Kissi Se Na Kehna | The Critique

Like most of the Hrishi Da films, Kisise Na Kehna is a sweet romantic comedy woven around a family with middle class values and a big lie to thwart some orthodox belief. It attempts to break stereotypes just like Chupke Chupke, Gol Maal and Naram Garam. Film casts Farooq Sheikh and Deepti Naval in typical reluctant romantic couple, Saeed Jaffrey and quintessential Utpal Dutt.

Dutt who plays an old school retired person is disappointed by the education system which has spoiled the upbringing of the new generation. He is not able to adjust to rebellious and outspoken new world. He wants to protect his son Ramesh played by Sheikh by finding an uneducated daughter-in-law. Sheikh finds his soulmate in Ramola played by Naval. Ramola is a doctor by profession. 

When Dutt's obsession with search for uneducated bride becomes unreasonable and Ramesh is not able to express his desire to his father, Saeed Jaffrey who plays Dutt's friend Lalaji devices a plot.

Kisise Na Kehna establishes old school ideology without being whimsical or illogical. Family values are immune to educational influences and westernization is not a threat - Hrishi Da strongly makes his point. 

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Gol Maal Leads The Way | Uttkrishtt 2013

1. Gol Maal (1979): Ramprasad, Laxmanprasad and the boss. Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt made a brilliant pair. Subtle Palekar and loud Dutt complemented each other so well. Hrishida's Gol Maal is the finest Hindi comedy film ever.

2. Andaz Apna Apna (1994): Starring two emerging superstars - Salman Khan and Aamir Khan and a very highly rated actor Paresh Rawal in double role, Andaz Apna Apna is a fine example of underdog heroes and comedy of errors. What makes it unique is the fan following it has even after two decades and most of it has been word of mouth.

3. Bawarchi (1972): Remake of a Bengali comedy, Hrishida's Bawarchi is a brilliant family film where values were highlighted in such a light way that at no point film appears to be preachy but manages to teach a lot. Rajesh Khanna pulled off this film so well that along with memorable Aradhana, Amar Prem and Anand, this film is rated at one of his best.

Uttkrishtt 2013 saw a huge tie between 5 films, all ranked at #4.

4. Angoor (1982): Based on Shakespeare's play Comedy Of Errors, Gulzar's Angoor is another gem of a film. Sanjiv Kumar and Deven Verma played double roles - twin brothers seperated at birth and incidentally having same name. Characters are innocent and stay with you long. But the real king is the comedy which is genuinely situation centric.

4. Bombay To Goa (1972): One can't keep Mehmood out of any list of comedies. A road movie where Mehmood was the hero and Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha played side roles. Largely slapstick, Bombay To Goa influenced many films and inspired many comedians.

4. Chashme Buddoor (1981): Sai Paranjpye is known for light hearted films. Chashme Buddoor was one such film which became a classic over time. It was a high in career of actors involved. Along with Jaane Bhi Do Yaro, it is considered as best comedies made during 80s by torch bearers of alternate cinema in India.

4. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983): A cult classic, Jaane Bhi Do Yaro is one of the finest satires ever made in India. This film established many actors of parallel cinema in mainstream. This film was the template for many films in late 80s which grabbed attention of film lovers however most of them failed to build upon that.

4. Padosan (1968): 60s and 70s was the time when comedies relied more on story than situation. Padosan is one such example. Performances by Sunil Dutt and Saira Bano backed with comic timing of Kishore Kumar and Mehmood was the highlight of this film. The story of a simpleton who falls in love with a girl stole heart of the viewers.

9. Chupke Chupke (1975): Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan along with Sharmila Tagore, Jaya Bachchan and quintessential Om Prakash. A man vows to mock his wife's Jijaji and plots a scam that literally creates a laugh-riot.

10. Satte Pe Satta (1982): Another Amitabh Bachchan film. Seven brothers, seven brides, chaos and more chaos. Satte Pe Satta is literally a chaotic film. The USP of this film is the fact that the actors enjoyed their part so much that it reflected on screen. When its on screen, it easily win people.

Greatest Hindi Comedy - Gol Maal | A Study | Under Lens

IMDb rating of 7.8 hardly reflects the right picture. Gol Maal, directed by maverick director Hrishikesh Mukherjee, is rated at par with finest Hindi films ever made. Rank #1 at Uttkrishtt 2013 backs the opinion. But what makes Gol Maal such an iconic film? We had a discussion and came up with certain thoughts –

1. Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt: Chemistry between these two extremely talented and equally underrated actors reflected well in their comic timing. One scene where Amol starts bluffing and creates story of his non-existent brother, their chemistry is something to look out for.

2. Story: A guy lies about having a twin brother and finds a job for him as well. For another little innocent lie, he creates a mother and also an aunt. His boss’ daughter falls in love with his non-existent persona and hates his true identity. Lies, deceit and chase, all in good humor. Story was the pillar of this film, something Hrishikesh Mukherjee always ensured.

3. Situation Based Comedy: Instead of having slapstick and non-consequential jokes, film relied on situational comedy that carried the story along. Not a scene stands out as a misfit. Hrishikesh Mukherjee had an eye of an editor. That was perhaps the reason why Gol Maal was so well trimmed.

4. Reel Reflects Real: Having a good job was on the top of wish list of contemporary youth. Little lies to get and maintain one were acceptable. Gol Maal exaggerated and romanticized the idea. By creating a romantic angle between boss’ daughter and employee, writers checked all the points.

5. Cameos And Casting: Apart from Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt, actors like Deena Pathak, Deven Verma, Shubha Khote and Yunus Parvez formed the supporting cast. Cameos by Amitabh Bachchan and Om Prakash added the typical Hrishida feeling. However, the masterstroke was casting of Bindiya Goswami  instead of first choice Rekha who would have taken away a share of attention from Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt pair.

Hrishi Da Special

The Legend Called Hrishikesh Mukherjee | Editor's Pen

When I talk to my Mom about cinema, we don’t talk about Mel Gibson or Scorsese or Satyajit Ray or Guru Dutt. Our discussions usually revolve around Basu Chatterjee’s and Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s films. Their movies talk about common man and their small little problems. Their characters are real and believable. The plot of stories are not much intricate and each scene has a story in itself. I relished many movies on SET Max and Zee Classic… Anand, Naram Garam and Choti Si Baat top the list.

Hrishi Da movies had a very strong impact on people of that time. It was a time when nuclear families were becoming a fashion. Personal needs were getting priority over Family needs. Joint families were facing wrecks. Hrishi Da movies resisted these changes. My uncles still remember that his movies had such an impact on people that there was a strong air against nuclear families. Even those who left their families for personal space, bonded well with them.

His movies were contemporary and delightful… both at the same time. Not many directors achieved such a distinction. As a tribute to the legendary director, TheReelMag family is proud to present a special edition. This little tribute is a sincere effort to remember all those lovely entertaining family movies which made ’70 a memorable era of Hindi Cinema.

Love…

Sujoy Ghosh

Hrishikesh Mukherjee | Cinema of Life | Statesmen

Very few people have championed the art of realistic cinema the way Hrishi Da did. When today we envision a realistic movie, we see dark movies with feel of gloom, pain and sometimes even gore. Real world is not always gloomy. Real people try to handle things in very simple ways. Hypocrisy is not so common as shown by some of the directors today. Circumstances are not always so bad. It has become quite a trend to rip off an non-hindi movie, put the protagonist in slums and add some double meaning sleaze, and pass it off as realistic cinema.

Hrishi Da interpretation of people and their sensibilities can be attributed to his humble upbringing in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He also worked as a teacher for some time. His middle class life and experiences as a teacher reflects in his work. His education of cinema got the patronage of B.N. Sircar, Subodh Mitter and Bimal Roy. Bimal Roy had a strong influence on his though process and cinematic works. He was a part of crew of Do Bigha Zameen and Devdas. Under mentorship of Roy, Hrishi Da started his career ad director with movie Musafir. It was not a success. However his second movie Anari gathered lots of acclaim and attention.

People appreciated the sensitive treatment of his stories woven around simple characters and ordinary circumstances. Be it emotional attachment of doctor and patient (Anand), relationship between Industrialist and employee friends (Namak Haraam), falling relationship between successful wife and no-longer-successful husband (Abhimaan) or a man trying hard to remain honest in a corrupt world (Satyakam), he presented each of them in a very honest way. Subtle spurts of comedy was his specialty. Those little doses were very prominent in even his serious works and were actually his USP to some extent.

Among the people born in 80s and 90s, his comedy movies were more popular than those with a serious vein. Gol Maal, Naram Garam, Bawarchi, Kisi Se Na Kehna, Chupke Chupke etc. are still loved by masses. These movie had a simple plot with a small innocent deceit as a ploy. The circumstances would lead to situations where natural reactions would evoke comedy. Noted director Basu Chatterjee also adopted this style very well.

Hrishi Da is remembered as one of the most respected movie maker of Indian cinema and his contribution will keep on bringing smiles on the face of his viewers

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Ladki Kyon Na Jaane Kyon Ladko Si Nahin Hoti ?? | Under Lens

Want to know answer to this question, just check out, Guddi / Mili / Khoobsurat, and the vibrant central characters of these movies, will show you.

The movies came at approx a gap of 5 years to each other ……but a...a...a...an…. they are not sequels, as this was not in fashion that time, but they could have very well been. First came Guddi, a joyous young school girl who can bring a smile to anyone’s face, lives in a fantasy of her own, but soon realizes the drastic reality of the world. Then came sweet Mili, who spreads happiness and make people live life to fullest, but has a harsh truth to herself, she is about to die!! Then there is Meenu, who though knows the way is tough, but sets out to break free people from rules and tensions. And, one thing if you have not noted, if they had been sequels, public could have got a chance to see Jaya, Amitabh and Rekha in one, quite before Silsila!!

Ok, come on, let’s leave apart, the money making idea with sequels and prequels, and get back to, what makes these movies special. First thing, Hrishikesh Mukherjee (after all the edition is on him [;)]). Second, the central characters are ladies (that’s why I chose them [:)]). Third, they are unique in themselves (oops!! contradictory to previous para [:O]).

Jaya Bacchan has given fantastic performance as playing someone even younger than she really was in Guddi. And she outperforms herself in Mili again, with awesome support by Amitabh, acting as a person fed up of life. Mili is a superb example of the saying ‘opposites attract’. And what to say about Khoobsurat, I am yet not sure, if the name of the movie was describing Rekha or the movie in itself. Just to mention, all the supporting actors of these movies also have tremendous contribution in their success. Music for all are too good and have given some unforgettable songs. The vibrant characters, subtle and comical dialogues, situations approximate to reality, make you to have a joy ride and at the same time wish you could have someone so full of life around you, so as you can forget all your tensions and could enjoy your life too.

So all you men out there,

Jeena Ka Tumko Dhang Sikhlati Hai

Tumhe Jaanwar Se Insaan Banaati Hai

Uske Bina Ek Pal Reh Na Sakhoge Tum

Usko Pata Hai Yeh Keh Na Sakhoge Tum

Iss Liye Ladkiya Ladko Si Nahin Hoti

Written By: Neha Jain

Chupke-Chupke | The Critique

Hrishikesh Mukherjee is one of the finest directors Bollywood has had, and his comedies are certified timeless classics. You will find his audience in each and every segment of the society. Also, it’s possible for all the age groups to sit together and enjoy the flick. You might not hold your stomach laughing at each and every scene, but you will always hold a smile on your face, and that is what is special about  Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s style of cinema. I must describe it as a completely different genre of comedy. His comedies are always heartwarming, and never compromise on entertainment. Chupke-Chupke being one of my favorites.

The story is simple and straight. A newly wedded husband plays a practical joke on his wife's family with full support from his wife and friends. The husband (played by Dharmendra) is sick of praises of his JIJAJI (played by Om Prakash) by her wife (played by Sharmila Tagore). So he plans to deceive JIJAJI’s intellect & prove his wife wrong. What follows is a lie behind another. 

Mr. Amitabh Bachchan as husband’s friend is phenomenal, who is made to present himself as the biology professor (as the fake husband), although he is into English. His nervousness, anxiety & the efforts that he makes to fake Jaya (and rest of the family) are the funniest moments in the movie. Jaya Bhaduri, Asrani, Keshto Mukherjee and many others deserve equal applause and credit for the justice they did to their role.

The characters, and the situations in which they fall, make you laugh, uninterruptedly. The dialogues are hilarious, especially the ones dealing with botany & pure Hindi. The performance of the actors and the wonderful music, by legendary S.D.Burman complements the movie brilliantly. Sholay was another movie which was released in the same year that showcased Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Jaya Bhaduri together. You can proudly witness the versatility of these actors. It’s a must watch for every cinema fan!

Written By: Rishabh Shukla

Abhimaan | The AB-Jaya Story | The Critique

When Amitabh Bachchan married Jaya Bhaduri in early seventies, it was a big news. While the bride was an established actress having the respect of both classes and the groom was a struggling actor who impressed the critics but his movies were not working. In 1973, a movie came that gave a déjà vu feel to this scenario. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Abhimaan starring the very two actors- Amitabh and Jaya. However despite of similarities, this story was not based on AB-Jaya story and Jaya’s decision to stay away from cinema ensured that anything of this sort won’t affect their matrimony. This story was loosely based on the life of Kishore Kumar and his wife Ruma Ghosh and took little cues from many other estranged couples of Industry.

Subeer is a singer who is scaling new heights in his career. Marriage is not on cards however, this changes when he meets Uma. Uma is a beautiful girl with golden vocals. Subeer falls in love with her and both marry. Uma also starts singing professionally and her career starts blooming. Unfortunately, Subeer falls prey to destiny’s spell. His career sees a downfall and just like another man, his ego is not able to adjust to his falling popularity while his wife is getting all the appreciations.

This movie boasts of some of the best works in music by S.D. Burman. Songs by Kishore, Rafi and Lata on lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri ruled the charts for some time.  Remember ‘Tere Mere Milan Ki Yeh Raina’ and ‘Teri Bindiya Re’? Camerawork was commendable. Subtlety is a difficult thing afterall. Sensibility and sanctity of story was maintained beautifully.  Handling a difficult subject with such objectivity and controlling actors and their personal chemistry is a tough nut to crack Hrishi Da did exactly what was expected…

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Kissi Se Na Kehna | The Critique

KSNK is another gem for those who have eyes for light hearted simple comedies, something Hrishikesh Mukherjee was famous for. As the name says, it’s a story about hiding a small truth from people. The onus of the movie lies on the gravity of consequences on revelation of the truth and on the fact it’s a truth that can’t be kept under wraps for long. Farooq Shaikh, Deepti Naval, Utpal Dutt and Saeed Jaffrey… Do I need to say anything else?

Elderly Kailashpati (typical Utpal Dutt) is worried about his son Ramesh (Farooq) who is a bachelor. After meeting a few prospective brides, he is convinced that English education ruins character of girls and they tend to forget their culture. Blinded by his obstinate thought he decides to find an illiterate girl for his son. Saeed Jaffrey as a friend Lalaji arranges such a match. Interestingly, the girl Ramola (Naval) is actually well educated but cultured and both Ramola and Ramesh are very much in love. They hide this fact to fix the match but how long can this fact hide?

This movie doesn’t have anything extra-ordinary. Performances are subtle. Even Ramesh’s obsession with broken gadgets looks very natural. Utpal Dutt is such a delight on screen. Deepti Naval is so natural as an actress. Saeed Jaffrey conveys so much of romance of the paternal kind. Things are so perfect but humble that you fail to notice the excellence behind the simplicity. The dialogs are simple and thoughtful. Scenes are shot with such an ease. That’s the beauty of this film. You never feel like switching the TV off. It’s like a Wordsworth poem.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Gol Maal And The Sham | Hammers High

Everyone who has a taste for good Hindi films must have seen this 1979 film made by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and it will be a singular case where somebody might come up saying that he did not liked it. From 80s to 8, everybody appreciated this amazing comedy movie. Only a Jane Bhi Do Yaron and Andaaz Apna Apna came close to it in sense of popularity among masses and critics. Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt in roles of manipulating employee and stern and strict employer were simply too good.

Cut to 2006, promising Rohit Shetty and Ajay Devgan, an actor known for his serious roles, teamed up along with actors like Arshad Warsi, promising Sharman Joshi and Tussar Kapoor and veteran like Paresh Rawal to make a laughter riot. That was not one of the heydays for any of them. So, the team came up with a name good enough to bring people into theatre… Golmaal. Movie did well, thanks to good p-jokes and festive season when even duds make money. However, nostalgic souls felt hurt.

Gol Maal was a more of a family movie which can be enjoyed with everyone. Dialogues were more meaningful and language was a beauty. Movie relied more on plot than jokes. The namesake was not one which can be seen with family. Story was amiss and jokes were either stale or double-meaning. In former bad habits were seen with disdain, later seemed to have glorified the same. For those who love Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s comedies, this biennial franchisee leaves behind a bad taste in mouth.

PS: Little Bird just hummed that Golmaal-4 will be an official remake of Gol Maal of ’79. Lets see.

Bawarchi | The Story Of A Cook | Critique

Hrishi Da has always been known for his neat and clean comedies. Bawarchi is yet another classic from this genius which explores the moral values that one should imbibe & displays how well families can live united.

The story revolves around the Sharma family, who has had hard time finding a cook for them. Each time they hire one, he or she escapes away because of the rude treatment by the people living in the house. This continues until a cook named Raghu (played by Rajesh Khanna) comes in. He not only absorbs the bad behavior of the people living in that house but also unites them, thereby winning their hearts. However, he has a past of his own, which adds to the mystery factor. I won’t disclose it & take the fun away!

One of the most striking feature of this movie is that almost whole of the movie is shot inside a single house. But never do you feel the need to go outside it. The simplicity of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s direction just spells bounds you & you just keep on watching this masterpiece of comedy. Also there is a sweet suspense which gradually unfolds by the end of the movie.

The movie is inspired by a Bengali movie ‘Galpa Holeo Satyi’ (1966) by Tapan Sinha. Rajesh Khanna is brilliant as the central character & is very well complemented by all the other actors. The characters are very well defined and the superb dialogues just add up to it. The screenplay in itself is a classic. Music by Madan-Mohan is nothing special but goes well with the movie.

You will also find hints of this movie in certain Bollywood flicks like Hero No.1 and Khoobsurat, but there is no competition to this classic. It’s definitely a must watch for everyone. You will surely engulf yourself in a mixture of emotions.

Written By: Rishabh Shukla

Satyakam | Dharam At His Best | Critique

Dharmendra played many memorable roles in Hindi Cinema and carved a niche for himself as an actor. Once he was asked to speak about his favorite movie and of all his movies, he chose Satyakam… a Hrishikesh Mukherjee marvel. Starring Sharmila Tagore and Ashok Kumar along with Dharmendra, laced with music by Lakshmikant Pyarelal, over the years Satyakam has attained a cult status among cine-aficionados.

Satyakam is story of a person who makes a grave mistake and tries hard to resurrect it… A young Satyapriya has aspirations of a better world. He is trying hard to be idealist. When he has the opportunity to save a girl from sexual advances of his employer, he buckles down. However after initial fall, he realizes his mistake and marries the girl. Hesitant to give in to laws of corrupt society, he has to change jobs. Does corruption changes him? Dharmendra as Satyapriya and Sharmila as his wife gave simply amazing performances. The scenes depiction tensions between Dharmendra and rest of the world exudes a sense of discomfort, justifying everything.

Based on story by Narayan Sanyal, screenplay of Bimal Dutta and dialogues by R.S. Bedi, Satyakam is a movie that will be remembered for fine performances and remarkable treatment of a contemporary subject. The backdrop of the story is so identifiable. Corruption and poverty in a country trying hard to stick together after being robbed by British for almost two centuries and plagued by feudalism. It is one of the movies which define careers of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Dharmendra, two icons of that era.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh