Seeta Aur Geeta is according to me one of the best comedy films ever made in India. Apart from its wonderful screenplay, exceptionally funny proceedings, and the fantastic blend of comedy, romance and action, there's another very good reason to watch it which is also the main reason: Hema Malini. Ramesh Sippy makes a wise choice by casting her as she brings the film to life with her natural charm and beauty. Without a doubt, the script is another winner, and technically the film was quite innovatory for the time. The result is a picture that is terribly entertaining and memorable.
Seeta and Geeta, both played by Malini, are identical twin sisters who were separated at birth. 17 years later: Seeta lives unhappily with her paternal uncle and his cruel wife in her deceased parents' mansion, and is literally treated like a slave, while Geeta, who was stolen by a gypsy couple at birth, lives happily a poor lifestyle with her mother. Seeta is presented as a shy, traditional and highly reticent girl, while Geeta is a bubbly, energetic, brave and vivacious girl who works as a street dancer to feed herself and in her free-time is a real prankster who indulges in playing marbles with kids.
The comedy of errors begins when Seeta, unable to tolerate her ill-fate any longer, runs away from home, and the two estranged sisters accidentally swap places. This is done through a series of scenes which are full of comedy and humour. The police station sequence is awesome, to say the least. The moment we see Geeta hanging on to the ceiling fan with such comfort is unforgettable. But the greatest fun happens in the big mansion, where the aunt, her brother and daughter think they can maltreat Seeta again. What they don't know is that it is not Seeta, but Geeta! And what happens then is such a hilarious show to watch.
It must be noted that it's not just about the comedy; the movie has depth even in the dramatic portions. Seeta's torture is successfully disturbing, and there you can see a great deal of dramatic tension which is often overlooked. Some of the scenes in which Geeta finally makes justice may be entertaining, but they are much more than just that. See Geeta's interaction with her grandmother, the moment she makes the old woman take her real place in the house, the moment she stands up for the servant when he gets physically abused, or the one when she breaks the norm by refusing to count the money brought by the lawyer, placing full trust in his services. You will understand what I'm referring to.
Hema Malini, in one of her finest performances ever, is simply splendid and marvelous. She gets two completely different roles to play with very distinct temperaments and personalities (one is a dramatic role and the other is a comic one), and she plays them so brilliantly, skillfully and convincingly that it's impossible to believe it is one woman playing these two characters. As a kid I actually used to think these were two different women who were just similar looking. She is moving and compelling as Seeta, but it's the character of Geeta that remains with you forever, because it shows the most colourful shades of her personality and utilises her superb comic timing to the fullest.
The rest of the cast members, including Sanjeev Kumar and Dharmendra, support well. Kumar never ceased to impress with his natural ease and here he is very likable. Dharmendra does exceedingly well as the lonely drunkard. Roopesh Kumar is also well cast as the villain. The elderly women -- Pratima Devi as the grandmother and Radhika Rani as Geeta's foster mother -- are very good, but undoubtedly it is Manorama who stands out as the twins' cruel, evil and hilarious aunt. Her plump, amusingly hypocritical, heavily made-up and caricaturish Kaushalia is according to me one of the most memorable and funny characters in Hindi cinema history. Manorama is just exceptional in a wonderfully acted comic role, which significantly contributes to making this film the classic that it is.
R.D. Burman's music is outstanding. All the songs are lovely, from the happily exciting "Oh Saathi Chal" to the catchy "Zindagi Hai Khel" to the ballad "Haan Ji Haan". And speaking of modern, the film portrays the modern-day India very well. Ramesh Sippy's direction is excellent, ditto for the cinematography, the editing and the action. The camera work and the stunts were definitely ahead of the times. The movie never gets boring; it is fast-paced, engaging and interesting. Many films with similar story lines have been made before and after, but frankly they all pale in comparison to this one. Seeta Aur Geeta is one of the best-made Indian films of its time, one of the most accomplished entertainers - a masterful work of timeless proportions.
