There are some basic needs of a human being. One of the prime needs is the need to laugh. Studies show that laughing plays a big role in your good health. However, this laughing should not be for the sake of laughing, as some laughing clubs arrange. Rather, a laugh should come naturally. Though everyone says that I can act as a perfect laugh-stimulant, still....everyone doesn’t know Maddy. For such people, let me recommend Golmaal- guaranteed to tickle your funny bone in your most serious mood.
And even if you know Maddy...still I recommend you Golmaal.
After all, a good film is a good film is a good film!
THE PLOT
Out of the five most vital questions that have ruled the younger generations from time immemorial, is the question that stares them in the face when they finish their education.
What now?- seems to be the standard unwritten line on all their faces.
Such is the face of Ramprasad Sharma who graduates with flying colours and is on a lookout for a job to support himself and his only sister. In such a situation, it is a boon for him when his Doctor uncle tells him of a job. The job is perfect for him, but there is a small snag. The boss of the said company, Bhavani Shankar, is an old fashioned man who staunchly believes in traditional Indian views, and hates the happy-go-lucky attitude of the modern generation. He is an opinionated man, who for some unknown reason, believes that the moustache of a man depicts his good intentions. And therefore, he is against clean shaven men. On this front, Ramprasad has no problems, as he has a thin line of moustache, distinctly visible between his nostrils and upper lip. (Come to think of it, many MS members would not stand a chance with him, considering Spooks, Santoz, Salil, Suyog, Sujay, Satya, Amith[saaz], Achougoo and umpteen others, including yours truly! JeDI, on the other hand, would have been garlanded!)
Anyway, back to the plot, Ramprasad has to portray himself as a youth with traditional Indian values to secure the job. For this, he is helped by a filmstar friend, Deven Verma, who helps him by providing him some clothes from the costume department. Armed with these things, and of course, his moustache, Ramprasad gets the job. However, trouble begins when he has to lie to his boss about having a twin brother when his boss sees him at a football match. Ramprasad convinces his boss that it was not him but his twin brother who is a problem child for his family. He also goes to the extent of saying that the brother, Laxmanprasad, is a goner and does not have a moustache. This convinces his boss. But Ramprasad comes in deep soup when the boss orders him to send his brother to his house to teach music to his daughter Urmila.
That is how our hero finds himself in front of the mirror, shaving off his moustache, the license to his naukri. In spite of all his attempts to insult his boss, the boss appoints him to teach music to his daughter, and so starts the circus of Ramprasad Sharma. He attends his office with a fake moustache, again, provided by his resourceful friend Deven, only to peel it off, and ruffle his hair, to be transformed into Lucky, who teaches music to Urmila. As expected, Urmila falls in love with Lucky. How he manages both the roles, and what happens when the curtain falls over his double role is the rest of the film.
THE CAST AND THE CREDITS
Such a simple topic! Such beautiful handling of the subject! Who else can do it but director Hrishikesh Mukherjee! The way this man made movies was simply mind blowing.
Released in 1979, Golmaal was jointly produced by N.C.Sippy and Hrishikesh Mukherjee himself.
The lyrics by Gulzar were superbly tuned by R.D.Burman. Memorable songs include the super hit Kishore number Aanewala Pal Jaanewala hain. The music soundtrack is simply Panchamish, and that is the highest recommendation I can think of!
The cast includes a performance of a lifetime by the natural actor Amol Palekar as Ramprasad/Laxmanprasad Sharma, and a fantastic treat by Utpal Dutt as Bhavani Shankar. Urmila has been enacted by Bindiya Goswami. The supporting cast includes Shubha Khote, Deven Verma, Om Prakash, Keshto Mukherjee, Yunus Parvez, David and a memorable performance by Deena Pathak. Stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha also give a short appearance.
IN CONCLUSION
So....if you are tired of Maddy and his stale jokes, the way most of my friends are, just hire a DVD of Golmaal and laugh away your troubles.
Cheers~