When you are as devoted to the pursuit of old Hindi cinema as I am—and you assiduously discuss old cinema with other like-minded souls—you keep getting recommendations. Some recommendations I take with a certain amount of leeway automatically assigned, since I know that the recommender has his or her own biases that are likely to be reflected in the film in question. Others I tend to blindly follow, because over time, I’ve realized that these are people who pretty much share my own ideas of what comprises watchable cinema.
One of these is Anu, who blogs at Conversations over Chai. We have our differences (Raj Kapoor is one), but by and large, Anu and I tend to agree about cinema. So when Anu, chatting with me during my trip in August to meet her, recommended Tamasha, I immediately made a note of it. After all, Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar—and a comedy? That certainly sounded like something I wanted to watch.
Tamasha begins with a tamasha, a farce. Rai Bahadur Sahib (Bipin Gupta) has had it up to here with his grandson Dilip (Dev Anand), who’s fallen into the clutches of a gold-digger dancer and aspiring film actress named Nayantara (Kaushalya). Rai Bahadur Sahib disapproves and has told Dilip to part ways with Nayantara, which Dilip has dutifully done, having assured his Dadaji that Nayantara is now out of his life and he has moved on to another girl, a ‘good’ girl.
Dadaji, however, suspects that this is all hogwash. He’s had enough of Dilip’s dilly-dallying, too, so he hatches a plan: with the connivance of his good friend, a doctor (Shivraj), Rai Bahadur Sahib is going to pretend to be on his deathbed, and will demand—as a dying wish—that Dilip bring his future bride to meet him. That will trap Dilip well and proper.
All goes as per plan. Dilip, caught offguard and distressed at Dadaji’s well-faked illness, begs for a couple of hours to go and fetch his lady love. This he is allowed, and he uses it to go rushing off to Nayantara’s, where Nayantara—still, obviously, the woman he loves—is busy practising her dance. In company with her are the members of her coterie: her mother, pretty much universally referred to as Mummy (Sunalini Devi); the wannabe director of the film Nayantara hopes to star in (Randhir) and others, including a music director.
Dilip tells all, and some deliberately hammy play-acting ensues, with Nayantara pretending to faint in her mother’s arms (because Dilip’s leaving her for another woman), while the director directs the action and the music director plays appropriately dramatic music on the piano. After a while, they get down to business. The solution, says the director, is to find another girl and present her to Rai Bahadur Sahib.
So he and Dilip go off, looking for respectable young women in the places they’re most likely to be found: a nurses’ hostel, a boarding and lodging space for women, a supplier of extras. Everywhere, they draw a blank. A frustrated Dilip, now that day has given way to night, decides the director’s idea isn’t a good one after all and dumps the man, going on by himself in his car. As he’s doing so, he hears a woman scream from a nearby house…
[At this point, all the versions of Tamasha I’ve been able to find on Youtube skip a scene—or several. Apparently, in the interim, Dilip meets a stranger named Kiran (Meena Kumari) who lives with her friend Malti. Dilip realizes that Kiran would be the perfect girl to take home to Dadaji and gives her some spiel, not mentioning the details of what he has in mind. Kiran is reluctant to go along, but Malti—probably in matchmaking mode, since that’s what she spends much of the film doing—persuades Kiran to go along].
Next we see, Dilip hurrying a still-reluctant and very puzzled Kiran upstairs to Rai Bahadur Sahib’s bedside.
Kiran’s sweetness, her wide-eyed innocence and general air of goodness charm Rai Bahadur Sahib immediately, and in the conversation that follows, it also emerges that Kiran is none other than the granddaughter of one of Rai Bahadur’s dearest friends. Now Dadaji is even more approving of Kiran. This is all so wonderful. He’s already feeling better.
On the way out, Dilip tries to pay a very flustered and angry Kiran, and has his money thrown in his face. She’s furious; how dare he pull such a cheap trick on his grandfather! She will not take money for the part she’s been forced to play in this fraud. And that said, Kiran goes off to her home.
Dilip is only briefly and mildly disconcerted; he goes off to phone Nayantara and to give her the good news: Dadaji is now well, all is well. What Dilip does not realize is that Dadaji, pottering about outside, has eavesdropped on this conversation. Barely is Kiran gone than Dadaji takes to his bed with a relapse, and Dilip is instructed to go and fetch ‘bahurani’ again.
Much to Dilip’s chagrin, Kiran refuses, pointblank, to co-operate. If Dilip has no sense of shame for the tricks he’s playing on Rai Bahadur Sahib, she does: she will not do something so low as to deceive her grandfather’s best friend. And, shooing Dilip out of her home, she tells him that she’s leaving town and going off to Poona, so he better not try coming back.
At his wits’ end, Dilip again goes off to Nayantara’s place to seek counsel. The director again offers a suggestion: tell Dadaji that Kiran has died of cholera. Of course, not just that, but with all the props: carrying an urn of ashes, looking ragged and half-dead himself, weeping, and with an anti-cholera vaccine from a doctor. With Kiran safely dead, Dilip cannot be held responsible for her any more.
While this plot is being hatched, a seething Kiran has changed her mind about going off to Poona. No, instead, she’s going to go and meet Rai Bahadur Sahib. The way Dilip is fooling his poor old grandpa, it’s despicable. As Kiran tells Malti, she won’t stand for her grandpa’s best friend being treated like this.
Just as Kiran arrives at Rai Bahadur Sahib’s mansion, who should arrive there too but Dilip’s cousin, Rajju (a very young and gangly Kishore Kumar). Rajju is met by the major domo, Mata Deen (SN Banerjee) who had, in the flurry of giving out that Rai Bahadur Sahib was on his deathbed, sent a message to Rajju too. Rajju is pleased to discover that this grandfather isn’t dead or dying, and is equally pleased to make the acquaintance of his bhabhi-to-be, as Rai Bahadur Sahib introduces a somewhat mortified Kiran.
In the midst of all of this, Dilip, rigged out in mourning gear and carrying an urn of ashes, arrives (fortunately for the scene, while Kiran is outside the room, along with Rajju) and says his piece, weeping crocodile tears over the death of his beloved Kiran. Who creeps up behind, and, along with Dadaji and Rajju, has a good laugh at Dilip’s expense.
The long and the short of it is that Dadaji, by now very fond of Kiran, decides that he wants her to stay on at his home. She tutors children; will she stay on at the mansion and take charge of two children who need attention? One is he, himself (Kiran giggles) and the other is—Dilip. Kiran is taken aback and reluctant, but because Rai Bahadur Sahib is so kind to her and she cannot bring herself to tell him what Dilip is up to, she gives in.
… which, naturally, ends up bringing her in closer contact with Dilip, leading to Kiran falling in love with him.
But Dilip is in love with Nayantara.
Who, unknown to him, is only in love with Dilip’s wealth and his position. Because the only man who’s really in Nayantara’s life is her equally cynical and materialistic lover, the film actor Ashok Kumar (Ashok Kumar). He calls her a zehreeli naagin—a venomous snake—and she returns the compliment. These two understand each other very well indeed: Nayantara promises Ashok that she will marry Dilip for his money and his family’s status, but she will continue to love Ashok because he understands her.
Of course you know things will turn out fine (this is not one of those wacky films that decide to turn the tables on an unsuspecting audience), but what will happen before that? How and when does Dilip realize Nayantara isn’t the darling he thinks she is? And that Kiran, really, is a darling?
What I liked about this film:
The entire package. Phani Majumdar directed Tamasha (which was co-produced by Ashok Kumar), and it’s a light, frothy film that manages to keep its head above the waters of melodrama all through. True, there are moments when it looks as if it’s slipping into gloom, but never for long. The acting is by and large passable; the songs (Khemchand Prakash and Manna Dey—Manna Dey was roped in to compose for Tamasha after Khemchand Prakash’s death) are good; and the comic tone is maintained pretty much through most of the film.
Among the highlights, though, are Meena Kumari—who shines with her prettiness and her acting; Dev Anand, who looks good even though his acting is a bit inept at places; Kishore Kumar, who’s a hoot even so early in his career; and Ashok Kumar, who though his role is a comparatively small one, does the suave, worldly-wise libertine very well.
What I didn’t like:
Not much, really, though there are a couple of minor plot holes that could have done with some filling up. My main grouse with Tamasha was that the Dilip-Kiran romance doesn’t develop convincingly enough. Their love is sweet, and the chemistry good, in a climactic conversation—but I’d loved to have seen more of that, in the course of its development.
Still, though: a delightful film, and one I would definitely recommend to anybody who likes comedies.
Dustedoff 
Loved Kishore Kumar in this. Almost on par with his role in Miss Mary.
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That reminds me that I have to watch Miss Mary sometime. And Memsahib.
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I had not heard of this film, though my Mom was a Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari fan.I will watch it for sure. Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye had a similar plot.
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Yes, Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye was, as far as I remember (it’s been many years since I watched that) a remake of this one. I really enjoyed this – I do wish Meena Kumari had done more of these light-hearted films: she was so much more than the tragedy queen she got slotted as.
Do watch!
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A cute film, it seems.
Both dev anand and Meena Kumari look so great.
The deathbed and मरने से पहले बहू का चेहरा दिखा दे बेटा, sounds SD o much like Sadhna, though the basic concepts of both the films are totally different.
And as I’ve confessed already on my blog, Slowly Meena Kumari is memsmarising me with her innocent looks and charm. As I was familiar with her later films, it comes to me as a surprise that she looks so thin, fresh and lovely.
Let’s see,
:-)
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Yes, that deathbed scene is very similar to Sadhana, though of course they couldn’t be more unlike each other, given the fact that the ‘dying’ person here is really acting, and that the ‘bride’ who is brought to him in this case is a very ‘good girl’, not a ‘fallen’ tawaif.
Meena Kumari, the more I see of of her early films, impresses me with her versatility. I think later, perhaps by the early 1960s or so, she had become so typecast as the tragedy queen, that people seemed to forget that she was also so very good at comedy.
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I’m so glad that you watched (and liked!) this film, Madhu. This was one of those films that I watched with very little expectation but was so pleasantly surprised by the nuances that Nayantara’s character had, and the cynicism in Ashok’s.
Meena was so pretty and sparkling and Dev so boyish. I’d a blast. :) Thanks for bringing a smile to my face.
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Thank you for recommending this to me, Anu! I loved Tamasha – it was so light-hearted and fun, and even when it briefly became a wee bit grim, one knew that it couldn’t possibly last. :-) And yes, like you, I too found Ashok’s and Nayantara’s characters intriguing – self-serving in their own ways, but with redeeming features too.
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Good Evening Madam,
Thanks for introducing this movie.
Regards and blessings
Uma
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It’s my pleasure. :-) You’re very welcome.
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Madhu ji ,
I liked the review . I had watched this movie a few years ago nd found it very entertaining , plus a pretty Meena Kumari was also an attraction .
Yes .Meena Kumari should hav acted more in such light – hearted movies .
Besides Tamasha , I found her pleasant appearance in Mem Saheb , Bandish , Alladin nd Jadui chirag , Naya Andaz , Miss Mary , Shararat , Azad nd Kohinoor .
Some of them U hav already reviewed .
Thnx for this post , Madhu ji .
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Thank you so much, and also for listing those movies – there are a few there (Memsahib, Miss Mary, Shararat, Alladin aur Jaadui Chiraag) that I haven’t watched yet, so I must keep those in mind. Memsahib and Miss Mary, in particular, are long overdue for a watch…
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I watched this one after reading it’s review on Anuji’s blog & liked it. And I also like “Dulhan Wohi jo Piya Man Bhaye”- mostly because of Madan Puri & Ifthekhar.
I think Dev Anand acted well, because you know it is very difficult to imagine Dev Anand looking the way he does in it, a little how can I put it- unintelligent.
On another note, i.e. if you are interested in recommendations- I was just watching a movie called Maa Beta (1962), on youtube, another day. And I thought perhaps (not sure) Madhuji would like that. There of course are similarities to other movies- for instance Nirupa Roy losing her newborn son. Though it is not really her fault if someone deliberately stole him.
But a movie with sensible characters and except a few hitches sensible ending- there is a chance you will find it ok- if not love it. Besides I never had imagined, much less seen, Sheela Ramani in gaon ki- ghagra choli avtar. But she looks cute and plays Manoj Kumar’s mother at that. So just in case.
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I agree that it’s unusual to see Dev Anand acting as the naive and somewhat dumb ‘hero’.
I have heard of Maa Beta but haven’t got around to watching it yet, mostly because most of the movies with titles about relationships – Bhabhi, Chhoti Bahen, Bhai-Behen, Bhai-Bhai etc which I’ve seen, have been nothing short of painful, even though some were – to an extent – redeemed by good music. But if you’re recommending this one so highly, I’ll bookmark it. Thanks!
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Yeah, do try this one. And I can tell you it is not in the line of the above quoted movies.
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I will! Thanks.
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The Film “Tamasha” was a copy of the 1941 Hollywood Romantic Musical
“IT STARTED WITH EVE” starring Charles Laughton and soprano Deanne Durbin, who in her days was dubbed as the richest woman on earth.
Here is a short clip : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsWhjm3c6-c
It was customary for Kishore Kumar to sing for Dev Anand. So what happens when both KK and Dev are in the same film? In this particular case, Dev Anand had no songs, and KK sang for himself in this Bombaiyya song :
With warm regards
PARTHA CHANDA
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I had no idea this was based on a Hollywood film! Thank you for that bit of information – I must try and see if I can find It Started with Eve somewhere.
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Was this film remade as Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Munn bhae ? The story line so suggests !
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It’s been ages since I watched that film, so can’t confirm for sure, but some others have also made the same comment, so I suppose that is right.
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Yes, Partha ji is right about this film being a remake of the Hollywood film ‘All about Eve’. Also, it is right that in 1978, Lekh Tandon remade Tamasha as the superhit ‘Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye’, under the aegis of Tarachand Barjatya’s Rajshri productions.
The period around 1952, when Tamasha was being made, is pretty interesting. Unlike the 30’s and early 40’s, this was a period where films based on wonderful Indian stories were just not working. Films like Mr. Sampat ( Based on RK Narayan’s story of the same name), Andolan, Zalzala (Tagore’s Chaar Adhyay), Pehla Admi, Mashaal (Bankim’s Rajani), Lahore, Sawan aya Re, Swayamsiddha, Chota Bhai ( Sarat’s Ramer Sumati), Anjangarh, Banwasi, Aag, Kalpana, Humrahi, Milan ( Tagore’s Naukadubi), Mazdoor, Kurukshetra, Neecha Nagar, Lokshair Ram Joshi, Dharti Ke Lal etc, all met with great critical acclaim and love from the intelligentsia, but turned out be damp squibs at the box-office. On the other hand, films based on foreign films and stories were burning the box-office right, left and center. These films include Pugree, Sajan, Arzoo, Dastaan, Jadoo, Badal, Saiyan, Afsana, Bahar, Sangdil etc; among others. Bombay Talkies, which produced Tamasha, was going through real bad times then, and as such saw foreign film adaptations a safer bet at the box-office. Little wonder then that All about Eve was remade. To Phani Majumdar’s credit, its not a brain-dead remake, but just borrows the basic theme and some plot elements. The direction of the film is wonderful and with a star cast of Dev, Meena & Inshore, one can’t really go wrong; even though the real scene-stealers here are Ashok Kumar & Bipin Gupta.
P.S: It was only with the success of Baiju Bawra, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Do Bigha Zameen (based on Tagore’s poem Dui Bigha Jomi), Parineeta, Anhonee (based on PC Barua’s Adhikar), Anandmath, Anarkali, Yatrik, Ratnadeep, Jagriti etc some time later that the films based on Indian stories again became a potent commercial force to be reckoned with at the box-office,at least for the next 8-9 years or so.
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*Kishore
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“Do Bigha Zameen” is NOT based on Tagore’s Poem. It is based on a story by Salil Chowdhury in Bangla, titled “Rickshawalla”. For the Hindi version, he simply borrowed the Title from Tagore’s famous Poem.
You may like to see below
http://www.salilda.com/filmsongs/hindi/dobigha.asp
With warm regards
PARTHA CHANDA
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I know the story is by Salilda, but the story itself is very close to Tagore’s poem. Also , I read somewhere that Salil based his story on Tagore’s poem.
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That’s interesting! It had never struck me. Thank you for that insight.
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Google threw this up for me for some reason, so while I knew I’d already read this post, I came back to read this again. And found a couple of comments interesting.
Little wonder then that All about Eve was remade.
This is definitely NOT All About Eve, which is a rather serious film about a rather ruthless woman. Tamasha borrowed elements from It Started With Eve and was definitely not a straight up copy.
Secondly, this: Do Bigha Zameen (based on Tagore’s poem Dui Bigha Jomi),
As another commenter pointed out, this is balderdash. Do Bigha Zamin may have borrowed its title from Tagore’s poem, but the story was Salilda’s Rickshawallah.
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I wonder if the original posters of those two comments will see your comment, Anu, but thank you for clarifying that. :-)
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