Do Ankhein Barah Haath movie review | Critique

Recently I saw “Do Ankhen  Bara Hath “ after almost  fifty years . Although I did not weep bitterly when Sandhya sang “Aey Malik…..” ,as  I did as school boy but the song again moved me . This film is one of most awarded films of India ,both nationally and internationally It was shot in black and white between his two very successful colour films Jhanak Jhanak Payel Baje and Navrang ,presumably to symbolically portray the gloom of convicts’ life .

Do Ankhen Bara Hath was based on true story of a jailor in erstwhile princely state in Maharashtra , who is convinced that even the hardened  convicts can be changed in to better human being with humane treatment . Initially original writer of the story refused to write the film version doubting the chances of success of the venture , but later co-authored with Shantaram .Like many of his films Shantaram played the male lead opposite his favourite Sandhya in the role of courageous toy-seller. Keshav Datey and Ulhas were in main character roles .Maestro Vasant Desai’s tunes of “Aye Malik … ” and “Sainya Jhooton ka ..” are still hummed after more than half century . Surprisingly the wording of “Aye Malik …” were taken from the morning  prayer of a Pakistani school . 

 The story begins with typically harsh behaviour  of chief jailor and failed attempt on life of the jailor .  Despite of his chief’s advice admonitions and ridicule he insists on , and takes six murder convicts to an open farm , later named Azad Nagar ,with the conviction of changing them into better persons while serving the rest of their prison term . He puts every thing, his job, his property even ready to go to jail as warranty for the success of his experiment .

The experiment as expected ,was not easy from beginning to the end .In beginning , by repeated revolt attempts  by the convicts and in the end by trouble created by the middle man due to the low price of his Azad Nagar  farm produced  vegetables in local market .

Every revolt attempt is subsided due to dedication of  the jailor . Once the convicts revolt turn almost bloody when Jailor allows two small sons of a convict on compassionate ground  There was none to look after the convicts children  besides a very old and frail grand mother .Other convicts want the same favour and on refusal by the jailor they conspire and attempt to kill him .The last phase of trouble came from the vegetable market’s middle man .First he tries to bribe the convicts ,and gets them drunk  Then after realizing their mistakes go to bazaar two sell their produce under the oath not to retaliate under any circumstances .This time they are beaten almost to death . To the utter dismay of the jailor  toy seller bring back them in a very precarious condition .The middle man sends in a herd of ferocious bulls to trample the farm while the jailor was trying to pull the badly injured men to safety ..He had to fight a trampling bull .In the ensuing fight his cloth are struck in bulls horn who ultimately throws the jailor to his death . The fight was real as Shantaram decided to perform “ the stunt ” him self he was almost killed in the process .He lost his eye sight and regained after protracted treatment and hospitalization .

Do Ankhen Bara Hath is a frame by frame master piece .Virtually nothing can be cut from the film .In every sphere Shantaram is at his best . Sandhya who started as vamp in “Parchaien”.

Written by Prof. Naqvi