Movie Recommendation - Khubsoorat

Cast: Dina Pathak, Rekha, Ashok Kumar, Rakesh Roshan, Ranjit Chowdhry.

Release Year: 1980.

Director: Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Movie for this week is Khubsoorat. No, not the Urmila Matondkar-Sanjay Dutt debacle. I am talking about Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Khubsoorat. Now if I start discussing why I love this movie, a single post wouldn’t suffice!

The story goes like this – Nirmala Gupta (Dina Pathak) is a lady who runs her household with a strict hand. So every family member has to follow a certain code of conduct laid down, such as turning up on time for breakfast, keeping the hall clean, not talking or laughing loudly, etc. Even her husband Dwarka Prasad Gupta (Ashok Kumar) is not spared from her set of laws.

Nirmala Gupta’s second son is married to Anju, who comes from a family where almost no rules are followed. So when her sister Manju (Rekha) comes over to stay for a few days, she makes it her agenda to change the environment in the house. Manju begins by getting Nirmala Gupta’s fourth son, Jagan (Ranjit Chowdhry) on her side. She then convinces his brothers and their wives that its not all that bad to break rules and follow your heart once in a while. Soon, card games, song and dance routines start creeping into the Gupta household, albeit when Nirmala is not around. However, all hell breaks loose when Nirmala walks in on one of the Nirmal Anand program!

Khubsoorat is undoubtedly Rekha’s best work, with Ijaazat coming a close second. Her portrayal of the bubbly, energetic Manju is spot on. Dina Pathak rules the movie, to say the least. The rest of the cast is equally good in their roles, as in every Hrishida movie. R.D.Burman’s music and Gulzar’s words never fail at entertaining, with songs like Piya Bawri, Saare Niyam Tod Do. But my favourite is Sun Sun Sun Didi, where Manju is describing the ‘qualities’ of the prospective groom. The lyrics always make me chuckle. And of course, Qayda Qayda. Now how many of you knew that Rekha has sung this song? J

Gulzar’s dialogues are beyond comparison. Anything I say wouldn’t correctly express what they are. Whether it is the Kafiya or the Rekha-Dina Pathak confrontations; all so vividly written. Who else can think of writing politics and food in rhyme?! And the Apple Kheer scene is unforgettable!

If you want to know what awesomeness is, go watch Khubsoorat!