Shikaar- Film Review

 Stars Dharmendra Asha Parekh, Sanjeev Kumar and Helen. All have strong roles, and an interesting Whodunit with some twists. Rehman as the heroine's Dad also has some meaty scenes. Johnny Walker is good in a supporting role too.

Starts with a killing, and a disappearance within the first few minutes. Then there are good songs like Parde mein rehne do, parda na uthao.. a big rage at the time. Another good song is Main albeli pyar jata kar leleti hoon dil..

Shankar Jaikishan have scored the music, and Atma Ram, Guru Dutt's brother, is the producer/director.

Interesting.. watched it as a tribute to Dharmendra, who died recently.

Best Female Dancers in Hindi Films

Helen takes the cake there. She is just too good, in a variety of dancing situations, mostly on the stage, and the highlight of a song. But among the other ladies (leading or otherwise), here are a few favourites-

Mumtaz was on song in many a dance, but my favourite one will remain the Shammi Kapoor duet, Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche har zubaan par,..from Bramhachari.

Vyjayantimala had numerous great dances to her credit, and just one highlight was Hothon mein aisi baat main dabake chali aayi from Jewel Thief. I also liked the Main ka karoon Ram mujhe buddha mil gaya from Sangam, and her duet with Uttam Kumar - Chhoti si mulaqaat pyar ban gayi, pyar banke gale ka haar ban gayi, ya ya hippi hippi ya ya ya..

Asha Parekh did full justice to her dances when given a chance, as in Aaja aaja, main hoon pyar tera in Teesri Manzil, or Parde mein rehne do, parda na uthao, or Sayonara, sayonara, my first intro to the Japanese language in Love in Tokyo.

Hema Malini was also a trained dancer, and she sometimes got to show her mettle, but she was as good in pure commercial stuff like Naseeb (Mere naseeb mein tu hai ke nahin), and Sholay (Jab tak hai jaan jane jahaan mai nachungi).

Leena Chandavarkar had a few good outings in the times of Jeetendra, with Haye re haye, neend nahin aaye being my favourite.

Madhuri Dixit was a graceful dancer too, and my favourite of hers is from the film Raja- Ankhiyan milaun kabhi ankhiyan churaun kya tune kiya jadu..

Pakeezah had some great dances, but it is rumoured that someone else did the dance steps, as Meena Kumari was too ill.

My Name is Anthony Gonsalves

No, of course, it isn't. I am simple trying to recall some songs which made an impact when I first saw them on screen. Some like this one, were fun, with Amitabh emerging out of an Egg..egdum jhakaas. Some others-

O manchali, kahaan chali..the music, and the masti in the picturisation caught my attention.

Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche har zabaan par and from another movie, Badan pe sitare lapete hue..Shammi Kappor's unique dance style.

Hum kaale hain to kya hua dilwale hain..unique lyrics, and Mehmood. Aa ri aaja, nindiya tu lekar kahin udankhatole mein..is a moving lullaby also sung on screen by Mehmood.

Ek chatur naar karke singaar,..by Mehmood and Sunil Dutt on screen.

Zindagi ittefaq hai, kal bhi ittefaq thi, aaj bhi ittefaq hai..Mumtaz does a great job of bringing Asha Bhosle's singing to life on screen.

Mehbooba, mehbooba,..Helen sets the screen on fire. This was popular even before the film released.

Chalo ek baar phir se ajnabi ban jaayein hum dono- the power of lyrics (by Sahir Ludhianvi) to mesmerise..Mahendra Kapoor's silken voice..

Item Numbers

These are the hot numbers in a Hindi movie, which at one time used to be called cabaret songs. The come-hither types performed by suitably clad female actors (sometimes with male accompaniment)- Jayashree T., Mumtaz, Helen, Padma Khanna were some who became the face of the 'items.' Helen, in particular, became known for these, and she was one of the best. Her number in Don appears a classic when you see Kareena's pathetic imitation in the remake. Here is a list of a few good ones I remember. Of course, along the way, the vamp has disappeared, and the heroine now fills in when needed.

1. Husn ke lakho rang, kaunsa rang dekhoge..Johny Mera Naam
2. Zindagi ittefaq hai- Aadmi aur insaan (Mumtaz)
3. Mehbooba, mehbooba- Sholay
4. O haseena zulfon wali jane jahan- Teesri Manzil
5. Piya tuuu, ab to aaja- Caravan
6. Aa jaane jaan- Inteqam
7. Raat akeli hai- Jewel Thief (Tanuja is the actor)
8. Main kya karoon ram mujhe buddha mil gaya-Sangam (Vyjayantimala!)
9. Jab chhaye mera Jadu- Lootmaar (Simple Kapadia did this)
10. Maar diya jaye, ke chhod diya jaye - Mera Gaon Mera Desh (Laxmi Chhaya, I think)
11. Aaiye meherbaan- Howrah Bridge (it's Madhubala playing a club dancer with a dapper Ashok Kumar and K.N. Singh of the evil eyes in the audience)