Today I am going to stray from my usual format for discussing movies. I can’t offer a synopsis of the story, since it was nonsensical and bewildering and I lost the thread about halfway through. The closest I could come would be to say that it’s “The Love Boat” meets every cheesy spy movie/tv show ever made.
But I present this argument: a coherent plot is not always necessary. Despite the lack of one, this film had entertaining goodies a-plenty.
There is Jaideep (Dharmendra), a race-car driver whose girl Sunita (Saira Banu), a shrill beauty queen (Miss Cosmos), gets on my last good nerve.
Jai is the first Indian driver to ever participate in the International Auto Race/Southeast Asia Grand Prix—“the most prestigious auto race in this part of the world”—and of course he wins it too.
There is the international press, represented by earnest blond hippies picked up at Cafe Leopold’s in Colaba:
Jai and Sunita are being chased by Mr. Wong (Madan Puri):
He works for the Boss (who reminded me of the Blue Men), who may or may not also be Mr. Han:
They occupy a den which is carved out of rock but furnished with chandeliers, lopsided candelabras, gothic furniture, Victorian photographs, a stuffed leopard and of course a giant fish tank. Sadly, the potential in all of this is largely wasted, i.e. very little breakage and no incompetent goons thrown to the sharks as an example to others. We don’t even get to hang out in it for very long.
After some dishum-dishum and a thrilling car chase, everyone boards a cruise ship staffed by PK Murray (Rajendranath), a purser-type; Lola (Helen), the ship’s dancer and object of his affection;
and a captain who looks very much like Captain Stubing (David).
There is a Saira-Helen dance called “How sweet dadaji.”
Additionally there are gadgets which wink and beep a lot, and the ever-suave and unflappable Iftekhar as the head of Interpol:
And last but certainly not least: for the last half hour or so, Dharmendra runs around (and fights, and climbs rope ladders) in his chaddies. Yes, that is a time bomb he is carrying.
I rest my case.
MemsaabStory 