Dilli Ka Thug

Kishore Kumar Sharma, a struggling youth and former gambler, arrives in town to earn money for his family and arrange his sister's wedding. He is later accused of murdering his friend's son, who died after injecting a counterfeit medicine he had unwittingly provided. Accused of both murder and selling counterfeit medicine, Kishore finds himself in custody. His case is secretly handled by Asha's deceitful uncle, who is also responsible for the death of Kishore's father. The film intricately details Kishore's attempts to prove his innocence and expose Asha's fake uncle's extensive dealings in counterfeit medicine.

The compelling chemistry between Kishore and Nutan, the unique storytelling, the song choreography, the effective prosthetic makeup, and the underlying theme of counterfeit medicine are the key aspects of the film.

Kishore Kumar, in his role as Kishore, is hilarious in the first half and transitions smoothly into seriousness in the second. It has become increasingly evident that he was a remarkably versatile actor, far more than just a comedian. Kishore Kumar stands out as an actor who consistently delivered social messages through his comedic films, a trait seen first in Naukri and now in Dilli Ka Thug. Nutan, as Asha, delivers a captivating performance, though it's a more conventional heroine portrayal compared to her other iconic roles. Nevertheless, their chemistry is quite brilliant. Amar's performance as Professor Amarnath is critically excellent in his villainous role, as he effortlessly switches between positive and negative facets of his character. Pratima Devi, as Mrs. Sharma, provides a characteristically sensitive performance. Minoo Mumtaz and Smriti Biswas make special appearances in dance numbers, but their contributions have minimal impact on the overall film. Additionally, Madan Puri, Iftekhar, Krishnakant, and Tun Tun all contribute significantly to the film.

The film's pacing is apt; while the first half feels somewhat conventional for a 1950s comedy, it gradually develops into an engaging storyline. The most commendable aspect of this film is S. D. Narang's successful effort to address the social issue of "counterfeit medicine dealing" through what initially appears to be a lighthearted rom-com. The dramatic moments are skillfully handled, particularly in the second half where the rising conflict introduces continuous plot twists until the very end, a rarity in comedy films. The narrative avoids an easy victory for the hero, instead developing circumstances that keep the audience highly engaged. The dialogues are natural and somewhat impressive, though not extraordinary. The climax, while predictable, remains thrilling due to its continuous plot twists and escalating conflicts.

The cinematography effectively utilizes black and white to capture various moods, from dynamic action sequences like dives and a powerful train to the intimacy of close-ups and the expansive breadth of cityscapes. Costumes consistently reflect typical Indian attire and casual wear of the late 1950s, adapting authentically to different settings-from athletic and everyday to semi-formal and rugged. The production design accurately establishes diverse environments, including an urban street with period vehicles, serene gardens, natural beaches, and rugged terrains. Makeup generally appears naturalistic, with subtle enhancements for black and white film, becoming more defined for performances or in low-light romantic scenes. Notably, the prosthetic makeup used for Amar is a fine work of art and, for that particular time period, quite unbelievable. The editing is decent. The action sequences are engaging, though not intensely action-packed, in line with the film's rom-com genre. The song choreography is expressive enough, though it lacks highly energetic steps or movements.

Ravi's music is satisfactory. While the soundtrack, in my opinion, lacks significant glamour, the appearance of the evergreen song "Yeh Raaten, Yeh Mausam, Nadi Ka Kinara" by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle instantly dispels any boredom. Furthermore, the background score effectively enhances the suspense of the storyline. The sound design is impressive, featuring unique sound elements typical of comedy films, even incorporated into action sequences.

I watched this film shortly after a politician in Sri Lanka was found guilty of importing counterfeit medicines for cancer patients, which makes the film's theme particularly poignant now. Even after so many years, this issue remains highly relevant today. What I initially perceived as a mere Kishore Kumar comedy film revealed itself to be a serious narrative with a critical underlying theme addressing the dangers of counterfeit medicine.

Ultimately, Dilli Ka Thug is more of a serious film with a significant social message than a generic rom-com, making it highly recommended for anyone who appreciates retro films.

Dilli Ka Thug (1958) : Brief Review -

A comedy based on a serious issue that gives Kishore Kumar a chance to come out as a complete all-rounder. It came as a surprise to me that this movie is termed a comedy because the very first scene in this film is damn serious. The narrator speaks about the adulteration in the medical market and how it takes the lives of many innocent people, as well as how some people are earning money from it. Then it turns into an entertaining rom-com, and we enjoy it thoroughly. We can see several templates being made, such as when the hero gets involved in a scam and one of his close ones (a kid most of the time) loses his life. Now, he must find the real culprit, but then he has to take the blame on himself to save his mother and sister. You might have recognized this template from any other movie, so please remember that Dilli Ka Thug used it in the late 50s. Kishore Kumar plays the role of "Kishore Kumar." That's interesting. Sevakram would pronounce his name "Ashok." Again, I'd say, interesting (a good joke from his real life). Kishore can be seen donning many looks, many impersonating characters, and many accents. That was the real fun in the movie. Nutan looks absolutely gorgeous and plays a fine part. To point out the major flaw in their love story, Kishore says that he has known Asha for a long time (his mother also says the same in the end). But I didn't see any suvh part being explored here. These two share three evergreen romantic songs: Hum To Mohabbat Karega, CAT Cat and the iconic Yeh Raaten Yeh Mausam. A big thanks to music composer Ravi for that. The dialogues are somewhat funny, and the screenplay was good, except for those too many dramatic scenes in the climax. That plane landing and all that stuff lacked finesse. Overall, this S. D. Narang rom-com-drama makes for a good watch, with Kishore Kumar ruling the two-thirds of the film with his all-round performance (actor and singer).

RATING - 6.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

"Dili Ka Thug" (Trickster of Delhi) is a movie revolving around Kishore (Kumar) who gambles and tricks people to make money. On being confronted by his mother, he decides to find a job and lands one in Mumbai, where he continues wooing Asha (Nutan). Kishore's father and his friend were murdered by a notorious Anantram who now wears a mask to hide his true identity and continues manufacturing spurious medicines and also passes as Nutan's uncle. The firm employing Kishore is run by Anantram and his two henchmen-Sevakram and Bihari. Anantram goes to murder Kishore in the hospital but drops his monocle which makes Iftekhar suspicious-he manages to take Anantram's fingerprints on SohanLal's wallet and figures out the truth. What follows is a dramatic air-borne sequence where Anantram is beaten by Kishore and shot by Nutan. Kishore manages to land the aeroplane after the pilots lose their consciousness...and as they say all's well that ends well.

The first half of the movie is slow and would have been a drag but for the presence of the inimitable Kishore Kumar. The director makes up for the first half in the latter half of the movie as the events unfold quickly before the story reaches its climax. One also gets to listen to some very memorable songs-a water ballet "ye bahar ye sama, ye jhoomti jawaniyan" and then "hum to mohabbat karega.." followed by "CAT.." showing Kishore doing his hilarious earth-shaking moves and then the beautiful duet "ye ratein ye mausam.."

Its like going back in time...only by 49 years and a sad realization that none of the actors who played a pivotal role in the movie are alive but their memory lingers on (other than the singer Asha Bhonsle) (Sanjeev Logani :-))