Bhai Bhai (1956) :
Brief Review -
When Kishore Kumar overshadowed his real-life elder brother Legendary Ashok Kumar in reel life, history will remember this film for that. Kishore Kumar was new in the cinema world, and Ashok Kumar had become a legend by the mid-1950s. Yet Kishore managed to overshadow his real-life elder brother in reel life. Of course, the credit goes to the writer. Rajendra Krishan has written a strong role for Kishore Kumar. So, there is a metaphor between these two brothers. Ashok Kumar plays the elder brother, a rich family man who is very dishonest. He abandons his wife and his kid to enjoy an affair with another woman. On the other hand, Kishore Kumar, who plays the younger brother, is a pickpocket in the film but a very honest man with high principles. That was some mix. It takes a thief to find out the mistakes of a well-educated man, and that's why Kishore Kumar's character holds an upper hand over Ashok Kumar's character. Kishore gets the most screen space, some brilliant dialogues and the most amazing scenes in the film. Ashok Kumar had to accept this degraded character so that the antagonist looked strong, but getting overshadowed by a younger brother was never part of the plan. Nirupa Roy is that dated Indian Sati Savitri stree who would forgive all sins of her husband and fight for his life. That stuff was stupid. Call it predictable or stupid, whatever you want. I'd always prefer a strong look at feminism, like the way Shabana Azmi left her husband for having an extramarital affair in Arth (1982). But Bhai Bhai was trailing behind by two and a half decades. Excluding that silly and melodramatic reconciliation and apologetic drama in the ending, Bhai Bhai was a fine flick. It's just that it doesn't stand the test of time. I expected better from MV Raman, but alas. Nonetheless, Kishore Kumar overtaking Ashok Kumar will be remembered.
RATING - 6/10*
By - #samthebestest.
