26 Nov 2007
by
[]
Utthara Kumari B
Where have all those heroes gone? I mean the heroes of the sixties.
Who would come home screaming: ''Ma, main BA first class first aa
gaya hoon''. Where have all those screen moms gone? The grey-haired,
ever-coughing, shawl-draped figure with a sewing machine for company.
The indulgent mama who would drag her "BA first class first" son to a
framed photo of her husband and say in a half-choked, half-happy
manner: ''Suna aapne, aaj hamara beta jawan ho gaya. Aur BA bhi pass
ho gaya''. And lovingly give the hero "apne in hathon se banaya hua
gazar ka halwa". Where have all those heroines gone? Who would wear
tight churidar kameez, sport an elaborate hair-do and usually were
rich, spoilt brats. Who would provoke the hero, sing the best
composed tunes, get kidnapped by the villain and then get rescued by
the hero. Where have all the villains gone?
Who would look evil, wear tight black pants and blazers, keep chewing
gum or paan, have any number of cronies at their beck and call. Where
have all the vamps gone? Who would be the 'Mona darling' of the
'Boss', do a sizzling cabaret number and end up with a knife in her
back. Where have all the chhoti behens gone? Who would scream
"bhaiya" at regular intervals and sing rakhi songs. Where have all
the comedians gone? Who would provide many a ha ha, have a girlfriend
in tow, and help the hero get the love of his life.
Where have all the 'Ramu Kakas' gone? Who would look lean, sport a
red, tattered towel on their shoulders, devote all their life to the
chote sarkar (the hero), only to be thrown out of the house despite
being ferociously loyal? Where have all the 'thakur-fathers' gone?
Those stern fathers who would tell their pampered daughters: "Jab se
tumhari ma swargvasi ho gayi, maine tumhe pala-posa aur bada kiya...
yeh din dekhne ke liye". Where have all the best written and best
composed songs gone? Sung in hills and dales and in 'gaon' and
'shahar'. Where have all the stories gone?
Rich boy would meet poor girl or vice versa, face all filmi hurdles,
finally hold hands and fade away into the sunset in the last scene.
They all lived happily ever after. Uncomplicated storylines, good
music, some laughs and some dishum-dishum.
Give me the swinging sixties any day.
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