A timeless classic revisited Cast: Ashok Kumar, Dev Anand, Vyjayantimala, Tanuja, Faryal, Helen, Anju Mahendru, Nasir Hussain Dev Anand’...
A timeless classic revisited
Cast: Ashok Kumar, Dev Anand, Vyjayantimala,
Tanuja, Faryal, Helen, Anju Mahendru, Nasir Hussain
Dev Anand’s centenary year brought the classic Jewel Thief to the audience in the theatres. One couldn’t help but revisit the same 56 years after its release.
The master craftsman that director-editor-screenplay
& dialogue writer Vijay Anand was is fully evident in Jewel Thief. The use
of walls within walls, revolving bars and suspense created by him makes you
marvel at his brilliant craftsmanship. The film is so fast paced even for
today’s standards that a runtime of 185 minutes passes off in a jiffy with the
audience hungry for more.
The music created by the father-son duo of SD
Burman & Rahul Dev Burman is just mind-blowing. Take the songs ‘Yeh dil na
hota bechara’, Aasman ke neeche’, Dil pukare aa re’ or the sexy’ Raat akeli
hai’, the cabaret ‘Baithe hain kyun uske paas’, the super orchestrated ‘Hoton
pe aisi baat’ and you get a perfect cocktail. The background score created by
the Burmans keeps you hooked throughout. Wonder where has the music disappeared
in today’s films?
The actors - the suave Ashok Kumar (in an
anti-hero role), the dashing debonair Dev Anand with all his mannerisms, the
riveting Vyjayantimala, the beautiful trio of bombshells Helen, Faryal &
Anju Mahendru, and the spunky, vivacious and beautiful Tanuja all add up to
this classic thriller.
The locales, especially Sikkim, are wonderfully
captured by cinematographer V Ratra which makes it a visual treat.
The story written by K A Narayan keeps you
wondering whether Amar and Vinay are the same and who is the actual Jewel Thief
or if they are two separate identical-looking individuals. Although the title
was a giveaway (Dev Anand presents Ashok Kumar in Jewel Thief) during its
release one couldn’t fathom the actual Jewel Thief!
A must-watch film for eternity. No wonder
Sriram Raghavan is so infatuated with Vijay Anand!
As Vinay (Dev Anand) says in the end “Ek tha Jewel
Thief”, which is a fact. There can only be one Jewel Thief.
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