Name: Kamla
Genre: Drama
Duration: 2 h
Rating: 7.1
Cast: Shabana Azmi, Deepti Naval, Marc Zuber

Jagmohan Mundhra's 'Kamla' attempts to explore the issue of slavery and its existence in modern Indian society. The film opens with a knock on the door followed by the sequence where Jaisingh meets a flesh trader to buy a (sex)slave and he chooses a young lady named 'Kamla'. Jaisingh is a workaholic journalist obsessed with exposing the dark truths masked by the lies of politicians. The film starts off very well and convincingly depicts how Kamla is used by Jaisingh and ridiculed by the press. While Jaisingh is obsessed with telling the truth, he forgets his responsiblities as a human being and why it's important to let the truth out. For him, Kamla is just a tool that would help him reach his goal and make his newspaper look good. After a two day long journey Kamla isn't even allowed to take a shower and wear clean clothes because this would interfere with his presentation of the truth. Another interesting angle is the portrayal of the marriage between the journalist and Sarita. Through Kamla, Sarita realizes that she is no different. Like her, she too is a tool that Jaisingh can use at his own will. 

The execution is slightly dated. 'Kamla' has two very beautiful songs. The editing is a little sloppy and it is quite bad towards the end. The ending is preachy and messy. It feels rushed, as if, Mundhra was suddenly pressured to finish off the film in short time. Marc Zuber overacts and sometimes he's unintentionally funny. Deepti Naval is amazing in the title role. With an understated performance she conveys Kamla's vulnerability, naivety and innocence through gesture. Shabana Azmi is equally incredible. Both actresses beautifully depict the relationship between Kamla and Sarita. Their shared scenes are the highlights of the film. Not to forget, A.K. Hangal and Sulabha Deshpande provide fine support.

Mundhra's attempt to tackle issues in some of his films can be appreciated to an extent. 'Kamla' had potential but it is mainly let down by poor writing. I'd still say that it was worth watching only to watch Shabana and Deepti share screenspace.

Hindi cinema, or Bollywood, is celebrated for its vibrant storytelling that blends music, colorful spectacle, action and powerful melodrama. Rooted in Indian culture, these films often feature elaborate song-and-dance sequences, charismatic stars, and themes ranging from family bonds and personal sacrifice to contemporary social issues. Bollywood has become a powerful cultural phenomenon, resonating with audiences around the world.

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The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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An ambitious journalist buys a girl from a village in rural India to expose the existence of flesh trade and embarrass the political elite.

Shabana Azmi, Deepti Naval, and Marc Zuber in Kamla (1984)

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Shabana Azmi and Deepti Naval in Kamla (1984)

Shabana Azmi, A.K. Hangal, and Marc Zuber in Kamla (1984)

Salma Agha, Jag Mundhra, Rajesh Rathi, and Syed Gulrez in Kamla (1984)

Jag Mundhra and Rajesh Rathi in Kamla (1984)

A.K. Hangal, Jag Mundhra, Rajesh Rathi, Marc Zuber, Vikas Mohan, and Amar Sharma at an event for Kamla (1984)

Kamla

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