Twin trouble (Ram aur Shyam)

Somewhere in the middle of Ram aur Shyam director Chanakya loses steam. That's my guess. For, what starts as a perfectly exciting family drama turns into a rambling and tedious potboiler. The film just goes on and on. So dragged is the denouement that when Anjana and Shanta get to garland their heroes, I kick myself up from semi-slumber to say, "Gosh, at last the deed is done!"

Pardon me, but I think this film could have been so much more entertaining if it had been sharper and tighter. A few inane scenes here and there could have been omitted and Dilip Kumar's sometimes forced comedy could be saved for a more favourable day...

Borrowed from Alexandre Dumas' The Corsican Brothers, Chanakya's 1967 comic drama is otherwise a colourful film. The colours, sometimes a bit garish, are a giveaway that the film is a Southern production. The makeup (Kumar also has a heavily rouged face), sets and costumes are all so overtly psychedelic. But, that's hardly a bother. For, give me a tolerable story and good songs, pretty dames and a swashbuckling hero and I will sit through anything. Provided I do not feel the length. Sadly here, I did. But then, who said every wish is always granted...

Dilip Kumar (in his first double role) plays Ram and Shyam who are separated at birth and grow up in different households. Ram is a timid man, scared of his overbearing brother-in-law and has no confidence in himself. He is almost a refugee in his own palace, living in constant trepidition and fear of Gajendra (Pran makes things so much more exciting with his scheming ways and wicked disposition!) because one loose move will bring whiplashes galore. The only sweet words of concern and love he receives are from his sister Sulakshana (Nirupa Roy is her usual weepy self) and niece Kuku (Baby Farida is hardly a baby!). Gajendra plots to kill Ram after usurping his sizeable property. Sensing his brother-in-law's sinister moves, Ram runs away from home.

Shyam is a stark opposite to Ram. He is a mischief-monger, driving his mother (Leela Mishra) up the wall with his naughty pranks. He is perenially fighting with Shanta (Mumtaz) for which he gets beaten by his mother. A farmer by profession, Shyam goes to the city to buy some agricultural products and is mistaken to be Ram by Anjana (the girl Ram is supposed to marry) and her father (Nazir Hussain). Anjana is awestruck to see the smart avatar of Ram (Shyam beats up some baddies to retrieve her stolen purse) and takes a liking to him. She wonders why Ram behaved in such a wierdly tensed fashion the other day when Anjana went to meet him at his mansion. We know why, don't we???

Ram on the other hand lands up in Shyam's village and is forced to admit that he is Shyam for fear of facing exorcism. He gets a new life with Shyam's mother who is extra attentive towards her son now and also falls in love with Shanta (but naturally!). With the twins exchanging places and positions, misunderstandings and mayhem ensue. But, when Shyam, mistaken for Ram, teaches Gajendra a lesson, kicking his butt and driving him to grovel for forgiveness, you have a reason for sitting up to cheer the chutzpah of Dilip Kumar, the versatile performer. He has good comic timing and great expressions. He is smart, quick and spontaneous. Though a tad old, he shows glimpses of his dashing persona in Kohinoor. He is stylish when he romances Anjana as Shyam and lovable (a bit funny) when he is prancing with Shanta in the verdant plains of the village. Dilip Kumar retains his power and magic...

The rest of the film deals with how the truth regarding the identity of Ram and Shyam comes to the fore and Gajendra is stripped of his odious plans and taught a lesson. And, yes, how Anjana and Shanta get to settle down with the men of their dreams.

I loved Pran in Ram aur Shyam. He is so mallicious as Gajendra. And, he looks really good with his pointed moustache. Avaricious to his bone, Pran is thoroughly convincing as the relentless villain as he beats up Ram brutally and at the next moment pretends to be his well wisher before Anjana and her father. If not for this lipsmackingly diabolical fiend, Ram aur Shyam would have been oh-so-boring!! And, looked even more lengthy!!!

Dilip Kumar shines in his dual role. On one hand he is the squirming Ram, always scared and tensed, on the other he is the dashing Shyam, who is clever and lovable. Two roles, exactly opposite to each other, portrayed immaculately by the veteran. Only if he looked as good as he did in Aan, a film released 15 years back...

Kumar gets to romance Waheeda Rehman and Mumtaz (she looks so damn young beside him!). While Rehman is the stylish and sassy Anjana, Mumtaz is the simple village belle, Shanta. Both the women look lovely. Rehman always has a mature air about her. Her clothes, makeup and persona are very refined. Even when she prattles, she looks dignified. I love her red getup in Aaj ki raat mere dil ki salami lele. She is extremely fetching!

Mumtaz is a livewire in Ram aur Shyam. Metamorphosing from a prankster to Ram's sweetheart, she is bouncy and bubbly. A firebrand, she is a fiesty foil to Ram's milquetoasty nature... I love her in the song Balam tere pyar ki thandi aag mein jaltey. Especially when she jigs with mainto har gayi rey...

This song also happens to be my favourite from the film. Naushad's score turned out to be hardly extraordinary, I've to admit. Apart from Balam tere and Mein hu saqi tu hain sharabi, I don't think the other compositions are exemplary (with Naushad, something that's given). Yes, Aye hain bahaarein lekey is joyful, Aaj sakhiri mor piya ghar is teasing and Aaj ki raat is melodious, but that's about it.

One thing. I am very fond of Kanhaiyalal as a supporting actor. In Ram aur Shyam I found him wasted as the cheeky munim. Chanakya should have exploited the talent of his marvellous actor to spice things up. Anything to cut into the length of this long, long twin drama...