Loafer (1973) :
Brief Review -
Gives the pleasure of watching 3-4 hollywood movies together. Loafer starts off as a heist-drama, as a kid runs away after a murder and turns into a thief. Then, we have a gorgeous lady coming into his life, which is my reference to Barbara Stanwyck in "Ball of Fire" (1941) and many other femme fatale films from old Hollywood. We have an old man in his life who saves his life once, and to repay the debt, he makes him a rich man so that his daughter can get married in a rich house. That's my reference to Frank Capra's "Lady For A Day" (1933), which has been used in Indian cinema many times. There goes the hero on heist-again, I would say, the same stuff I have seen in many old Hollywood and foreign movies, including Dharmendra's own "Jugnu" in the same year. The rest, we have a lot of drama, a villain-a competitor, like many 30s crime dramas. Yeah, that's all about my references. That's how Loafer gave me multiple movies in a single narrative. Laxmikant-Pyarelal's duo gives another super hit album. Motiyon Ki Ladi Hoon Main is made evergreen by Asha Ji's voice, and Mumtaz's super sexy andaz just can't be described so easily, Koi Shehri Babu has Mumtaz in a desi avatar and Lata Ji's magical voice, while Rafi Ji's voice and Dharmendra's handsome appearance make Aaj Mausam Bada Be-Imaan a super hit romantic number for ages. A. Bhimsingh's nuances in direction are visible and very intelligent. Dharmendra is attacked in a garden, and Mumtaz is wearing a bright red glamorous dress, cut-to the hospital scene, and she comes out in a white saree. Mumtaz's mother says, "Acche logo ko bhagwan jaldi bula leta hai," and Dharmendra replies, "Aap kitni acchi hai maaji," and I burst into laughter. Loafer has so many joyful and beautiful moments like this that you take away with you even after the film. This is what the 70s trademark entertainer means, and Dharam Ji was the flagbearer throughout the decade.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
