The 1983 film Masoom marked its 35 years recently. And its maker Shekhar Kapur tweeted the poster of the iconic film and shared his memories — “So many people that ‘Knew’ wanted me to change the script of this film. People that were famous, experienced and ‘knowledgeable’. Told me it had no drama, no villain. I was naive, unknown, unskilled, untrained. But rebellious. Thank God for that !”
Masoom, which starred Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi in stellar roles, and Urmila Matondkar, Aradhana and Jugal Hansraj as the child actors, is still counted amongst the well-crafted film with memorable songs like Tujhse Naraaz Nahi Zindagi and Lakdi Ki Kathi.
However, it was also debated in the public domain that the movie is an adaptation of Erich Segal’s 1980 novel, Man, Woman and Child. Soon after Shekhar posted, the debate was revived and the filmmaker slammed for claiming that Masoom was original.
One user wrote, “You should have at least acknowledged that you got ‘inspired’ from another movie. How can you claim it original when it was just an adaptation? Anyways, the lyrics are immemorial and acting will be remembered forever (sic).” Another user commented, ‘Nothing ‘intellectual’ about this inspiration’.
“Masoom was a scene by scene rip off of Erich Segal’s Man, Woman and Child. Not “adaptation”, not “inspired”, but a total copy. The stellar ‘arty’ cast (Shabana, Naseer, kids) and R D Burman’s music elevated the film. And today you’re bashing those “intellectuals”. Shame on you! - another user fumed.
The film was apparently filmed earlier in Malayalam, a year before Masoom was released. Olangal, directed by Balu Mahendra was released in 1982 (won Filmfare awards), before Masoom in 1983. “So all this pretense might have worked for you in ’83 when there was no internet, but it won’t work now,” said one more social media user.
Shekhar rose to fame with Masoom and followed it up with Mr India and Bandit Queen in Bollywood and Elizabeth in Hollywood.
