Hum Dono
    
                       
Director: Amarjeet/ Vijay Anand
Year:  1961
Duration: 164 minutes
Music: Jaidev/Ludhianvi
Rating: 7.0
Trans: Both of Us

There is not a lot of joy in this 1961 black & white Bollywood film. Heartbreak, death and war. It is pure distilled Bollywood melodrama that shouldn't work, but it does. Even the wonderful songs feel like dirges. The star of this film, Dev Anand, had really come into his own over the past few years, bringing a new toned down realistic style of acting. His two masterpieces, Guide and Jewel Thief, were still a few years away. His brother Vijay was an integral part of Dev's films, often scripting them and directing them. Later Dev said his brother ghost directed this one. The two of them thought it was time for Dev to take on a double role, almost a tradition that most actors back then did at some point. Perhaps influenced by the Indian two-headed God, Agni.



Anand (Dev) comes from a poor family and is unemployed. Perhaps not the best time to ask a wealthy father for the hand of his daughter. The daughter Mita is played by the lovely Sadhana. The father gives a big spiel as to why Anand was not good enough - true really in Indian society. In a huff, Anand decides to join the army without telling Mita. It is WWII and India is fighting the Japanese in Burma for God and Country. England.



The first twist comes about when Anand meets Major Verma. His lookalike except Verma sports a Raj moustache and is a bit of a blowhard. Professional military. They become close friends in battles and out. Verma makes Anand promise to look after his wife Ruma (Nanda) should he not come back. And of course he doesn't. Missing in action, assumed dead. The war is over and Anand goes home, a mournful scene as Mita is waiting for him and he thinks she must have married someone of her status.



Then the second twist. He goes to Verma's wife and mother to give his condolences and they naturally think Verma is alive. He doesn't have the heart to tell them the truth. Yes, it sounds absurd but fine acting by everyone sells it. The music from Jaidev and lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi has become famous with the voices of Asha, Lata and Rafi. There is of course, a third twist coming.