Naseer, [total contrast ot
Naseer's character] who visits naseer after long.. woos shabana.... he
is more of a bubbly character]

The story starts with a theater group which Naseer is struggling to
setup. Shabana is Naseer's wife and also leading lady in his
production.

("naatak me bhi pati patni ka role karte hain aur ghar pe bhi.. bore
nahin ho jaate ek hi role ko karte-katre - Utpal Dutt playing asr.
theater artist dubbed effectively by Johny Lever after his death")

Naseer treats shabana as a theater artist and a character more than a
wife.

"Suno, khana banana bhool jaaogi to bardaasht kar doonga..apna dialogue
bhoologi to kabhi maaf nahin karoonga"

The film carries on with funny ans serios moments with Naseer and his
drama team in the beginning...basically an introduction to the
characters in the first half which completes with the entry of Raj
Babbar...

The story developes and restricts to the three main characters, their
egos, the bondage and the breaks in relationship. Shabana walks out of
Naseers life with Raj Babbar... What happens next... Let it be
secret...

Music makes Libaas more special film.. as it was the last film that
Pancham da did with Gulzar... Also it was only the second and the last
time Pancham da sang with Lata [for kya bura hai kya bhala] [BTW it was
only the second time when Pancham da sang with Lata] ...

Music of libaas is a kind of a sequel to Ijaazat... The album contains
only 4 songs, all top class... including a superb Pancham composition
"Sili Hawa Choo Gayee", a typical gulzar song, beautifully rendered by
Lata... "Khamosh sa afsana" a duet by Suresh
and Lata... "Phir kisi shaakh" is the next version of "Khali haath
shaam aayee hai" in the mood and rendering... and "Kya bura hai kya
bhala" is a lively group number [a bit of qawwali touch]...

Libaas was never released in theators though it was shown in a couple
of film festivals around 94-95....

"Jitne bhi tay karte gaye, Badhte gaye ye faasle
Meelon se din chhod aaye, saalon si raat leke chale" [very appropriaty
in reference to its release also!]

We all hope it will see the light of the day.. some day... amen!

just another gulzar fan
Pavan Jha
"

[ani...@yahoo.com]

Thanks a lot Pavan for a wonderful post. And the songs ...they are so
evocative too ..... like a lot of other Gulzar-RD renditions, the
words and the music intertwin into each other and take the whole
compositions to an entirely different ethereal surreal level and
................ oh well, I better not try to describe this in words!
One simply has to listen. Yes, you are so very right. Music makes
Libaas a very very special movie and my interest in it stems almost
solely out of that.

But yes, lets keep the hope alive!

Best,

Anirban.