Nuggets of Sholay — Fifteen: Baap ke Kandhe Pe Bete Ka Janaza

Nuggets of Sholay — Fifteen: Baap Ke Kandhe Pe Bete Ka Janaza

AK Hangal is an actor I deeply admire, and in Sholay, his portrayal of Imam Sahab was unforgettable. One line, delivered at a pivotal moment, captures the essence of duty and burden in a village torn between fear and responsibility.

Muhavra: Baap Ke Kandhe Pe Bete Ka Janaza (बाप के कंधे पे बेटे का जनाज़ा)

This line comes when Ahmed's body is brought back to the village. The villagers are quarreling over who will now protect the village from dacoits. Imam Sahab steps in and calmly says, "Do not carry this burden. Do you know which is the biggest burden? Baap ke kandhe pe bete ka janaza". Literally, it means the greatest burden is the death of a child, carried even by a father. In context, Imam Sahab emphasizes perspective: compared to such a tragedy, other disputes are small.

This phrase is rarely used outside of this scene but resonates deeply as a proverb about the weight of responsibility and human suffering.

Previous Nuggets

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

Goodbye, aadab and namaste.

Comments

Nuggets of Sholay: One - Oont Pahad Ke Neeche

Nuggets of Sholay #1: One Oont Pahad Ke Neeche Nuggets of Sholay #1: One Oont Pahad Ke Neeche (ओँट पहाड़ के नीचे) I must confess, starting this series of Nuggets of Sholay has been immensely joyful. Every line I researched, every scene I analyzed, brought me closer to the genius of Salim–Javed. Muhavra: One Oont Pahad Ke Neeche (ओँट पहाड़ के नीचे) This proverb literally means “a camel under a mountain,” describing something impossible or absurd. In Sholay , this phrase was delivered with perfect comic timing. The story behind the muhavra: Once upon a time, there was a proud and arrogant camel. He strutted around the village, convinced that no creature could be taller, stronger, or more important than him. Every other animal bowed, every human smiled nervously, and the camel’s ego swelled bigger with each passing day. One day, the camel’s owner decided it was time for...

Nuggets of Sholay: Three - Loha Garam Hai, Maardo Hathoda

Nuggets of Sholay #3: Loha Garam Hai, Maar Do Hathoda | Sholay Proverb Explained Nuggets of Sholay — Three: Loha Garam Hai (लोहा गरम है, मार दो हथौड़ा) The third nugget in the Nuggets of Sholay series is another muhavra — and a shining example of Salim–Javed’s brilliant writing. Muhavra: Loha Garam Hai, Maar Do Hathoda literally means “Strike while the iron is hot.” Timing is everything — the English equivalent would be “Seize the moment.” In the film, the line appears around 1h 49m . Girija from Pipri brings word that Gabbar’s nomadic arms suppliers — Hira aur uske saathi — have been spotted nearby. Thakur predicts Gabbar’s next move and says, “ Loha garam hai, maar do hathoda. ” The phrase originates from the craft of the lohar (blacksmith) — who must strike the iron while it’s red-hot. Once it cools, it loses its shape. The brilliance of Salim–Javed Why Thakur uses it: He senses the perfect timing. Who bri...

1/28: Why I loved Pather Panchali (1955)

Pather Panchali (1955) Review | Satyajit Ray’s Poetic Debut Pather Panchali (1955): Satyajit Ray’s Poetic Debut Why on earth had I not watched any Satyajit Ray film till now? Puzzles me. But I'm setting out to watch every film made by the great man. Pather Panchali is my kind of cinema. Simple, yet complex. Subtle, yet bold. Rambling, yet assertive. The story is quite loose and banal, but it is the telling of the story that makes an impact. What drew me to the film is the play of characters, and the attention to detail. Your heart goes out to each of the pivotal characters — Sarbajaya , the forced matriarch; Durga , the dreamy daughter; Apu , the boy turning into a man; and Indir , the penniless beggar. Each of them tells their own story, not through words, but through their eyes and body language. Usually, in a film, you can make out the star of the show, but you can't r...

What Sachit Thinks

Search This Blog