Sharaabi

This is a classic example of how a good movie can be inspired by another movie and not be a remake. Inspired by the Dudley Moore movie Arthur, this Prakash Mehra directed movie is Indianised. And done very well! After Namak Halaal and Muqadder ka Sikander this is my fave Amitabh-Prakash Mehra movie. The movie costars Jaya Pradha, Smita Patil, Pran, Om Prakash, Ranjeet, Satyen Kappu. Even Suresh Oberoi is watchable in a cameo. The guy who was Amitabh jr in Muqadder ka Sikander (Mayur i think) also has a part in this movie. Music by Bappi Lahiri is okay. Dede pyaar de and Mujhe Naulakha manga de re were hits. Def worth a watch. Even worth repeating.

A masterpiece movie from prakash mehra and fabulous and outstanding performance from amitabh the movie is great to see after so many years the dialogues are good and the songs are all nice.

OK, I don't know how many people are gonna read this, but even if only one person does, I have got to say that SHARABI is the great Indian movie.

If I had to give one standout facet of the movie, it would be Amitabh Bachan's performance. Voted Actor of the Millennium by the BBC, this movie would have to be his pinnacle, the crowning glory on a career most American actors would never see.

But it isn't just the acting. The two most important features of a movie - writing/directing - are here in a great style. All right, the editing is a bit dodgy, but that doesn't matter. If it makes sense, the rough edges don't matter one iota in a film this good.

If you don't watch Indian films, then that's you're decision, but you would be missing one of the greatest movies made if you didn't see this.

Now this is a combination that has been responsible for giving many memorable movies to the Indian cinema...And Sharaabi is a gem of a cinema from the so called "Golden period of Indian cinema" 26 years down the line, the movie is far more intriguing, entertaining and relevant than the modern era Blockbuster movies of bollywood. Its a kind of movie which can please each and everyone. Comedy,drama,action,music,acting,emotion and whatever you would seek for are all properly embedded in a nicely written plot. Amitabh Bachchan has given a towering performance and he is the best we have around and the witty one liners and shayaris are also doing no harm to his presence. Om prakash as Munshiji is good and you will feel for his death in the movie.But the lack of subtlety in his character works against him. Jaya Prada is beautiful and that all I've to say for her. Pran may seem to be too harsh but its all for making the contrast when he's transformed.

Much said It would be better if you Catch this movie and then evaluate this reviews.

Sharaabi review :

After launching Sharaabi, noted director Prakash Mehra was asked about its plot. "Well its about Amitabh and he plays a drunkard" came his pat one line reply.

Sharaabi, a 1984 Superhit and my most favourite AB film, is indeed that!! It is about Amitabh Bachchan who plays the kind hearted alcoholic. Thats it. Nothing else really matters!!

Drunken scenes were always the superstars fortè (as evident in Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and Satte Pe Satta (1982)), but in Sharaabi, Bachchan surpassed his past glory as Vicky, a richie rich guy neglected by his forever busy businessman dad (Pran) who recites poetry in a drunken stupor.

"Pyaar se shaayari mein wajan aata hai" suggests his guardian Munshiji (Om Prakash, endearing) and soon enough, Vicky falls in love with the charming dancer Meena (Jaya Prada).

"Inteha ho gayi, Intezaar ki. Aayee na kuch khabar mere yaar ki"

he laments his yearning in to a song which the legendary Kishore Kumar (rumouredly) sang with a peg in hand just to come in to the mood. Bappi Lahiri's music was truly extraordinary and it rightly won him the Filmfare Best Music award that year.

Amitabh's comic timing is also superbly explored by Mehra Saahab in the "Mucche ho toh Nathulal jaisi" sequence. His emotional outburst against dad Pran makes for another memorable scene.

I watched Sharaabi with my entire extended family at Dadar's Plaza Cinema occupying a full balcony row and yep, having a blast!! A gigantic cut out of Amitabh with a glass of alcohol in hand graced Plaza for more than 25 weeks of its run and I used to admire it everyday from my school bus when it passed from there. Swag ho toh aisa. Cheers!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni