But for Shammi and Sadhana (Budtameez)

Trust the invincible Shammi Kapoor to make even the very usual film exciting. Though the plot of Manmohan Desai's romantic comedy Budtameez has been oft-repeated, it becomes a jolly good ride for this flamboyant Kapoor's antics. And bolstered by Sadhana's natural charm, it is quite a watch. Only if Shankar Jaikishan's music had more juice and the director had obliterated the buffoon Devdas (Kamal Mehra)...

But fret not. For, Budtameez is ruled by the lead couple. They enjoy maximum screen time and everything about them is so enjoyable. Shammi Kapoor and Sadhana make a handsome pair and they just carry on from their Rajkumar days. The chemistry is sparkling and the romance exhilarating. My only question is, why wasn't the film shot in colour?

In 1966, Shammi Kapoor was the toast of tinseltown with his blockbuster Teesri Manzil. That film showed this actor in his smashing best, looking all natty in his suits, t-shirts and dinner jackets. His light eyes cast enough magic to weaken my knees and the songs looked fabulous in colour. Perhaps, if Manmohan Desai would have tried some hues, the otherwise plain soundtrack of his film would have turned out better (though Kapoor looks a killer in his dapper suit in Apni baahon se koi)...

Sadhana too, was having a super run at the box office with the cracker of a thriller, Mera Saaya. She looked gorgeous in her saris, suits and jewels in that Raj Khosla enterprise and was want of some colourful charisma in Budtameez, too. Even though she was sparkling as the arrogant Shanta, I feel the film would have been lifted with colours... Anyway, what is done is done...
The film's story is very similar to Ziddi, another favourite of mine. But this one packs in more meat. Shammi Kapoor is any day better and funnier than Joy Mukherjee even though both Asha and Sadhana are great. But Sadhana is naturally effervescent. She does not have to try too hard to get that vain air about her. And as she slowly transforms into a mellow sweetheart, the change is hardly noticeable. I loved her in the song Pehla pehla pyar. I think she adds a kind of sweetness to this chirpy number sung so wonderfully by Suman Kalyanpur (wonder where this talent disappeared after a few films?). Shammi Kapoor of course makes Budtameez kahon ya kahon janwar (Mohd Rafi) stand out with his signature touch!
Shyam (Kapoor) travels to Bomaby from Allahabad after being insulted by his stepmother for not earning anything to look after the family. His stepsister, Beena, though loves him dearly. In the big city, Shyam meets Shanta by chance and the first meeting is just a prologue to the fun chapters that will soon follow. As events unfold, Shyam is requested to put up at the mansion of Raibahadur Moti Sagar (Brahm Bhardwaj), who sees in this clever young lad the steam to straighten his rude granddaughter, Shanta. And the duel begins...
Watching Shammi Kapoor tame the shrew is always a delight and Shyam's antics are no different. He is absolutely entertaining and extremely funny. He makes me roll over with his hilarious disguises as the old driver and the pandit called Gangadin. But the scenes where he pretends to be blind to teach Shanta a lesson is really exciting. Just after singing a beseeching song to Shanta he shrieks upon seeing a water snake. But Shanta immediately tells him that the snake is harmless. Realising that his game is up, he tries to scamper, only to be caught by Shanta again. Funny faces this man makes...

If Shammi Kapoor is the heart of this film, Sadhana is the soul. There are many who feel that Asha Parekh was too squealish in Ziddi. But here Sadhana is superlative as the rich and spoilt Shanta (maybe they could have given her a better name!). She looks so sexy strutting in her swimsuit in the song Surat haseen. Even in her harshness there is a kind of attractiveness. She is rude but she always sticks to her brief. Her altercations with Shyam have the perfect punch. I love how she walks down the stairs in her films. It like as if she is floating down. Her smile is infectious and so is her ringing laughter. She's blessed with a hourglass shape and makes good use of it in the dance sequences, especially in Pehla pehla pyaar and Sirf tumhi to ho jispe marten hain hum.

The supporting cast of Budtameez is convincing. Manorama is okay, but Brahm Bhardwaj is good. Purnima, the actor playing Shyam's sister, is very pretty. And, who would have thought that Jagdish Raj would become so significant in the later reels of the film! But then, a film starring Shammi Kapoor is bound to have solid twist elements...