Actor Amol Palekar is celebrating his 73rd birthday on Friday. The poster boy of middle-class India in the '80s enriched the history of Indian cinema by giving memorable performances. His soft-spoken accent, hairstyle, and his on-screen chemistry with late Utpal Dutt guaranteed a laugh riot.
Palekar made his silver screen debut with director Satyadev Dubey's Marathi film Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe in 1971. He was last seen acting in 2015 TV series Ek Nayi Ummeed: Roshni. During the silver screen career spanning more than 44 years, Palekar delivered some brilliant roles but his comedy stints became more popular than work in other genres. Let's take a look at 5 best comedy movies Palekar was part of.
1. Chhoti Si Baat
Before Shah Rukh Khan came up with '7 Din Ladki In' idea in Kal Ho Naa Ho, it was Dadamuni Ashok Kumar's Col. Julius Nagendranath Wilfred Singh who guided Amol Palekar's Arun Pradeep to win over Vidya Sinha's Prabha.
Directed by Basu Chatterjee, the 1975 rom-com established the uncommon comic trait of Amol Palekar. Watching Arun's journey of transforming from a shy, hopeless guy into a confident rival of Nagesh Shastri (Asrani) and win Prabha's love is heartwarming.
2. Chitchor
This is a Rajashri production movie before it became all about the grand family. Another Rajashri production, Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon is actually a remake of Chitchor. Amol Palekar and Zarina Wahab played the leads in this 1976 movie directed by Basu Chatterjee. Confusion in communication leads to a love triangle. The sweet story plays itself out in the end. The song Gori Tera Gaon Bada Pyara from the movie became a classic hit.
3. Baton Baton Mein
After doing dramatic roles for three years, Palekar returned to soft romcoms with another Basu Chatterjee movie Baton Baton Mein. Palekar plays Tony Braganza a newly employed young turk who meets Tina Ambani's (Neé Munim) Nancy Perreira and fall in love. But his fear of commitment drives her away until he eventually realises the futility of the resistance. Pearl Padamsee's Rosie Perreira (Nancy's mother) only adds to the soft humour.
4. Gol Maal
Probably the most popular Amol Palekar comedy of all time. Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, the 1979 movie established the powerful impact of the comic chemistry between Palekar and Utpal Dutt.
The all-time classic is a story of a middle-class guy who plays a double role in real life to save his job. Things get more complicated, (and hilarious obviously) when Ram Prasad Dashrath Prasad Sharma (name of Palekar's character) falls for boss' daughter.
Apart from the peppy dialogues, RD Burman's music gave iconic songs like Gol Maal Hai Bhai Sab Gol Maal Hai and Aane Wala Pal Jane Wala Hai.
5. Naram Garam
In 1981, director Hrishikesh Mukherjee once again collaborated with Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt for the movie Naram Garam.
It's a story of Ram Eshwar Prasad (Amol Palekar) who falls in love with Kusum (Swaroop Sampat) and wants to marry her while working his way up under the employment of Bhavani Shankar Bajpai (Utpal Dutt). Things go haywire when Bhavani Shankar wants to marry Kusum. How Ram manages to get promotion and marry his sweetheart is the hilarious tale of Naram Garam.
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 "Amol Palekar, Basu Chatterjee, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Utpal Dutt, Chhoti Si Baat, Baton Baton Mein, Chitchor, Gol Maal, Naram Gar")
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