50 Years of Padosan: Comedy as Hero
Jyoti Swaroops only big hit as a director, Padosan, celebrates its 50th birthday this year. It is one of the first hits in Indian cinema where humour is the subject, comedy is the hero and the music and songs are the stars. This balance was made possible because the film created an ideal amalgam of the best comedians of Hindi cinema of the time from Om Prakash through Agha, Mukri, Keshto Mukherjee, and Sundar, led by ace comedian heroes Kishore Kumar and Mehmood. Shoma A. Chatterji pays a tribute
Padosan, made in 1968, is ageless because everyone will laugh at almost every moment of the film while also rejoicing in the wonderful songs that define it as one of the best entertainers in Hindi cinema. It has some of the best compositions written by Rajender Kishen who also wrote the story and the screenplay with the music for the nine immortal songs scored by Rahul Dev Burman which makes a film an outstanding musical too.
The song picturisation, orchestration, and positioning of the song sequences are imaginative, innovative and very funny that always leads to side-splitting laughter among the viewers even for repeat viewings.
.
Produced jointly by Mehmood and N.C. Sippy, Padosan (female neighbour) was based on a Bengali story Pasher Bari (Next Door Neighbour) penned by Arun Chowdhury and adapted into a Bengali film in 1952. In 1953, there was a Telugu version titled Pakkinti Ammayi, followed by the Tamil version in 1960 called Adutta Veety Penn and once again in Telugu as Pakkinti Ammayi in 1981.
But Bindu loves music and her mother is intent on getting her married off as she fails every year – a novel introduction in an Indian film of the time which featured heroes and heroines as “brilliant” never mind if one never saw them pouring over books even if they went to college.
In his attempt to win Bindu’s heart, Bhola engages his friend, music teacher Vidyapati. One does not know if this is a subtle tribute to the famous Vidyapati (1937), a memorable musical produced by New Theatres and directed by Debaki Bose in which Pahari Sanyal plays the title role of a talented poet and singer. But this Vidyapati played by Kishore Kumar is different. When he begins to tutor Bhola who is as out of tune as a donkey, he is forced to stop because a real donkey climbs up the stairs and enters the room when Bhola begins his riyaaz! Vidyapati decides that Bhola will not be able to sing even to save his life.
Vidyapati along with Bhola and his gang hits on a novel idea – Bhola will do the lip-syncing to a song actually sung by the trained singer Vidyapati in the background. The song?
The same goes for Kishore Kumar’s Vidyapati who, like the music teacher of the time, wears dhoti and kurta, chews paan all the time with the betel juice often spilling out of the corner of his mouth when he is not spitting it out and his heavily oiled hair combed just so. Saira Banu in bouffant hairdo, heavy make-up, and bizarrely gorgeous saris does her bit as the utterly spoilt only child of Agha with the right dose of coquettishness she can muster.
Bindu remains a decorative girl waiting to get married who does no housework and has little in the name of intelligence. It, therefore, suits Bhola who lives up to his name, to fall in love with this little-in-the-upper-story department beauty.
Top Headlines
-
Entertainment
Chunky Panday breaks silence on Ananya Panday's rumoured relationship with Aditya Roy Kapur
April 23, 2024
-
Entertainment
NEZ International Film Festival focuses on independent cinema in 9th edition, special focus on European filmmakers
March 28, 2024
-
Entertainment
Aamir Khan on Sitaare Zameen Par: Trying to release it on Christmas 2024
February 28, 2024
-
Entertainment
What is the meaning of Akaay, the name of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's baby boy?
February 21, 2024
-
Entertainment
Hrithik Roshan-Deepika Padukone's 'Fighter': 'Sher Khul Gaye' song to be out tomorrow
December 14, 2023
-
Entertainment
I saw a person in Sunny Leone in an interview which amazed me enough to cast her for Kennedy: Anurag Kashyap at KIFF
December 12, 2023
-
Entertainment
Open to good films but don't want to be lost in a crowd: Mimi Chakraborty on Bollywood journey
November 24, 2023
-
Entertainment
Singing sensation Taylor Swift runs into Travis Kelce's arms at the end of Buenos Aires concert, kisses him passionately
November 14, 2023
-
Entertainment
Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal celebrate Diwali at home. See pictures
November 13, 2023
-
Entertainment
Portraying the Best Man: Vickey Kaushal on playing Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
November 11, 2023