Kala Pani
Director: Raj Khosla
Year: 1958
Music: S.D. Burman
Duration: 164 minutes
Rating: 6.0
Translation - Black Water
Bollywood in Glorious Black and White.
This was the fourth film in a row including
his debut that director Raj Khosla combined with actor Dev Anand. There was
to be one more after this. It was a successful and beneficial collaboration
for both. Anand had pushed Khosla into directing and then gave him his name
for his first few films - and C.I.D. and this film were enormous hits giving
Anand superstar status that he was to hold on to for a number of years. Dev
Anand was pretty cool back then - not Shammi cool - but lean and handsome
with his hair coifed back to give him a modern look and a flirtatious grin
always at the ready but able to do that searing romantic gaze that could
burn a woman's retina as well. His later films Jewel Thief and Guide are
considered two of the best films ever out of Bollywood.
It is really Anand and his two female co-stars
that make the film worth watching. The plot is a bit creaky - at least now
- and doesn't make that much sense if you step back. But Anand is terrific
as a man intent on freeing his father and Madhubala could charm a cobra out
of a tree and Nalini Jaywant who I came across for the first time sizzles
with sexual desire and promiscuity. The music from the great S.D. Burman
isn't bad either as Jaywant gets a few excellent numbers and Madhubala gets
two cute numbers.
The beginning leaves you askance - a mother
(Mumtaz Begum) is horrified that her son Karan (Anand) has found out that
his father has been in prison for murder for the past fifteen years while
Karan had been told he was dead. Anand is easily in his middle 30's so you
have to wonder what he was doing fifteen years ago not to notice that there
was no funeral for dear dad. Anyway - a small dent in a Bollywood film -
but then he rushes to a train to take him to Hyderabad where his father is
in jail. I mean right away. He leaves his house without any luggage or much
money - a man on a mission. He meets his father and is persuaded that
he is innocent. The woman he supposedly murdered was the most famous courtesan
in the city.
He meets Asha (Madhubala) in one of those
classic movie moments - he is trying to get her attention with her back turned
to him for a few minutes - finally she turns - the Madhubala face with the
clef chin and teasing eyes and he is hooked as is the audience. He begins
to dig up witnesses and one of the major ones is Kishori (Nalini) who is
now the top courtesan on the Top Ten list. Mind you, a courtesan in this
setting is not a prostitute per se - men come to her abode that is beautifully
decorated with servants and she dances and sings for them - flirts - is good
company and I suppose if a meeting of the minds can be arranged she goes
further. Anand needs to get evidence she has that his father is innocent
and turns on the charm and she falls for it - meanwhile he is doing the same
with Asha but means it with her. A few twists that you should see coming
a mile away but the film rests entirely on the actors and the music. The
scenes between Anand and Madhubala are very playful and charming and you
sort of wish the film had focused on that rather than the free father angle.
