Andaaz Apna Apna

Introduction

There are only a few comedies that have much to offer when you watch them over and over again. Such comedies become classics. In Indian cinema there have been quite a few such movies especially the ones directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. In the 90s when only love stories or mad actioners, Andaz Apna Apna came like an air of fresh breath.

The Plot

The story is about Amar (Aamir Khan) and Prem (Salmaan Khan) two small town kids who want to strike it rich the easy way. To this end both come to the same conclusion i.e. to marry a rich girl and live happily ever after. The only hassle is both select the same rich girl Raveena Bajaj (Raveena Tandon).

So the first part of the movie goes as the two try to woo Raveena and at the same instant try to blunt each other out of the competition. Things reach a confusing situation when it turns out that Raveena is not Raveena but Karishma i.e. Raveena’s sidekick. Whereas the girl acting as Karishma (Karishma Kapoor) is actually the real Raveena. So Amar-Prem are caught in the struggle to identify who is Karishma and who is Raveena and who would be the more profitable venture.

By the time, this issue gets resolved a new matter crops up. Raveena’s father, Mr. Bajaj (Paresh Rawal) seems to have a twin brother Teja (Paresh Rawal again) who becomes a smuggler. He is after his brother’s wealth and plans to kidnap him and take his position in the Bajaj household. So he and his sidekicks Robert and Bhalla. So now Amar-Prem are stuck in the confusion as to the identities of the uncles.

To make matters more interesting, Crime master Gogo (Shakti Kapoor) bursts onto the screen to get the money he had loaned Teja back. Things lead to a laugh riot of a climax.

Check out this laughter a minute movie and enjoy!!

Critical Summary

Raj Kumar Santoshi is known for his experimenting with different topics in his movies. So for this movie he decided to give a Archie’s like comic flavor. The movie is so full of diverse characters and brilliantly conjured up situational comedy between the characters. Raj Kumar Santoshi’s good work on the characterization can be judged by the fact that each character is well etched with even a punch line to go. The movie goes at a great pace and there is not a single dull moment in the whole movie.

As far as the crew is concerned, the comic timing amongst the crew is perfect. Aamir as the all knowing Amar is excellent and shows his cheek for comedy. As his slightly stupid partner Salmaan Khan has come up with an outstanding performance as Prem. Karishma shows the first signs of her comic timing, something which demonstrated in the later years in the company of Govinda. Raveena also does a good job.

But the stars of the show for me were Paresh Rawal in the dual role of Mr. Bajaj and Teja and Shakti Kapoor in his brief cameo as Crime Master Gogo. Paresh Rawal is one of the best character actors in India. The best part of his comic repertoire is his timing and subtlity at comedy. Shakti Kapoor was the surprise packet and gave a good loud mouthed action packed performance.

Another great feature of this movie is that there is a lot of hidden comedy in the movie which surfaces only when you take a second or third look at the movie. The more you know about the Indian cinema, the more you enjoy the comedy. For e.g. in one scene Aamir is asked

Now the fact is that Salmaan’s father Salim Khan had indeed written the story of Sholay!! So there you go, the more closely you look the more you find.

Music Review

In such an outright comedy, the music often takes a backseat. But the music of Andaz apna apna was quite good by those standards. Ailo ji sanam hum aa gaye was undoubtedly the best of the album. The song has shades of some of the melodious songs of the old. Dil karta hai is a fast paced love song, that is picturized on Aamir and Raveena and has come out very good visually. Yeh raat aur yeh doori a fun song picturized on Salmaan and Karishma is another song which is great to watch!!

The other songs are passable. Music overall by Tushar Bhatia is quite decent.

Some unforgettable scenes

As Andaz Apna Apna is a situational comedy, the movie is all about a collection of great comic scenes. Some of my favorites are:

1) The climax scene. There is a lot of things going on in the scene. Firstly the Paresh Rawal created confusion, ’’Teja mai hun kyonki Mark idhar hai!!’’. Then the Crime master Gogo dance ’’Taki tiki Taki tiki Isme tho ek hi goli thi!!’’. And finally at the end when each baddie comes with a gun and produces his own punch line!!

2) The scene of Teja-Bajaj swapping. Again Paresh Rawal steals the show with Mai patte bicha doonga.

3) The ransom payment to Teja by Amar and Prem. Especially the luna scene.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Then there were punchlines:

Robert : Galti se mishtake ho gaya

Bhalla : Pilan ke mutabik

Teja   : Patte bicha doonga

Gogo   : Aankhen nikaal ke ghoti khelunga and Aaya hun tho kuch leke jaaonga

Summary

Andaz apna apna surprisingly did not do well when it hit the theaters. The audience of that time were still in the love story mood, so the movie did not make it big.

But, subsequently it has become the favorite of movie buffs in its video and TV runs. The characters have now become a part of the Indian comic folklore. I just think the movie came 5 years before time and had it been released five years hence it would have become a mega hit.

But, my rating for this hilarious comedy is a 5 star again!!