Smashing Sanjeev (Manchali)

There's nothing like a frothy romance to dispel the gloom. Taxing work, the cold and certain other reasons have not been keeping me in the right spirits. So, I chose to watch a film, which I somehow had an inkling, wouldn't fail. Raja Nawathe's Manchali was fun from the word go. Yes, be it the pretty heroine, the smart hero, the freewheeling plot and the easy comedy, everything in 1973 romantic comedy is so likeable. Especially, Sanjeev Kumar, who with his charming presence and uninhibited persona, lifts the predictable plot to a fun-filled roller coaster ride.

Leena (Leena Chandravarkar) is rich and pretty. But apart from these credentials, she is also the owner of a vain heart, a thoroughly short temper and a distorted thread of obstinacy. In the absence of her parents, her uncle and aunt, who are her guardians, want her to get married to a person so that their responsibilities are complete and they can hand over Leena's property to her. But though Leena is keen to get her property she will not marry the man chosen by her guardians. Alongwith her best friend Pushpa (Nazima), she launches a plan to marry the guy of her choice and in the process is fooled badly. So now she has to rest on the resourcefulness of Sushil Kumar (Sanjeev Kumar) to gull her guardians and pocket her property. But she doesn't know that Sushil is a tough nut to crack. In a bid to earn a few bucks, Sushil teaches the haughty girl a few lessons in life and most importantly reveals a side to his character that no one expected.

Sushil absolutely tames the shrew and matters come to such a point that Leena would have him only to herself and to no one else. Yes, Sushil makes her fall in love with him and even own it up in front of him. This is something that Leena could not ever have thought, considering her mind was always clouded by the shroud of vanity and pretense. But then, what are romantic comedies about, if they do not have a halcyon ending?

I love the exchanges between Sushil Kumar and Leena. You can actually see the man exasperating the rich girl and doing it so nonchalantly. He quickly gets into the good books of Leena's guardians well knowing that it is them he should satisfy first. Leena's friends also cosy up to him because he is smart, good-looking and witty. Mostly, he is fun to be with. We can see Leena burning with jealousy when Sushil is partying with her girlfriends, especially Pushpa, but she can do anything but keep mum. Sanjeev Kumar and Leena Chandravarkar share a crackling chemistry and they look so good together. She is pretty (has a lovely figure and wears some gorgeous clothes), Sanjev Kumar is perky, naughty and charming. He has this easy manner of making you like him so much. Then there are those superb voice modulations and those impromptu dances. It's not Sanjeev Kumar's second skin, this dancing I mean, but he does the goofy steps so effortlessly. And his repartee is so spontaneous. Didn't know he has this awesome flair for comedy. You get to see this same flair in Seeta aur Geeta again but there he had to share screen time with so many others.

In Manchali, Sanjeev Kumar rules the roost. Though the film is supposed to concentrate on the eccentricities of the female lead, it's Sanjeev Kumar who takes the cake away with his flamboyance. Like in the title song. Chandravarkar looks svelte in those see-through shirt and hipsters, but Sanjeev Kumar is a different sight altogether in his jacket, cravat and fedora. So smashing he looks and so effervescently he drives the lady up the wall. In fact, even she cannot ignore his charms when the song ends.
Then there is Gum ka fasana (Laxmikant Pyarelal's score is quite refreshing) is a nice romantic track filled with the sensitive fervour of the shy girl and robust declarations of love by the man. Little do we know that the morning after Sushil will do a volte face to teach the damsel a few more lessons of life.
I thoroughly enjoyed Manchali. Yes I am very fond of Sanjeev Kumar and quite like Chandravarkar. But here Sanjeev is romantic, witty and flamboyant. Something that can never fail for this awesome actor...