How I loved this movie as a kid! I remember giggling helplessly each time it had a re-run on the telly. So when I spotted this old favourite in a DVD shop last time I was in India, I picked it up to see if it was still giggle-worthy. I was not disappointed. Mehmood, Kishore Kumar, Om Prakash, Mukhri and Keshto Mukherjee provide enough laughs to keep one well amused. In fact, the comedy is so good that one quite forgets to watch the lead pair of Sunil Dutt and Saira Banu! A few irrelevant observations:
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Directors liked putting leading ladies on cycles (remember Nutan in Anari?) while nowadays they prefer zippy sports cars. I must say that their elaborate coiffeur is possibly safer on the cycles..
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Showing a leg – just knee-down – when stuck out of bubbles in a bathtub was considered racy!!
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The lady prefers a man who cannot sing (she likes music), who repeatedly lies and cheats, has no work/earnings and who is a village bumpkin with no smarts to a man who can sing and is devoted to her! Just for a more pleasing face?? But she too is manipulative…oh well! The Filmi-Goddess-of-Superficiality should be well pleased.
The music still sounds great. Composer R.D.Burman does a great job and the lyrics by Rajendra Krishan are on the nose.
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Main Chali Main Chali – Asha Bhonsle, Lata Mangeshkar. Quite a light and happy little song; and it is nice to hear the two sisters together.
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Sanwariya – Manna Dey. Manna Dey is always competent but the song doesn’t leave an impression.
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Bhai Batur – Lata Mangeshkar. Lata sounds young and fresh and lilting melody is pleasing.
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Mere Samne Wali Khidki Mein – Kishore Kumar. Generations of Roadside Romeos have benefited from this useful little ode to the Girl in the Window! What’s funny is that Sunil lip-syncs Kishore better than Kishore does himself!
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Mere Bhole Balam – Kishore Kumar. A very amusing song and a comic scenario. You can hear the influence of Bengali folk traditions. Kishore Kumar of course has great timing.
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Ek Chatur Naar – Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey. How talented are Manna and Kishore!! The vocal acrobatics they indulge in!! I believe quite a bit of this song was impromptu and that there was a bit of rivalry between Manna and Kishore. If so, its only adds to the quality of the song. And the picturisation with Mehmood and Kishore Kumar at their rollicking best – what can I say!!
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Sharm Aati Hai Magar – Lata Mangeshkar. An excellent song, a showcase for Lata’s talents. I only object to the आपके क़दमों bit..for God’s sake Saira, Get A Life!! But I guess one has to forgive lyricists of yesteryears. They evidently didn’t know better.
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Kehana Hai – Kishore Kumar. Oh how wonderful Kishore sounds! And when he sings तुम ही तो लाई हो जीवन में मेरे प्यार प्यार प्यार I just melt!!
There are three songs which I love but of course I have no choice but to present Ek Chatur Naar for the goofball act of Mehmood and Kishore ! For those who want to listen to the whole album, here is a link.
Music To My Ears 