Sara Ali Khan daughter of actor Amrita Singh, had mentioned in one among her interviews that her favourite roles of her mom are Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986) and a couple of States (2014). Having watched the latter on the large display screen, I might completely second Sara on 2 States. Singh, as a passive-aggressive but submissive mom of the lead character Krish (Arjun Kapoor), was a hoot. Recently I chanced upon Basu Chatterjee’s 1986 directorial Chameli Ki Shaadi and this, for me, stays the best film of the actor.
Chameli Ki Shaadi, a 129-minute laughter fest, flows like a cartoon strip the place virtually each character is a crackpot. The story is cliched: Boy meets lady. They fall in love. Warring kin don’t approve. This results in an extended battle between ‘prem ke pancchiis’ and ‘zaalim zamaana’.
Anil Kapoor and Amrita Singh in Chameli Ki Shaadi. (Express archive photograph)
But what’s completely different and endearing right here is that our heroine, Chameli (Singh) does not have her head buried within the pillow, ready to be rescued by her knight in shining armour, Charandas (Anil Kapoor). She takes her personal selections, acts upon them and by no means offers up, one thing you will not anticipate from an 80s Bollywood heroine.
Set in a small city, the movie follows the story of Chameli, daughter of Kallumal Koylewala (Pankaj Kapur) She has failed eighth commonplace 4 instances and has no qualms about it. She falls in love with Charandas, a boy from a distinct ‘biraadri’ (caste). Charandas has vowed celibacy till he turns 40 as a result of his guru Mastram (Om Prakash) has instructed him, “Naari nark ka dwaar hai (women are a gateway to hell)”. However, on seeing Chameli, a feisty, full of life, clever and lovely younger lady, Charandas forgets his vow and desires to marry her. He takes the assistance of his ‘guru’, Vakeel Bhaiyaa, performed by Amjad Khan, to impress Chameli.
Ram Sethi, Amrita Singh and Bharati Achrekar in Chameli Ki Shaadi. (Express archive photograph)
Basu Chatterjee has stored the tone of the movie gentle regardless of presenting a commentary on a problem as critical because the caste system in India. Kallumal isn’t as a lot of an evil dad versus different conniving Bollywood fathers who’re in opposition to their daughter’s love curiosity. His “hainji, haanji” and his Charlie Chaplin-esque mustache make him enjoyable to look at. The ever-weeping Champa (Bharati Achrekar) is a stricter mother or father to Chameli, however then Chameli is aware of the right way to outdo her mom together with her fast wit. Not simply her mom, she takes on everybody, be it her mama Chhadam Lal (Anu Kapoor) or ‘charsi chacha’ Nathulal (Ram Sethi), who is available in between her and the love of her life. It is hilarious to see each of them getting a tongue lashing from her once they accuse her of dishonouring her household.
Watching Amrita Singh play a comic book position with a lot conviction, makes one consider that she has a expertise who can play gentle and critical roles with equal dexterity. She makes you fall in love with Chameli from the second she enters the display screen with the brightest of smiles. You roll with laughter when she beats Chaddam Lal, and he or she endears herself when she tells Charandas she does not care how a lot cash he has in his pocket.
It’s virtually 36 years since Chameli Ki Shaadi launched, and I by no means thought revisiting such a traditional can be a lot enjoyable. The hilarious dialogues, satisfying characters and, in fact, Chameli stored me hooked. Today, as Amrita Singh turns 64, I strongly advocate watching Chameli Ki Shaadi.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
