The devastating tales about father-son relationships feature in two notable movies, writes Devika Bai
TARAS Bulba and Hassan were two of the most memorable fathers to grace the silver screen. The men were different in many ways.
Time separated them. Taras Bulba lived during the 1830s while Hassan the 1950s. Taras Bulba roamed the grassy steppes of Russia while Hassan lived in a quaint village in Malaya. The former was a practising Christian, the latter a devout Muslim.
They have separate lifestyles too. Taras Bulba, a Cossack, was war-like, proud, rode roughshod and given to drinking while Hassan, a Malay, was genteel, humble, peace-loving and a teetotaller. While Taras Bulba was a warrior, Hassan was a musician.
But they had one thing in common: They had sons. And, like all proud fathers, had lofty dreams for them. So what happens when they see their sons’ lives spiralling out of control?
The patriarchs’ devastating tales are told in two father-centric movies: Taras Bulba and Anakku Sazali (My son Sazali). Taras Bulba was nominated for an Oscar and Anakku Sazali won P. Ramlee the Best Male Actor Award, at the 4th Asian Film Festival in Tokyo.
In their own ways, Bulba and Hassan epitomise what fatherhood is all about.
TARAS BULBA (1962)
Iconic actor Yul Brynner plays the title role of Taras Bulba in the movie. Tony Curtis and Perry Lopez were his screen sons, Andrei and Ostap.
Bulba, an officer in the Ukraine Cossack army, fights valiantly with his Polish allies against invading Turks and defeats them. But after gaining victory, the Poles double-cross and suppress the Cossacks. Swearing vengeance against the Poles, Bulba returns to his home in the steppes to start a family. He showers his sons with love and is a friend to them. As a warrior, Bulba instils in his sons a sense of pride, bravery and loyalty, hoping that one day they too would be revered by other Cossacks like he was.
Dutiful father that he is, Bulba sends his sons to Kiev for a good education. But, unfortunately, Andrei falls in love with a Polish noblewoman. Because he is a Cossack, the ruling Poles revile him and ultimately force him to flee Kiev for home. Just then, Bulba takes up his sword again, this time to vanquish the Poles for good. He calls upon his sons to join him in battle.
In the heat of combat, Bulba espies Andrei betraying the Cossacks and fighting for the Poles to gain their sympathy and the Polish noblewoman.
Enraged by Andrei’s treason, Bulba confronts him: “My son, why? Why? The day I plunged you into the river to give you life, I loved you as I loved the steppes. You were my pride! I gave you life. It is on me to take it away from you.”
Duty-bound, Bulba shoots his son to death.
ANAKKU SAZALI (1956)
In this Malay-language film, screen idol P. Ramlee portrays the dual roles of father (Hassan) and son (Sazali). Versatile actress Zaiton plays the mother, Mahani.
Hassan and Mahani have great ambitions for their unborn child. But Mahani dies during childbirth, leaving a grieving Hassan to bring up Sazali alone.
Hassan, a violinist, dotes on his son. He even composes a song especially for him and sings it to him every time he puts the child to sleep (watch the scene at www.youtube.com/watch?v>2iAcTSmwJv8).
As a good father, Hassan ensures Sazali is well-dressed, well-fed and has proper schooling. Above all, he gives Sazali all his love and support.
So much so, when Sazali commits misdeeds, he is never harsh on him but only gives him advice. And so the pampered Sazali gets away with his misdemeanours.
As he grows older, Sazali starts to lie, play truant and steal. After leaving home, the now grown-up incorrigible Sazali graduates to stealing from jewellery stores.
Inevitably, he becomes a gang leader without Hassan’s knowledge. When Sazali’s despondent girlfriend commits suicide because he refuses to marry her although she’s pregnant, Hassan is furious.
Soon after, Sazali suddenly appears at Hassan’s doorstep and says he wants to spend the night in his father’s home. Actually, Sazali needs to hide from the police who are looking for him after his jewellery heist goes wrong.
The next morning, while Sazali is asleep, Hassan reads about his heist in the newspaper. Torn between love for his son and his duty as a father, Hassan finally plucks up his courage to do the right thing. He picks up the phone and calls the police.