Nau Do Gyarah

Vijay Anand, who wrote and directed the film, had Dev Anand proceeding to Bombay by road, in a ramshackle truck converted into an all purpose van. On the way he finds that he has company in the form of Kalpana Kartik, who was running away from home, as she was being married to a man she did not like. A simple narrative made thoroughly enjoyable by excellent screenplay and dialogues, and, as was expected from the house of Navketan and their almost permanent music maestro, S. D. Burman, a feast of hauntingly melodious musical score. Dev Anand, the epitome of the urban youth, was his usual debonair self, and had the viewers spellbound by his charming portrayal. Kalpana Kartik was adequate. Shashikala was good. Technically, all the departments did excellent work.

Burman dada was always at his best when scoring for Dev Anand. Kishore Kumar's "Ham hain raahi pyar ke, hamse kuchh na boliye" to this day is one of his best numbers. Dada continued with his unique style of composing duets, and gave three excellent numbers in "Kali ke roop mein, chali ho dhoop mein, kahan?" by Mohd. Rafi and Asha Bhosle, "Ankhon mein kya ji, rupahla baadal" by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle, and "Ho' o' aja panchhi akela hai", again by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle. The cabaret song by Asha Bhosle and Geeta Dutt "Kya ho phir jo din rangila ho" was very catchy. Asha's "Dhalki jaaye chunariya hamari ho Raam" was a haunting number, whereas her "Jaane jigar hai hai, dekh to idhar hai hai" was a seductive number. Vijay Anand's picturisation of the climax, as Shashikala dances to Geeta Dutt's "See le zuban" was quite ably done, something which his elder brother, Chetan Anand, had done in "Taxi Driver", again in the climax, when Shiela Ramani was dancing to Lata's "Ai meri zindagi, aaj raat jhoom le". It is, however, to be noted that the story and screenplay of that film was also written by Vijay Anand only.

Overall, an excellent entertainer.