Introducing an anti-hero (Kala Bazar)

Can we call Dev Anand one of the first anti-heroes in the history of Hindi cinema? For, there are roughly three major films where he handles his grey tones with panache. I'm talking of Guide (1965), Asli Naqli (1962) and Kala Bazar (1960). In all these films Anand's character starts off negatively. But after a certain cathartic moment, he emerges from the flames that help to purify him. In Asli Naqli, his metamorphosis happens when he sees that true love actually resides in poor homes because that emotion needn't be validated by money. In Guide, a personal trauma shakes him up and he atones for his sin by helping villagers. And, in Kala Bazar, the change comes through because of his love for a beautiful girl.

There is also Baazi (1951), where Dev Anand plays the gold-hearted crook. But, even though the film was a unique coming together of Guru Dutt and Dev Anand, it lacked the polish of his later films that dealt with the subject of an anti-hero.
Kala Bazar stands out because of Vijay Anand's deft treatment and the mature performances by all the actors. There are so many goods in this romance (I call it so because the story revolves around Raghuvir and Alka's love). Great cast, awesome story, superb music and restrained performances. A significant part is how Raghuvir is shown gradually attaining Gandhian qualities (read: the shawl slung on his shoulders, helping the poor and passive resistance against Ganesh and his cronies when they come to crush him down).

Struggling to make ends meet, Raghuvir chooses a path of crime and deceit to earn quick bucks. He teams up with a group of black marketeers who sell cinema tickets at a high rate. Soon his deftness and agility pays off. Ganesh (Madan Puri) and his cronies are happy following Raghuvir's diktat. Raghuvir's dark trade flourishes and he is able to move into a more comfortable home with his brother, sister (Nanda) and mother (Leela Chitnis). His shortcoming is that he is not educated. The good man in him is stern with his little brother because the young boy isn't serious about his studies. I think this is a clever ploy of showing that Raghuvir is good at heart. He wants his family to live well. He wants his siblings to prosper. He wants to lead a respectable life. But he is struck by bad times and sorry circumstances.

But Raghuvir meets his match in Alka (Waheeda Rehman), the beautiful girl who stuns him with her idealism. And of course, her beauty. What happens in front of the movie hall pulls the trigger in his stormy mind. Though aware that Alka is in love with someone else, he prodigiously pursues her. He glibtalks, lies and manipulates every situation to get into her good books and win her affection. Though situations here are funny and highly entertaining, one can see Raghuvir's vulnerable state as he is hellbent on attaining Alka's love. In Apni toh har aah ek toofan hain, he is a smart man fooling everyone around with his song, that is targeted towards Alka. S D Burman's music is as haunting as Mohd Rafi's rendition. Then of course you have Saanjh dhali, the flirtatious duet by Asha Bhonsle and Manna Dey. The culmination of his love professions happen with Khoya khoya chand, a stunning number that stays with you forever.

The script has plenty of twists. In that Kala Bazar is never without action. Just when we think that Alka's rejection of Raghuvir will spell the end of their romance, Vijay Anand's character resurfaces and fixes everything. It's awesome how the film shows that a girl is very much capable of falling in love twice. Alka falls in love with Raghuvir and is delirious when she learns that her fiance also fell in love with someone else while studying abroad. Very mature. And the enjoyment is doubled with Rim jhim ke taraney (Mohd Rafi and Geeta Dutt) and Sach hue sapney tere (Geeta Dutt again).

But Kala Bazar is not just a romance. So the game's hardly over after Raghuvir and Alka unite. Now the hero has to fight with his inner demons and set matters right so that he can lead a truly peaceful life with his sweetheart. The melodiously devotional Na mein dhan  chahun, is but a call for Raghuvir to start making amends. Even though the black market is attractive, what with its tantalising freebies and easy lucre, Raghuvir realises it is high time he returns to the right path. Here we have an awesome club number by Bhonsle, picturised on the ravishing Helen called Samhalo dil ko. Really, Helen and her charms!
It is also noteworthy how the film shows that Raghuvir has to face the law long after he has changed his ways. While his life was infested with crime, he got away scotfree. It is only when he makes an honest living, the law closes in on him  for his past misdemeanours. Strange, but not very surprising. For, this is the director's way of showing that there is hardly a dearth of people who want to pull down an honest and successful man.

I like everything about Kala Bazar. It is a rare film where the three Anand brothers (Chetan Anand plays the lawyer who defends Raghuvir) star together. I find Vijay Anand quite handsome here (wonder why he got that hideous hairstyle later in his career). Dev Anand and Waheeda share awesome chemistry and Nanda was oh-so-pretty.  And, yes, Dev Anand plays Raghuvir with brilliant restraint.
But the most entertaining part is the first scene where there is a real life premiere show of Mother India, Mehboob Khan's 1957 blockbuster. The camera captures the excitement breeding heavy amongst the audience who are waiting for a rare glimpse of their favourite movie stars. We, sitting on the other side of the screen, also get to catch the likes of Dilip Kumar, Nargis, Naseem Banu, Kishore Kumar, Nadira, Kumkum, Mohd Rafi, Guru Dutt, Geeta Dutt, Raj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Sohrab Modi and Nimmi. I call this a stellar gimmick on the part of Navketan...