Directed by: S. U. Sunny
Starring: Dilip Kumar,
Meena Kumari, Jeevan
Released: 1960
Verdict: destroy every
copy – horrible – bad – whatever – flawed but enjoyable -
good – great – amazing
A delightful film
sprinkled with comedy, romance and action, wrapped in pleasant
visuals and stuffed with pretty songs. There is that certain naivity
you have to accept, and when you do nothing can really prevent you
from enjoying the movie. Kohinoor is unique because it showed the two
people best known for their brilliant suffering on screen in a
completely different light. Well, in Meena Kumari´s case the tragic
part of it was not completely abandoned, but still. The film also
proved to be exactly and literally what doctor prescribed to
depressed Dilip Kumar, who had previously portrayed the eternal
alcoholic looser in Devdas and found himself unable to just let go of
him for some time.
Dilip Kumar (as handsome
as you can imagine!!!) is a Prince, who in spite of everything
refuses to be over-dramatic. And that there would definitely be
reasons for having a fit or at least a nervous breakdown! Attacks on
his life are made – until even he gets suspicious and when he finds
out that it is actually his seemingly faithful minister, who has been
blinded by greed and sees himself on the throne already, the Prince
is forced to leave his kingdom. But no worries, no time for moping –
after all, he soon crosses the path of Princess Meena Kumari, with
whom his marriage had been planned, and they promptly fall in love
fall in love. Unfortunately there is someone else, malicious and
sneaky, who is lusting after the beautiful Princess!
To see
Dilip and Meena in such a film was sheer joy. Especially he gets an
opportunity to tune into other than the mopy and depressing mood
(which he previously crafted into perfection). And I really don´t
think there has been an actor more handsome in Bollywood, ever, with
possible exception of very young Sunil Dutt (I think by this point
you get that Yusuf Khan is my Khan of all seasons). He handles comedy
extremely well. I loved how chilled his character was! You just tried
to kill me? Whatevs man, I have a girl to impress. You just shot me
in the arm? Ain´t nobody got time for that, let´s sing a happy
song. We are trapped in a building full of enemies? Here, darling,
why don´t you handle them yourself, I´ll collect you later.
Meena Kumari too proved
that she was capable of much more than just bringing tears into our
eyes. She could make us laugh as well! Although I was bit irritated
with the stereotypical character naive girl who doesn´t recognize
her lover just because he put a fake beard on. There were moments in
the second half where I was afraid the film has deserted the comic
track and decided to go into full-blown drama, which at that point
was the last thing I wanted. I had way too good a time being
entertained! Fortunately our Princess soon realizes that fainting at
every occasion gets her nowhere and starts throwing everything that
she finds at everyone that she sees!
The villain turned out to
be a very familiar face – Jeevan. He may not have the exaggerated
English accent in this, but I just kept going back to „Raabert“
from Amar Akbar Anthony in my mind, every time he appeared on the
screen. But he was good nontheless. And it was not his fault that he
made such an impression on me in AAA, that I will forever see him in
that role. After all, Kohinoor happened a long time before AAA.
The
film definitely won me over. Favourite moments? Many! For example a
hysterical princess beating everyone over their heads with a stick,
and the absolutely hilarious "missing mirror" scene between
the hero and the intoxicated antagonist! Oh – did you know Dilip
Kumar actually learned how to play a sitar just so he could do so in
one of the songs?
