mayank_782

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Reviews

Maya
(1961)

Way too bad
The plot of this film is similar to the later Asli naqli(1962) starring again Devanand. But while Asli Naqli was an entertaining watch, this just dulls down the hole.

A rich man(played by Dev anand), disillusioned by his life, goes to live among the poor and falls in love with a girl(played by Mala Sinha). The narrative starts in an adsorbing manner but soon starts to slow down, melodramatic sequences take over and the quality of the movie takes a beating.

The film has a couple of good songs, like "Koi Sone Ke Dilwala" but then that it is. The album isn't a match-winner here. Coming to the acting part, apart from Dev Anand, most of the others deliver below average performances.

It would be better to see Asli Naqli made on the same subject rather than this dull, dreary film.

Around the World
(1967)

Disappointing piece of film making
This film, touted as India's first 70 mm film might have been well done technically(at least by the standards of those days) but fails as a cohesive unit. Raj Kapoor, the showman was growing old and his pairing with Rajshree does not seem convincing. The villain(played by Pran) was a one dimensional character with little character development. Sure, there were some great shots of exotic locations around the world but the lack of storytelling destroys everything. The film fails to grasp the viewers interests and even the comical situations are terribly unfunny. It is only the surprisingly good music score which renders it watchable. All in all, a weak film that merits little reason to be seen.

Duniya
(1968)

Melodramatic yet entertaining
Duniya is a courtroom drama where an advocate(played by Devanand) tries to save his childhood friend. The story in the film is complex and sometimes seems to lose its way. The first half part consists of songs(which are quite good to listen), dances, melodramatic sequences and what not. The character of Johnny Walker is quite out of place in the film and it only serves to extend the runtime of the film.It is the second part where the real drama takes place and the movie comes to its true core. Devanand is both stylish and plays his role with confidence. Vyjantimala is OK, quite melodramatic in her style. The songs, like "Jawan Tum Ho" are a treat to listen to. In conclusion, it is a good courtroom drama(it could have been better had it not been bogged down by the first half).

Jaaneman
(1976)

Recommended only for Devanand's fans
Devanand seems to have taken inspiration from his 1954 landmark film "Taxidriver" for making this film. Unfortunately, this film does not deliver. Devanand, now growing old, plays his role with style and panache(though it's difficult to see him romancing a younger Hema Malini). The plot is nothing much to talk about and the action scenes are poorly choreographed(Again, Devanand was a chocolate hero in his heydays. The action scenes were less suited to him). Songs are dime a dozen and none apart from the title songs is worth listenable.

Devanand's film output decreased in quality as he headed toward the 70s and 80s and this is one example of that. Still, for Devanand fans, he still has that mannerisms which endeared him to people's hearts.

Worth watching only for Devanand.

Bhoothnath Returns
(2014)

A good film watchable both by children and adults
This film, released during the election, is both socially and politically relevant. It deals with the issue of corrupt politicians and the voting condition in the India.

Furthering the narrative of the previous movie, Bhootnath(Amitabh Bachchan) is derided in the "Bhoot World" for bringing shame on the ghost community. To prove himself, he comes back to Earth but gets entangled in politics and elections.

The pacing of the movie is good and it does not drag on. The first half is particularly interesting. The second half starts to weigh in on you(courtesy the long run time of the film). Nevertheless the film gets its message across successfully and is a good attempt by the director.

Performance, Amitabh Bachchan gives mature performance as the ghost, aided well by Boman Irani(as the dangerous and corrupt politician) and Parth(the child actor).

A good film relevant to the current situations of the country.

Paying Guest
(1957)

Not as good as expected
This was one of Devanand's super hit films when it was released and so naturally, I had higher expectations from the film. But it does not match up so.

My biggest gripe is with the actor, Devanand himself. Naturally, I like him but in this case, he in inconsistent. This was a time when he was developing his mannerisms which came to define him in his later years. This film neither had the acting prowess of Devanand like in the earlier Baazi or CID nor the style later seen in Tere Ghar Ke Samne and Jewel Thief. He fails to give a mature performance. To his credit, he still was handsome and therefore, not totally unsuited for the role.

As for the actors, Nutan particularly shines. She holds the film together and shares good chemistry with Devanand. The songs are a strong plus point of the film, especially "Maana janab ne pukara nahi".

Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na
(2008)

A good film that lost its track in the middle.
The film starts briskly in the first half and the viewers are left rejoicing. It embodies comedy, songs neatly interwoven in the first half. As the film progresses, the comic elements take a backseat and serious issues like relationships take over it.

The story in the film exists just for the sake of it. One can clearly predict the ending midway in the film.Not to take anything away from the film, it is filled with energy(at least in the first half) and is light hearted. The acting is good by the 2 leads of Imran and Genelia. The other actors are fairly amateurish in their depiction, which actually somehow works for this youthful film. Coming to the music score, some of the songs are listenable, no doubt. But it would have been better to cut down on them and bring the length of the movie down.

Overall, a movie that loses its track in the middle just to make a come back towards the last.

Nau Do Gyarah
(1957)

Devanand shines in this film
Nau Do Gyarah, which can be best defined as a shining musical, has Devanand and Kalpana Kartik in the lead roles.

Madan Mohan(Devanand) receives a letter which states that he inherited a sum of 11 lakh from his deceased uncle. The film then follows his story as he goes from Delhi to Bombay to get his share.

The director,Vijay Anand, extracts fine performance from Kalpana Kartik, Jeevan and Lalita Pawar. But what sets the film apart is Devanand. At the peak of his career,he superbly carries his role with aplomb(read:mannerisms). The songs are magnificent and soothing to listen to. Notable ones include "Hum Hai Rahin Pyar Ke" and "Ankhon Mein Kya Ji".

Des Pardes
(1978)

Devanand's last blockbuster
This was Devanand's last blockbuster film at the box office. This film deals with the issue of illegal immigration which was quite a burning issue back in the 70s. It also serves to introduce Tina Munim on the silver screen.

Devanand, though growing old, still manages to give a capable performance aided well by the debutante Tina Munim and Prem Chopra.

Songs are good to listen to and some are beautifully choreographed like "Nazrana Laya Hai pyaar ka".

Though this film is not the best of Devanand's films, still it is one of the better ones.

Kala Pani
(1958)

Devanand's filmfare winning performance
Based on A J Cronin's novel "Beyond This place", this film is about a young man who goes to great lengths in the tireless pursuit for justice.

This young man is played superbly by Devanand(which won him the Filmfare award). He was aided by Madhubala who plays her role gracefully . The story starts crisply and is interspersed occasionally by songs and comic moments. It is towards the last that the story starts feeling disjointed. The songs are a delight to listen to. "Hum Bekhudi Mein Tujko" and "Accha jee main hari" are a few notable ones to watch out for.

Irrespective of its few flaws, this film is a must watch.

Hum Naujawan
(1985)

A good film by Devanand
Devanand's later films usually didn't rise enough to meet the standards. But this one is an exception though. Instead of playing a purely romantic hero(as he was famous for), Devanand plays a college principal in this.

The film is set with college in the background. The daughter of professor Hans(played by Devanand) is raped and murdered by one of his students. He then goes to find the killer.

The story has been neatly executed and enjoys good performance from the likes of veteran actors like Devanand and Anupam Kher.Sadly, the newer actors in the film don't match up to their elder counterparts. But one has to give this credit to Devanand that he at least tried to introduce new talent in the industry. The movie never rushes too fast neither is too slow to be boring.

In the earlier films of Devanand, there used to be great songs. But in the 80s, the quality of music dropped down. Devanand, himself didn't have a great sense of music like his contemporary Raj Kapoor or his brother Vijay Anand. The music of this film, hence, is a lowdown. It is at best, listenable to at once.

Concluding the review, this film should be watched by fans of the legendary actor. To other people, you can watch it too, it won't disappoint you.

Baazi
(1951)

A landmark film
The film is notable for two reasons:first, being the directorial debut of Guru Dutt and second, it was the film which inspired many urban crime thrillers in the fifties.

The story basically revolves in the shady part of the city with a morally ambiguous hero played to perfection by Dev Anand(this film also marked the coming of Devanand as a superstar), supported well by Kalpana Kartik and Geeta Bali. The songs are a treat to listen, each one of them being a gem.

A fine piece of filmmaking from Guru Dutt, who would later go on to make even bigger classics. Recommended to watch.

Bewafa
(1952)

A watchable film
This little known film stars Ashok Kumar, Nargis and Raj Kapoor. The plot plays out like a love triangle with Ashok(Ashok Kumar) loving Roopa(Nargis) who in turns loves Raj(Raj Kapoor).

This film does not obviously match to standards of finer Raj Kapoor's films like the earlier Awaara or the later Shree 420. In typical style, the plot moves slowly but definitely to an unexpected climax. The songs are listenable to, maybe once. Where the film shines is its characterization and the acting by the lead actors. Ashok Kumar is restrained and provides contrast to Raj's mannerisms.

All summed up, this film isn't a must watch but Raj Kapoor's fans won't be disappointed by it.

Housefull 2
(2012)

Disaster waiting to happen
Sajid Nadiawala's "Housefull 2" is worse than its prequel, Housefull. The script is poorly written and even poorly directed.There is little to no character development. Since the movie boasts of 12 leads, none of them got ample screen time. The acting was another low; apart from Rishi Kapoor and to some extent Akshay Kumar, rest were downright average. The movie claims to be a comedy, but the comedy distribution is uneven. Some parts of the movie are high on comedy, some are fully devoid of it.

The movie is clichéd, nonsensical and terrible. Apart from some doses of comedy, it has nothing to offer. Better to avoid this crap.

Anjaam
(1994)

Strong performances by both the leads
Vijay Agnihotri(Shahrukh) is a rich spoilt guy who is in love with Shivani Chopra(Madhuri Chopra). But Shivani gets married to Ashok, which drives Vijay mad. Shahrukh here plays a repellent, unredeemable character. He is intensely fuelled by passion and wants to marry Shivani at all costs. He goes to all lengths to achieve that, even killing. The second part of the film even shows the atrocities inflicted upon women. The storyline though isn't perfect and suffers from loopholes.

Performance wise, both the leads deliver good performance, especially Shahrukh Khan. The musical score is rather average and sometimes seems unneeded in a film like this.

Aag
(1948)

Raj Kapoor's first directorial venture
Aag, released in 1948 was the first film by Raj Kapoor as director. Kewal(Raj Kapoor) is a young and passionate young man wanting to make a career in theater but his father wants him to continue the family tradition of practicing law. He fails in the exam and runs from his house to fulfill his dream of working in theater.

The film shows the lifelong obsession of Kewal with Nimmi(a girl whom he loved as a small boy). This reaches to the point that he names Nimmi whomsoever is closest to his heart. The film shows that Raj Kapoor was both a capable actor and director. Though the film is not technically brilliant, the use of shadows is remarkable. The songs, being composed in forties aren't very remarkable, apart from Mukesh's "Zinda Hoon Is Tarah". The acting by Nargis and other supporting cast is also good.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
(2008)

Good film
The Holocaust was a very dark chapter in human history. This film is set in the same period in Germany. The story is of a little boy named Bruno and his friendship with a Jew. Though set during the turbulent times of Holocaust, the film unfolds in an startling way. We see it from the eyes of a child. A child's mind is pure and does not know anything about hate and cultural differences. Eight year innocent Bruno symbolizes that very thing. Even after his tutor teaches them against the Jews, he still does not believe him and keeps his friendship. A touching story that shows not only shows the condition during the time(the German soldiers like Lieutenant Kotler and Bruno's father hate the Jews) but also tells the story of friendship. The cast performs well, especially Asa Butterfield(As Bruno) and Vera Farmiga.

Chamatkar
(1992)

Decent flick
It is the story of a ghost(Marco) who seeks redemption(played by Naseeruddin Shah) from his past sins. For this, he entails the help of a young man Sunder(Shahrukh Khan).

Naseeruddin Shah and Shahrukh Khan play their parts to perfection ably supported by Shammi Kapoor. Urmila Mantodkar was a disappointment though. The story suffers from many clichés(like Kunta discovering the stashed gold in his closet only twenty years after) though it remains funny(especially at the last in the cricket match). The movie is ably directed and executed. The songs are average. It's not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.

Foot Path
(1953)

Yet another fine performance by Dilip Kumar
The film, Footpath released in 1953 is a underrated piece of work. Noshu Sharma(Dilip Kumar) is a honest journalist(but poor, due to which he has to usually depend upon his brother). To become rich, he takes the path of evil(black marketing). The film shows the crisscross between two brothers, one who is rich but evil, other poor but honest. Also the portrayal of the black-marketing industry is presented in a sensitive manner.

The performance, especially by Dilip Kumar is extraordinary. Meena Kumari(Mala), playing Noshu's love interest, is average. The music score, though is a disappointment except for "Sham-e-Gham Ki Qasam". Overall, a decent film which got somewhat lost in time.

Diwana
(1967)

RK's decline
When this film was released in 1967, Raj Kapoor had far left his youthful days and his on screen charisma had faded, even though he decently plays the part as protagonist(another one of his roles as an honest man with a golden heart). His pairing with Saira Banu, who was average in the film, is also unconvincing. The story was a major letdown as was the mediocre direction.

The only saving grace was the rather good songs. Not much to expect from the film, this is just bad(no doubt it failed at the box office also). Raj Kapoor did better films in his heydays. Better watch them than this.

Khiladi
(1992)

Average film
Khiladi was a hit suspense film when it was released, directed by Abbas Mustan. The film is well directed and acting is decent, especially by Akshay Kumar(rest are just average).The film's starting 1 hour is mainly concentrated upon college romance and slapstick comedy. The suspense element comes in rather late in the film. As usual with the films of that era, the songs are poorly choreographed(not that they are any good to listen to). The story, howsoever late is starts, is good and the suspense element is kept upto the last. All in all, a decent flick that could be watched for the sake of Akshay's performance and the gripping storyline.

Gunga Jumna
(1961)

Power Packed Performances
Ganga Jamuna released in 1961 was one of the first movies to popularize the theme of two brothers on opposite side of law, something was later used in films such as Deewar. Dilip Kumar as Ganga delivers one of his most powerful performances. Vyjantimala too shines. The use of local dialect(Bhojpuri) also enhances the experience of the film. The little letdown was Nasir Khan(Jamuna).The film is briskly faced and never it feels sloppy or slow. "Ganga" is framed for a crime by the local zaminder. He is forced by circumstances to go to the mountains where he becomes a dacoit whereas his brother becomes a police officer. What happens when they come in conflict to each other form the basis of the film. The cinematography of the film is well done. Some of the songs were good, but they had the uncanny habit of popping out anywhere, something which I disliked. All in all, a great film and must be watched.

Ram Teri Ganga Maili
(1985)

The Showman's triumph
Raj Kapoor again directs a great film. The story starts with the the boy meets girl syndrome(Naren, played by Rajiv Kapoor meets Gunga, played by Mandakini).They start loving each other and get married. But when Naren goes back home, he finds that his marriage has been fixed to another girl. Kunj, his maternal uncle goes to fetch Ganga, but they had already left for Calcutta with a son. The film draws an analogy between the protagonist "Ganga" and the river Ganga. Ganges starts from Gangotri and merges in the Bay of Bengal, it is pure in the starting, but becomes polluted during its way. The protagonist is the living embodiment of the river. Along the way, she is trafficked, raped and beaten. By the time she reaches Kolkata, her purity had gone, just like the Ganges. This movie seemed to be contrast to his 1962 classic "Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai". That film boasted about the country and the Ganges and optimistic in tone. While RTGM denounces the evils present in the country and raises its voice against it. The music of the film is quite good, especially the title song.But the film takes a beating at acting. Mandakini is average while Rajiv Kapoor is just plain bad, he can't convey emotions properly.(Quite strangely, the movie is (in)famous for the nude scene. It has much more to it than that. Do watch it. You won't be disappointed.)

Jagte Raho
(1956)

Magnificent film
The film "Jaagte Raho" starts with Raj Kapoor, a poor person looking to quench his thirst. Thirsty, he enters an apartment building where he is branded as a thief and is constantly on the run. Ironically, where ever he hides, he meets other so called "reputable" citizens who all are equal to thieves. The film captures the corruption rampant in the society and rips apart the moral fabric that shields the upper echelons of society. The protagonist isn't a criminal, but he is treated like one, which is quite comparable to the real world. The film exposes a range of vices while at the same time remaining funny. The theme which the film showcases could have happened anywhere. The protagonist is the generic poor man to whom society has bestowed little. Raj Kapoor gave a fine performance as the peasant, even though he hardly has a few dialogues in the film, but his face speaks for itself. The film is brilliantly done. The supporting cast of Motilal and Pradeep are also good. The film is both a comedy and a tragedy. It makes you laugh and then makes you cry at the pitiable state of society.

Deedar
(1951)

Great film
The story opens with Shyamu(Dilip Kumar) and Mala(Nargis) shown as childhood playmates. But Shyamu is poor and so they are separated. Shyamu then loses his eyesight. Many years later, when he goes to Mala again, he founds that she does not remember him. Ashok Kumar as the doctor(Dr. Kishore) plays the lover of Mala. What will happen?Will Shyamu find his childhood love? Deedar has excellent performances from the lead actors. Dilip Kumar plays the role of Shyamu with great intensity.The songs are melodious(even though the film is slightly overloaded with them).I though have a qualm about the storyline. Shyamu remembers his childhood love forever and almost worships her. But Mala does not even have the slightest recollection of him. Quite Strange.

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