Mini reviews of two classics famous for their soundtracks.

A) L.B. Films - Anari (1959) Raj Kapoor,Nutan,Motilal,Helen
Directed by: Hrishikesh Mukerjee
Music: Shanker Jaikishan

Good: 1) Movie transfered from original film negative.
2) It's complete
3) Fair transfer with some sharp images & good detail.
4) English Subtitles.
5) Film print in good condition for a movie almost 42
years old,normal wear & tear in print.

Bad: 1) Classic soundtrack totally messed up. Soundtrack
sounds crackling and gargled thru out. At times can't
hear dialouges. Soundtrack problems most irritating
during songs.
2) No subtitles in songs.

B) Himalay Ki goud mein (1965) Mala Sinha & Manoj Kumar
Directed by: Vijay Bhatt, Music:Kalyanji Anandji

Good: 1) Movie is complete
2) transfer from original film source
3) Print is good condition with normal wear & tear.
4) Good color for a movie almost 37 years old.
5) Bright colors & sharp images in some scenes.
6) Mono processed for stereo but Surprisingly clear.
7) English subtitles.

Bad: 1) Uneven colors,color balance problems.
2) Dark scenes lack detail
3) Video could have sharper, images blurry at times.
4) No subtitles on songs.
5) No extras.

*Footnote about HKGM, WEG's earlier DVD release of this title was defective,no sound in the second half,chapter 20 onwards. They have since fixed this problem. So if you intend to buy this from a Desi store check the disc for sound before buying. I got mine from IWeekly and it was fine.

Anari is not recommended due to problems with it's soundtrack. Only a marginal approval for Himalay ki goud mein because of clear soundtrack.

lakeshore



Edited By lakeshore on Jan. 27 2002 at 03:56

hello lakeshore!

are you sure about this??? i don’t recall any indian movie being transferred from their original negative never mind one from WEG!

i have the ANARI; the picture is great, but soundtrack isn't that good.

Thanks for the info on Himalay Ki God Mein; Will try to get it asap.

Have you seen Hariyali Aur Raasta by WEG? And when will they have their website up?

LAKE THANKS FOR THE INFO ON ANARI,VIEWED IT AT THE VIDEO STORE,DIDN'T BUY DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH ITS SOUNDTRACK,TOOK A PASS ON THIS ONE.

Hello,detail and sharpness in some of the scenes in Anari can only come when the transfer source is a film print. I'm no Mr. know it all and but would know when the transfer source is VHS.

If someone says Lake you made a mistake and film negative was not used for Anari's transfer,I will say boy if WEG used
something other than the original print they did do hell of a job fooling me. There is always something new to learn.

lakeshore

Shuman here's a mini review of Haryali Aur rastaa (1964) with Mala Sinha,Manoj Kumar,Shashikala,Om prakash & Helen.

Good: 1) One of the better WEG releases.
2) Movie is complete (160 minutes)
3) Decent transfer with good sharpness images &
& detail.
4) original film print in a fairly good shape for a movie
almost 38 years old. Don't be fooled by wear & tear
scratches in the first 5 minutes after that turns
out to be a decent transfer. Transfered movie
looks like a black & white movie.

5) Mono processed for stereo but surprisingly clean
sound with your normal flaws in the soundtrack
for a movie this old.

6) Shanker Jaikishan at their best.

7) interactive menu, 21 chapters,9 songs (all gems).

Bad: 1) The first 5 minutes of movie filled with scratches
wear & tear in transfer source.
2) As usual dark scenes lack detail.
3) regular hissing & crackling in soundtrack.
4) No subtitles what so ever.

This one I bought in 1999 and for me one of the few decent DVD's released by WEG. Some of WEG's first generation DVD's appeared to be somewhat better in quality but now quality has been compromised for profits.

lakeshore

Lake, I think you have mistaken film print for original negative

lakeshore brather;

firstly thank you for the insight on Hariyali Aur Raasta..

and secondly, as for ANARI goes; i had the VHS tape sometime before i purchased the DVD, it was UNBELEIVABLY SHARP with good sound for VHS. (To be honest, There isn't a hair thin difference between both the VHS&DVD quality.)

May be that is why everyone is doubting the DVD source to be the original negative print.

shuman

Shuman, if WEG used another source besides a movie print,they did hell of a job putting out a decent transfer. Too bad the soundtrack ruined a decent disc. Well if so many of you think transfer source maybe not be a movie print I'm not gonna argue. Hey we can't all be right all the time.

lakeshore

Lakeshore u were right on target with Himalay ki god mein, this one has some of best tunes including mukesh's chand si mehbooba & mein to ek khaab hoon. Thanks for the info. Have you seen shammi kapoor's Rajkumar released by Eros? Lake keep these mini reviews coming.

Mini review of RajKumar (1965) Shammi Kapoor,Sadhna,Pran
Music: Shanker Jaikishan, Directed by: K.Shankar
Released by EROS

Good: 1) Movie is complete (165 minutes)
2) Although mono is reprocessed for digital it's still
provides decent audio. Regular hissing/cracking
in soundtrack but remember movie is almost
37-40 years old.
3) English subtitles.

Bad: 1) Poor transfer,at times images appear to have
green & brown overtones,then feels like you are
movie with vibrant colors then it all goes downhill
Poor color balance,uneven colors.
2) blurry images,video could have been sharper.
3) dark scences require night vision.
4) No subtitles in songs.
5) No extras.
6) Run of the mill transfer,no effort to improve picture
quality.

Verdict: Can't recommend

lakeshore

A footnote about Himalay ki goud mein. Earlier DVD release of this title by WEG was defective,no sound in second half,
chapter 20 onwards. WEG has fixed the problem since. So if you intend to buy this at a local Desi store check the disc for sound (some locals still carry disc from the defective batch). I got mine from IWeekly and it was fine.

lakeshore

Lake thanks for the info,decided to rent Rajkumar,although it's pretty entertaining,quality of this EROS release is rather poor.
Boy Sadhana was really beautiful.

Do you or any one has any info on following Amitabh's movies,
Sanjog,Dharam Imaan,Ganga ki saugandh,parwana and Besharm. R these titles available on DVD? if some of these R on DVD how about a review!

Except Ganga Ki Saugandh all the others listed in your post were big flops.I must say even in bad movies AB was good. Just a bit of info on these;

1) Sanjog: with Mala Sinha,A tearjerker from South,good performances all around and one really good cut by R.D.Burman by Kishore"roop yeh tera". AB marries Mala but fate seperates them,then AB marries Aruna Irani and finds self working for Mala to whom he's still married,both try to keep it a secret until that fateful day!

2) Imman Dharam: A mega flop written by Salim-Javed with Sanjeev Kumar,Shashi Kapoor,Rekha & Helen, who was AB's leading lady in this one.This one is really really bad. Upon it's initial release this one was re-edited and revised from 180 to 160 minutes but nothing could save this turkey.

3) Parwana: AB's earlier effort from 1971 as a baddie with Navin Nischol,Yogita Bali,Helen. rather bad except great tunes by Madan Mohan.

4) Besharam:with Sharmila Tagore,Helen,makers of this one tried to cash in on AB's success following Zanzeer. This one is bad as they come,better forgotten.

5) Ganga Ki Saughandh: with Rekha and Amjad khan. This run of the mill good AB gone bad with a big hit with viewers.

As far as I know none of these are available on DVD.

lakeshore

Lake guy gracias for the info. Except for Ganga ki saughandh
unable to find other VHS titles to rent.