A famous story of two small-time crooks, being hired by an former Inspector on a deadly assignment.
(Similar to older H’wood western classics.)
That same year, the Salim-Javed also released ’Deewar’ another hit, in which won many awards. I guess they were one of the biggest writers of the 70s.
I finally got to see it. I had to see what is so special about this movie, and what makes it number 1 that Lagaan had to be number 2. I saw it last night, being all eager to see it... My review continues below...
The opening scene, was the train scene when a jailer from prison is looking for Thakur’s home. Seems kind of sober at first, and then the title comes. The credits in order are:
Dharmendra
Sanjeev Kumar (The Late Great Sanjeev)
Hema Malini
Amitabh Bachchan
Jaya Bhaduri
The catchy music in the background is from none other than R.D. Burman. It was a mix of western/village music.
As Sanjeev Kumar is introduced as Thakur Baldev Singh, he seemed kind of slow, and yet he was dragging his dialogues. But later on you would understand in the movie why he talks like that.
Between the scene were flashback in the beginning. Cutting to Sanjeev knowing Dhar (Veeru) and Amit (Jaidev), he arrested them and were going on a goods train to the prison. Dharmendra was quite funny, he was like one of those cheerful yet goofy guys. (One of them has to be). And Amitabh is known for delivering out his sarcasm comments. (And good ones too)
During the robbers fighting, as Thakur says not to escape, well obviously the two criminals would escape after fighting with the looters on the train.
The stunts/action were pretty cool throughout the whole film.
Song - Yeh Dosti - A nice song, sung by Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey.
Error - Amit’s voice should have been Kishore’s and Dhar’s voice should have been Manna’s. Amit talking voice too deep to be Manna’s.
Note! - The verse of ’Yeh Dosti’ is very similar to R.D.’s other work in Masoom, the verse in ’Ladki Ki Kathi’. (Or is it just me?)
Funny Scene - Asrani, as the jail warden with his ’Ha-Ha’ laugh... (His other movies were JJWS, he played Aamir’s professor... too funny)
Some parts throughout the film are quite corny, and there are a few laughs here and there.
Funny Scene - Hema Maliniis introduced as Basanti, she was quite fat in this movie! One funny line was that she says that she is not a chatterbox, but she really is. And Amit seems so annoyed by her.
Note! - The way Thakur pronounces ’Gabbar’.... quite funny actually... ’’Mujhe GABB-BBAR chahiye... zinda’’...
Error - As Jay Bhaduri walks around being all depressed and wearing her white sari, she tries to be covered from top to bottom, but the goof was that as she put the dupatta over her head, her sari was tied wrong and you could see her stomach.... Yeah, like she was covered....
Note! - Hema’s voice sounds so similar to Madhuri’s and Jaya’s Radha voice sound so similar to Karishma’s... I think that today’s actresses copies the old ones...
Okay, I think that Amjad Khan, known as Gabbar Singh is extremely annoying! He is a bad actor, i’m sorry for saying this. But the dude can’t even spit and talk properly!. His voice is too scratchy and loud for no reason. I think the gun scene with the three looters was predictable, that they would be shot after a long laugh.
Note! - In the village, why do Muslims had to be in bad shape? The Imam, played by A.K. Hangal, poor dude had to be blind.
Song - Holi - I didn’t enjoy this song, it’s not as great as ’Rang Barse’ from Silsila, so I skipped it.
This movie had showed some realistic scenes to what happens to small villages and how they are attacked by mean bandits. However in real life, there is more to that and it is worse such as rape, kidnapping and etc.
Memorable Scene - When Gabbar finally meets Jai & Veeru for the first time, and Gabbar calls them ’Thakur’s Soldiers’.
Another flashback scene, as Sanjeev explains what happens to him, and why does he want Gabbar.
Error - I don’t think a man on a horse can shoot somebody behind him.
Error - Sanjeev’s hair during the fight... too funny.
It was sad to what happened to Thakur’s family. (Gabbar kills every single family member of Thakur, and yet Radha and Ramlal were in the temple, so they were saved.)
Error - Sanjeev’s stunt man was way too skinny to be Sanjeev.
Song - Mehbooba Mehbooba - The most famous song, yet sadly, it isn’t R.D.’s original. I’m beginning to think that this guy is fake... Okay the original song R.D. copied is a Spanish song called ’Say you Love Me’ by Demis Roussoss, he copied everything! From the guitar strums to the ’oooohhh’. Yet the indian version is much more catchy. The gypsy dancer was disgusting! Was that Helen? Yuck!
Song - Gori Haseena - No good, the lyrics are bad.
I don’t like it, in the fighting sequences on what they do to the horses. It’s so mean! They flip and hurt them.
A crazy scene, by Dharmendra when he wants to commit suicide in front of the whole village. What a waste of scene.
In the flashback scene, when Ramlal talks about Radha, Jaya looks crazy... Lol... She runs funny...
Error - Scene repeated, when Amit is playing the harmonica and Jaya is turning off the lights. The first scene is in the beginning, and then near the end.
Note! - Dhar’s belly... lol
Note! - Hema did her own stunt? On climbing onto Dhanno the horse/donkey. Cool... (When she is being chased by Gabbar’s men).
Tense Scene - The scene where Amit is alone, being shot, and he had to fight back to the bandits near the bridge.
Memorable Quote - As Amit is about to die, he tells Dhar, that he cannot read stories to his children.
Other goofs - Dhar is all alone, killing all Gabbar’s men; Sanjeev’s hair; You could see Sanjeev’s arms as he fighting with Gabbar. (Hey it’s in Indian movie!)
Acting Review:
Shri Amitabh Bachchan - I think that he played a cool, calm character. I liked him. His role fit perfectly as a sarcastic, quiet guy.
Dharmendra - He was cute in his younger days! I think he was great, yet his drunk scenes were kind of annoying some time.
Hema Malini - She was good too, especially with her conversation with the lord in the temple. Lol...
Jaya Bhaduri - Eh...
Sanjeev Kumar - He was good, he always have been good. Too bad he has passed away in a young age.
Amjad Khan - Bad, bad, bad....
Note! - I think that akshai78 guy didn’t even see this movie, and I thought his review for Sholay was bad. The Dude didn’t even like Lagaan!!!