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Nuggets of Sholay: Twelve - Kabr Mein Paanv Latke Hona

Nuggets of Sholay #12 — Kabr Mein Paanv Latke Hona

AK Hangal is an actor I admire, no, I worship. In Sholay, his role was that of a blind man, and to practice, he employed a method he called "psycho-technique". He felt what it was to be blind by traversing eons back to the very beginning of life, when blind amoeba swam in dark waters. That helped him get that 'gaze'.

Imam sahab, the character he portrayed, was the conscience of the film and had some memorable dialogues. One of them is the subject of this post.

Muhavra: Kabr Mein Paanv Latke Hona (कब्र में पांव लटके होना)

At 1h 57m, Gulzarilal (the postman) is reading a letter from Mukaitullah (the Imam's brother-in-law) that Ahmed's job has been confirmed and to send him to Jabalpur. Ahmed (Imam's only son) walks in (after having shampooed his hair that day) and implores Basanti (who is just whiling away her time) through mimes to dissuade the Imam from packing him off to Jabalpur.

To make his point, the Imam says, 'Arre bhai ajeeb bewakoof hai yeh ladka. Miyan, main to ab kabr mein paanv latkaye baitha hoon. Tumhare saamne saari zindagi hai. Kab tak mere daaman se bandhe baithe rahoge?' Translated, he says that his one foot is in the grave (English equivalent of the proverb), his whole life is in front of him, and Ahmed should not depend on him.

Main to ab kabr mein paanv latkaye baitha hoon

That was the nugget. Samjhe ke nahin? Agar achha laga to comment kijiye. Agar achha nahin laga to lament kijiye.

Goodbye, aadab and namaste.

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Comments

PRM said…
To put ourselves in the situation we can use the same "pyscho" process AKH used to be blind. Like most people i would have responded by using another muhavara - jitni chadar ho utni painr failani chahiye - so don't try and achieve more than you should..kinda.
May 4, 2020 at 5:18 PM
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