Do aankhen barah haath

Cast : - Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram (V. Shantaram),
Sandhya and Ulhas
Director :- Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram (V. Shantaram)
Writers :- G.D. Madgulkar (dialogue), G.D. Madgulkar (story)
Music :- Vasant Desai
Lyrics :- Bharat Vyas


Recently came across a good movie - National Award winner being Best film, directed by legendary director V. Shantaram. He has also acted in this movie with his third wife Sandhya in lead female role. Writer Gadima (as he is called in Marathi film industry, with his initials) got inspired with the Open Custodian called Swatantrapur and V. Shantaram gave life to the story.

The story line is that a progressive, reform-minded young warden gets permission to take six surly murderers from prison to dilapidated country farm, to rehabilitate it and themselves through hard work and kindly guidance.
The jailer has a singularly innovative plan. Putting his own property, freedom and career at stake and taking his superior's scoffing in his stride, he takes six criminals out of the jail and reforms them into socially productive human beings. The jailer opts for six hard-bitten burly men serving sentences for ruthless murder.
With just a "Mujhe tumpe bharosa hai," the jailer makes the rowdy men responsible for the fate of the experiment. Egging them on with sympathy and with freedom coupled with responsibility, he takes them to an isolated, barren farm which they try to convert into a lush Eden.

But going from 'fined' to 'refined' is not an easy journey. When a toy seller (Sandhya) passes by the farm, there is much raucous eve-teasing from the jailbirds. After eating a pungent meal, the six have a noisy gargling competition.
Jealousies erupt when the jailer compassionately allows one of the prisoners' helpless kids to stay with them. It leads to the resentful mounting of an attempt on the jailer's life which is abandoned at the last minute. The six flee only to return --- their 12 hands feel the jailer's benign yet binding eyes constantly upon them. A comparison is made to the all-seeing eyes of God.

The introduction of the two children further helps humanise the prisoners, as does the kids' relationship with the maternal toy seller. When the farm yields a rich produce, their little Eden has to contend with a devious vegetable merchant and the prisoners' promise to abstain from violence is sorely tested but all six men finally complete their rocky passage to redemption. The film ends with the death of a warden caused by his enemies.

It is with her role as Champa, the scrappy street vendor in Do Ankhen Barah Haath, that we finally get to see her display an earthy sensuality that's otherwise missing , as well as a gift for antic, rubber-faced comedy. Her mannerisms add a touch of colour to the stark look of the film.

V Shantaram with direction plays the central character too. He plays an idealistic, humane jailer. His idealism is not just wooly-headedness. Alert enough to grapple with a prisoner wanting to kill him, the jailer is also pointedly compassionate enough to reach for a bell and not a stick as a means to overpower his assailant. There is an aura which is around the jailer character played by him with lot of depth and gravity.

This is a great movie which touches the hearts of the viewers, one of the best movies by V. Shantaram. Madgulkar's simple story is well presented with good performances by all the actors. Though it seems to be a dictation type, it never bores you even for a minute, rather comes with all the cinematic drama. Black-and-white cinematography plays an important role in displaying the black and white shades of human beings. The director has used shadow lights with an expertness to get the feel of the atmosphere.
The director has captured the sentimental play very well. Small small scenes make you to come down to earth and be nothing but human. This is shown considering all human mindset and the psychology behind it. There is also wry humour portrayed in small small dialogues. The credit goes to Gadima.... :), one of my favorite writer and poet and also to V. Shantaram as a director he has put forth it.