Chachi 420

I LOVED this movie! I have just recently discovered Bollywood films and this one was on TV recently. It was much funnier than Mrs. Doubtfire with less goofiness and none of that hit-you-over-the head type of audience pandering. Even as a Black girl sitting at home I was able to understand and laugh at 100% of this movie. It's not often that I have the patience to sit and watch a movie that runs for 3+ hours but the complexities and hilarity were so well blended that I felt myself drawn to the screen. Not only did it have my rapt attention but I had to READ the entire thing so you know it's good when... Someone commented that they bought it on DVD and now that I know it's available I will do the same!

I saw this film for a comedy class and throughly enjoyed it. It is the only Hindi movie I have ever seen, and it was excellent. It is somewhat similar to the movie, Mrs. Doubtfire, however, there are many style and plot differences. It is funnier than the original without losing the touching family side of the story. It centers around a man, a film choreographer, who loses his daughter when he and his wife get a divorce. She moves back home and he eventually sees an ad to be his daughter's caretaker. He ends up enchanting the family with his super "woman" feats. He also catches the affections of the father of the ex-wife. Very long, but the movie is great from beginning to end. 9 out of 10

No doubt it's one of the best films of our childhood. Then, many of us didn't know who Kamal Haasan was. While growing we get to know more and more about this legend. This is the official remake of Tamil film Avvai Shanmughi, Kamal Haasan was also there in the lead role. The Hindi remake was to be directed by Shantanu Sheorey, but it's good that Kamal took over as director and we get to introduce with the Director Kamal Haasan.

Many may say that this type of concept will not work nowadays. But, without any doubt I can say that this film would've been same hit what it was back then because of its brilliant portrayal and writing. Lyrics by Gulzar and music of Vishal Bhardwaj were easily lovable and now nostalgic. Loved the entire cast specially Om Puri, Paresh Rawal and little Fatima. Really miss this type of comedies nowadays.

Available on YouTube.

© MandalBros.

Kamal Hasan remakes Mrs Doubtfire and gives an inspired performance as Mrs Luxmi Godbole, a god-fearing Maharashtrian matriarch. 'Chachi 420' itself is a bit of a mess. The film is overlong with messy subplots and Tabu is strangely lackluster. Yet Kamal Hasan makes it worthwhile with his superb comic timing. It does get overindulgent at times with some unnecessary songs. Amrish Puri is good as usual. Om Puri has a brief but funny cameo. There are some risqué scenes involving Nasser, so family audiences beware. Still, the film is well worth watching on television or DVD.

Overall 6/10

I first caught this at the Eros Cinema in Bombay. Even without English subtitles this non-Hindi speaker thoroughly enjoyed it. Recently I found this on DVD with the subtitle option and liked it all the more. Much funnier than the original "Mrs. Doubtfire", not nearly so cloying. I first knew Kamal Hassan (writer, director, lead actor) from a Tmail gangster film, "Narayan". That he is so funny, and subtle even in a larger-than-life role, was a great surprise. Don't miss this if you ever get the opportunity. The fight scene in he baazar is an instsant classic!