Year: 1976
Genre:Fantasy/Comedy
At the time of its release the movie virtually went unnoticed.People in India were just not ready for fantasy films.Although this family fantasy lifts its plot entirely from the Hollywood movie The Brass Bottle (1964) the movie is entertaining nonetheless.This was Shammi Kapoor's second and final directorial effort following 1974's Manoranjan whose plot was also lifted from another Hollywood movie Irma La Douce.Its said that a n actor of Shammi sahib's calibre choose to direct ripped off movies.Anyway, like Manoranjan this movie also failed to excite the viewers.Both were comedy movies but were complete opposites in terms of target audiences.Manoranjan was a completely adult movie meant for grown ups only while Bundalbaaz is a family oriented film althiugh the movie contains atleast two attempted rape scenes.
This was different role for Rajesh Khanna also who was at time known for his romantic and dramatic roles.It was around 1975 that he started doing a wide array of movies venture into action and comedy movies on a regular basis.He is fun to watch here as the daydreaming hero.
THE PLOT
Raju is a daydreamingcollege student who lives in his own dream world.He is confident that one day he will become very wealthy and famous.His best friend Asrani and girlfriend Nisha(Pandit) urge him to look at life realistically but hers none of it.After final collee exams he heads to his village where his aunt(Lalita Pawar) and sister(Farida Jalal) live.There his eyes are opened when he sees the difficulties both ladies are facing in paying for his fee.He comes to his senses and heads to city to look for a job but as soon as he gets to the city someone tries to steal his stuff but he is caught.Actually he worried about losing his college degree but it is found.Here he meets Suleman(Johnie Walker in arguably the best role of his career).Suleman is an old man who takes Raju with him to his house.There Raju finds out that Suleman deals in scrap items but when Raja tells him that he is a college graduate Suleman tells him that he has got a masters degree in arts!Sleman teaches him about the dignity of labour and Raja gets his point.
One day adejected Raja comes home and starts crying.In his frustration he throws away the waster sack he is carrying.The glasss bottles inside break and from one of these bottles springs a Genie(Shammi Kapoor).At first Raja is petrified but then calms down.The Genie tells him that he was trapped in the bottle by his uncle 20,000 years ago beacuse of his mischiefs and he made a vow that whoever frees him he will serve that person for a entire year.
Raja is apprehensive and reluctant at first but then agrees.The rest of the film follows the misadventures of the two as the well meaning Genie always creates a problem for Raja.But he helps Raja in getting the girl of his dreams,gets Raja's sister married to Ramu(Asrani),creates an indoor palace for Suleman(Walker),saves Raja's life from the clutches of the devil form hell and the conniving Ranjeet(Played here by actor Ranjeet!).At the climax a battle beneath the depths of earth ensues in which Raja and the Genie emerge victorious.
SUM-UP:
Bundalbaaz is a film aimed at the families and it doesn't disappoint.The special effects are laughable though.Shammi Kapoor gives a terrific performance.Good fun.
Rating:6/10.
