Of kings and kingdoms (Kohinoor)

I love films like Kohinoor. You don't have to think much. You just go with the flow of the story. Good people, with odds clogging their life, have to battle against the bad ones. But there's no scope for fret. For, the end is always happy. The good guy wins, beating the bad guy to pulp. He gets to sit on the throne accompanied by the beautiful princess. Lighthearted and jaunty, Kohinoor is a perfect example of the archetypal royal saga. Replete with songs, swordfights, schemings and dances, this 1960 adventure flick from S.U. Sunny is one enthralling joyride...

Rana Devinder Pratap Singh is the crown prince of Kailashnagar. As expected there is the conniving dewan who wants his son to usurp the throne by bumping off the prince.
But, this prince is too astute for that. He senses the dewan's plan, protects his skin and goes away promising to come back soon and retain his royal rights. Incidentally, he is also supposed to marry Rajkumari Chandramukhi, the princess of Rajgarh. And, as necessary he is dumbstruck by her beauty. But, the senapati of Rajgarh has his evil eyes on the pretty damsel and wants her for himself. So, the fight ensues between the prince and the senapati. In the way, we have a plethora of wonderful songs, lofty dialogues and magical adventure! Very appealing!!

There, I've summed it up. Now, I can spend the rest of the post waxing eloquent about Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari and Naushad. Dilip Kumar used this role as a breather from his tragic roles so far. Thank God! For, he is too swashbuckling to be true. Swift and smart, he is a killer as the prince. And, funny, too. He does not have to garb himself in regal fineries, his princely walk and clever talk is enough to prove that this man means business. He is attractive and dashing, chivalrous and brave. He thinks fast, acts even faster. He charms with style and romances with panache. And when he sings, the universe sings with him. He is deft with the sword as well as the sitar. He has honey in his voice and passion in his eyes. He is at ease riding a horse and is very open to a mongoose riding his sturdy shoulders! This prince wears many caps. And, he wears them with style.

Rana Devinder is in love with Chandramukhi. No one can blame him for that. She is bliss for the senses. Pretty as a picture, she is graceful, naughty and charming. When her ringlets curl up on her temples, she looks like a China doll, when she breaks into Dil mein baji pyar ki shehnaiya, she is the peacock (or maybe the deer), nimblefooted and gleeful. When she is riding the horse with her prince singing Koi pyaar ki dekhey jadugari, she is like the breeze, billowing away pleasantly on his face and heart. When she is drawn to her love with the strains of Do sitaron ka zameen par hain milan she is the lovestruck damsel. And when she faces her lover for the first time, her eyes mirror the storm in her heart, the storm raging from the first flutterings of love. Shy and coy, she looks even prettier. Yes, the already gorgeous Meena Kumari looks even prettier.

And, when her heart is breaking when she is separated from her love she is the 'pujaran' of her 'andha devta'. Ethereal in her black costume and the flowing tresses enveloping her fair face like a heavy cloud, she is an ethereal woman. Gosh, what range Kumari had!! And, what beauty!!!

The adventurous film has awesome comedy, too, handled superbly by Kumar and Kumari (now, doesn't that sound very husband-wife like?) as well as Mukri. For instance, when Dilip Kumar dresses up like a jogi and tries to meet Chandramukhi singing Zara man ki khiwadiya khol, I find his expressions extremely comical. What a way to dupe the stupid senapati, played wonderfully by Jeevan (how can Chandramukhi force herself to fall in love with this cunning yet foolish man? And, he looks ridiculous, too!). Then there is the endearing scene where the two lovers meet for the first time. Lowering her peepers with a shy smile, Chandramukhi says, "Socha tha aapse aise milungi, aise saamney ayoongi... Ab dekho mere haath bhi nahin kaap rahein hain, bas dil zor se dharak raha hain!" Simply marvellous!

Then there is the hilarious scene where Devinder Pratap fools the inebriated Senapati in front of the mirror. Just watch that for yourself. And, also the romantic duel Chalenge teer jab dil par...

The film's supporting cast includes Kumkum as Rajlakshmi, the nartaki. She moves like the lightening, I must say. In Jadugar qatil, you can see her devotion and love for Devinder Pratap. Here is a lovestruck girl, ready to go to any lengths to make her man happy. She dances with her heart as Devinder plays a playful tune on the sitar.

I think the highpoint of the film is Madhuban mein radhika. Is it real? That song, I mean. Magical, harmonious and earthshatteringly melodious, this classical beauty is a masterpiece from the great Naushad (the film's score, and Rafi, Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar, are astoundingly great!). The crest and trough of the notes, the union of Mohd Rafi's vocals with the tabla, the sarod, the sitar and the jal tarang, couldn't have been better. Coupled with the poetic dance of Kumkum (didn't know she could move so well), this song is truely historical in its composition and picturisation. And of course, Dilip Kumar's lipsyncing. Tell me something. How many of you feel that it almost looks as if Kumar himself is singing the song? So immaculate are his hand and lip movements? And, his smile!! Sigh...

I sometimes feel Kohinoor should have been in colour. Especially during Tan rang lo, the playful holi song. Its light, frolicky tune and mirthful picturisation is so infectious. Dilip Kumar is having oodles of fun teasing the young girls with his pichkari! Meena Kumari is absolutely gorgeous, her pretty face caked with a riot of colours. Red, yellow, green, blue, purple, or should I say, the colours of life and love, livens up this joyful number...

Absolutely breathtaking!!