Jwaar Bhata (1973):
Brief Review -
Too peachy and dated even for the 70s. Jwaar Bhata arrived in one of Dharmendra's most memorable years with films like Jugnu, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Loafer and Kahani Kismat Ki-all hits, and naturally, this one was overshadowed by their massive success. The main problem with the film is that it never really figured out how much weight to carry on its shoulders to emerge as a success. Being a remake of the Telugu movie Dagudu Moothalu (1964), the film often looked dated and tedious in execution. The story revolves around a kind-hearted man, Balraj, who runs a hotel and helps the poor. He offers shelter to Gayatri, and soon love blossoms. Gayatri then gets a job as a secretary to a wealthy, aged businessman, Durgadas, who happens to be Ballu's grandfather and has been searching for his grandson for years. Ballu turns out to be the only legal heir, but a crooked group surrounding Durgadas wants the property for themselves. When Gayatri learns the truth about Ballu's parents, he is officially declared the sole heir of Durgadas's mansion, wealth, property, and factory-leaving the ugly quartet fuming with jealousy. They devise an evil plan against Ballu and succeed. The question is, will Ballu manage to clear himself of all the false charges? Dharmendra portrays an honest and generous man, in line with many of his other roles during that era. The first half is engaging and holds interest, but the second half falters badly. The final quarter is a complete mess. From being a conventional family drama entertainer, it slips into a monotonous fugitive-and-courtroom saga that makes little sense. The songs, lacking the trademark Laxmikant-Pyarelal touch, only add further to the dullness. Saira Banu is saddled with a very typical role, though she looks stunning as always. Nasir Hussain performs well, and the villainous gang is passable in their parts. Adurthi Subba Rao's direction clings too much to the 60s' style of filmmaking, forgetting that he was making a Bollywood film in the 70s, not a Telugu movie in the 60s. That, ultimately, is the biggest drawback, and the film never really manages to recover from it. In short, barely watchable.
RATING - 5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
