Love thy neighbour !!. Review on Padosan

In today’s day and age of high rise buildings and sky scrapers we find ourselves living in close quarters with many colourful characters that we call neighbours. On the whole a very irksome lot who wouldn’t think twice before intruding into ones private space and sometimes ones private kitchen too (how many times have they come asking for that bowl of sugar!!)

The cute boy next door is the only reason I haven’t bought a house at the Andaman and Nicobar islands (ok there are more reasons then just that but then have you had a look at the property rates of late?)

Padosan is a movie based on one such cute boy named Bhola who is a total simpleton and his ultra hip neighbourhood sweetheart Bindu.

Basic Sketch-

One day while musing by the lake Bhola(Sunil Dutt) refers to his book of Do’s and Don’ts and reads that a person should enter the holy state of matrimony after the age of 25.On realising that he is already a year late, he plans on taking active measures to rectify the situation. As his mama (maternal uncle) seems too preoccupied in finding his own bride after separating off from mami

(this is obvious---mama’s wife) Bhola decides to leave home and march off to live with mami.

On arriving he notices the saamne wali khidki (the opposite window) and the girl residing in it. Bindu (Saira Banu) singing away in her bath room much to Bhola’s amusement. On further revelation Bhola realises that Bindu is the same girl he had a chance encounter with a couple of days back which found him in deep muddy waters (literally)

Bhola is smitten by Bindu and her beauty and wants to charm her off her mittens. He faces competition for Bindu's affection in the form of Masterji(Mehmood) whose trying to woo Bindu since ages now (a total case of apply- apply, no reply)The simpleton that Bhola is he takes help from his Guru(Kishore Kumar) in getting into Bindus good books.

Characters-

Bhola-Played by Sunil Dutt in one of his best performances ever, reminds you of the village idiot come to town. His various attempts to woo lady- love is a laugh riot for anyone and everyone. Memorable scenes in which we find him trying to learn to sing as mademoiselle here is artistically inclined have the audience in splits. A truly lovable character to the core.

Bindu-Played by Saira Banu in one of her best performances ever is the proverbial uptown girl (60’s style) living in the uptown world. She is one confused person who just drifts away aimlessly in search of true love. Suffers from temper tantrums as she’s the pampered only child of her “jab- jab… jo -jo hota hai.. tab- tab ..so so hota hai” parents. Enjoys to play hard to get with Bhola and Masterji .

Masterji-Played by Mehmood is an exaggerated portrayal of South Indians. He is the dance master of Bindu. The diction used by him in the movie makes the viewer want to suggest to him books on rapid reading in Hindi. Memorable scenes in which you find Masterji swaying hand in hand in the park with Bindu while Bhola is behind them with his hand raised wanting to slap Bindu. The “tum aage aaye ga, tum aage aaye ga….to hum peeche jaayega”is so simply sweet you just cant resist a smile.

Guru-Played by Kishore Kumar in one of his umpteenth best performances, is the Bengali guru who runs a drama school and has his ‘chaps’ following him around in total earnestness. A guru in performing arts –acting , singing, dancing…name it and he knew it. He takes on the task of helping Bhola get Bindu. Memorable scenes---way too many…. one of the best though is the song meri pyari bindu….

The movie has scintillating music and situational songs. All time hits in the form of ek chatur naar, mere saamne wali khidki and mere bhole balam just add more fun and frolic to an already fun movie.

Must watch for people with cute boys/girls living next door. A must watch for anyone with a funny bone. On second thoughts…a must watch for absolutely anyone and everyone. A total laugh riot. A total hungama on screen.

Age old saying love thy neighbour in filmi style is what