Nov 22, 2002 08:52 PM
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(Updated Nov 22, 2002 08:52 PM)
It is quite a pity that Hindi cinema has never considered comedy as a full-fledged genre to experiment with.
Luckily way back in the 70s and early 80s there was one man who fully exploited this genre and gave us some extremely memorable films. That man was Hrishikesh Mukherjee. And to his credit are films like
1957 - Musafir, 1959 - Anari, 1960 - Anuradha, 1961 - Chhaya, 1961 - Mem Didi, 1961 - Aashiq, 1962 - Asli Naqli, 1964 - Saanjh Aur Savera, 1965 - Do Dil, 1966 - Anupama, 1966 - Biwi Aur Makan, 1966 - Gaban, 1967 - Aashirwad, 1968 - Pyar Ka Sapna, 1969 - Satyakam, 1971 - Anand, 1971 - Buddha Mil Gaya, 1971 - Guddi, 1972 - Bawarchi, 1972 - Sabse Bada Sukh, 1973 - Abhiman, 1973 - Namak Haram, 1974 - Phir Kab Milogi, 1975 - Chaitali, 1975 - Chupke Chupke, 1975 - Mili, 1976 - Arjun Pandit, 1977 - Alaap, 1977 - Kotwal Saab, 1979 Jurmana, 1979 - Golmaal, 1980 - Khoobsurat, 1982 - Bemisaal, 1983 - Achha Bura, 1983 - Mamumkin, 1983 - Kisi Se Na Kahna, 1983 - Rang Birangi, 1983 - Jhoothi, 1999 - Jhooth Bole Kauva Kaate.
I haven't seen all these films and nor are all these films basically funny or comical. But the comic ones I am sure all those avid Hindi film viewers have seen it.
My favourite among those are:
Anand
Primarily this film's premise was a young man dying of an icurable disease. The protagonist played by Rajesh Khanna - because has numbered days to live - lives a carefree life. Or at least tries to.
He then meets a doctor played by Amitabh Bachchan and passes on this infectious yet happy way of living life to him.
There are some instances in the film which are rather memorable. Rajesh Khanna has this habit of going upto people and chatting up with them as though he has known them forever. And on one such occassion he meets Johnny Walker who also pretends to know him and they have an animated conversation - the facts of which both lie through their hats.
Althoug the film has intense emotional moments - I would still call it a fun film.
Guddi
Guddi is the story of a school girl who is obsessed with a film star. In this case it is Jaya Bhaduri who is taken with Dharmendra. Her family wants her to see that film stars behind the facade are just humans. And that is where the comedy in this film happens.
Chupke Chupke
I never get tired of watching this film. Every dialogue, every gesture, every character in this film is hillarious. Be it Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bhaduri or even Asrani.
Dharmendra who had an action star image by then broke all barriers with this film and made a mark as a versatile actor or probably just as an actor.
Khoobsurat
Yet another film that can be watched a zillion times. Rekha comes to visit her sister at the house of the in-laws and walks into trouble from the moment she sets foot in the house. The house is ruled by Dina Pathak who is a strict disciplinarian. And how one by one Rekha turns each member of the house towards their freedom forms the funny plot of the film.
The film does get senti towards the climax, but predominantly is funny to the core.
Golmaal
Amol Palekar plays a double role in this one. One is the true character who is in love with Bindiya Goswami and the other is the twin of the first character who is more in accordance with what the girl's father wants. Who also happens to be Amol Palekar's boss played by Utpal Dutt.
As Ram and Laxman the two characters performed brilliantly by Amol Palekar, the film has you in splits throughout.
Wish films with such simplicity would continue to be made in this day and age.
