Bambai Ka Babu

I watched Bambai Ka Babu on DVD last night. For the uninitiated, this is a classic from the sixties starring the evergreen Dev Anand and the beautiful Suchitra Sen. The movie was directed by Raj Khosla and there are some wonderful songs tuned by Dada Burman. Raj Khosla started his career under Guru Dutt and went on to make movies such as CID, Kaala Paani, Woh Kaun Thi, Mera Saaya, Do Raaste, and Mera Gaon Mera Desh—an impressive body of work!

Bambai Ka Babu is a story of a thief who runs away from the city to a remote village up north where he enters a household as their long lost son, Kundan. Matters complicate when on one hand he falls in love with the daughter of the house, Maya and on the other hand has to make arrangements for 'his sister's' impending marriage.

Khosla, the mature director comes to the fore—there are scenes where Kundan, the son displays 'affection' on Maya, the daughter, which she brushes off—so maturely handled. Even when she comes to know that he is not the son and that he loves her, she realizes that she has a job in hand to inform her folks about his real motives—I thought the director could have fallen into the familiar trap of showing her reciprocating his feelings and clear the muddle—that he doesn't, shows his maturity. Even the climactic song, Chal Ri Sajani is so beautifully shot with the two looking at each other—she is in bridal finery and he is in bandage after recovering the family jewellery from his former 'employer'—both wanting to reach out to the other and communicate—in her case, it's huge regard for his job of recovering the family silver but in his case, it's the feeling of love lost!

The last exchange between the two is riveting stuff!
He: When you were part of the household, I was an outsider. And now when you are going away, I am part of the household!
She: You came to commit fraud in the house. Now, you are part of a bigger fraud. In this fraud, everyone is happy—mother, father, you and me!

Coming to the music, Dada Burman is at his versatile best—he has composed some amazing Punjabi folk-based numbers, Dekhne Mein Bhola and Pawan Chale To. Who can forget the amazing Deewana Mastana? The next time I get to the hills, I am sure to feel the song echoing in my ears. I have spoken enough about the climactic song, Chal Ri Sajani.

Why don’t we make such movies anymore?