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Monday 2 August 2010

Wildly attractive (Junglee)


If such gorgeous people inhabit the wild, I wish I lived in a wild, wild world. If their eyes are so passionate, their body language so smart and their voice so sexy, I wish God made many more of these junglees. But alas, that is not to be. For, there is just one of them, who I love to love. He is Shammi Kapoor, I say with a loud yahoo...
In his first coloured film directed by Subodh Mukherjee, Shammi Kapoor plays Chandra Shekhar, a rich man hopelessly in love with Rajkumari, the sprightly girl responsible for his transformation from a stiff and gruff man to a more understanding and compassionate person. But 1961's Junglee is famous not just for this irrepressible Kapoor. It also happens to be the debut wagon of Saira Banu, who at 17 went on to rule many hearts.
She plays Rajkumari, a sweet, affectionate and spontaneous young girl who takes up the cudgels to change a beast to a beautiful man. She is beautiful. Yes very, with warm eyes. Something that instruments a change in the otherwise strict martinet called Shekhar. He is struck by her infectious charm and her attractive visage and cannot control his passion for long. I love the sequences where Shekhar and Raj are stuck in a cottage due to increment weather. Shekhar has to face the truth of his being fiercely attracted to this lovely woman. The change in his perception that love is a magical feeling after all, is wonderfully depicted. He is initially scared of being so close to Rajkumari but then he gets comfortable with the proximity he shares with her, reveling in his new-found affection for her. And, the youthful flutterings of romance brings with it a tingling sensation. Kapoor's hazel eyes mirror this excitement to perfection...
Shekhar returns home from abroad after many years. But, his meeting with his domineering mother (Lalita Pawar) is weirdly formal and cold. Pawar is proud to see her strict reflection in her son and is happy that she has been able to drill in the family principles in him...principles that curbs laughter and mirth. There is no jollity in this huge mansion and the sound of laughter is a strict no-no. The only person who is normal in these abnormal surroundings is Maya (Shashikala), Shekhar's happy-go-lucky sister. She is in love with Jeevan (Anup Kumar) and has married him secretly. She loathes the grim ambience of her house and is scared of her dogmatic mother. But, she has no qualms in falling in love with Jeevan, who is way below her social status. For, it is with him (though he is a spineless and stupid person in my opinion) that she can lead a normal life. And, that halcyon normalcy is evident in Nain tumharey mazedaar o janabe ali. Mukesh and Asha Bhonsle's lively track is pleasing...
When Pawar gets an inkling about Maya's indiscretion, she orders Shekhar to take his sister to Kashmir. There Maya discovers that she is pregnant and rushes to end her life. Just in time to save Maya, Rajkumari promises to her new friend that she will teach Shekhar a lesson or two. In other words, change him for the better. Here I have to say that Banu looks quite convincing as the young sadhu fooling Shekhar to go to Sheshnag to pay his respects to God so that his sister gets well soon. But, fate decides otherwise and Shekhar and Rajkumari are stuck in a cottage and have to rely on the elements before they can get back to Kashmir. It is during this time that the two fall in love and we have two great songs, Chahein koi mujhey junglee kahein and Din sara guzara torey angnaa. The song that represents the charismatic Kapoor is but obviously full of explosive energy and enthusiasm. A quintessential Shammi Kapoor song, (the actor himself shouted the yahoo in the song) it reflects the insurmountable joy he feels aftre falling in love. Shot in beautiful snowclad Sheshnag, this song is a forever. Signature Shammi Kapoor and of course, Mohd Rafi.
Din saraa is a bouncy romantic number picturised on the breathtakingly handsome Kapoor and the lovely Saira Banu. Beautiful melody and a lovely locale make the song a delight. Happy tunes for happy times...
Shekhar's mother has arranged for him to marry the rajkumari of Ramgarh. But, there's a catch. The Ramgarh royal family is playing a cunning game to fool Pawar and her lot. Though they are completely bankrupt, they put up a charade so that Shekhar and his mother is fooled into believing that they are real royals. There is a huge misunderstanding when Shekhar, already in love with Banu, try to convince the Ramgarh cons that he is mad. He defies decorum to shake his leg with Miss Suku (Helen) in Ai aiya karoon main kya suku suku. The villains are baffled but we love it!
More confusions ensue when Rajkumari and her father, who also happened to deliver Mala and Jeevan's baby, visits Pawar in Mumbai. She mistakes her as the princess of Ramgarh and is mighty impressed with her beauty. But, soon the veil of deception is lifted and Rajkumari has to bear the brunt of Pawar's caustic tongue. Shekhar also is too confounded to clarify his case before his stinging mother. The lovers fight and there's a cloud of dejection in Shekhar and Rajkumari's life. But, thanks to their sorrow that we get to hear the surreal melody of Ehsaan tera hoga mujh par. I have to say that this is the best song of the film (awesome composition by music directors Shankar Jaikishan). If Mohd Rafi is the heart of this song, Shammi Kapoor's expressions is the soul. Looking immaculately vulnerable yet understanding, he is the sensitive lover cajoling his sweetheart to understand and forgive him. What poetic words: "Chahein banado, chahein mita do, mar bhi gaye to dengey duayein...udh udh kahegi khakh sanam, yeh dardein mohabbat seheney doon..mujhey tumsey mohabbat ho gayi hain mujhey, palkon ki chaon mein reheney do..." Hats off to Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri!!
Shammi Kapoor looks a bit foolish as the strict Shekhar. Strictness is not for him, I guess. He aught to be fun always. But, then, he is adorable as the changed lover. Dapper and smart, I cannot imagine anyone portraying Shekhar so well. I feel, he is the most romantic in Junglee. Never ever did I get to see him reading poetry and expressing his passion so explicitly. His eyes are perfectly intense and his looks are absolutely droolworthy. He is the sole reason why I can watch Junglee a zillion times.
Saira Banu, I'm afraid, has never been my favourite. I always thought she squealed all the time. In Junglee, she doesn't do that too much, but sometimes her squeaky voice might put you off. Though she looks like a porcelain doll, her expressions are hardly superlative. In fact, in many of the songs, Kapoor's expression make up for Banu's lack of them. For instance, in Lata Mangeshkar's rendition of Ehsaan hoga tera, I feel Kapoor portrays the afflicted lover much better than Banu. In Kashmir ki kali hoon mein, Kapoor's goof-ups and funny antics are more enjoyable that Banu's stiff dance. She is more like an ice-maiden in the exuberant track, Ja ja ja mere bachpan. Looking fresh and pretty but lacking the punch. Picture perfect face, but in want of the spark, A good debut nevertheless...
Pawar is again extraordinary as Shekhar's strict and staunch mother. I love the scene where Shekhar hugs her in the later stages of the film. Though she melts momentarily and hugs her son back, within a flash she is back to her hard self with a terse rebuke to her son. Awesome portraiture of a flawed mother. The film's end might appear a bit rushed. True that Shekhar makes Pawar see light by calling the Ramgarh trio's bluff but how come she readily agrees to marry her son to Rajkumari, a girl much below her royal rankings? Food for debate, right? Anyway, this is good Hindi film with a great cast, awesome songs and my favourite Shammi Kapoor. I'm willing to forgive any mistake on the maker's part for that. Anything for the sake of one gorgeous junglee...

18 comments:

  1. Great post. Your feelings for Shammi Kapoor shines forth. Wish he could — being a netsavvy person — read this one. Way to go, Sharmi!

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  2. @Netdhaba: Thank you for liking this. I wish that your wish comes true some day :)

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  3. i can watch this movie again and again........just to see saira bano in the song ehsaan tera

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  4. @Cancerian: Saira Banu in the song pales in comparison to Shammi, I feel. But, yes she indeed was a very good looking lady. Thanks for the comment and keep reading :)

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  5. I love this film so much because I feel that Saira Banu has avenged all the heroines Shammi stalked... err... I meant wooed onscreen in the 60s! ;D The way she keeps turning up in his presence, needling him, teasing him, making fun of him - it's such a nice role reversal for the heroine and hero, particularly Shammi. I thought that he was extremely OTT here, but so handsome that I can overlook that!

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  6. Me too! I love Junglee: I can't remember how many times I've seen it, and still not tired of the film. And as far as Ehsaan tera hoga mujhpar is concerned: well, I've seen it enough to now know which camera angles come up in which sequence (mainly because I know exactly which angles I especially think Shammi Kapoor looks drool-worthy from!) What a wonderful film.

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  7. @Bollyviewer: Isn't it amazing that here the young lady is pestering the young man. Shammi had done all the pestering till Junglee happened. Awesome role reversal I think. And I love the romance, it's just so darn perfect. I think I can watch Junglee all over again almost every single day. Only for my darling Shammi Kapoor :)

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  8. @Dustedoff: When Ehsaan tera hoga happens I just cannot think straight. Shammi Kapoor's sublime face and expressions turn me into jelly. The song will be a favourite for forever, I know. Three cheers for Shammi Kapoor and Mohd Rafi :)

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  9. Oh Welll ... ooo Well.... OO Welll ......you have happily done a mega thesis on this young, orange lipped, full of life (Now very very old and shrivelled) man Shammi Kapoor. More than seeing Mr. Kapoor jump like a monkey and roll down the mountain top like a dried wooden log, i rather watch your delirious joy when you talk about him and ogle at his pictures. Gives me great pleasure in teasing you. Long live Shammi and even longer live my Kareena. hahahaha .....

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  10. @Ayesha: Hmmm... I guess your love for Kareena supercedes my love for Shammi Kapoor. Blame it for the generation gap or what, I think Kapoor's charisma far belies the stickly charm of your idol. For me he is perfect and even in this ripe age he can enthrall you with his personality. Junglee is a very famous film and was instrumental in giving Kapoor his signature style. Don't take me otherwise but what is the signature style of Kareena, apart from the fact that she is a non-actor and that her super style sense is because she has a good stylist? Evolved is what you need to get to understand this classic actor! ha ha...personal, subjective, but ruthless huh??

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  11. Oh, this is an all-time favourite. What's not to love in this film? Beautiful people, beautiful locations, lovely songs. Yahoooooo!

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  12. @Banno: Everything's to be loved in this film. Absolutely yahooooo!

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  13. I love this film too like everyone here, and i remember loving Saira in it but i kind of agree with your points but i'll cut her lots of slack as this was her first film and i loved Shammi in this film, i love that scene where he comes back to mumbai a changed man dancing and clapping around saying 'I'm in love, love, love' in his office

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  14. @Bollywooddeewana: Yes, Saira was really sweet in this film. A good debut. I remember that scene you are talking about. But I simply love Kapoor in the earlier scene to this where he looks good enough to eat in that red shirt and silk cravat. What a gorgeous man!

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  15. My favourite too!!! Shammi Kapoor...forget the movie, I can just pause it and stare at him for hours! Love Ehsaan tera hoga mujhpar - like you pointed out, it has such lovely lyrics, it's so soulfully rendered by Rafi and expressed by Shammi. If Mohd Rafi is the heart of this song, Shammi Kapoor's expressions is the soul - this is so beautifully put. Loved it :-)
    And those passionate eyes of his...I just melt away in them.
    In fact there's nothing not to love in this film. Though I'm not very fond of Saira Banu, for exactly the same reasons, I can still watch this over and over again.

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  16. @Sunheriyaadein: Yes exactly, who needs anyone else when you have Shammi to floor you. His eyes are magical, his swagger is magical and everything about him is magical.
    Let us all form a Shammi Fan club where we will only see his films. :)

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  17. That would be fun!!! Imagine how it would be like if we all got together and watched a Shammi film together!!!

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  18. @Sunheriyaadein: We would be all howling out Shammi's name, cheer for him and shower flying kisses on him ;)

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