Director: Rajkumar Santoshi Starcast: Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Shakti Kapoor, Javed Khan, V...
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Starcast: Aamir Khan,
Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Shakti Kapoor, Javed
Khan, Viju Khote & Shehzad Khan
Guest Appearances: Govinda, Juhi Chawla, Deven Verma and Mehmood
Music: Tushar
Bhatia
This rip-roaringly funny comedy, when released in November 1994, found only a few takers but has since developed a cult following. It is almost an open secret now that this film was in the making for over three years. Probably that is why when the film was finally released, there was little buzz about it despite having a solid cast and crew as a result of which the film got only an average success.
Storyline: Andaz Apna Apna depicts the journey of two individuals Amar (Aamir Khan) and Prem (Salman Khan). Both are slackers and rely more on building castles in the air and taking shortcuts to make money. There are some characteristic differences too. While Amar is a Smart Alec, Prem is a gullible simpleton. Both meet on a bus going to Ooty and become friends. But their friendship soon peters out when they get to know that both are after Raveena Bajaj (Raveena Tandon), daughter of Ramgopal Bajaj (Paresh Rawal) a rich heiress who has come to India to find a suitable groom.
The rest of the film is
about how they fall in love with Raveena and her secretary Karishma (Karisma
Kapoor) and get falsely implicated in a kidnapping case actually orchestrated
by Teja , Ramgopal’s twin brother.
Direction and other Technical Aspects: Andaz Apna Apna was the third film of director Rajkumar Santoshi after the resounding success of Ghayal (1990), an action film, Damini (1993), a social drama. And his approach to all three films was so markedly and refreshingly different that it seems as if three different directors have directed them. He handles the comic caper with deft hands, giving it a spoofy, slapstick treatment but rarely going overboard. He also deserves brownie points for such a wonderful casting. Almost all the actors fit their characters to the t. The witty dialogues were penned by Santoshi himself along with Dilip Shukla and they are an asset. The cinematography by Ishwar Bidri is quite good. However, the editing has some continuity issues as the film was in the making for so many years. But, the dialogues, the tightly woven script, and the funny gags keep the viewers so engaged that they tend to overlook these glitches.
Performances :
Aamir Khan shows
brilliant comic timing and is especially hilarious in his scenes with Salman
Khan, Paresh Rawal, and Shakti Kapoor. Salman Khan always had a flair for
comedy, and here he is in superb form as Prem. His fight with crime master
Gogo (Shakti Kapoor), and his goofy expressions are amazing. Raveena Tandon and
Karisma Kapoor are loveable despite their questionable sartorial sense in this
film. Javed Khan, Deven Verma, Mehmood, and Shehzad Khan are superb in their
respective roles. Tiku Talsania and Harish Patel give us some LOL moments in
their guest appearances. Viju Khote is excellent as Robert. Shakti Kapoor’s
zany performance as Crime Master Gogo is almost legendary now. But the tour de
force performance in the film comes from Paresh Rawal. As Teja and Ramgopal
Bajaj, his acting is nothing short of brilliant. Especially, his spoof on
legendary Utpal Dutt as Ramgopal Bajaj will bring a chuckle to the face of even the
most stone-faced person.
Music : Music in the film, though largely situational is enjoyable. Composed by Tushar Bhatia, the songs have a 60’s feel to it in terms of arrangements and tunes. Ae Lo Ae Lo Ji Sanam Hum Aa Gaye, greatly inspired by the superhit number of the 60s, Phir Wahi Dil Laaya Hoon in terms of picturization is the most popular song from the film. Yeh Raat Aur Yeh doori sung by S. P. Balasubraniam and Asha Bhosle is another very 60ish sort of number which is playful and melodious. Dil Kehta Hai Tere Paas is a mischievous number sung by the Kaali Teri Choti Hai singer Mangal Singh. It comes at the crucial juncture of the film and is quite enjoyable. Do Mastane Chale is a male bonding song by Debashish Dasgupta and S.P.Balasubramniam, and is superbly picturized.
On the whole, Andaz Apna Apna, even after 30 years enjoys a great viewership. It has aged well, like a fine wine, and still enjoys a great viewership all across.
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By
Ayushmaan Mitra
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