Movie Recommendation - Bawarchi

Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Jaya Bachchan, A.K.Hangal, Durga Khote, Asrani, Harindranath Chattopadhyay.

Release Year: 1972.

Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

I never really understood why Rajesh Khanna was such a huge star, why he had such a huge fan following. Until I saw Bawarchi, Anand, Amar Prem and Aradhana(in that order). It was not about him. It was his onscreen persona, the characters he played. Characters so full of life (yes, even Amar Prem), they were almost unreal.

Coming to Bawarchi, it narrates the tale of Shivnath Sharma (Harindranath Chattopadhyay) and his family – his three sons, their wives, their children, and Krishna (Jaya Bachchan), his deceased son’s daughter. The family lives together in a house, ironically called Shanti Niwas. The environment at the house is anything but peaceful, as the narrator (Amitabh Bachchan) tells us. There are constant squabbles between the brothers over trivial matters. The family also has a reputation for not letting any servant hang about for over a month. So when the family servant runs away, the workload falls upon Krishna, who does all of it without complaining.

One fine morning, an unknown man, Raghu (Rajesh Khanna) turns up stating that he is a bawarchi. A wave of happiness flies over the Sharma family. Raghu is a smooth talker and claims to have worked for a lot of renowned personalities in diverse fields, and also charges a lot less than the earlier servant. The family is initially reluctant in trusting him, but Raghu soon wins over their confidence with his talks and cooking skills. However, there is a mysterious element to him since he always has his eye on a wooden trunk kept below the patriarch’s bed that contains the family jewels.

In a matter of time, Raghu is able to restore peace and happiness in Shanti Niwas. He resolves issues between the brothers, the sisters-in-law, and even helps the coy Krishna in winning a dance competition against her cousin. Just when things seem to be going well, the family is robbed of the jewel chest. Since Raghu is absconding, the family believes him to be the thief.

The role of bawarchi was tailor made for Rajesh Khanna. Its almost an extension of the character he played in Anand. Jaya Bachchan as Krishna is the apogee of cuteness. For anyone who wants to watch Jaya Bachchan at her best, watching a Hrishida movie is a must. Whether it is Guddi, Mili, or Chupke Chupke, she delivers performances that tug strings at your heart. The rest of the cast is equally fantastic. Dialogues by Gulzar are mesmerizing, as usual. One of my favourites being – ‘It is so simple to be happy, but it is so difficult to be simple’. The soundtrack of Bawarchi is a jewel in itself, with gems like Tum Bin Jeevan, Bhor Aayi Gaya Andhiyara, and more. Music by Madan Mohan is delightful, and is harmonized by Kaifi Azmi’s words.