Mr. & Mrs. '55

I always thought "Mr & Mrs '55" was a terrible title and surely there were better possibilities – it makes it sound pretty ordinary. Whereas it was a nice little romantic musical comedy and better than most of its contemporaries with some memorable upbeat music from O.P.Nayaar.

Anita, played by the gorgeous Madhubala, is forced to marry Preetam played by dashing Guru Dutt purely on her aunts orders but falls in love with him - much to her aunts disgust and opposition. It's engrossing enough a story but the jaunty yet earnest songs sung by Rafi and Geeta Dutt are the thing, especially Thandi Hawa (my all-time favourite Madhubala moment at the lido), Johnny Walker's infuriatingly catchy Jaane Kahan Mera, and the Rafi/Dutt duet Chal Diya Banda Nawaaz - beautifully sung beautiful lyrics always make me wish it had gone on another 10 minutes. Favourite bit; the amazingly heartrending scene where Anita realises how much in love she is, just before Udhar Tum. As a counterpoint to the overall optimism of this film it's sad to remember 9 years afterwards Dutt committed suicide at 39 and in 1969 Madhubala died of heart disease at only 36.

Overall, great stuff, wish I had a cleaner copy, and don't let the title put you off.

Guru Dutt is mainly known for his thought-provoking, profound classic movies like Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool and Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam. However he had directed one hilarious comedy also prior to them. Since the movie had been made in the year 1955, it was titled as Mr. & Mrs. 55. It's a classic comedy, in fact, a satire on the pseudo-woman-lib movement gaining momentum in India in the post-independence era and represents the hurt (Indian) male-psyche wrapped in comedy.

It's based on a play - 'Modern Marriage' penned by Guru Dutt's close associate, Abrar Alvi. The plot is based on a male-hater stern lady, Seeta Devi (Lalita Pawar) who leads her niece - Anita (Madhubala) to enter into a marriage of convenience with an unemployed and impoverished cartoonist - Preetam (Guru Dutt) so that she can legally occupy the inherited estate left by her father under a condition in the will that she will have to marry. A staunch feminist, Seeta Devi is strictly against the institution of marriage and makes a deal with Preetam to divorce Anita after the purpose of hers becoming the legal heiress of the estate is served and never try to behave like a husband with her during the intermittent period. However the simplicity and ideals of Preetam alongwith a view of the happy wedded life of his sister (Kum Kum) who is a housewife, make Anita fall in love with him. But Seeta Devi tells her that Preetam has married her only for money (to be paid to him under the contract), she gets distanced with him. Finally, the story reaches its happy ending with the union of the married couple on the airport when disheartened Preetam is about to leave Mumbai (then Bombay) forever.

The script of Abrar Alvi is full of laughter-generating sequences and Guru Dutt has directed them so ably that it is hard to believe that the same director later directed movies like Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool. Guru Dutt's sense of humour proves to be just amazing. There is not a single boring moment in the movie and this comedy-cum-satire keeps the audience hooked throughout. The viewer just keeps on flowing with the twists and turns of the story, quite like a rudderless vessel going alongwith the drifting tides. And when the story reaches its happy climax, the viewer gets the feeling of the vessel's touching the shore.

The story and its treatment subtly caters to the Indian male-chauvinism which was dominant those days (no less even today). However the brighter side is that it exposes the hollowness of the so-called woman-lib movement. Woman's liberation does not mean dilution of the importance of man in her life. After all, the world runs through the eternal love of male and female only. Who of these two is complete without the other one ? None, definitely. And the taunting at the half-baked woman-lib philosophy is not at all a direct hit. It is enveloped in a laugh-riot. Guru Dutt has directed the story with so much finesse that nowhere it is felt that it's an attempt to establish the superiority of man over woman. The cartoon made by Preetam showing Seeta Devi clad in a Roman toga and riding a Roman chariot with a whip in her hand, is an example of the height of Guru Dutt's creativity.

O.P. Nayyar's music is a treat to listen for the music lovers. The songs include melodies like Thandi Hawa Kaali Ghata, Jaane Kahaan Mera Jigar Gaya Jee, Chal Diye Banda Nawaaz, Udhar Tum Haseen Ho Idhar Ham Jawaan Hain, Aye Ji Dil Pe Hua Aisa Jadoo and likewise sung by Geeta Dutt, Shamshaad Begum and Mohammed Rafi. My favourite song is a Qawwaali sung by Manna Dey and others - Meri Duniya Lutt Rahi Thi Aur Main Khamosh Tha whose lyric is able to move any sensitive heart. The beautiful words of the songs have been written by Majrooh Sultaanpuri.

V.K. Moorthy's cinematography is great like always. This black and white movie is a visual treat also, showing the life of Bombay of the fifties in a realistic, yet aesthetic way. Editing is also quite good and the production value is definitely according to the prestige of Guru Dutt's banner.

Guru Dutt proves once again that he's not only a director and narrator par excellence but also an outstanding actor. He has infused life into the role of the poor cartoonist who has been in love with the rich heiress without any greed for her wealth. Lalita Pawar's role is definitely tailor-made for her. Johnny Walker was an integral part of Guru Dutt's movies and he has generated sufficient laughters for the audience in collaboration with Yasmen, starring opposite him. However, this is Madhubala's movie by all means. Her transformation from an ultra-modern girl to a traditional Indian girl is heart-warming and she has underscored the fact that other than being one of the most beautiful women of India (in fact, the world), she's a brilliant actress too.

I recommend this movie to one and all because it provides wholesome entertainment. However Guru Dutt's mocking of the woman-lib movement may be felt as offensive by the educated ladies in the contemporary context. This movie had been made (as the name clarifies) more than five and a half decades back. Since then enough water has flown in the river of time. Now we cannot mock woman-lib philosophy in that way (and it's not desirable too).

This is a very enjoyable movie. It is about an unlikely pair, a poor sad-looking Guru Dutt, and a rich chirpy Madhubala. What you take away from this out-and-out comedy is ten O.P. Nayyar-helmed songs that you will always cherish. What I took away is one particular scene. Keep in mind, I was a school kid then. There is this serious monologue by Gurudutt. He speaks of the sad fate of people and that they don't have roti to eat. Madhubala listens too all this and then adds her two cents - If people don't have roti to eat, why don't they eat bread. I laughed and laughed.

Mr And Mrs 55 (1955) : Brief Review -

Madhubala and Guru Dutt's exhilarant romantic comedy destroys the contract marriage concept and pseudo-feminism inspired by Western liberalism. Okay, so you can recall many films with the theme of contract marriage, where the girl is married to a man just to get the property. The girl actually falls in love with the man and is now looking to rekindle her relationship with him. However, the man doesn't want her now. That's an outdated formala now, but highly entertaining and enchanting. Imagine a film cracking this super entertaining formula in the 1950s for Bollywood. Some of those old Hollywood rom-coms or screwball comedies from 30s stand as inspirations for this Guru Dutt's romantic comedy, but it's the criticism of pseudo-feminism that makes it better. In the climax, Madhubala's character fearlessly speaks about Indian women and how she is happy with her husband and family, while criticizing the western liberalism of European countries, where girls/women can turn platonic affairs into marriage and continue doing so with several men. I just loved that part. On the other hand, Guru Dutt's character is seen taking a dig at the aunty, who hates men and is trying to bring foreign culture to Indian families. There are so many sensual and serious issues that the film deals with, but it all comes with a solid dose of comedy. Let's not forget what a fantastic comedy it is. Johnny Walker has played one of the finest characters of his career, and that iconic song, "Jaaen kaha mera jigar Gaya ji," was just WOW! So, there was Madhubala-a heavenly beauty-and yet i was attracted to Vinita Bhatt. Such a cute face and expressions she gave! Totally killer. Madhubala is evergreen, man; what else can I say about her? Timeless. Guru Dutt, who later became known for intense and dark movies, has done a terrific job as an actor and director. Such a "complete film" it is.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

One of my favorite films of the black&white era. For its time it starts off in a surprisingly modernistic spirit and tone. It is peppered with lighthearted dry humor and some witty dialogs (unusual for a Hindi movie). Madubala is delightful as ever, portraying naiveté and spiritedness - at the same time. There are all-round excellent performances by all, from the main characters to the supporting actors and sidekicks. The songs are classics in their own right.

It leaves you with a wholesome feeling and you are likely to recommend it to others. A more catchy title would have perhaps made this movie better known that it is.