Teesri Manzil

The basic instincts of directors come to the fore when they make a movie. Guru Dutt is an observer of life and never resorts to melodrama even in his tragedies. Gulzar is a mischievous person and this comes out in Anand, Chupke Chupke where he wrote dialogues or in the tragic Namkeen where he directed. Vijay Anand has a trained upbringing in terms of directorship when he saw and observed Chetan Anand at work. Here, he has not written the film but as a director his stamp is there in each frame of the film. He is a director by instincts, and a very good one. Apart from his writing and shooting and editing skills, where too he is unmatched.

In todays world when not even the producers know what they are serving the audience in the name of 'Entertainment' this beautifully made film still is a landmark in film making. It is in true sense a 'Musical Thriller' that today we see only written on posters! Beautifully shot and choreographed, this film is a gripping tale of suspense, drama, and a flavor of humor that keeps the audience excited even today. The lead actors have given their best performance and each character has something to contribute in the story. A very rare thing in Hindi films. The music was so ahead of its time that even today they are being re-mixed for the new generation and are a hit! This type of film comes once in a while and is a must to add to your film library. A must see for every film buff! Nobody can say enough for the film...Just bring it home and enjoy the roller coaster ride! Happy viewing!!

While the filmmakers may have been trying for a Hitchcock-like blend of suspense, humor and romance, the eye-popping pastels of the film's Eastmancolor cinematography and outlandish, energetic musical numbers blend to create a delightful Bollywood concoction. Lead actor Shammi Kapoor is wonderfully fruity in what is probably his best performance, and dancing queen Helen is in classic bad girl mode. Not to be missed by anyone interested in 1960's Indian pop cinema.

This is a perfect example of Indian pop cinema from the 1960's reflecting the relentless encroachment of Western style music and beat generation dancing - however R. D. Burman composed some good tunes for this, perfectly showcasing the talents that were Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi.

A woman is murdered and her old friend played by Shammi Kapoor feels obliged to help track down the culprit. As it goes it's done pretty well, but of course the music is the thing! Although I liked his older brother Raj and along with this one some of his other films too I could never understand Shammi's over-expressive style of acting or his appeal (not being a woman maybe) - imho he almost ruined some of the songs here with his mugging and jerky movements. But of course, Shammi once seen never forgotten! Favourite bit: O Mere Sona - I used to wind on and play the vid just for this just to marvel in the incredible dexterity of Asha's vocals in the asking of Shammi's forgiveness; it's much easier with the DVD! The only copy I've ever seen has a rather fluid colour, occasionally lending an unintentionally surreal atmosphere at times but not detracting from the enjoyment.

It's an inconsequential treat much better than Viva Las Vegas, but clocking in at nearly 3 hours means patience, patience I think ultimately rewarded.

Teesri Manzil (1966) : Brief Review -

Bollywood discovers a musical thriller on a mass level. Unlike Hitchcock movies or novel-based Hollywood mysteries, Bollywood always believed in commercial thrillers back in time. The idea was discovered in the 1950s, and Vijay Anand was one of those directors who looked at thrillers as commercial outings. A decade later, when Bollywood was done with whatever thrillers they could make on commercial levels, Anad teamed up with one of the finest writers of Bollywood, Nasir Hussain, to discover a high level musical trailer for Bollywood. The result was Teesri Manzil. As always, there is murder, and the murdered person is either the hero's or heroine's relative. The same 50s idea, but here the musical touch and suspense were kept till the last frame. Yes, you can predict the killer right after the first half gets over, but why that murder was committed is the real suspense here. I guessed the murderer in his second scene only, but I just wanted to know how he was related to the dead person. The mysterious behavior of the screenplay was worth it, and the murderer's involvement in the hero and heroine's lives also fit well. The film is about Vicky, a singer, who is accused of murdering a girl who was in love with him. Her sister falls in love with Vicky but breaks things up after realizing his true identity. To patch things up and clear his name, he must prove his innocence and also save himself and his friends from the real killer, who now wants him dead. Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh have done well yet again, but the most memorable aspect of Teesri Manzil is its music. This was the first ever chartbuster album by legendary music director R. D. Burman. O Mere Sona Re Sona, O Haseena Zulfon Wali Jane Jahan and Aaja Aaja Main Hoon Pyar Tera are all-time classics! Had it not been for the music, I don't think audiences would have shown much interest in this intense film. I must say, well done, Mr. Vijay Anand.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.