The old baazi. Review on Baazi (Old)

Before I begin there are lot of movies called baazi. I think there are bout 6 of them, but I am writing the review on the first one, starring dev anand, geeta bali, kalpana kartik. This is a black white movie made in the 1950. This movie gave dev anand a another good image, this is where most of career started into the movies. guru dutt had directed the movie. Baazi set tone for the spate of urban crime films that were to come out of bollywood in the 1950's and 1960's.

Madan(dev anand) is small time gambler forced into joining the owner of the star hotel, a mysterious and shadowy criminal, to pay for his sisters medical expenses. HIs sister is treated by doctor rajani ( kalpana kartik) who loves madan and he loves her. But a cop ramesh ( k dhawan) also loves rajani.

The cabaret dancer (geeta baali) at the club is in love with madan. When madan wants out from the life of crime, the boss orders him to be bumped off. The dancer dies saving him and madan is framed for her murder. He is condemned to death but is saved by ramesh who lays a trap to catch a the villain.

Baazi was showed a criminal hero with tough as nails exterior but of course with a heart of gold. The film took dev anand to dramatic start status. He was the ideal actor for the crime wave films played in a number of them (jaal), (pocketmaar) (dushman), ( kala bazar) ( jaali note) ( c.i.d) to name some. Baazi promoted a lot of talent several of whom went on to make a quite a name for themselves. comedian johnny walker, actress kalpana kartik. The screenplay was well writen by a well known actor balraj sahni.

The music was by s.d. burman. There were couple of good songs suno gaja kya gaaye and a ghazal tadbir se bigdi hui taqdeer were pretty good.

Performance wise the whole movie belonged to dev anand, he gave great performance probably his best at this, people say he was the best in the movie guide, but I didn't find that movie quite that interesting, but dev anand acting was good. Geeta bali was allright in the movie. Kalapana kartik does a nice job as the doctor.