After reviewing this film over and over again, I feel I have to make a lot of changes to this post again.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best Indian comedies joining the list of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, and AAA (the latter two which I haven't seen). The oldies were the true meaning of Indian cinema and this was one of them. Led by 3 comedic aces, Om Prakash, Mehmood and Kishore Kumar (my favorite singer by the way), a buffoonish Sunil Dutt and a irritating Saira Banu and you have a farce! A farce in its own right! Bhola (Sunil Dutt) is a young simpleton living with his pedophile uncle (Om Prakash). He follows the Prem Shastra book very serious, until he realizes that he has wasted a year of married life and must get married before it's too late. Suddenly the line begins to shake and he thinks he's caught a fish. Only he's fished out a girl named Bindu (Saira Banu). He falls head over heels for her only to be pushed into the lake!! Later, he discovers about his uncle's pedophilic ways and disgusted, leaves to live with his mami (aunt).
Next we go to Bhola's best friend, Vidyapati aka Guru (Kishore Kumar) and his wacky troupe (Raj Kishore, Keshto Mukherjee and Mukri) who perform dramatic plays (well in their own way I guess, making them more like farces). Bhola arrives and tells Guru about his new found love and enlists Guru's help in getting the girl.
But what Bhola and Guru don't know is that another man is after Bindu. And he's in the form of a South Indian Sangeetham Masterji (Mehmood) who teaches Bindu music and dance and wants to get married to her. And Bindu is attracted to Masterji's singing voice. So Guru tries to make Bhola sing, but that fails when Bhola's voice is worse than a donkey's! Then BOOM! Guru comes up with a great idea and tells Bhola to lipsinc while he himself sings (seeing Kishore singing for Kishore singing for Sunil), WAH, WAH, WAH! The plan works and Bindu finally falls for Bhola and his "singing". Who could forget the over-the-top confrontation between Masterji and Bhola/Guru?! However, the truth must be exposed and when Bindu finds out about Bhola's singing, she is enraged and goes back to Masterji. And so Bhola decides that death would be better than to remain a bachelor. Soon a fake dramatic parody of Bhola's death spreads to the wedding of Masterji and Bindu. A frantic Bindu runs to mami's house and upon seeing Bhola, she repents about what she did and that she truly loves Bhola. And Bhola springs back alive!!!! And they all live happily ever after!!! Except for poor Masterji who cries during the wedding while he plays the flute.
The first half of the film is probably the best half of the film as this provokes much hilarity in these situations (2X10/10, I could watch it forever). However, the second half brings the film down, when it becomes a little too serious and most of the jokes fall flat. But that doesn't stop it from being one of the greatest Indian comedies. I must say I haven't laughed so hard from any comedy than this one.
Sunil Dutt dumbs himself down from his overly serious roles into a buffoonish, yet kind-hearted simpleton, although he takes the role a bit too seriously and does overdo it in some scenes. Yet, this will remembered as one of his better performances. Saira Banu is decent, yet annoying and you really want to slap her in the face, but the script said she had to be irritating, didn't it? Raj Kishore, Keshto Mukherjee and Mukri are great comic support and Om Prakash's mama is probably one of his most underrated to date.
But the show belongs to Kishore Da and Mehmood and basically they rock the house. Once again Mehmood succeeds in creating a character that is so out there, you forget who the actor is. His accent is good that you'd believe that he actually did come from Tamil Nadu! The way he woos Bindu was outstanding.
Kishore Da with his hair all over the place, Bengali style, paan chewing and crazy guru takes the cake. His reactions and funny antics are one of the main reasons to watch this film. This was one of his last best known comedic performances before his singing career blossomed in 1969 and he never looked back after that.
Underrated RD Burman music right here. Not only does he create a great soundtrack, but his background score can be classified as one of his most underrated to date. Who can forget the songs Main Chali Main Chali, Saanwariya, Mere Saamnewaali Khidki Mein, Meri Bhole Balam and Kehna Hai? But Ek Chatur Naar Karke Singar, the music fight between Masterji and Bhola/Kishore steals the show. Just repeat the song over and over again and it never gets old.
I recommend this great comedy to everyone. If you haven't watched this film, you are missing out. Don't worry if you don't get it, because you don't have to! Just let the movie take you for a ride. 10 out of 10! (14 out of 10- first half, 6 out of the 10- second. It all adds up!)
Without a doubt, this is one of the best Indian comedies joining the list of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, and AAA (the latter two which I haven't seen). The oldies were the true meaning of Indian cinema and this was one of them. Led by 3 comedic aces, Om Prakash, Mehmood and Kishore Kumar (my favorite singer by the way), a buffoonish Sunil Dutt and a irritating Saira Banu and you have a farce! A farce in its own right! Bhola (Sunil Dutt) is a young simpleton living with his pedophile uncle (Om Prakash). He follows the Prem Shastra book very serious, until he realizes that he has wasted a year of married life and must get married before it's too late. Suddenly the line begins to shake and he thinks he's caught a fish. Only he's fished out a girl named Bindu (Saira Banu). He falls head over heels for her only to be pushed into the lake!! Later, he discovers about his uncle's pedophilic ways and disgusted, leaves to live with his mami (aunt).
Next we go to Bhola's best friend, Vidyapati aka Guru (Kishore Kumar) and his wacky troupe (Raj Kishore, Keshto Mukherjee and Mukri) who perform dramatic plays (well in their own way I guess, making them more like farces). Bhola arrives and tells Guru about his new found love and enlists Guru's help in getting the girl.
But what Bhola and Guru don't know is that another man is after Bindu. And he's in the form of a South Indian Sangeetham Masterji (Mehmood) who teaches Bindu music and dance and wants to get married to her. And Bindu is attracted to Masterji's singing voice. So Guru tries to make Bhola sing, but that fails when Bhola's voice is worse than a donkey's! Then BOOM! Guru comes up with a great idea and tells Bhola to lipsinc while he himself sings (seeing Kishore singing for Kishore singing for Sunil), WAH, WAH, WAH! The plan works and Bindu finally falls for Bhola and his "singing". Who could forget the over-the-top confrontation between Masterji and Bhola/Guru?! However, the truth must be exposed and when Bindu finds out about Bhola's singing, she is enraged and goes back to Masterji. And so Bhola decides that death would be better than to remain a bachelor. Soon a fake dramatic parody of Bhola's death spreads to the wedding of Masterji and Bindu. A frantic Bindu runs to mami's house and upon seeing Bhola, she repents about what she did and that she truly loves Bhola. And Bhola springs back alive!!!! And they all live happily ever after!!! Except for poor Masterji who cries during the wedding while he plays the flute.
The first half of the film is probably the best half of the film as this provokes much hilarity in these situations (2X10/10, I could watch it forever). However, the second half brings the film down, when it becomes a little too serious and most of the jokes fall flat. But that doesn't stop it from being one of the greatest Indian comedies. I must say I haven't laughed so hard from any comedy than this one.
Sunil Dutt dumbs himself down from his overly serious roles into a buffoonish, yet kind-hearted simpleton, although he takes the role a bit too seriously and does overdo it in some scenes. Yet, this will remembered as one of his better performances. Saira Banu is decent, yet annoying and you really want to slap her in the face, but the script said she had to be irritating, didn't it? Raj Kishore, Keshto Mukherjee and Mukri are great comic support and Om Prakash's mama is probably one of his most underrated to date.
But the show belongs to Kishore Da and Mehmood and basically they rock the house. Once again Mehmood succeeds in creating a character that is so out there, you forget who the actor is. His accent is good that you'd believe that he actually did come from Tamil Nadu! The way he woos Bindu was outstanding.
Kishore Da with his hair all over the place, Bengali style, paan chewing and crazy guru takes the cake. His reactions and funny antics are one of the main reasons to watch this film. This was one of his last best known comedic performances before his singing career blossomed in 1969 and he never looked back after that.
Underrated RD Burman music right here. Not only does he create a great soundtrack, but his background score can be classified as one of his most underrated to date. Who can forget the songs Main Chali Main Chali, Saanwariya, Mere Saamnewaali Khidki Mein, Meri Bhole Balam and Kehna Hai? But Ek Chatur Naar Karke Singar, the music fight between Masterji and Bhola/Kishore steals the show. Just repeat the song over and over again and it never gets old.
I recommend this great comedy to everyone. If you haven't watched this film, you are missing out. Don't worry if you don't get it, because you don't have to! Just let the movie take you for a ride. 10 out of 10! (14 out of 10- first half, 6 out of the 10- second. It all adds up!)