Paanch rupaiyaa barah aana. Review on Chalti Ka Naam Gadi

K.H. Pictures Present?s Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi

Music: S.D. Burman

Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Cinematography: Aloke Dasgupta

Dialogues: Ramesh Pant and Gobind Moonis

Written And Directed: Satyen Bose

Baat badi purani hai, un dino ki when Nehru Cha-cha was still alive and kicking, when Goa was still under Portuguese rule and when the Beatles were yet to croon their first title song. Those were days of carefree abandon when people took pride in the small things of life and when there was too much time for everything. India was still reeling in the after effects of colonial rule and when babudom was making a fresh start to taking over the socio-politico framework of India. Times were such when one could buy a houseful in ten rupee note when paanch rupaiyaa barah aana was all that it took to get your car overhauled and fixed. The classical times of B&W still untouched and unspoilt by the vagaries of cinemascope and Eastman color is where we go back to each time we want to live those nostalgic moments.

Today I am going to take you down memory lane, so down that for some of us even our parents were not born then; the year I am talking about is 1958, the same year that for many of us computer buffs ALGOL was first unveiled to the world. The Indo-China war had not happened and Bangladesh was still called East Pakistan. The times of change, the times of squalor, the times of lazy abandon, the times of dhoti-kurta and the times when politicians were not given Z++ security. The times when Nehru would go to the Red Fort for his independence day speech not in a bullet proof car but in a buggy drawn by horses waving to the crowd.

It was in those times that one of the timeless classics of Bollywood was made by Satyen Bose featuring the three Ganguly brothers, a story so simple yet so rib tickling that no matter how many times you see it, it still captures your imagination and it still makes u laugh your guts out.

The Plot there is not much of a plot but then whatever there is has been so brilliantly put together that one revels at the marvel. The story revolves around three brothers, Brijmohan (Ashok Kumar), Jaggu (Anoop Kumar) and Mannu (Kishore Kumar) who run a small garage by the wayside. The brothers are madness personified and what adds to the madness is the fact that Brijmohan is a misogynist who shields his brothers from the guiles of the womenfolk. He zealously ensures that they don?t fall in love with any of those damsels.

For once he was also left helpless as Renu (Madhubala) runs into Mannu?s life just like that on one of those rainy nights. She is seized by fits of sneezes and a car, which will not buzz, calling for the immediate attention of the expert mechanic, Mannu. What ensues is one of the cutest romantic songs ever picturised Ek ladki bheegi bhaagi siin which Mannu manages to charm Renu with his innocence and verve. The two fall in love by the time Kishore has crooned Mein sitaaron ka taranawith Asha Bhosale, as he chases Madhubala asking for his paanch rupaiyaa barah aana. Expectedly all this doesn?t go down well with the Big B Brijmohan who challenges Mannu to a fist fight to smash some sense into his head, Mannu despite of taking a knock-out punch refuses to budge.

What ensues is some fast-paced, zigzagged, twisted contorted comedy sequences as Mannu ends up facing the goons Raja Saab (K N Singh) and his accomplice Prakash (Sajjan) who it seems are after Renu?s money. As the events unfold we are told the reason of Brijmohan?s hatred for the women, as not long ago he was robbed of his lady- love Kamini (Veena) by none other then Raja Saab. The three yodeling brothers join hands to smash the villains and take home their loved ones.

The Star cast this is one of the best made movies in Bollywood in terms of the star cast. All the actors fit into place so very well with their roles and characterization that it seems like a jigsaw puzzle done to perfection.

Kishore in the role of Mannu tickles us with his comic timing and hilarious faces and distinctly unique brand of comedy. His innocence and charm is a revelation. His comic sense is par excellence; one doesn?t get overawed with those edgy sequences as they blend in so very well with the flow of the movie.

Madhubala as Renu oozes oomph and her infectious smile combined with her own style of comedy is a joy to watch. Her charisma and charm leaves the audience spellbound asking for more. It is with light such as these that she has been able to capture the hearts of millions of Indians and still does.

Anoop is totally at home as the humpty- dumpty, bumping, falling, bubbly chirpy and ever so confused Jaggu. He dazzles in the role so much so that one wonders why he could not attain the heights of fame and success as his other brothers.

Ashok Kumar as the protecting guardian Brijmohan essays the role of the inherit goodness of mankind with ease. His ideas about life and his zealous anti-woman stand dialogues are a treat to behold.

The other actors chip in with small yet fine performances to make this film an out and out comedy, one that is still as fresh as when it came out. One can still watch this movie and laugh his guts out reveling at the genius of the men involved in the making of this masterpiece.

Support Cast the direction of Satyen Bose is impromptu and has that spontaneity about it which most of the others lacked. His characterizations and way of story telling doesn?t fit into the description of the conventional and yet it is done so beautifully that one bemoans the fact that he made so few movies.

The music of S.D Daa is fresh, spell bounding and hum able as always. Young R.D and Jaidev assisted SD Daa during this movie. The songs went on to become mega hits. Infact the song Haal Kaisa haifeatured as the best song of the year on the jealously popular Radio Ceylon program Binaca GeetMala

Majrooh is at his lyrical best in this one, his use of words is simple yet so poetic that one revels at the genius of this maestro. All the songs are good, what?s more special is that he is in tune with both the romantic as well as the comic songs.

The cinematography dates to an era long gone by with brilliant use of the cameras to capture some of the special golden screen moments. Like the way the songs have been picturised to give them a touch of nostalgia.

The dialogues, which are so full of comedy and wit that one just goes berserk laughing and crying with joy at it.

The movie starts on a funny note and ends on a funny note as well. In the first screen the band of boys is shown riding their run down 1928 Chevrolet which comes to a grinding halt at a traffic signal, the know all Brijmohan doesn?t need a moment to figure out the cause of the same as he sees a lady standing at the crossing and smiling at them. He knows what he has to do, as the three brothers gang up in making funny faces at her to shoo her off and no prizes for guessing, the car obliges that very moment. While in the ending scene, the three brothers are sitting perched on the hood of the car with their lady loves on the front seat, happily humming and yodeling Baabooo samjho ishare horan pukare.

The success of the movie has inspired many people to try and ape it, but then none could come close to the genius of this one. This is and will remain one of the all time classics of Bollywood, a movie that will always amuse and make audiences laugh and enjoy the bygone era of B&W and those forlorn rainy nights with mushy nostalgic feelings shooting through their minds.