Documenting the declining years of an artist or even a common man makes up for an interesting subject of a story. Well, it’s not that joyous when you’re the ‘subject’. And that’s what you experience in Reena Mohan’s 1992 documentary ‘Kamlabai’ that essays the old-age life of Kamlabai Gokhale, one of the first actresses of Indian Cinema. The film was shot when the late actor was 88 years old and she was as charismatic as her early years!
In this 47-minute docu, Kamlabai narrates her life-story, the unfortunate incidents that led her to the world of theatres and drama. It’s a moving film and trust me, by the end of it there’s a lot you take in consciously. Portraying an artist’s life in a documentary is all about his/her career’s highs and lows. However, it is not the same here, Kamlabai very casually expresses her beliefs about the changing society.
Kamlabai recounts the tragedies of her personal life while also talking about her journey on stage and on the screens. She recalls working with Dadasaheb Phalke in the film Mohini Bhasmasur. The best part of the documentary is the oscillating times that set the film in an apt tone. One where Kamlabai talks about her life as an actor and the other being her present state as she lives by herself in Pune.
At 88, Kamlabai seemed mischievous as a kid and also sustains her artistic personality. She delivers one of her films’ dialogues, though it’s not accurate but speaks more of her liveliness. Also, watching her interacting with the filmmaker Reena tells more about Kamalabai’s spunkiness. To be precise, this documentary is a fascinating and moving portrait of Kamlabai’s “not-so-ordinary” life.
Leave a comment