Music, the food of love (Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon)

What made Nassir Hussain's pictures a box-office sellout? I say, fetching women, fabulous music, picturesque locales, smart heroes and a roughly tolerable plot. You get ample of that in the 1963 romance Phir Wohi dil Laya Hoon. The director etches a credible love story with plenty of song and dance, a menacing villian and fun situations in lovely Kashmir. Yes, you get to see the heavenly place before it got ripped apart!!!

There is Mohna, played by pretty Asha Parekh (Hussain repeats her after her successful debut in Dil Deke Dekho) who is bethrothed to a foolish Difu (Rajindernath). Though her lisping might irk you, her dances will enthrall. The colourful clothes look nice on her curvaceous figure and her performance as a bubbly girl is adequate. She is your regular 60s heroine, there to emote sufficiently and look good. And Parekh does a fine job...

Mohna resents her fiance and a turn of events acquaints her with Mohan (a tall and smart Joy Mukherjee). Though hesitant initially, she gradually falls in love with him. But this simple love story is peppered with plenty of misunderstandings, helpless situations, an obstinate uncle and a conniving villain (Pran is devious as usual).

Mukherjee is dashing yes, but you can't help but be irritated by his smile!!! This lad copies Shammi Kapoor to the T, you can't miss the similarities. Those expressions, those dance moves... But I'd say, his macho behaviour and strapping figure are noteworthy. Mohan has attitude...when he faces his estranged father for the first time, when he is wooing Mohna and when he broods after being spurned in love. In that, Hussain's choice is spot on...

The soul of the film is the music. O.P. Nayyar hits the bull's eye with every song. While the clasical Dekho bijli chamke is ethereal, Lakho hain nigahon mein is spontaneous. The music director goes berserk with every number. When an intoxicated Mohna breaks into Aankhon se jo uthri hain dil mein, you can sense the dizzying heights of passion in her heart. Similarly when she seeks apologies with Mujhe pyaar mein tum na ilzaam detey, she is a helpless girl strangled by her filial obligations...

Aji ghibla mohutarma teases. The use of regional instruments in the song is superb...

In Aankhon mein sajaleyna kaliyan, Mohan's passion transcends into a lilting ghazal...The poetry is almost surreal...

Then you have the foot-tapping Nazneen bara rangeen hain wada. This song, picturised on snowclad mountains and a houseboat, highlights the jealousy and longings of a lover. The crest and troughs of the notes are breathtaking...

The title track is another ace...As Mohan sings Phir wohi dil laya hoon, Mohna slowly melts into acquiesance to his proposal. She is naughty and playful, he is confident and adamant. Here's a trivia... Aamir Khan lipsynced to Elo ji sanam hum aa gaye aaj phir dil leke (to Raveena Tandon) in Andaz Apna Apna. No prices for guessing the inspiration behind that number...

This film is not without loopholes. For instance, what is the reason for bad blood between Mohna's uncle and his wife, Jamuna? Why doesn't he report the kidnapping of his son to the police? But, I guess a willing suspension of disbelief helps while watching these films...

The script could have been tighter. We could have been saved from the buffoonery of Difu. His scenes go on and on. He dresses obnoxiously and keeps saying, "What a fat mother, what a funny father!!" and tests your patience with his possessiveness for Mohna...Really!!!!

The meanderings notwithstanding, watch this film if you're game for frothy fun. For, in the end, the world is just as beautiful as it should be!!! Most importantly, if you crave solace in the harmony of O.P Nayyar, this is your stop!!!