In this weekly column, we revisit the gems of Hindi cinema’s golden years. This week, we have a look once more at Baazi, which launched in 1951.
If you grew up figuring out somewhat bit about Hindi cinema, likelihood is you recognize concerning the cult of Dev Anand. The star’s legendary attract had ladies weak of their knees as he gleamed majestically by means of the silver display screen. But what was the movie that made Dev Anand an actual star?
In the phrases of Dev Anand, that movie was Guru Dutt’s launch in 195. With Baaghi, Dev Anand “sees what stardom is – in terms of praise and fan following.” The 1951 movie was the debut of the nice Guru Dutt and likewise stars composer SD Burman and lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi. Balraj Sahni, later often known as some of the completed actors of Indian cinema, was introduced on board to write down a movement image and a movie that launched a brand new narrative and style. Over the years, they turned tropes, however that is a narrative for an additional day.
Dev Anand performs the morally ambiguous hero in Baazi.
It is well-known that Dev Anand and Guru Dutt shared a deep friendship and made a reputation for themselves earlier than they promised to provide one another a pat on the again on the earth of showbiz. Baazi, in its literal phrases, means a wager and it was Dev betting on Dutt. When Dev launched Navketan Films with Chetan Anand’s Afsar, the movie didn’t go as anticipated. So, Dev took an opportunity and gave Dutt the reigns of his subsequent wager – the movie that was supposed to find out the way forward for Navketan Films. Baazi hit Saand Ki Aankh and altered the destiny of everybody related to the movie. The movie marked the start of a sub-genre often known as ‘Bombay noir’, the place town was virtually a personality. This style was later developed into movies like CID, Taxi Driver.
Starring Geeta Bali and Kalpana Karthik, Baazi can very properly be known as a potboiler. With a suspenseful story that oozes suspense and intrigue, a love triangle, a homicide, an investigation, and an harmless protagonist who’s in any other case not harmless – Baazi Ek Masala checks all of the bins for the favored tropes of a Hindi movie. It was this movie that began the development which was quickly adopted by others.
In Baazi, Dev performs Madan, a morally ambiguous man who does not thoughts playing to earn some cash, however does it just for himself. “Cure a sick sister.” He is in love with a form physician who treats the poor without spending a dime and retains his distance from the bubbly Leena (performed by Geeta Bali), who calls him a physician. “Anari” To be somewhat too naive.
The plot of the movie is easy. Madan works for a person named ‘Maalik’ who runs a playing den however the proprietor lives a double life. When Madan involves learn about it, the proprietor needs to take him out of the image. Of course, there’s a conspiracy about Madan and Malik’s righteous daughter being in love. And the seductive Leena, who is consistently dragging Madan to the lion’s den. As Madan grapples with the dilemma of selecting an ethical or immoral path, Leena’s ‘Tadbir Se Badiya Takdeer Banana Le’ pushes him in the direction of the latter as a result of on the earth of Baazi, nobody is as fortunate with a card as Madan. . Exuding himself with confidence, Madan bets on himself as we hear ‘Apne pe belief hai to ek daanav lage le’.
While this observe might be the most well-liked tune from the movie, Baazi’s music was a game-changer within the Fifties. SD Burman and Sahir Ludhianvi cast a golden partnership with it. Songs like ‘Sharmaye kahe gharaye kahe’, ‘Aaj Ki Raat Piya’ amongst others gave Baji memorable music.
Baazi modified the destiny of Dev Anand, Guru Dutt, Sahir Ludhianvi, SD Burman.
Baji additionally ushered within the period of Guru Dutt. The filmmaker, who explored numerous elements of existentialism in his later works, might have sided with the mainstream as properly. And though his themes narrowed in his later works, his type of filmmaking has been fairly distinctive from the beginning. Sharp shadows, exact dialogue, a celebration of affection and the gullibility of seduction, Baazi has all of it.
Watching Baazi in 2021 will not make you tall for the Fifties, however it’s clear that with hits like Baazi, Bollywood acquired its ‘formulalike’ construction, which has been evolving ever since.
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Baazi is streaming on YouTube, MXPlayer, ShemarooMe.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
