User reviews

A cook appears out of the blue as an answer to the prayers of the house members. Little do they know that his arrival would mark a life changing experience for all those who live there. As he reminds them that life is not about the pursuit of individual happiness but about the attainment of this emotion for others. A family who feel they are burdened with problems soon realise that each of them can solve them if the necessary effort is put in. A number of pearls of wisdom are unveiled by their enigmatic employee such as the completion of a task which is not one's own can give a person as much joy as the completion of a persons own task etc lead to the improvement in lifestyle for all concerned. Its the little joys in life which are countless that matter why worry about the larger joys in life which are few & far between? The one person in the household who shares his attitude to life is constantly being exploited by her aunts at her own expense (her education) the cook takes under his wing so she can receive the attention she richly deserves. She blossoms under the supervision of the cook to the surprise of her relatives who simply believed she neither had the talent or the skills to reach the heights that she accomplishes. So all in all a thoroughly insightful feel good movie which should not be missed if enlightenment is your quest...

"It is so simple to be happy but it is so difficult to be simple," quoted Rajesh Khanna in the film. It's simplicity & light hearted movie making of Hrishida which made him one of the most popular film director of India. If I have to choose only one best Indian Director, I will chose him without a single doubt and this isn't any exaggeration at all. His every films I've seen innumerable times & still left with the feeling to watch it again. Hrishida was such a genius director that even big superstars like Big B & Kaka (khanna) agree to do any sort of thing he told them to do. For example in this film, he convinced Big B to narrate the title credits of the film just like a stage play & also convinced Khanna (a Big superstar then) to do a role of home cook(Bawarchi). How Khanna entered in Shanti Niwas & changed the dynamics of a constantly quarreling family into a lovable bonding is just watch worthy. Along with really a fine act of Rajesh Khanna there are few more stalwarts of Hrishda's films like Jaya Bhaduri & Asrani who also shared their light hearted act in this film. I've seen Govinda- David Dhavan's 'Hero no-1' & Sanju Baba Starr 'Khoobsurat'& both are direct rip off of this film but it's always original which stays classic. As one of my friend Digant said to me that this film won't make you laugh louder in the funny scenes but make your face smile from beginning to end. So true.

Recommended to all Hrishida's fans.

Ratings-8/10

It is yet another great movie by the legendary director.

A priceless gem directed by Hrishida.

Rajesh Khanna simply mesmerizes everyone with his performance.

The acting by Rajesh Khanna is itself worth the price of the movie.

The story is great with a very nice twist in the climax.

Enough talking about this film, just go and watch it.

Trust me, you are not going to regret it.

P.S.:-If you like Hrishida's films you can also watch Anand. Sometimes I really wonder if India is ever, ever going to get a great director like Hrishida ! I really hope it gets !

If you have low tolerance for Bollywood, and you think Bollywood is just all about cheesy, loud and lewd movies, than it means that you are not aware of the rare gems the Indian film industry has produced in the last 50 something years. And this film is one of such gems. I haven't seen, "Anand" the most popular film of Rishida, but I have seen Bawaichi 3 times and every time it leaves me with the sad reality that how come the Western world has not discovered movies like this. The film revolves around the relationship of a family and their new cook, played superbly by Rajesh Khanna. I don't want to go much into the details of the story of the film and cinamatic mastery of Rishida, but in short this film could be described as excellent in every aspect. If you are a fan of Indian 'art' films, than this a must see for you!

The remarkable imaginative profundity of Hirishda to poignantly portray basic moral values which circumvent a whole facet of mundane matters and temperamental grudges has always been the hallmark of this great Bollywood director of the yore.

His characterization of different roles in a sublimely moving fashion was the bedrock of his cinematic genius that led him to craft simple, low budget, non-vulgar movies while posting box office records.

His candid and evocative imagination never felt short/handicapped or at any loss while filming landmark movies like Anand, Abhiman and Bawarchi which are devoid of any obscene depiction which is considered vital for box office success by directors like Raj Kapoor.

It is also pertinent to mention that Rajesh Khanna in the lead role but without a heroine like in Anand (also directed by Hirishda) shall always be remembered for his versatile, soft and morally strong depiction that should not be short of any words. Seeing is indeed believing .......

Baawarchi is a showcase for the immense talent of it's director Hrishikesh Mukherjee and his ability to take a simple plot and make a thoroughly enjoyable film. One that you can see again and again and again and never seem to tire of it. It is a clean family film, like all other Hrishikesh Mukherjee films, which will make the entire family, the young and the old, and the very young and the very old, all alike, laugh and cry. Regarding the acting, absolutely top notch. Every single character is played to perfection by the entire cast, but special mention has to be made of Rajesh Khanna. Rajesh Khanna not only plays the title character but he is the heart and soul of the film. What a performance, simply one of his best. Considering the other great performances from him, that's saying a lot. It was an absolute travesty that Rajesh Khanna did not win the Filmfare Award for the year 1972, considering the award went to Manoj Kumar (really!) for an obscure and crappy film Be-Imaan.

If ever fairy tales were told in poetic and yet mesmerizing way than this is definitely one among them.

The word 'magician' in my title could apply to Hrishikesh Mukherji definitely but also to Rajesh Khanna. Aah.. what an actor!.

This is undoubtedly one of Mr.Mukherji's best. You can feel the Bengali warmth all over it.It's subtle and yet so clear, it's humorous and yet so sentimental.

It's a story about a cook who changes not only the tastes of the house but also the hearts.

Now here is a movie u feel deserved an Oscar... but who cares? It's truly a world's loss. But then you can't blame the Oscar jury... nothing much was done in the past to promote Indian cinema on an International standard.

This is a movie you can proudly refer and no such luck for the movies that are being churned out now.

This was a simple film with some very nice moments. I did have some complaints though. There are some over-the-top moments and some parts seemed a little too redundant. There are some scenes which are a little too sweet and become difficult to relate to.

Now coming to the positives, this was a feel-good film with nice performances. I specifically liked the supporting cast more than the leads. They were very believable and I enjoyed their performances a lot. Rajesh Khanna does justice to his role, although I found it difficult to relate to his character, which had only positive shades. That seemed far from reality and I didn't particularly enjoy that part. But the other characters were more relatable for sure. Jaya Bachchan was a nice addition to the cast.

What I enjoyed the most was the fact that this movie was so natural and talked about dysfunctional families so well. This was quite entertaining.

This is a truly classic Indian film, and a fitting showcase to the substantial talents of it director, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who shows how a masterpiece can be produced on a small budget.

Shot almost exclusively inside the Sharma household, this film explores the tensions and rivalries within the Sharma family, and how their domestic problems quite literally bring them to their knees. Into this house of discontent steps a man with answers to their problems and a lot more. How can a cook be so smart? What is his agenda? Who is this man? The acting in a very strong cast is first class, and without weakness. Rajesh Khanna steals the show though with a brilliant, amusing lead role as the loquacious Bawarchi. At that time (1972) he was the darling of the Indian cinema and women wrote letters in their own blood to him, such was his appeal, and this film showcases his immense talent. Rajesh Khanna's performance is one of great depth: his facial expressions, delivery and mannerisms are skilfully never overplayed, none more so than when he utters in English "It is simple to be happy, but it is difficult to be simple". Whether it be a comic or serious sad scene, Jaya Badhuri, as Krishna, perfectly conveys the uncertainties of a complex, sensitive young woman and captures her emotions beautifully to show just what a fine actress she is. A.K.Hangal amuses as the kindly Uncle who likes a quiet tipple and makes a fine double act with his screen brother. Harendranath Chatopadhay's performance as grandfather is authentic and very enjoyable. All this is underpinned with strong direction, and creative screenplay: the beautifully crafted entry of the Bawarchi through the morning mist into the chaotic proceedings being a personal highlight. Overall the delivery of the Gulzar's punchy dialogue has the required pace to make Bawarchi work. Either all these actors are adept at this and/or Mukherjee and his direction team are experts in achieving it.

Bawarchi can inspire a mixture of emotions: from sadness to joy. Whether you understand Hindi or not, it's a film that you can go back to and still enjoy again and again, and that is the mark of genius.

This film itself is a copy of the 1966 black and white Bengali classic "Galpo Holeo Satyi" directed by Tapan Sinha. Hrishikesh Mukherjee (and Guljar) have time and again remade Bengali classics into Hindi movies, sometimes very people are aware of them.

Another gem is "Chupke Chupke" which is a line-by-line copy of the 1971 Bengali film "Chhadmabeshi" starring Uttam Kumar.

Some of the other copies include Angoor (Gulzar) which was a remake of Bimal Roy's Bhranti Bilas. The original inspiration is of course the bard's "Comedy of Errors". Another one is "Mere Apne" (Gulzar), based on Tapan Sinha's "Apanjan".

No other actor at the peak of his career could have tried to do Bawarchie. It is a character which is non glamorous, no action, no romance but yet it was the ability of Super Star Rajesh Khanna that he put up such a sterling performance which will be remembered forever. This Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie suffers from average music but the character of Rajesh Khanna pulls the movie through and the audience comes out thinking.It is a must see for all movie goers as it is a masterpiece. Rajesh Khanna is excellent in the central character and is ably supported by other cast members - Jaya Bachchan,A k Hangal and others. It is inspired by an old Bengali hit and the spirit of Bawarchie continues to live and a no of movies have been made based on similar stories. However, it is a movie of joint families- which hardly exists in today's world. A must see

Hrishikesh Mukherjee movies used to be like this. Not much drama ,thin plot, an atmosphere of simplicity and all sincere characters.His characters follow same kind of behavior throughout the movie and we start loving them for it.

Same is the case with Bawarchi. Story goes like - A typical urban family of the seventies have some problems with in it. Then comes a buttler in form of Rajesh Khanna to transform their lives. But then, he ran away with their jewels(This is not a spoiler as it was shown in the trailer) . Why did he do so? Was he a theif, a fraud, or what ? All I can reveal is that I didn't like the ending.

This part may contain spoiler: I don't often like the character which are just plain too good or too bad. In Mukherjee's other films like Anand and Golmaal, the one dimensional characters were didn't seem to be weakening the story ,but in Bawarchi, they does. They are not as believable as we see in Mukherjee's other films.

Acting is not subtle, but everyone did just what was required.

How much you like this movie, depends on what type of films you like the most. If you love fairy tales and feel good movies, this one is for you.

this is probably my most

watched film seen it about 28 times and still counting...

film's story is simple but has lots of

messages in it acting by all the actors is good songs are okay. dialogues are fantabulous

...its so simple to be happy but difficult to be simple

also the film has a very nice suspense in it

must watch for all the members of you family also the film contains a surprise voice over by big b himself.

don't miss this classic

Bawarchi is a gem of a movie that conveys a lot without actually saying much. Hrishikesh Mukherjee is the real Bawarchi (Chef) here. He selects the right recipe (the story), brings the right ingredients (actors and technicians), adds the right spices (music, drama and a O'Henry-esqe twist) and just lets all of them simmer under his watchful eye.

I cant think of a better casting for such a beautiful story. The correct mix of star power of Rajesh Khanna, Jaya Bhaduri (Bachchan) and Amitabh Bachchan (as the sutradhaar or the narrator) and highly under-rated character actors like A.K. Hangal, Asrani and even Paintal.

The story by Tapan Sinha is a timeless classic. It is true even today where the joint-family system may have disintegrated but the sibling fights, day-to-day strife and dependence on domestic help still continue. Gulzar, the master word-smith, weaves his magic in the dialogs (Special mention- 'It's so simple to be happy but so difficult to be simple').

Today, more than ever, we realize and miss such simple movies.

Bawarchi (1972) : Brief Review -

Bollywood's cracking answer to Hollywood Classic 'My Man Godfrey' is even better. Yet another Gem by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. I have been watching this film since childhood on TV and couple of years back have watched it from Movie Buff's point of view, and obviously i understood it even better but never thought about writing a review. Recently when i saw a Hollywood Classic 'My Man Godfrey' (1936), i thought let's watch Bawarchi again to have a comparison between these two films so i went right ahead with the plan. Now, i am writing this review and feeling proud about one of those rare times when Bollywood defeated Hollywood. Let's be fair, My Man Godfrey was made in mid 30s when Bollywood was not even making proper Films so yes Hollywood is way ahead of Bollywood. My Man Godfrey was more about the personal satisfaction and passion while the Bawarchi deals with selfless service and finding own pleasure from it and both the films have similar character in the middle of the house, the Butler/Cook. My Man Godfrey is close to reality and seriousness of the topic because of unromantic gesture whereas finding a character like Bawarchi in real world is almost impossible. Still, Bawarchi manages to beat My Man Godfrey with the help of moral lessons and immortal message on humanity. Hrishikesh Mukherjee brings an unbelievable yet lovable character on screen who does only believable things to change the lives of typical human beings. The dialogues are Outstanding, the Screenplay is Marvellous, the Writing is Wonderful and what not. I don't really what can be bashed? There's nothing like that. Hats off of Hrishi da for discovering a never seen before teaching method to teach the simple morals of the life through and entertaining and emotional film. Overall, Another Cinematic Gem in Hrishi da's Filmography. A MASTERPIECE!

RATING - 9/10*

By - #samthebestest

Baawarchi is a classic from Hrishida. It is shot almost entirely in a single household set. All the characters are etched beautifully with a nice little suspense in the climax. The music could have been much better given the beautiful lyrics.

Jaya Bhaduri,A.K Hangal, Asrani & Paintal have all given good performances. The film talks about the advantages of a joint family & must be watched by today's generation.

Now, coming to one very good reason why it must be watched. The performance of Super Star Rajesh Khanna.

His portrayal is absolutely brilliant. He makes his appearance a good 15 minutes after the film starts, but right till the end, he keeps you enthralled. His charm & style proves why he was & still remains the greatest superstar of Hindi cinema.

Rajesh Khanna dared to do films without a heroine (which is unthinkable even today). He had no heroine in Anand & Bawarchi & later on in Shatru.

This is a movie which I have watched many times & never felt bored. Rajesh Khanna truly deserved a national award for this performance but then awards are not always given on merit.

One of the top 10 films of Hindi Cinema.

Hrishi da could weave colorful, simple story for common man. His cinema walked a tight balance betn simplicity, commerce, daily stories. Hats off to Dada for giving us Rajesh Khanna in his career best performance (second only to Anand, again Hrishi da's). Soothing music, brilliant actors, engaging dialogues can only produce this masterpiece: Bawarchi. Rest in Peace, Hrishi da.

An excellent masterpiece. Hard to believe this was made in early 70s.

Why now a days movies, this type of knowledgeable movies are not made.?

It's a simple family drama with the touch of little humor and comedy. Presented a social family message to everyone which is a good learn for us. Diverted the whole theme from the beginning and end up with a nice tweak. Simple and natural acting by everyone. Don't expect anything great from it. It's a good time pass movie with various element.

This is one of the best movies along with Anand.

Every family should watch this movie.

Excellent performances by all actors.

Bawarchi" is widely regarded as one of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's finest works and a classic in Indian cinema. The film beautifully captures the essence of a typical Indian joint family, their dynamics, and the everyday conflicts they face. Rajesh Khanna delivers a remarkable performance as the titular character, Raghu, who not only cooks delicious meals but also becomes the pillar of support for the family, guiding them through their problems.

The film's narrative is simple yet engaging, focusing on the interactions between Raghu and the family members. The screenplay is well-written, striking a balance between humor, drama, and emotional moments. The dialogues are witty, and the film successfully portrays the nuances of Indian family relationships, highlighting both the joys and challenges.

The music of "Bawarchi" composed by Madan Mohan adds depth to the storytelling. The songs, particularly the soulful "Bhor Aayi Gaya Andhiyara," beautifully capture the emotions of the characters and enhance the overall impact of the film.

Rajesh Khanna shines in the role of Raghu, effortlessly portraying his charm, wit, and humility. Jaya Bachchan delivers a heartfelt performance as the youngest daughter of the family, while Usha Kiran impresses as the family matriarch. The supporting cast, including A. K. Hangal, Durga Khote, and Asrani, deliver strong performances, adding depth to the film.

"Bawarchi" stands out for its underlying message of the importance of unity, love, and understanding within a family. It beautifully showcases the power of food in bringing people together and resolving conflicts. Hrishikesh Mukherjee's direction is effective, making the film an enjoyable and heartwarming watch.

In conclusion, "Bawarchi" is a classic Indian film that skillfully weaves together family dynamics, humor, and emotions. With its brilliant performances, engaging screenplay, and a powerful message, it continues to be cherished by audiences even today. If you appreciate meaningful cinema with a touch of warmth and humor, "Bawarchi" is definitely worth watching.

Review By Kamal K

Watched it with my family. A must watch movie for everyone with deep message. Super dialogues and self-realization about value of small moments of happiness that one can enjoy everyday with their loved ones. I feel, this movie is a must watch for all.