Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969)

With the forthcoming release of Yamla Pagla Deewana this friday which stars Dharmendra and his two sons, i thought i'd delve back into Papa Deol's film archives for the next few days. Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (Monsoon comes A-waltzing) is one of his famous hits from the 60's and one of my favourite Dharmendra films, he stars in this alongside Asha Parekh and i have to say both of them make an awesome jodi (couple)

Our story starts in uber melodramatic fashion, and right from the get go i knew i'd love this film

Maya's boss gets all drunk and sexual thoughts creep into his mind upon seeing this rather randy painting

He decides on taking out his randiness on Maya but she isn't so forthcoming, frustrated and eager to get rid of his randy mood he tries raping her , at which point Maya shoots him dead

In fact watch this hilariously dramatic scene all for yourself in the video below

Scared of ruining her son's future, or for him to be labelled as a murderer's son, Maya leaves him in a temple and then hands herself over to the cops (What a good citizen, na?)

Maya's son is adopted by a wealthy childless family Lala Jugal Kishore (Nasir Hussain) and Mrs Kishore (Dulari), he's given the name Jai Shankar. Jai Shankar is showered with lots of affection, the Kishore's later have a child of their own Seeta

Jai Shankar (Dharmendra) and Seeta (Bindu) grow up in love and very much protective of oneanother. Jai meets and falls for Aarti (Asha Parekh), and after months of dating he proposes marriage

They both pick the day of her Examination results to deliver the news to Aarti's father, unfortunately for Jai he runs down his would be father in law who had been on his way back from buying presents to celebrate Aarti's exam success

Jai goes down to Aarti's house and just when he's about to confess his deed, he keeps silent due to her brother's pledge to kill whoever murdered their father as a result he hides his deed from Aarti

Will Aarti ever find out that Jai was her father's murderer? How will it affect their relationship?

drama no. 2

Drama further ensues when Maya, Jai's biological mother falls into the arms of her son Jai Shankar when he takes her home to nurse her following an accident

While recovering in Jai's mansion she notices his childhood pictures and realises he's none other than the son she had given up at the temple years ago. She approaches Jugal kishore who confirms that Jai was indeed adopted from a temple but he pleads with her not to reveal the truth as it may taint their family honour when word gets out his biological mother had done time in jail for murder, Maya agrees but how long will she be able to do this for

drama no. 3

Yet another drama ensues when Rajesh (Ravinder Kapoor) who is Jai's brother-in law is caught by Jai caressing another woman Rita (Laxmi Chhaya). Jai hears Rajesh tell Rita he's going to leave his housewife Seeta for her, thus Jai eager to ensure his Sister's happiness goes about taking matters in his hand

Will he be able to save Rajesh and Seeta's marriage

drama no. 4

If all that drama wasn't enough to digest Aarti's sister Mala (Aruna Irani) gets impregnated by a wealthy boy who turns down the pregnancy and refuses to marry her. Once more its Jai who commits to sort out this mess

Will all this dramatic questions and situations be resolved, watch Aya sawan Jhoom ke to find out

Depending on your cinematic taste buds, Aya Sawan jhoom ke (Monsoon comes A -waltzing) is totally gripping and enjoyable, what with all that mutilayered melodrama, it surely kept me engaged and yes i know a major problem a lot of people seem to have with bollywood movies is the whole story within a story or counter-plot if you like but 'Aya Sawan Jhoom ke' puts it to great melodramatic use. I couldn't help but enjoy this quite well plotted and at the same time chaotic and camp drama, but extremely impressive in my opinion is how all these multiple dramatic situations are always resolved just right before the movie ends.

Overall i'd say Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke is a beautiful melodramatic movie to indulge in especially on a rainy day, yes the acting gets a bit hammy and a bit over the top with lots of melodramatic gestures (see screen caps below)

But with loads of nice songs and beautiful people in beautiful clothes, hammy acting is a very minor complaint that i surely don't mind turning a blind eye on

I loved Dharmendra in this movie, he's at his dramatic best here with an equally impressive wardrobe

Nice Camel Suit and Skinny tie combo

Not crazy about the fit of this jacket but i love the colour

I want that shirt!!!!

Absolutely fab brocade Dinner Jacket, i want it too!!!

Asha Parekh was on top form too, she and Dharmendra are adorable together and they're one of my all time favourite screen Jodi's (screen couples) and of course she was styling in a major way

Loving the sailor style Salwar khameez

Lovely Green Kurta with a funky design

Lovely polka dot sari

This is such a Typical Asha Parekh look, she loves her sleeveless sari's and choker necklaces

In fact all the women in this film had very interesting looks, i love Bindu's south Indian style in lovely sari's and the most amazing yellow gold jewellery you'll ever see

Aruna Irani Colour blocking in a fabulous way

Going all Traditional

Ahh and i simply loved Laxmi Chhaya in this, she doesn't have as much screen time but kya energy hai!!!

Lovely music from Laxmikant Pyareleal, its not one of my Laxmikant pyarelal favourites but the songs are definitely adorable, highlights are the lovely Mohammed Rafi number 'manjhi chal o manjhi chal' & 'burat mar suno', the lovely colourful title track 'Aya sawan jhoom ke' the beautiful Rafi & Lata duet 'Saathiya nahin jata' and my favourite on this is the nergetic main ek haseena performed to greatness by the great Laxmi Chhaya, i absolutely love her charm, her energy and her moves see for yourself below

Now head over to My Music Movies and Mutterings blog for an additional write up of the soundtrack and to get the music for free


Paisa vasool Rating: 7/10

Agreement (1980)

The first film in line for Rekhatober is Agreement, i had high hopes for this film but it somehow left me disappointed but since its a Rekha film i don't regret watching it although it could have been a lot more better

Mala (Rekha) returns back to India after studying business management in Germany to run her father's company

Mala is a hardworking and driven woman who's determined to keep her father's empire at the top, she also has modern attitudes like her belief that women should not treat men like Gods (now if you watch your bollywood, we all know her modern attitudes came as a result of living in Germany for years)

vah!vah! I really loved her rather butch style of dressing in this

When her Uncle Mr Mathur (Utpal Dutt) brings up the idea of Marriage to Mala, she proposes top do it her way by marrying a man who'll do all the things a traditional Indian wife usually does, her uncle assures her she won't find such a man in India but Mala insists she will and thus places an advert in the papers about her search for a domesticated husband

you tell him Girl

Fearing a man who's out to drain Mala of her riches will be chosen, her Uncle Mr Mathur outsmarts her and chooses Shekhar (Shailendra Singh) a struggling graduate for her

Shekhar auditions like hundreds of others to become Mala's domesticated husband but Mala is taken aback by his enthusiasm to become the domesticated husband that she chooses him

He agrees to Mala's contract, which reads like these Mala draws a clause of what her marriage partner must adhere to, they're are as follows and can only be terminated after a full year has passed

i love how she even wears a trouser suit to her wedding Atta girl!!

1. the marriage between her Shekhar is a fake marriage set up merely to deceive others

2. No Intimacy

3. The man must be devoted to his wife and do everything for her

4. He must entertain her guests

5. he must gain her permission if her requires to work outside

6. He would receive an allowance of Rs1,000 and 12 hours a week off

7. If he breaks any of the above, she can send him packing without notice

Shekhar agrees to the conditions, and soon finds Mala's ways unbearable

its not long before outsiders (Bindu & Sujit Kumar) start noticing how set up their marriage appears to be

Will Shekhar hang on or will he quit? Will Mala's secret be exposed to all? Will she end up falling in love with Shekhar?

Now if you know your hindi films very well, you should very well know how all this would end, Mala ends up being the very model of womanhood she hated, at the beginning of the film and mostly through the first half Mala sports a short hairdo and wears western clothes by the end of it, she's become a Bharitya Naari (ideal Indian womanhood)

(i couldn't help but think of bollyviewer's Bharitya Naari list, it would have done her a lot of Good to read it, or wait maybe she did)

I was disappointed with this film, as it ended up being sexist, and if you're a feminist, you might want to avoid this film, as it would annoy the hell out of you. Given the premise of the story i was expecting the movie to be given a comedic touch but the whole thing just ended up being a cliche and very manipulative to make Mala realise the error of her ways and become the exact kind of Indian womanhood which she had so much being against.

Acting wise everyone is ok but i found Utpal Dutt's smug uncle act, which he played convincingly well very unbearable

Shailendra Singh was a notable playback singer at the time played the role of Shekhar, he wasn't too bad as an actor but good thing he stuck to his playback singing

Now talking of my Diva Rekha i loved her in this film especially in the first half before she caught the love bug and became a Bharitya Naari, i have to say she rocked the hell out of that wig , it suited her to a T and such a gorgeous face too

The only good thing about this film i have to say are the songs by Bappi Lahiri, highlights are 'Suno baat pateki' 'apne pyar diya' my favourites are Jeena ye koi' a male version by Shailendra Singh and 'jaane kyun mujhe' a female Lata version which i've embedded below with English subtitles