New Delhi: When everything else fails, there is RD Burman—that seems to be the motto that director Narendra Bedi swore by for Jawani Diwani in 1972. It was an era when music defined a film’s success, and add to it the combination of romantic tracks by Kishore Kumar, filmmakers could rest easy that audiences would turn up in theatres.
The college romance features the rich Neeta Thakur, played by Jaya Bhaduri and the middle-class Vijay Anand, played by Randhir Kapoor. The film begins with Vijay’s brother Ravi, played by Balraj Sahni, who had married a rich woman, Madhu, played by Nirupa Roy. This leads Madhu’s brother to break all ties with her.
However, Vijay ends up doing something similar when he falls for Neeta. After a few interactions, the two finally fall in love and want to get married. But Neeta’s father, who is Madhu’s brother, is furious. The lovers have to go through a period of separation before they can get together.
This film also marked the debut of Kader Khan as a dialogue writer. Khan used to work in theatre back then, and his play Local Train had just won him awards for best director, best actor and best writer. Impressed by his work, Bedi approached Khan to write dialogues for his film. Initially unsure, Khan later managed to write the dialogues in three hours, sitting in Mumbai’s Cross Maidan.
Khan writes some clever lines like, “ Ye pyar nahin bukhar hai, jo cinema gharon se shuru hokar collegon mein pohochta hai. Filmi geet ise hawa dete hai aur phir yeh bukhar khud ba khud ek din thanda ho jata hai” (It’s a momentary affliction created by films, and fanned by songs, and it dies down after some time).
Featuring Kishore Kumar and RD Burman
Anand Bakshi wrote the lyrics for the hit RD Burman album. The film’s songs have remained popular and have also been remixed to new tunes over the years, like ‘Jaane Jaan Dhoondta Phir Raha’, which featured on the Binaca Geetmala annual list in 1972. Burman’s inimitable grunts accompany the opening credits of the film, and a song punctuates each important moment in the film. The very first time Neeta and Vijay meet at a discotheque, he sings ‘Samne Yeh Kaun Aaya’ and flirts with her.
After surreptitiously exchanging love letters, Neeta finally succumbs to Vijay’s charms. But she plays hard to get and teases him by playing hide and seek in a forest. Bakshi’s lyrics and Burman’s music create one of the greatest Hindi movie love songs, Jaane Jaan Dhoondta Phir Raha, which is high on energy, emotion and Kishore Kumar showing off his vocal prowess.
The title track, Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani, is another high-voltage number by Burman. It has vocals by Burman and Kumar. Featuring Kapoor on a Royal Enfield Bullet, courting Bhaduri in a saree, has remained an anthem for youth.
The song ‘Nahin Nahin, Abhi Nahin, Abhi Karo Intezar’ featuring a hill station, a fireplace and the voices of Kumar and Asha Bhonsle conveyed more chemistry than the two actors.
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College romance gone wrong
The film’s lead pair is a masterclass in failed casting. Bhaduri had already impressed everyone with her performances in films like Guddi (1970), Uphaar (1971), and Piya Ka Ghar (1972). But she was a complete misfit in this role of a college student, despite looking good in her trendy bell-bottoms, winged eyeliner and even sarees. Her character was surface-level at best. While she did her best to portray the role of a privileged young woman who parties, drives a car and even says ‘Daddy’ in an annoying accent, she looks unconvincing.
For some reason, possibly to show that she is not yet eighteen, she carries around a stuffed doll wherever she goes. All in all, the character feels like a caricature rather than a real person.
Kapoor, who would have suited the role of a rich kid more than Bhaduri, tries his best to appear convincing as the middle-class lover, who is earnest, hardworking and smart. But he, too, fails to have any impact. He does not quite have the easy charm of his sibling Rishi Kapoor or the intensity of his father Raj Kapoor.
It’s Madhu as Vijay’s understanding sister-in-law and Sahni as the strict but loving brother, who show some promise, in the fledgling drama.
College romances like Bobby (1973), Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1977) and Love Story (1981) manage to do what Jawani Diwani couldn’t—be enjoyable films with unforgettable characters along with popular music.
There is a villain in Jawani Diwani too, slapstick humour, and a predictable happy ending. The plot does not appeal, but Burman’s music makes up for the lacklustre story.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)