Indelible Patterns- A tribute to the actors. Review on Ten Best Cameos in Bollywood Movies

Cameo roles are in my opinion different from supporting roles. They are not necessarily an integral part of the story structure but might add a dash of masala to the proceedings. You might take them off completely and still the story would be coherent. But the spice would have gone.

Look at it another way they are like a catalyst- which any sixth grader would know- they do not participate in a reaction but accelerate the reaction.

Supporting roles are mostly well defined in Hindi filmdom. Imagine what Sashi Kapoor was to Amitabh and you get the picture. He may tag along - or to use filmi parlance- he has a running role viz keeps running all the time to be in touch with our lambuji! -but his contribution might be zilch. Ditto for most MAAs, Baaps, the dubious Bobs & pure as gold “ five time namaaz” praying Muslim , the vamp with the heart of platinum !

So the ground rules are set. But as I go on you may notice I may transgress the lakshman rekha every now and then. You have the liberty to scream, tear your hair out or add a comment. The choice is definitely yours.

1. Somebody mentioned “Babumoshai “ while commenting on dwingramki’s list. That had me thinking. Take out AB Anand could not have been made. Literally Babumoshai wrote the story and got the award as well. But take out Ishabhai and Anand could have been made but would it have been this sweet. Ishabhai was Anand’s Murarilal and Anand was his Jaichand. He appears if I am not mistaken in three scenes. The into one which I have just mentioned, the drama scene which gives the famous all the world is a stage adaptation – so effectively used in the climax—and when he pays a visit when Anand is in his death bed. The scene is beautifully played out by Ishabhai not losing his composure in Anand’s presence and completely breaking down once out of the room.

(Johnny “Ishabhai “Walker In Anand)

2.How do you emote if you are a corpse? You are static, motionless? Wrong. You skate, participate in a three legged race, you were a burqa, you play Draupathi in a play. Yet you are a corpse all the time. Sounds far fetched? Then see Jaane bhi do yaaron. Satish Shah got a chance of a life in his role of death!

( Satish “ dead body” Shah in JBDY)

3.When you think of cameos two names come to mind instantaneously . One is Utpal Dutt. This versatile artiste brought out his immense theatre experience every time he appeared on screen- make that almost. His best effort was Gol Maal by a long mile but he was in my opinion the hero of that film. So I turn my attention to another Hrishikesh venture-Rang bi Rangi. The film itself is a delightful rip off on Pati Patni aur Wohh! Deven Verma the NRI & theatre enthusiast tries to bring the romance back into the staid A Palekar- P Bhabhi household with catastrophic effect. Farooque sheikh pretends to be a detective who has been rechristened by Verma as “Durandhar Bantwadhekar”( is my spelling right?) kya thagada naam hai! And pray what happens- there is a real “DB” and to make it bad he is a DIG and to make it worse he is Parveen Babhi’s uncle. This is easy pickings for our veteran to walk in. ( Like Gilchrist walking with OZ 385 for 5) Utpal Dutt simply brizzles and sizzles. The movie aptly ends with UD bellowing “Havaldaar B R Chopra ko pakadke le aao”

Utpal Dutt as Durandhar Bantwadhekar in Ranghbi Ranghi)

4 I had difficulty in putting down the narrative of Rang Bhi Ranghi. I won’t even try here. The common factor is Deven Verma. I have often wondered why this comedian does not have his place in the sun. Is it because he is not loud and crude. Whatever may be the reason , this is Deven Verma’s finest hour. You may argue he is two of the four heroes in the film. Yes I am talking about Gulzar’s Comedy of errors Oops Shakespeare’s Angoor. Got it.

There are two stand out scenes showcasing Deven Verma’s talent. One is the Hilarious take off on” Preetam aan Milo”. The second is one Bahadhur inside the house trying to scare away the other Bahadur by imitating the dog. The action & reactions are a treat to watch.

Deven “Bahadur” Verma in Angoor

5.By the length of the role this is a cameo but by the impact it made is equal to that of the heroes of the film. Mohanlal has always been admired by my Keralite friends I could never fathom why till this film and particularly one dialogue “ khon kehetha hai hum kanoon ke andhar kaam karthen . thum ko bahaar nahi khar saktha. Press waala, Human rights …. Sab ayenge. Encounter khekkar maarna padega… sach kehna tho mein bhi inse dharthahoon.” The beatific smile he gives is far more chilling than the maar dhaads that DTS can project. The essence of a cop and his single minded focus is brought out by this scene.

Mohan “ what is in a name” Lal in Company.

1. This guy started as a hero became the biggest baddie in HF , got bored became a good man , chacha, inspector et al, became baddie once again. We are talking about Pran. In the seventies in how many movies did we see during the titles “ and Pran , above all Pran, In a very special appearance Pran. Such was the popularity of the man. When one gawky long limbed youngster was making his first unsure steps to stardom who would give his support. Of course PraN. Pran the Pathan and “His yaari hai “ guaranteed a decent initial for “ Zanjeer” and the rest is history.

Pathan Pran in Zanjeer

1. The giant we are talking about literally shot into fame with his first film. He had to carry the cross for the rest of his life. Amjad Khan was always Gabbar to the film goer. But as Vatsayana getting practical experience? for Kamasutra he was cute in Utsav.

Amjad “ Vatsayana” Khan in Utsav

8 This has to be the mother of all cameos. It is super brief. He utters a couple of dialogues. Takes the heroine as a pillion rider goes for a ride sings a song and with precision timing at the end of the song gets killed. But Rajesh Khanna was the phenomenon. The song “Zindagi Ek Safar” a smash hit. The film Andaaz

Rajesh Khanna In Andaaz

1. Earlier I talked about two persons springing to mind when one talks of cameos. The other one is Paresh Rawal. He has done in N number of movies he is likely to do it in n more. I don’t want to mention one film may be it is Chachi 420, Hera Pheri, Andaaz apna apna, Daud, A P Deewana. The choice is yours.

Paresh “Chameleon” Rawal many films.

1. He is among India’s finest actors. Decades after his death , people still talk about the dignity and sensitivity he brought to films. Be it an Inspector or father, rustic or urbanite he could do it all. Pain, content, anger, frustration could all flash in his visage apparently from nowhere. He is Balraj Sahni

Balraj “Sauve” Sahni many Films.

And I have not talked about the scene stealers like Raj Kumar & Shotgun. Om prakash should also have fitted in somewhere. But you can't please them all!