vo Fivcenenunerine Porutar Cuvrune
had links with the metanarrative of universal time. As an illustration,
Roland Emme
SHOLAY AND THE CONGLOMERATE NARRATIVE
Saudagar is rather extreme example, but the scrutiny of other films
'975),for example, is more ‘realistic’
works on the same narrative principles,
id to be instructive. Sholay is one of the
fore does not bear re-
and the Uply; The A
the same way that Saudgear inserts fogmen of Shakespeare into a
parle bee nate fom scraps of Indian mythology: One fuk curious
Parle between the way Sholay borrows’ fons are body of world
ema and an observation made about Sanskrit thence, by one Western
scholar
agefient Seven; The Sere of Santa Vitoria in rack
‘STRUCTURE AND Fora
AN POPULAR Fits Nanearive 39
Fe Sanskrit dramatis show considerable kil in eaving the incidénts ofthe
rut donot show much
FY of theit plays trom
Leone's film is constructed around the great railroad to the West
in keeping with the requirements of Inds
it is constructed in the
The film
the Passage of time, it can be said thar
Separates the Thakur’ tragedy from
This isso although
hues of the Thakur
love story be
surrogate children, 4 new impetus to their
aking them ‘brothers’ I is only the farash love story and
Basanti that
by its logic of vengeance, and this
cxphins why i isthe weakest part of the fy Stil, this sub-narrative40 Fincerenuntine Poputar Curtune
provides the film with its only opportunity for elosure,and it i difficule
Sec eaine a” alternative strategy that would effect this clone more
efficiently.
{hutscterzation of Jai and Viru, The two protageniog a ‘Sholay have
peen described as Tootless and traditionlew’, al ae conclusion has
been tha the are ‘representatives ofthe mercantile capicdng emerging
ma orally jis andVirw’ roodesmness presumably dediene from
em firmly to a ‘context’, but
STRUCTURE AND FoRM tN INoIas Porttan Fig Nanearve 41
ibe Thakur family are sugaested inthe longest of four flashbacks, care
B kaken to avoid showing the younger son and Rog
stern but well:
Sholay extit
nutually exclusive
find a place in the
‘The conglomerate structure of Sholay mak
four major sub-narratives to exist side by side
arma iné them.The tones or moods that dominate ea
narratives vary and whenever the film moves
effect is abrupt. Thakur Baldevme Fivcenerintive Poptrar Conroe
(2ccidenally’on the train and the mood lightens instantaneously eis
anank Ctke the conclsion of Sholay assigning se emotional
“rnewal’ but the relaxation in the mood resute, ‘evidently, from the
sub-narrative being switched,
HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN AND
THE ABSENT ‘FIRST CAUSE’
A more recent but apparently different kind of film that nevertheless
follows the same principles of construction ic Sooraj Barjatya’s Hum
Aapke Hain Ke is film can be regarded as 2
later by the actual wedding. Prem and Nishe hase begun to see more
3nd more of cach other and itis evident from the first moments that
they find each other extremely attractive Neha lays a prank on Prem
but ith miraculous powers, sa
STRUCTURE AND FORM my INDIAN Posutan Fung Nanranve B
an ten the child is born. The Chaudhurys and Nisha ay on in
eas Nath’ home long afer the childs bors and thy oe
community games lke passing the pillow. Py.
"m promises Nisha that
place and at the right time.
Prein Motors (P) Ltd’ also has
iness undertak
4 opening and all continues to be w
At this point however, the loyal family servane Lalla receives bad
Hise and ha to leave but Pooja is financially gore oe
ry bf her that he and Nisha want to marry Pooja is over)
ny Celebrate briefly bu, in trying to get dowmean nn
‘Phone, Pooja slips on the staircase, hurdles downward,
fatally injured,
ince the mourning is over, the family comes recognize the
problem posed by the motherles baby and one welkacig that
Rajesh remarry. An unpleasant aunt Promptly brings
reer bata condition is made thatthe baby mae or tice with the
couple afier the wedding, After som
suggests that as a complete stranger ca
the child, it would make sense
approve of the idea but the ride
consent. Professor Chaudhry
Proposal is made clear, Nisha a
to marry Rajesh, The others
that Nisha herself must give her
roaches his daughter, but before the
‘ust have priority and she
sicides to go ahead, but the loyal family servon
SesPerate application to divinisy. As happen
family dog is miraculously empowered wo
lesage from Nish
inderstands and makes w