Teesri Manzil

"First Day First Show  : Teesri Manzil (1966)" 

I am always been mad for hindi movies and it's music. We all are in fact. But being a neutral between this and past generation, I feel movies and music of past generation were more better then todays and long lasting as well. So I have decided to write blog on most famous movies from the past which I have seen and loved. These special series blogs will be published on every Friday, if I am available to write on that day. (Who just said Nahiiiiiiiii?) On this first Friday, I am showcasing the ever loved musical thriller "Teesri Manzil". 

Before I start writing any thing, I must give credit to Mr. Ashok Dave, the famous Gujarati writer on humor, who writes same column every Friday in a local daily for this idea. 

Credits (Courtesy IMDB) : 

Producer, Story, Screenplay, Dialogue : Nasir Hussain

Director : Vijay Anand

Lyrics : Majrooh Sultanpuri 

Music : Rahul Dev Burman 

Actors: Shammi Kapoor (Anil Kumar "Sona" or Rocky, Asha Parekh (Sunita) , Premnath (Kunwar Sahab) ,Prem Chopra (Ramesh) ,Helan (Ruby) , Iftekhar (Inspector) , Laxmi Chhaya (Bela) and Rashid Khan (Waiter)

 Songs: 

'O Hasina Zulfon Waali Jaane Jahan"  - Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhonsle 

"Aaja Aaja Mein Hoon Pyar Tera" - Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhonsle

"Deewana Mujhsa Nahin" - Mohammad Rafi

"O mere Sona Re" - Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhonsle

"Mein inpe Marta hoon" - Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhonsle

"Tumne Mujhe Dekha" - Mohammad Rafi

This particular movie is the most favorite movie of my father. Its kinda Sholay for him. He can talk day in and day out about this movie. Watching movies, good movies in cinemas is inherit in our family. Even my Grand Father used to travel few kilometers to watch movies in 40s and 50s. When I was growing up, we didn't had facility of watching classics at home. Doordarshan had started recently to show movies on Sunday evenings. But most of them were award winning movies as they have to pay less for that. They were quite boring too, to be frank. Hence, we had to rely on theaters only to see if there is a chance to watch such classic movie. I very much remember that this movie was again showed in Ahmedabad's Shiv Cinema in the year 1982. Naturally my father was very excited to watch this again. It must be his 15th or 20th time. All these years I had heard so many times about this movie that I too was very excited. Me with my parents reached the hall, and guess what? It was "House full" !!! Yes a 1966 released movie was "House full" in the year 1982, some 18 years later. Not possible today. We had to resort to "Swami Dada" a Dev Anand movie, newly released, showing at "Natraj" just opposite to "Shiv". What a pity! Anyways we got another chance the next week, with two of my cousins also joined us for the show. 

Yes it was a suspense thriller. The story line goes like this..... 

Sunita who comes to revenge her sister Roopa's lover, a drummer and allegedly murderer,  Rocky. When Rocky, who has  already started liking her, comes to know about her intentions, introduces his friend (Salim Khan, Salman Khan's father) as Rocky. Rocky was a very popular drummer and singer in the hotel was also liked by the dancer named Ruby. Rocky changes his name to Anilkumar Sona and extends his helping hand to Sunita to find her sister's murderer. The intention behind that was to read her mind as why she thinks that Rocky is behind Roopa's murder. As the story moves on... Anil accidentally enters the villa of Kunwar Sahab, who is a big shot of that city along with Sunita's friends. Trying to impress his lover and her friends, he calls this villa of his uncle's. Suddenly Kunwar Sahab enters but forgives Anil for his mischief as he too used to do such tricks when he was young. Slowly things started to change and after falling deeply in love Anil feels that he should tell his reality to Sunita. So he writes a letter to her telling her that if she will forgive him, she will come to his show this evening in the same hotel. Enters Ruby. Who doesn't like Rocky aka Anil to leave from her grasp so easily, takes help of the same waiter who supposed to give letter to Sunita before the show. She instructs the waiter to delay the delivery of the later and give it to her only when she enters the show. Anil feels that she has forgiven him and Sunita gets shock of her life. In this mess the original killer of Roopa (will not reveal who is he or she for the first timers) starts feeling that Anil/Rocky has became threat to his life, so he tries to shoot him but Ruby comes in between and scarifies her life for her lover. Police Inspector has already cleared Anil and that's why the killer gets more impulsive. He even fails the breaks of a car  which Anil was told will take him to the killer. Even that scare was evade by Anil. Finally Anil gets hold of a woman who knew every thing and reaches the killer. Happy ending at the end of the day. 

The pace of the story is very quick, which was written by the producer himself along with the watertight screenplay. There is always a something special feeling about Nasir Hussain's movies, which started from this very movie. Previously he was known for romantic movies. But after this success he has started to make some thrilling gems like "Yaadon Ki Baraat and "Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin".  Vijay Anand has directed very few films, but look at what he has given us? Jewel Thief, Guide, Johnny Mera Naam, Teesri Manzil and last but not the least Ram Balram. The screenplay and slick direction will always keep you on the edge of your seats till you know who is the real killer. The revelation of the killer itself is an absolute beauty. Along with screenplay and direction of Vijay Anand, the background music of R.D.Burman (for whom I have spared an entire para) and extraordinary facial expressions by Shammi Kappor makes that scene the most special scene for this movie. Asha Parekh is not known for her acting, yet she leaves her impression. She was always a great dancer in her own rights, does well in that regard. Aaaja Aaaja was eye catcher not only because of antics by Shammijee, but for Asha Parekh's dance too. Helen as always sensuous. Her moves in songs are just perfect. Premnath, just awesome. I always say he is one of the most underrated and less used actor of hindi cinema. In Johnny Mera Naam and in this movie, he has proved his metal. Prem Chopra, Laxmi Chhaya, Rashid Khan all do well in their short roles. There is no flaw in the story. You just can't see any thing which is not in its play. Apart from Sholay, this is one of those movies where you find a very slick direction and screenplay. Such things are badly missing in today's cinema. 

If six songs are not enough for you to enjoy,  then take the title track and back ground music of this movie as well. Can some one believe that this was just a fourth movie of a "young" music director, who was also a son of a famous father. Having worked as assistant of S.D.Burman, his father, for years, R.D.Burman was still a new comer in the industry. Shammi Kappor was always for Shankar Jaikishan, because of his natural bonding with the duo. He was not sure whether the choice of Nasir Hussain is right In fact he was doubting the man himself. Upon insisting time and again to at least listen the tunes, by the producer and director, he came to studio and once Pancham'da started to play the tunes on his harmonium, rest, as they say is history. All the songs of this movie are gems. You just can't put fast forward button when any of these are playing on your music system. Even today, Aaja Aaja is a hit and much asked for song in dance parties at homes and reality shows on television. Naughty and peppy songs can make u dance and feel good, but for me the best of the lot is the last one, "Tumne Mujhe Dekha". What a song sung by Rafisaab!!  Very soulful . The music goes with the emotions as well. In an interview Asha Bhonsle revealed that she felt that she sung/recorded "O mere Sona re" pretty badly as she was not feeling well. So around mid night, Pancham'da called her and asked, if she wants to re-record it? But Ashaji told him that if he feels that the song is fine then she will not like to re record it and finally the original recording stayed. Such was the professionalism existed in those years. In another incident. When Panchamda got thought of the tune for "Aaja Aaja.." he called the director Vijay Anand around 3 am and with extra excitement he said, "listen Goldie (Vijay Anand was famously called by this name) .. Tanana na na na Tannana Na na nana...." Vijay Anand laughed and told Panchamda to meet in the recording studios where he can listen to the tune with comforts. This was the dedication of the artists in those days. 

All in all a must watch movie, if you have not seen till now. You can easily get DVDs or torrents for the same. Else some times it s on few movie channels too. You will certainly like it because of the storyline and the way it has been told. Great music and as I said even title music and background music are enough to keep you glued to your couches for two hours and a bit. 

Dessert Storm !!!

The song "Tumne Mujhe Dekha" as I have mentioned above is very soulful. But it has a small story attached to it. Just before shooting this song, Geeta Bali, wife of Shammijee died. Shammiji stopped shooting for his movies. The Set was already ready. But Nasir Hussain told Shammiji not to worry and they will restart the shooting as and when he (Shammiji) feels so. It is said that the set remained as it is for not less then six months when finally Shammiji decided to restart the work!!