The correct dose of drama (Khandan)

Too much fun, I tell you. No wonder I'm never absolutely disappointed by A Bhimsingh's films. Revolving around family relationships in a big joint set-up, mostly set in villages where traditions and customs are heeded, a simplistic plot containing melodrama and awesome performances by a superlative cast. That's the crux yet again of Khandan, one of the biggest grossers of 1965, I'm told. What's not to like here? Sunil Dutt paired with the lovely and rustic Nutan, Om Prakash is sarcastically funny against Lalita Pawar's caustic stupidity, Manmohan Krishna and Sulochana are the quintessential good people, Sudesh Kumar the eternal goat, Mumtaz, the pretty damsel and best of all, Pran, the forever evil villain. And here, with a comic twist! On a roll!!

Khandan has a simple plot. Jeevandas (Om Prakash) and Shankar (Manmohan Krishna) are two brothers who are absolutely thick. They are well-off (well property and the division of it forms a major core of the tale here) landowners. Jeevandas and his wife Bhagwanti (Lalita Pawar) have no children, while Shankar and his wife Parvati (Sulochana Chatterjee) have two sons, Govind (Sunil Dutt) and Shyam (Sudesh Kumar). A cruel stroke of fate in his childhood has left Govind partially crippled but that has not dampened his lust for life. He is robust in his jokes, laughs and smiles all the time and is extremely loved by his uncle Jeevandas, his parents and his brother. Only Bhagwanti cannot tolerate him and often fights with Jeevandas on his pretext, but Govind does not bother much as he feels his aunt is just being rude but hardly malicious. Bhagwanti however, loves Shyam dearly as she feels he is much more able than Govind as he is currently doing his higher studies in the city. Jeevandas and Govind tease Bhagwanti around a lot but everything is in good humour.

The music by Ravi though is lukewarm here, I must say there is a nice bhajan in the beginning. Ab der na kar nandlala (Mohd Rafi) is so sweet. Anyways, so while everything is happy-go lucky, trouble arrives in the form of Navrangi Lal (Pran), Bhagwanti's nephew and his sister, Neelima (Mumtaz does look good here but she hardly is given a scope to perform). From the very beginning, Navrangi Lal plots and plans to divide this happy family and the gullible one that Bhagwanti is, she readily agrees to all of her nephew's plans, little realising that he has his own merry benefits in mind.

Soon misunderstandings creep into the halcyon Lal household and Navrangi plays one dirty trick after another to poison the peaceful setting in here. Bhagwanti forces Jeevandas to divide the property and the family home threatening to torch herself if he does not do so. When Shyam arrives from the city Navrangi unleashes the charms of Neelima on him and he slowly drifts away from Govind and his own parents towards the more pretty looking but devious characters. As it happens, Bhagwanti decides to get Shyam and Neelima married against the wishes of everyone of the family and she sticks to her decision. Shyam is such a spineless goat that he cannot speak without Navrangi's assistance and blindly follows the laid out plans.

Govind on the other hand is heartbroken by the sledging that Bhagwanti does everyday regarding his crippled state and though Radha (Nutan) loves him dearly, he is not ready to accept her hand in marriage because he feels she is just pitying him. But once he realises that Radha is actually in love with him, he agrees to marry her and their union is a joyous one, much to the ire of Bhagwanti and her clan. The only person still praying for the well-being of Shankar and his family is Jeevandas who is deeply suffering after being forcibly parted from his brother.

Plenty of incidents take place and lots of tears are shed before everything is sorted out. But it's the small events and emotions played out there that endears this film to me. Like when Radha is pregnant, she wants to have raw mangoes. And this is how Parvati gets to know that she is going to be a grandmother. Also, it's so sweet how Jeevandas fools his weird wife to give two mangoes to Radha. So heartwarming! Then there is the time when he blesses Radha's son with a silver utensil instructing Radha to feed him milk in that. These quaint rituals projected, and which highlight the customs of a traditional Indian family, makes the film even more entertaining. 

What do I say about the performances, they were stupendous, yes all of them! Mumtaz was supposed to be haughty and pretty and she was exactly that. Sudesh Kumar was supposed to be stupid and he looks and behaves that. Sunil Dutt is powerful and his body language as the crippled one is immaculate. Nutan is soft, sensitive and sweet. Though she does not look her best, I think we can forgive that. For, there are plenty of things to keep us busy in this film apart from Nutan.

Om Prakash is spot on and so is Lalita Pawar. She is adequately caustic and cruel. When her tongue unleashes those harsh words, you really feel like shaking her up. Oh! What a perfect performer this woman was. And she is absolutely effortless. And here Pran gives her good company. He continuously twists his face and the fate of these simple and good people, little realising that all bad deeds come to and end. Pran is the perfect comic-villain here and makes this family entertainer a delectable joyride!!