Bombai Ka Babu

Bambai Ka Babu (The Bombay Man) is a film that subverts the classic romance story of a wayward city guy meeting a coy, village girl. The tonal shift in the film - where it takes place both in city and village in parts - gives for a very good storytelling. Babu (Dev Anand) flees to north India from Bombay after an incident, only to be embraced by a world new to him. He's unable to mend his ways when received by a peculiar man (Rashid Khan) with ulterior motives and the story follows his jaunts as he gets closer to the villagers. Although I'm not a fan of the music here, I was amazed by the storytelling, performances, and the story in itself.

(Watched during Raj Khosla's centenary celebration in Mumbai.)

Bambai Ka Babu Was Directed By Raj Khosla Who Was Known For His Thriller Movies ...Before This, Successful Thrillers Like C.I.D & Kala Pani With Dev Anand In Lead Were Directed By Him...So Again It's A Thriller With Some Rare Events In The Movie..The Story Is Well Written By Rajinder Singh Bedi ..But It's Inspired By O Henry's "A Double Dyed Deciever"...Anyways The Thrilling Elements Are Good...Screenplay Is Very Interesting Keeps You Moving...

Dev Anand Looks Far Better In This Movie...He Is Amazing As Babu Or Kundan...His Fake Identity Gives Rise To A Incest Relationship ...With The Actress Suchitra Sen As Maya ...Suchitra Sen Performs Very Well...This Rare Combination Actually Works ...

Music Of The Movie Was Given By S.D Burman...With Few Good Numbers Like "Deewana Mastana Hua Dil" By Rafi & Asha "Saathi Na Koi Manzil" By Rafi & "Chal Ri Sajni Ab Kya Soche" By Mukesh...

Overall A Good Thriller ...Must Watch For Dev Anand Fan ...If You Want To See Something Different Than Do Watch ...Similar Plot To Zameer Starring Amitabh & Saira Banu...Treatment & Climax Is Very Different & Comparatively Better...

Yeah, this dirty linen of Rajinder Singh Bedi belongs to someone named William Sydney Porter, also known as O'Henry, a not extremely unknown literary figure, and the original story is entitled "A Double-dyed Deceiver". Interestinly, there was also a movie made,with the same title,way back in 1920.

Bombai Ka Babu was a complete copy of this O'Henry short story, until Bedi brought in the angle of supposedly brother-sister love (something perhaps unthinkable in India even by today's norms), and thus made this movie very bold and quite interesting/impressive. This movie was my all-time favorite Hindi movie until I read the O'Henry story. But then, the most sincere tribute inferiority pays to genius is by copying their work.

I was really impressed by Bedi's book "Ek Chadar Maili Si" and it's difficult for me to attribute the adjective of "inferiority" to him. But as far as I remember now (maybe I'm wrong!), this movie does not acknowledge the source, and thus Bedi, as the author, should be accountable for this.

A masterpiece. One of the best movies I have ever watched. It is said to be based on a short story by American author William Sidney Porter (a.k.a. O'Henry). However, Rajinder Singh Bedi has been credited for the story. Director Raj Khosla weaves a fine blend of Music, romance and intrigue in to a classic human emotions story that makes a lasting appeal to our sensibilities. A criminal on the run finds a fine refuge to hide as well make hay at the behest of a village crook with an eye on the family cashbox. But a transformation of the heart and falling in love with the daughter of the house was not part of his original scheme of things, so the destiny decides to teach him that there are finer values in life like sacrifice, duties and responsibilities etc which are far more precious than making a quick buck as a criminal.

Most importantly, the theme has romantic angle between a long-lost brother (impostor in this case) and sister in their youth falling for each other much against the norms of societal ethics. A bold attempt; certainly in the 60s. although the story does not go fully on that route. Awesome compositions by S.D.Burman for Majrooh Sultanpuri songs like; 1) Chal Ri Sajni Ab Kya Soche, 2) Deewana Mastana Hua Dil, 3) Dekhane Mein Bhola Hai, 4) Saathi Na Koi Manzil and a few more.

Excellent music and a classic befitting climax makes this film a must see for those who likes old classics. It is a rare gem for Indian movie screen. I challenge the current breed of film producers and directors to come up with such a fine film.

Apart from the good direction of Raj Khosla, and good performances by the lead players, Dev Anand and Suchitra Sen, the music by S. D. Burman was the highlight of the movie. Three songs particularly stand out. "Chal ri sajni, ab kya soche", by Mukesh, "Saathi na koi manzil, diya hai na koi mehfil" by Mohd. Rafi and "Deewana mastana hua Dil" by Mohd. Rafi and Asha Bhosle.