Hrishikesh Mukerjee needs no introduction. He was India’s most prolific film director with as many as 42 movies in his kitty and many of them are regarded as classics – Musafir, Anari, Aashirwaad, Anand, Bawarchi, Milli, Golmaal and Khoobsurat. Family drama, human drama, comedy, social you name it and Hrishikesh had done it all.
Khoobsurat according to me was the last of his great films. After that, he did make Jhoothi and a few others before signing off with Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate but they were nothing home to write about.
Story
Nirmala Gupta(Dina Pathak), wife of Dwarka Prasad Gupta(Ashok Kumar), runs her household in a very militarian fashion. While most of her family resent this, they do obey her instructions, so as to be on her good side.
However things start to change after her second son gets married to Anju. Manju(Rekha), Anju’s sister, comes over to stay for a few days with the Gupta family. Manju resents the manner in which his mother treats people, and feels some permanent changes are needed in the Gupta household. She begins to stir up trouble as she slowly convinces everyone else in the household that it’s ok to speak one’s break the rules sometimes. Everyone in the household is enamored by Manju’s vivaciousness and fun-loving spirit, save for Nirmala who considers her antics as childish and irresponsible.
One day Dwarka Prasad suffers a heart attack when he verbally attacks his wife for being unfriendly and harsh towards Manju. Nirmala then realizes Manju’s responsible and caring attitude as she helps Dwarka Prasad receive medical treatment and takes care of him till he recovers.
The movie ends with Manju marrying Nirmala’s third son(Rakesh Roshan) as she is accepted by Nirmala.
Gulzar’s lines gave punch to Hrishida’s direction. RD Burman’s music is hummable is and goes with the mood of the movie. Shot mostly in his bungalow, Khoobsurat is known for it’s sparkling performances by Rekha, Dina Pathak, Ashok Kumar and Rakesh Roshan. Apart from Umrao Jaan, Khooburat is Rekha’s most defining role.