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Friday 31 December 2010

Crafty Kanhaiya (Bharosa)

This films stands solely on its story. It's engaging, freewheeling and full of attractive moments. Even though a bit melodramatic, like all K Shankar classics, Bharosa is very believable and in parts funny. And yes, it has Kanhaiyalal, the Parsi actor who made every role his second skin. Here, as the scheming foster father, Kanhaiyalal is a revelation. He enthralls, extracts irritation and giggles at the same time. An apt instance of a brilliant character actor!!

Tuesday 28 December 2010

What the original was not (Prem Patra)

Here is a film that beats its original hands down. I'd never thought I would point fingers at a Uttam Kumar - Suchitra Sen classic. But, Agragami's Sagarika is so killingly boring that any tepid film of that age would be a better option any day. So, when I accidentally discovered that Bimal Roy's underrated classic Prem Patra is but a Hindi remake of Sagarika, I sat down to watch it with trepidation, expecting the usual tedious drama. But lo! This small film engages with its charming cast, lovely songs, easy narrative and an execution that is way, way better... 

Saturday 25 December 2010

Not an ideal husband (Chaudhvin ka Chand)

And I hear that this M Sadiq triangular love story was such a roaring success that it pulled Guru Dutt out of the slumps after his Kaagaz ke Phool failed to click. For, apart from some snatches there is hardly anything convincing about Chaudhvin ka Chand, set in 1960's Lucknow. Yes, the songs are marvellous and the lead cast is brilliant. But the severely flawed character of Aslam really broke my heart. Or should I say, tried my patience...

Bitter sweet (Namkeen)

Someone please tell me where can I lay hands on the unabridged version of Gulzar's bittersweet Namkeen. I'll be eternally grateful...
Here is a story that engages you at the very onset. A burly truck driver moves into a hilly town. He is recruited for the construction of a bridge downtown. He is alone and needs accommodation. The owner of the eatery where he has his meals takes him to a run down house in a remote side of the town. He is disgusted with the shoddy arrangements there but cannot help but put up there. Reason, he slowly gets too accustomed with the members of the family who own the place. Thus starts a unique tale of love, sacrifice and human relations...

Friday 24 December 2010

His or his (Rajnigandha)

Never was a girl's dilemma in love depicted so subtly. In Basu Chatterjee's Rajnigandha, Deepa is torn between her two loves time and again and has to make up her mind on who to settle down with. She keeps comparing the two men in her life, their personalities and character and ultimately uses the nth minute to decide that first love does not necessarily have to be true love.

Tuesday 21 December 2010

Marketing a movie (Mandi)

There will never be such a brilliant set of actors. The moment they land up together on the screen they ignite the frame with the most scintillating of antics. They complement each other immaculately and spice up every story...
I'm talking of luminaries such as Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Saeed Jaffrey, Smita Patil, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Annu Kapoor, Amrish Puri and Om Puri. In Shyam Benegal's Mandi, they continue the rule; they are too good to be not true...

Friday 10 December 2010

Family feud (Do Raaste)

Let's not get judgemental. For, it's very easy to find faults with the wicked parties in Raj Khosla's Do Raaste.  The director, whose thrillers I feel are a hundred notches better than his family dramas, doesn't put any energies in creating grey characters. He makes the good ones in the film absolutely saccharine and the bad people never do anything good. There is hardly any subtlety in dealing with emotions and every bit of melodrama is retained. Still, in my opinion, Do Raaste is one of the best domestic sagas I've seen. It's engaging, high strung and full of attractive moments. And yes, this 1969 film has solid performances...

Tuesday 7 December 2010

Victims of circumstance (Anhonee)

I've always had immense faith in the pairing of Raj Kapoor and Nargis. Be it their high strung passion depicted in Awaara, their innocent love story in Shree 420, their likable romance in Aah or their adventurous affair in Chori Chori. In every single one of these cinematic delights, these two awesome actors have delivered. But, here is one film that took me absolutely by surprise. An obscure film, Anhonee is fantastic not just for its intriguing story and taut execution but also for the very different personalities that the two actors have in the film. Rajkumar Saxena is so pragmatic yet passionate, Roop is an honest and loving woman and Mohini is a crafty and impulsive revenge seeker. Three believable characters who make this 1952 film a captivating affair. After watching this griping drama, I can safely say that I've seen a good film after a long, long time...

Saturday 4 December 2010

Hotch potch (Basant)

What can possibly go wrong with a romance that stars the inimitable Shammi Kapoor and the charming Nutan? I'd say, a lot of things. If you are not sure of what you want your film to be--- a fresh love triangle, a sad drama or a thriller, if you do not have any idea of how to weave different elements together, if you lack the art of copying from other films craftily and if you allocate too much screen time to side characters without exploiting Pran to the fullest. And yes, not make maximum use of the gorgeous soundtrack scored by the melody master, OP Nayyar and the beauty of Shammi and Nutan put together...

Friday 3 December 2010

What's stopping the two? (Saraswatichandra)

It's very difficult for me to accept an ending that looks absolutely redundant. I end up feeling why couldn't the director be more brave and experimentative. Why couldn't he marry off a widow to her true sweetheart? Why does he have to depict her accepting her sad fate and the decisions of a taboo-ridden society? And, why on earth does he have to make the lead character procrastinate so much??? Questions, questions, questions...

Monday 29 November 2010

It happened one night (Jagte Raho)

It takes guts to invest your bucks in a film like Jagte Raho. But then, Raj Kapoor was no ordinary artiste. He always tread a unique path, with a vision that stood out from the hoi polloi. I'm sure when he decided to produce this Shambhu Mitra and Amit Mitra directorial venture, he knew he was hitting the right cinematic button. A film that has no lead pair, no romantic angle, no formulaic story, can only be successful if executed with utmost aplomb. And in that, Jagte Raho is a top draw. A stunning social commentary on the venality and dishonesty of most city dwellers, this story tells one sole incident in such a unique fashion that it is difficult not to sit up and take absolute notice...

Sunday 28 November 2010

Black sheep (Aap ki Parchhaiyan)

Running a family calls for a wee bit of diplomacy, they say. And, how true that is. For, when a man gets married, his equation with his parents and siblings undergoes a sea change. He now has a partner, who he is responsible for. The onus is on him to initiate her into the ways of his house, make her comfortable and help her become one with the family. This girl has left her beloved parents and her home and has expectations from her new relatives. She is a bit apprehensive about the new abode and is trying her best to ease into this home. She is looking upto her husband for love and understanding and her in laws for care and support.

Thursday 25 November 2010

The original HAHK (Nadiya ke Paar)

The first thing that hit me in Govind Moonis's Nadiya ke Paar is how real everything looks. The village setting, the costumes, the rustic characters, the incidents and most importantly, the dialect. This original of the Madhuri Dixit-Salman Khan starrer Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, is absolutely fascinating in its simplicity and narration. Its characters are real, they talk as if they are the characters and whatever happens in the film seem so true to life. Sometimes, this 1982 film turns out to be so enjoyable that you think the remake is a tad OTT and unnecessarily long...

Strong ties (Dosti)

Seldom have I seen a film that stands strong just because of the engaging series of events. It does not have a stellar cast, it has no romance as its core element, it has no dashing hero, no pretty heroine and no slimy rogue. But still, it just keeps you hooked. The melodrama and some unnecessary plot elements notwithstanding, as well as some irrational behaviour. Dosti, Satyen Bose's tearjerker about two thick friends, is a film that defines all of the above...

Friday 19 November 2010

Mysteriously forgettable (Baat Ek Raat Ki)

Sometimes the last 30 minutes of a film turns out so good that I'm ready to forgive the otherwise tedious rest. Especially when the twists are pretty sudden and one clever ploy by the director bolsters the climax up. The mundane script makes a somersault into the fast lane and you sit tight for the proceedings. Shankar Mukherjee's nondescript thriller Baat Ek Raat Ki is a film that falls in this group. It starts off with the promise of a tantalising mystery, slows down with some redundancy, is tedious because of the time invested in developing the love angle and then suddenly, like a bolt from the blue becomes fast and action packed again towards the end...

Sunday 14 November 2010

United they stand (Naya Daur)

Man vs Machine tipped Horses vs Wheels. Thereafter, Love vs Friendship took center stage, before I realised that Naya Daur, B R Chopra's magnum opus, is a film that cannot be buttonholed into any two categories. It is a film that celebrates the beauty of classical Indian cinema, while harping on the issues of industrialisation in post-independant India and overall, salutes dignity of labour. It brings together some of the best in filmdom. This 1957 drama has the ingredients for becoming a blockbuster in any day and age.

Wednesday 10 November 2010

Discovered by chance (Man Mauji)

Put a spunky heroine, a comic villain, a goofy hero, a good story and a convincing supporting cast together, and you get Krishan Panju's Man Mauji. That's precisely what I thought of this 1962 AVM production (they always have a nice family setting, hummable songs and packets of entertainment). A relatively obscure film, I stumbled upon it on Youtube through the lovely Lata Mangeshkar number, Main to tum sang nain milake haar gayi sajna, loved the vulnerable prettiness of Sadhana and couldn't keep myself from watching all of it. And, I'm happy.

Monday 8 November 2010

Simply streetsmart (Aar Paar)

I'm quite glad I saw Aar Paar. It shows Guru Dutt in a very different light. Here he carries his Bombaiyya swagger with elan. He floors girls like nine pins and cares two hoots about impressing his ladylove's father. He woos the well-off Nicky knowing full well that the task is already done and when rebuffed for the advances, shifts gears to approach the attractive but dangerous Shakila, aware that the tactic will pull Nicky towards him once again.

Sunday 7 November 2010

But for Shammi and Sadhana (Budtameez)

Trust the invincible Shammi Kapoor to make even the very usual film exciting. Though the plot of Manmohan Desai's romantic comedy Budtameez has been oft-repeated, it becomes a jolly good ride for this flamboyant Kapoor's antics. And bolstered by Sadhana's natural charm, it is quite a watch. Only if Shankar Jaikishan's music had more juice and the director had obliterated the buffoon Devdas (Kamal Mehra)...

Thursday 4 November 2010

Clash of ideals (Saath Saath)

Once you've made it to the 40th minute of Raman Kumar's Saath Saath you can rest assured that there will be no boring moment from here on. The journey of Gita and Avinash get extremely engaging. The couple's daily chores throw light on the very routine lives that most of us spend today. They try to make ends meet, maintain a budget for their expenditures, take up jobs to meet the rising costs of food and living and share with us all and sundry experiences. In fact, these nuggets make the film so next-door and enhance its appeal.

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Quaint quadrangle (Benazir)

The high point of Bimal Roy's Benazir is Husn ki beharein liye. Not only is this a brilliant ghazal from S D Burman, rendered with haunting precision by Lata Mangeshkar, Shakeel Badayuni's lyrics also point out the poignancy of Benazir's state. Here is a woman, seen as a fallen one by society, torn between her love for a young man and her gratitude for the favours she has been receiving from his elder brother. As much as Benazir would love to declare her affection for Anwar, she is forced to stay mum because she is bound by her promises to the Nawab. And of course, her innocent love would be regarded as crafty lust by the world.

Monday 1 November 2010

Earth-shatteringly good (Waqt)

I'm experiencing a hangover of fashion. A deluge of it has been sweeping my existence for the past two weeks now. So, while in the mood, I watched a film that not just has a lot of fashion and style in it, but is also a masterpiece that weaves in a lot more. Awesome story, smashing dialogues, handsome males, lovely women, great music, wickedly attractive villains, superb plot, superlative performances, swanky cars, stylish homes and yes, gorgeous clothes...

Friday 29 October 2010

Forced tragedy (Do Badan)

I have a question. Does Vikas perish beside the deathbed of Asha in the last scene of Raj Khosla's Do Badan? If so, what's the rationale behind it? For, he is suffering from no ailment as Asha is, has just got back his vision after a successful eye-operation and looks absolutely fit and fine? Given those, is the sight of seeing his ex-lover breathing her last, enough to take his life away? Ambiguous as it is, the climax of the otherwise engaging Do Badan is hurried and too sudden...

Thursday 28 October 2010

Problem of plenty (Teen Deviyan)

I currently share the plight of Dev Anand in Amarjeet's 1965 romance Teen Deviyan. Just when one problem is dealt with, another worry is wickedly grinning from around the corner, all set to upset your peace of mind. You think that all matters of concern are laid to rest and you can at last call it a day, but then the work and worries keep piling up. The dilemmas cloud up your senses and very soon you can hardly see any light at the end of the tunnel.

Friday 22 October 2010

Only for Amiran (Umrao Jaan)

The last time I met Meera Ali, and that would be about fours years ago, I kept singing praises about her husband's landmark film. The elegant personality that she is, Meera took my childish prattle rather sportingly and invited me to her house in Mumbai where I could meet Muzaffar Ali. Elated at the offer, I hardly gave enough attention to her new collection of weaves and clothes, which she was showcasing in Kolkata for the first time. Mind you, I was yet to see Umrao Jaan then.

Tuesday 12 October 2010

Agent of change (Mahanagar)

You can simply witness 1963's Calcutta from the Mazumdars' perspective or you can regale in the transformation of Arati from the shy housewife to the confident breadwinner who shall not brook injustice. Both ways, the profit is yours. Calcutta is photographed splendidly in Mahanagar. The sights, sounds and scenes shown  in this Satyajit Ray classic will remind you of the city where every people face the daily grind with small dreams and aspirations in their hearts.

Monday 11 October 2010

Drama galore (Zindagi)


The best thing about Ramanand Sagar's Zindagi is Vyajyanthimala. Not only is she ravishing and dances like a dream, she actually makes you sit up and take note of her histrionic skills. She is utterly believable as the sensible Beena who reasons with her mother that acting as a profession needn't be slighted at. When she is loathe to barter her love for the sake of easy money, you really feel like lauding her wholeheartedly. She is brave, honest, hardworking and extremely lovable.

Sunday 10 October 2010

Fending for answers (Gharana)

I need some questions answered. Why do all films from the Gemini stable start off with a punch and then degenerate into some regressive drama? Why are the women in their films projected as husband-worshippers? Why do they trust so easily? Why do they forgive even more easily? And yes, why does Rajendra Kumar carry a police constable's stick throughout his screen time in SS Vasan's Gharana?

Friday 8 October 2010

Treading untried territory (Bombai ka Babu)

Come to think of it, there are quite a few films where Dev Anand has portrayed characters undergoing immense mental turmoil. There's Hum Dono, Asli Naqli, Guide and Kala Bazaar. But, in Bombai ka Babu, his character tilts towards the dangerous territory of incest. A full-bodied man, Babu has to suppress his passion for a beautiful woman only because he is duping her family pretending to be their long-lost son. And in doing so, he is supposed to be her brother. With a plot as fascinating as this, Bombai ka Babu is obviously a thrilling experience. You sympathise with this angst-ridden young man as he is forced into the crime world and stay riveted when he helplessly tries to clear his ground before the charming Maya.

Wednesday 6 October 2010

Long and very drawn (Sasural)

Blame it on my overtaxed brain. I've been choosing the wrong films for a few days now. When I most need a frothy entertainer with great songs and a charming lead pair, I'm making erroneous choices of social dramas that look engaging from outside, but are tedious and hollow once unraveled. T Prakash Rao's remake of Telegu hit Illarikam is one of those blunders that I'd better stayed away from. For, Sasural is long, monotonous and lacks the winning punch.

Tuesday 5 October 2010

Twisty tale (Palki)

Once you gloss over some of the ludicrous events that force the happenings in Palki, you might just like this 1967 film. At least I did. I chose to ignore the baseless decision made by the lead pair and watched on as they met their respective fates. And sometimes, the anticipation of whether Naseem and Mehrunisa would actually unite in the end was so high that I found myself fast forwarding through the melodious tracks composed by legendary Naushad...

Monday 4 October 2010

Guard of honour (Aan)

Or should I say taming of the shrew? For, more than half of Mehboob Khan's Aan shows Jai Tilak trying to win over the admiration and love of the hugely vain Rajkumari Rajshree. But, no one's complaining here. In the thorn-filled path of Jai and Rajshree's union, there are a gamut of songs, fencing duels, daunting escapades and plenty of delightful action. Not to mention the antics of the swashbuckling hero, his easy charm and the attraction of sexy Nadira in her introducing lead role.

Saturday 2 October 2010

Warped woman (Chhoti Bahu)

Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's male characters hardly have meat. There, I've said it. And, in doing so, must have incurred the ire of faithful followers of this classic Bengali author. But, that is what I feel and that is what is never going to change.
However, this was the first time that I was troubled by the flaws in his lead female protagonist. In his story titled Bindur Chheley, he makes his Bindu too grey to be liked. Hence, KB Tilak's Radha, the main character in his Chhoti Bahu inspired from Bindur Chheley, also turned out to be extremely disrespectful in her personality.

Friday 1 October 2010

Two tales of love (Aradhana)

The question is, which of the two love stories do I like most in Aradhana? Is it Vandana and Arun's beautiful tale truncated by a cruel stroke of fate? Or, is it Suraj and Renu's cute saga that effects only smiles?
After an umpteenth watch of this wonderful Shakti Samanta romantic drama, I have an answer ready. I love both. While Vandana and Arun's tale scores because of the very tragic yet memorable angle to it, Suraj and Renu's pairing succeeds because it is surprisingly spontaneous.
I'm not getting into the emotional and teary aspect of this famous 1969 film. For, what is to be said about Vandana's sacrifice that has not been mentioned before.

Tuesday 28 September 2010

The hills are alive (Kanchanjangha)

What a brilliantly multi-layered film Kanchanjangha is. Every frame is steeped in imagery, every dialogue resonating with the inner doubts clouding the characters' minds. Just like the mist that is blocking out the sparkling view of the majestic Himalayan range. But, by the time the movie ends, every doubt is put to rest, every question answered, every nagging dillemma is solved. And with that the mist clears out of Darjeeling to gift us with the breathtaking view of the Kanchanjangha. Albeit through Satyajit Ray's eyes.

Saturday 25 September 2010

Learning the ways of the house (The Householder)

The Householder, in my eye, is a coming-of-age tale. A delicate love story that highlights the trials and tribulations of a newly-married couple, the various hiccups that lead to their understanding of each other, the small misunderstandings, the sweet patch-ups, everything about Prem Sagar and Indu's relationship is reflective of how a couple, unaware of each other's feelings, likes and dislikes, gradually iron out their creases and grow to love each other. I'm not getting into the spiritual aspect of Prem's evolution as a thorough house-runner and the process of Indu's becoming houseproud. It is but obvious that there will be some channel all the time whereby the concerned parties would become enlightened.

Thursday 23 September 2010

Glimpses of the Maximum City (The Perfect Murder)

I just lapped this one up the very moment I got my hand on it. A small film that impinges on you for its vibrant cinematography, real landscapes and awesome cast. A story that stands out as much for the subtle depiction of crime and deceit as for its humorous depiction of the idiosyncratic characters. In that Zafar Hai's The Perfect Murder is a joyous collage of experiences that are so life-like and easy to relate to. Every character is well-etched and every frame takes you to 80s Mumbai, when it was still yet to earn the famed Maximum City tag.

Saturday 18 September 2010

Saga of sacrifice (Anuradha)

Anuradha is much ahead of its times. At least in its stark representation of the wrongs doled out to a woman who innocently believed in the enormity of love. The director had the gall to show that not everything is achieved when you marry for love. There is certainly much to life for a wife than silently suffering under the shadow of an idealistic husband. In that Hrishikesh Mukherjee is bang on target. His 1960 President's Gold medal winner deals with such oft-forgotten issues in a subtle yet strong manner.

Friday 17 September 2010

Introducing an anti-hero (Kala Bazar)

Can we call Dev Anand one of the first anti-heroes in the history of Hindi cinema? For, there are roughly three major films where he handles his grey tones with panache. I'm talking of Guide (1965), Asli Naqli (1962) and Kala Bazar (1960). In all these films Anand's character starts off negatively. But after a certain cathartic moment, he emerges from the flames that help to purify him. In Asli Naqli, his metamorphosis happens when he sees that true love actually resides in poor homes because that emotion needn't be validated by money. In Guide, a personal trauma shakes him up and he atones for his sin by helping villagers. And, in Kala Bazar, the change comes through because of his love for a beautiful girl.

Monday 13 September 2010

Marriage caper (Chameli ki Shaadi)

This is a small film set in a small town. It dwells on nondescript people and their tiny aspirations. But the fun derived from watching these people while they go about their affairs is gigantic in proportion. This is a simple love story with extraordinary twists and turns. This is a tale that will make you laugh and learn. So, enjoy the joyride called Chameli ki Shaadi.
Basu Chatterjee's films are always entertaining. And, this 1986 romantic comedy is no different. Without prevaricating, let's get to the story (but no spoilers, I guarantee).

Sunday 12 September 2010

Check mate (Shatranj ke Khilari)

Satyajit Ray's films are like onions. With every viewing, they spring new layers. Every film of his guarantee a new thought, a new feeling, a new imagery, a new parallel, a new subtext, a new meaning, with every watch. Unraveling Ray, hence, becomes such a splendid experience.
In his first Hindi film, Ray toys with a story by Munshi Premchand. Shatranj ke Khilari narrates the tale (Amitabh Bachchan is the narrator) of Awadh's last emperor Wajid Ali Shah at the fag-end of his rule. It depicts how the East India Company confiscates his empire by pulling the strings cunningly. But the 1977 film is not merely a historical chronicle.

Monday 6 September 2010

A musical revenge (Baiju Bawra)

A Baiju Bawra search on Wikipedia reveals that the classical maestro perished of typhoid at the ripe age of 71. Given this (though there's no historical proof to ascertain this claim) information, the climax of Vijay Bhatt's 1952 film is far from satisfactory. The rationale behind bumping off both Baiju and his sweetheart Gauri, is something that I'm yet to decipher. Even after he is victorious in his vocal duel with Tansen and reaching his village at the nick of time to marry Gauri, the film shows both the lovers drowning in the Yamuna. Sad, but very surprising!

Thursday 2 September 2010

Shades of the showman (Shree 420)

Count Ranbir Raj's initiation into the con world complete when with one swift hand move he shows Maya how the honest country lad can don the garb of the smooth Rajkumar of Peeplinagar. In an instant, his eyes look narrower, his lips curl into a devious grin and his adorable face sheds its agreeable quality to attain a roguishly attractive sheen. It is almost as if the bright lights of the rich society of Bombay has affected him inside. The change is not just in his attire. Ranbir Raj becomes a new person altogether. Ready to rob every pocket to better his prospects in this cut-throat world of greed, crime, power and deceit. It is then that Shree 420 comes into its own. Raj Kapoor's tale about an honest and cheerful Ranbir Raj catapults into a drama more entertaining and  enthralling.

Tuesday 31 August 2010

Incorrectly titled (Nirala)

I should have steered clear of this one. But, how was I supposed to know? Dev Anand, in 1950, looked simply awesome, Madhubala was as usual ravishing, and the expectation of a breezing romance between these two attractive people surely looked enticing.
But, I was duped. For, the very title of Deben Mukherjee’s Nirala turned out to be stupendously misleading. Yes, it was different, as ‘nirala’ should be, but in a very negative way. What starts out as a fun romance disintegrates into a weird tragedy that is puerile and vague, with no plausible reason for becoming so.

Friday 27 August 2010

Destination music (Manzil)

I have hardly seen Dev Anand play such a brooding character. Generally this suave and dapper young man entertains with his light frolicky persona. But his Rajkumar Mehta is different. Defiant and determined to the core, Anand, in Mandi Burman's Manzil, is most of the time inebriated and weeping over his unfaithful beloved. But, this 1960 romance's lead pair piqued my curiosity. Nutan and Dev Anand make a handsome couple and the way the film starts, you will be keen to follow this Raju as he scales the heights of success.

Thursday 26 August 2010

Hail Khairoo (Noorie)

Even as the camera pans across the verdant valleys of Kashmir with the beautiful Noorie and attractive Yusuf serenading to Aaja rey o mere dilbur aaja, there is a sense of foreboding that all shall not be well. Blame it on the opening scene of the old storyteller giving out that the innocent Noorie is missing for a long time or the dejected face of Yusuf pining for his lost love, the entire mood of Manmohan Krishna's Noorie is one of sorrow and dejection. The halcyon setting, generally associated with a Yash Chopra production, is conspicuous by its absence.

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Memory loss (Dulha Dulhan)

In the hullabaloo surrounding Sangam, the first coloured blockbuster produced under the Raj Kapoor banner, one small film got entirely lost. Dulha Dulhan, an obscure film, or rather a not very celebrated venture, is another 1964 romance starring Raj Kapoor that not many of us have heard about. At least, that was the case with me.
A random Raj Kapoor search on Youtube  introduced me to this one. The pairing of Raj Kapoor and Sadhana sounded quite intriguing and I was hooked.

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Into the sea of love (Chori Chori)

Raj Kapoor didn't need to move an inch. His face did it all. When those intense eyes narrow themselves and his lips break into a lopsided grin to say, "Ghum ek kamzori hain, aur main apni kamzori dikhana nahin chahta," not just Nargis is delirious with joy. I too, feel blood rushing to my heart. His nonchalant charm has an alarming effect on my nerves. His casual yet smart demeanour plays hockey with my senses. I get more and more embroiled in the showman's charisma. Gulping down one tumbler of water after another, I sit up to get mesmerised once again by this dashing Kapoor as he entertains with one adventure after another in Chori Chori.

Monday 23 August 2010

Three in one (Pyar ka Mausam)

Club Nasir Husain's Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Dil Deke Dekho and Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hain, and you get Pyar ka Mausam. But the astute Husain doesn't cheat you in any way by simply rehashing from his 1957, 1959 and 1961 hits. He throws in more drama, twists, colour and characters to make his 1969 romance thoroughly enjoyable. The segments from the earlier films are stitched so deftly that unless you watch closely, chances are you will miss them. For, the plot flows like a brook, peppered with plenty of action, romance, song and dance. With Nasir Husain at the helm, one thing is certain...thorough cinematic entertainment.