Ram Balram (1980) is directed by Vijay Anand and stars Dharmendra and Amitabh (Dharbh? Amitendra?).
The songs are great fun, beginning with “Ek Raasta” which imbibes freely from both KC and the Sunshine Gang (“That’s The Way Uh-Huh Uh-Huh I Like It”) and “Yeh Dosti” all at the same time. Dharam even wears his Sholay cap, and their cute little three-wheeled automobile drives itself as necessary when they want to ride on top of it:
In “Nazar Mil Gayi” Amitabh channels Clint Eastwood courtesy of Sergio Leone (with Rekha as a flamenco dancer and Sujit Kumar as the bandito in a nice mix of geo-cinematic cliches):
And he dresses as a pink and striped pirate pretending to hang himself as he woos Rekha in “Humse Bhool Ho Gayi”:
In the film’s prologue Helen gets to whirl around in front of Ajit flourishing a dupatta covered in 100 Rs notes.
And she and Zeenat (who play mother and daughter) and Dharmendra (who despite being Helen’s age is wooing Zeenat) have a song and dance together later in “Ab To Ram Hi Jaan”:
Helen looks lovely as a woman of a certain age (okay, mine!). Right here she proves the awesomeness of our gray streaks and nose rings:
Rekha and Amitabh’s famous chemistry is crackling:
And Dharmendra rocks his Seventies Hoodlum look:
So why does the film SUCK SO BADLY, God? Why?
Maybe Beth (we watched it together) will be able to explain it.
MemsaabStory 