Who, whether a boy or a girl, does not enjoy playing pranks during his/her childhood and teen-age, during the school-days and the college-days ? Most of us must have played pranks during our those happy-go-lucky days of our life and enjoyed them with our companions of same age-group. But what if some prank goes so wrong that it culminates in someone's death ? Then it becomes horrorsome for those innocents who have played it just for fun. Hindi movie - Khel Khel Mein (1975) tells such a story only.
The pranksters of this story which is based on a novel 'Good Children Don't Kill' penned by Louis Thomas are college students - Ajay (Rishi Kapoor), Nisha (Neetu Singh) and Vikram (Rakesh Roshan) who send a letter of extortion to a miser jeweler Ghanshyam Das (Janaki Das) only to know the next day that Ghanshyam Das has got murdered. Now this threesome has to save itself from the law knowing not as to who could be the real killer. Suddenly Ajay and Nisha who are the love-birds come to know that Vikram has got killed which takes their horror to dizzy heights. Besides, they always find an overcoat-wearing stalker (Dev Kumar) behind them. Involvement of a dreaded criminal known as Black Cobra also comes to their knowledge. How Ajay and Nisha are able to save themselves and bringing the real criminal to justice forms the remaining part of the story.
Khel Khel Mein (simply in the course of some friendly game) is a very interesting story which starts with college pranks, college romance and two boys becoming friends after initial fight. The real story takes off with the prank of the extortion letter and then the narrative turns into a speedy one despite songs and dances appearing in-between. Director Ravi Tandon has ably directed the script of Sachin Bhowmick and has not allowed the audience to feel even an ounce of boredom throughout the movie. Right from the carefree college life of the principal characters to the suspense and thrill, everything including the song-dance and romance entertains. Satyen Kappu's comedy is also admirable tickling the funny bone of the viewer.
Dialogues (by Kader Khan) and other technical aspects are neither very good nor bad.
R. D. Burman has composed very good music for the movie with the lyrics of Gulshan Bawra using the voices of Asha Bhonsle, Kishore Kumar and Shailendra Singh. Songs like Khullam Khulla Pyar Karenge Hum Dono and Ek Main Aur Ek Tu are still popular. Other songs including Humne Tumko Dekha Tumne Humko Dekha Aise sung by Shailendra Singh are also good.
Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh who were destined to become real life couple in due course of time, have done very well and it's the on-screen chemistry of Rishi-Neetu pair which gives this thriller movie a romantic flavour. Seeing a very young Rishi Kapoor in this movie, it becomes really very difficult to believe that today exactly one year has passed since this extra-ordinarily charming actor left for his heavenly abode. Among others, Rakesh Roshan, Aruna Irani, Iftekhar, Dev Kumar, Janaki Das, Satyen Kappu, Lalita Pawar etc. Have played their respective parts quite satisfactorily.
Summing up, Khel Khel Mein is a complete value for money movie which is both hilarious and thrilling in a single package. Just watch it for sheer entertainment and you won't find any reason to regret.
