Massey Sahib (1986) User Reviews

bollywood vs Hollywood

[adverd · 7/10 · 23 October 2005]

i have seen this film in my childhood on DORDARSHAN...! at that time DORDARSHAN use to saw a more artistic film or those film who seeking to be release in cinema-hall..!this kind of film produce by NFDC so it will be cheaper for dordarshan.. Massey Sahib, film based on a Joyce Cary best sailing novel "Mister Johnson"...! even Bruce Beresford had already make film with this title...! & leading cast was none other then "PIERCE BROSNAN 007 " but this film was made in 1990 means before GOLDENEYE...& before India version ...!Mister Johnson was release in1990 & Massey Sahib was release in 1985 it means 5 years after Indian version.. thank god some where we are bit ahead to Hollywood... Pradip Krishen is inspired from Joyce Cary best sailing novel "Mister Johnson"...! he made only minor changes..! but some how Indian version is nice & watchable..! also more artistic rather then commercial..! ARUNDHATI ROY had acted as a AADIWWASI GIRL & without any dialog, but she was fantastic with her face expression..!even that character doesn't required anything else. also staring was Barry John who has worked with Richard Attenborough in GANDHI film & WITH SATYAJET RAY in SHATRANJ KE KHILADI...... so this was his third film in India and on Indian subject. the main character played by Raghuvir Yadav...! he played so fantastically..! more original & realistic..! in other word we feel like, he is a Massey Sahib... on director chair i must say he has done wonderful job also casting is nice...!he casted exactly what the film required..! after this film Pradip Krishen has made several film... his last film was Electric Moon.. since then he is disappear....

A Naipaulian account of life in pre-independence India

[PimpinAinttEasy · 7/10 · 25 December 2013]

MASSEY SAHIB is a harrowing account of the life of a tenacious Indian bureaucrat in pre-independence India. Two forbidden marriages - one of an Indian Christian bureaucrat (who is a Saheb wannabe) to an Aadivasi girl and the other of a British bureaucrat to a Bengali woman are juxtaposed. The film is somewhat Naipaulian - it exposes the corruption and darkness of the Indian soul. It is not too big on characterization. There wasn't much insight into the psyche of the Aadivasi girl.

ARUNDHATI ROY is wonderful in the silent role of the Aadivasi girl. I am not a big fan of RAGHUVIR YADAV but he does do a pretty good job in his role of a wannabe Indian bureaucrat. JOHN BARRY is a fine actor, I am surprised he moved to India. He could have become a big star in Britain. MASSEY SAHEB is definitely worth a watch especially for the beautiful visuals of rural India.

(7/10)

Jiggery Pockery!

[rasheed_node · 10/10 · 20 September 2013]

Indeed, some jiggery pockery is going on as Adam Saab suspects in this great film otherwise how come this film, such a film is, sort of 'side- lined' in such a way! I feel no hesitation in declaring a fact that Massey Sahib is one of the finest films ever made in Hindi language in India. I'm of course not going to whine by saying that 'If such a fine film was made elsewhere in the world, it would have.....' because the film is lauded by the critics, no doubt about that. I rather rue the fact that masses are unaware of this fantastic cinematic work which is made for masses as well as classes, a rarest of the rare occurrence, as we know it. The story of the film is based on a novel named Mr. Johnson' by Joyce Cary. In other words we can say that the novel is Indianised by Pradip Krishen who's directed and written the film. This is Raghuveer Yadav's first feature film & what a performance he has given! No one can forget it, it's a life time performance, really. Full supporting cast has done a wonderful job. I would also congratulate the art director of the movie for his great contribution. From the street level humor to the flight of philosophy, the movie always lands on its feet & how? seeing is believing! That is why probably, this time alone, the Hollywood followed the Bollywood and made Mr. Johnson (1990) after Massey Sahib (1985)!