Johny Mera Naam

This this a Hindi film starring Dev Anand, Pran and Hema Malini.

I began watching the film with low expectations. And ended up being amazed by the script, direction, music and comedy. What a complete entertainer!!

Do not get bogged by the 2hr 45 min length. Watch the full version with all the twists in the tale. Time also has gone into the songs, but they are all hummable tunes and each fitting into the storyline. Note that this was the biggest box office hit of the year!!

IS Johar is a laugh riot in the film and Dev Anand, Pran and Premnath perform well. But I think the biggest credit goes into the direction by Vijay Anand and it's a tragedy that the industry didn't get many many more creations from him after this.

Johnny Mera Naam is perhaps Vijay Anand's best directed movie. Released in 1970, this movie went on to cause a stir as did the music as it was considered to be beyond its time.

Two brothers,Sohan and Mohan, both studying in the same school, have entered the school boxing competition. When the final comes it the two brothers find out that they are fighting each other. Sohan is declared winner but the match is continued at home and the mother tells them that they should wait for their father. Mohan, the elder, being impatient, goes to see his father - a police officer. Instead he witnesses a smuggler by the name of Heera murdering his father. He then tries to catch him by chasing him and lends up hiding in his car.

Years pass by and Sohan becomes an Police inspector and wanting to catch smugglers, he lands himself in a cell with the man who had murdered his father, Heera and introduces himself as "Johnny." He later escapes and meets up with a contact that he had been informed about by Heera - a female by the name of Rekha.

The movie stars the ever green Dev Anand, Hema Malini, Pran, Premnath, Ifteqar and I.S. Johar. The story is good but more than that is the direction by the late Vijay Anand. But the acting by all and especially the comic side by the late I.S. Johar, is absolutely brilliant. The songs to listen out for are "O Mere Raja," "Baabul Pyaare," "Nafrat Karne Waaloh" and "Parbhal Keliye" - they are most memorable as is the music by Kalyanji - Anandji.

I recently saw this movie after a very long time and was in tears as it brought back floods of memories and especially especially childhood ones. This is a movie that is worth watching.

This is a simple, lost brothers who finally unite, formula movie, but what makes it watchable are some great movie moments. I don't think many people know who Padma Khanna is(poor man's Mumtaz) but her sexy dance will blow you away. Trust me it is unique and has never been done before or since. And then there is that beautiful song - "Babul Pyaree" - every daughter's memorable song. One of the most heart pulling song ever pictured. Another favorite song of mine is the bhakti song - "Govind Bolo Hari gopal bolo".

There are other memorable movie moments like when Dev Anand says that he has been following the daughter so that she would lead him to her father only to realize that the daughter was also trying desperately to reach her father.

If you like Dev Anand and Pran's incredible voice plus some good acting this movie is a must see. Trust me, you will rewind the tape to watch Padma Khanna. Little known fact: Dara Singh's brother has a small role in this movie.

Review By Kamal K

What a director vijay anand was..magnificent editing and direction and still looks super fast movie. He was genious. Superb acting from Dev Anand Saab and premnath and is johar. Unforntunetly dev Anand took direction in his hands for his latter movies and the golden partnership ends. But before that they gave masterpieces like guide jwel thief and Johnny mera naam.

Johnny Mera Naam (1970) : Brief Review -

The GREATEST commercial spy thriller ever made in Bollywood. Period. There are some films for which you say, "They don't make films like this anymore," and Johnny Mera Naam is one of those rare films. Sean Connery's James Bond series was ruling in American and international markets with its spicy and glamourous spy thrillers, and naturally, Bollywood, or for that matter, Indian cinema, was running way behind. We had to crack something like that, if not an exact James Bond film. We were also unfortunate with the limited commercial success of crime and spy thrillers. But Johnny Mera Naam broke that myth. There is no competition for it, as far as I can remember. Even iconic Don (1978) took 8 more years but couldn't match the amount of twists. Content-wise, we can say we have a classic thriller like "Baby" (2015), but I won't call it a proper masala blockbuster. The direct competition would be anything that falls into YRF's emerging spy-universe, but JMN is miles ahead. What a fantastic script, screenplay, and direction it has. Simply unmatchable and unbeatable! Twins formula, twins being opposite characters, a secret agent as a criminal gang member, lost and found formula, thrill, drama, chartbuster music, and mind blowing twists-Johnny Mera Naam got them all and plenty. The last 40 minutes just take it to a whole new level-even higher than your favorite spy, James Bond, who actually got predictable most of the time. What great songs this film has, and what perfect situations and lyrics. It just doesn't get better than this; at least I can confirm that it hasn't gotten better till 2024. Vijay Anand has a great filmography and several classics that can compete with Johnny Mera Naam for content, but the mass value and entertainment are incomparable. It deserved to be his BIGGEST HIT EVER and it did so. The GREATEST this genre can ever produce and I won't argue with anybody over it.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.