Chashme Buddoor

This is entirely charming. A simple and amusing romantic comedy story provides the structure for a lovely movie about the conventions, tropes, whatever you would like to call them, of the Bollywood movie (i.e. popular Hindi language movies made in Bombay). The story's fun on its own, but the real anticipatory pleasure has to do with getting the jokes and looking forward to the next one.

Two of three guys sharing a room in university days have their eye on a pretty neighbor girl - the third is too serious a student to bother. You can guess which one gets the girl.

Each of the first two makes a try at getting to know her by visiting her house on some ruse. Neither succeeds - one runs away, one is beaten up by her brother - but both tell tales of their success which are picturized entirely in Bollywod "love story" conventions:

• In the first guy's story, he takes her on a romantic boatride (singing, of course), which is filmed with every Hindi movie boy-girl-boat-on-river cliché you can think of, including flights of birds, light glistening on water, cows going for a dip -- and also a non-clichéd real bite, done by the pretty teeth of Deepti Naval - and the movie lets you see the actors having fun doing it. I wonder if it was even in the script - in any event it's "actually" sexual, and so not Bollywood-y at all! --

-In the second guy's story, which culminates in a filmi-style fight of hero and random guys, at least eight very very well-known film songs are picturized, among them the main song from Mughul-E-Azam, with our guy as Dilip Kumar (costume included), and Aap Jaise Koi, with Deepti in a delirious disco setting.

And when the true couple gets together in a park in Delhi, they comment that in a movie, they'd be singing and swinging around trees - and then they do, in a third supremely terrific loving parody song. Oh, and look out for the (real) trained bear.

The two jerk roommates wreck the relationship and then have to help their friend repair it, so they contrive a situation in which he can "rescue" her the way our heroes rescue their movie heroines.

I'm amazed at the tepid review given by commenter Naam Gum Jayega to this film. The commenter does not know what he's talking about, and knows nothing about Delhi in the 80s. I grew up in Delhi in the 80s and this is wonderful nostalgic little trip back to those days of wide and empty streets, lush green springs, and a leisurely life style.

Faroque and Deepti share an incredible chemistry in the movie, and Rakesh Bedi, Ravi Baswani and Saeed Jaffrey provide able support to their characters. Those who knew Delhi Doordarshan from the 80s would recognize such Delhi theatre regulars as Vinod Nagpal and Keemti Anand doing bit roles.

Again, these movies are to be visited again and again. After watching the current more complex movies, one might get off the old movies but movies like Chashme Buddoor define turning points in Bollywood History. Its hence a must watch for any cinema lover.

Just because a movie is called classical by many doesn't mean that on needs to watch it. True! But merely on the merit of this movie one could watch this movie.

The screenplay - this is about three bachelors who two of whom are pursuing their college education and the other is pursuing his masters and wants to pursue doctoral. In their search for girls, they end up getting intertwined in a comedy of errors.

The subplots confront one with the dogma of Indian male and the role of female. There are layers to the comic episodes in the movie and could be analysed in detail.

As the plot moves along, love, job and other complications make the story interesting in a funny way. You would never sit through 15 minutes in the movie and not laugh and think about it in some depth.

That's what makes this a classic and I give it an 8 on 10.

this is a brilliant comedy from the 80's. A very dramatically non-dramatic story done in a manner not re-emphasizing any crux. THe movie is done in a very laid back fashion (or this is the impression it'll give you). Each character is very simply but very artistically portrayed that immediately give their own ..very candid introduction (like omi and jai's pin-up clad wall). A very simple comedy talking to the common man.

as a special note - it's easy to fall in love with Deepti Naval in this movie .. the innocent.. vulnerable.. sweet and the very 'girl next door'..who actually IS the girl next door ! also.. Delhi in late 70'z... early 80's ! if you haven't watched it already... tch tch tch.

Got to see this movie while I was surfing through the television channels. I'm not from 80s. I don't know the actors either (except Faruk & Saeed). Yet, in not more than a five Min's, I got glued to the movie. Such is the fun, the movie got.

Immediately after the movie, I ran to my system to check the actors' names. Faruk and Deepti Naval make a great pair. Awesome acting by Rakesh Bedi, Saeed & Ravi Baswani. They remind you your days of youth. (I loved the episodes involving their bike & cigarettes).

Music by Raj Kamal is excellent. Pyar Lagawat (sung by Haimanti Sukla, Shailendra Singh) and Kahan Se Aaye Badra (Haimanti Sukla, K. J. Yesudas, Shailendra Singh) are just great.

Completely shot in Delhi, this flick is all about love, friendship and fun.

Haven't seen it? Go get it, Just don't miss it.

I GIVE 10/10 for it's plentiful comedy, error free screenplay and nice acting.