In the Land of Forget-me-nots, there exists a variety of atypical species that have evolved through diverse generations of Bollywood movies and have carved out a special niche for themselves. This cohort of the unusual and one-in-the-kinds has been categorized into following Genera and Species by the extraordinary evolutionist Rharles Jarwin (RJ).
Genus: Serious
Species: histronix
Very few of the surviving species actually belong to this particular Class. The existing ones mainly come from the Mesozoic era of Black and White Cinema.
Balraj Sahni - Shambu Mahato in Do Bhiga Zameen, as a simpleton peasant turned rickshaw puller, is a type specimen of this category. Very rarely does one see a performance so hard-hitting and so natural that watching it even after 3-4 decades easily activates the tear glands. And so is the other portrayal of Nathu by Om puri in that partition drama Tamas.
Talking about the fair sex, Sridevi - Sneha Latha in Sadma delivered a very commendable performance. The ease and panache with which she carried out the role of a grown-up kid lady (that calls her pet dog ’Harrrii Prraassadd’) beats co-star Kamal Haasan hollow, fair and square.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genus: Timepass
Species: taporis
This is the most popular and liked species throughout all the ages.
From the days of Man Mohan Desai’s Amar Akbar Anthony where a lanky 6 feet giant Amitabh Bachchan stole the scene in front of a mirror with ’’Thopda dekh apna, Pucca Eddiot lagtha hein’’ or ’’Aisa to Aadmi Life mein Doich time bhaagta hai. Olympic ka race ho, yaa Police ka case ho. Tum kisliye bhaagta hai bhai?’’ this has been the most entertaining species of all times.
The other famous of this kind is the street smart shaana, bindaas road ruffian, apun ka chikna bhai Munna Aamir Khan in Rangeela who says ’’Thu picher dekhne aaya hein ya mere pair.. chal chal saamne dekh’’ and ’’Toh AC iss side ghumaana’’.. seeti seeti! poora paisa vasool!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genus: Mosta-time
Species: funnix
Here are those namunas that were even more popular than the heroes or the heroines of the movies, and stole all the limelight.
The Masterji Mehmood in Padosan who taught always ’’Aiyyaiiyyoo.. Hamm chodega nahi jee hamm pakadake rakhega jee’’ and Popat Lal Rajendernath, in umpteen movies, the best side kick any hero can ever have, especially when he has to disguise as a lady. And ’’Yeh-heeheh Yeh hehe hehe’’ Keshto Mukherjee and all he had to do was play a drunkard.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genus: Weirdo
Species: baddies
This is another class that hogs all the interest and entertainment value.
Yelling ’’Mogambo kush hua’’ in Mr. India to been bajaaoing as Sapera of Nagina, Amrish Puri is a classic baddy (and baldy).
Following his suit is another Crime Master Gogo, Shakti Kapoor in Andaz Apna Apna, whose punch line went Aankhen nikhalke Gotiyan khelta hoon.
There is also a lady Lalita Pawar who was the worst Mother-in-law in most of the movies and went ’’Janam jali, chudail..tere haathon mein keede pade.’’
But the best of the lot is still Gabbar Singh Amjad Khan in Sholay whose reverberating laughs still echoes in the valleys of Ramghad and with evergreen dialogues like ’Arre o Samba, Kitne Aadmi the’ or ’Toh ab Goli kha’ this is a true legend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Genus: Comedy
Species: totalix
All specimen under this category belong to the family Haha-hoho-hmmph. The list is endless, however, some outstanding mention goes to the following.
Jailor Asrani in Sholay - ’’Aaa Haa, Hum Angrez ke zamaane ka Jailor hein’’
Bhopaali Jagdeep in Sholay - ’’Hamaara naam Soorm Bhopaali aise hi nahee hai’’
Bapu Rao Apte Paresh Rawal in Hera Pheri - ’’Baba re Baba...Heloooo Kaunn’’
Abba dabba Jabba Upaasna Khosla in Judaai - ’’Abba dabba Jabba’’
Epilogue
Though having recorded so many archetypal sorts, the author is still astounded by one exemplary creature which is a complete roll-in of all the above-mentioned and plenty more filmy characters. In fact, this particular being is a complete authority on anything related to Bollywood and Hindi movies. The writer hereby acknowledges the help, support and encouragement provided to her by this personality and this review is sincerely dedicated with all the gratitude to that master-of-all-species who goes by the scientific name of Shri Premjit.