Kishore Kumar is my favorite playback singer of all time. I love his deep baritone, his distinctive yodeling, and the way he trills his r's. He was also a talented comedic actor, even if he loathed acting. Being one of the few singer/actors in Bollywood, it's always fun to watch Kishore picturized on himself.

Mere Bhole Bhalam from Padosan is my favorite of all his songs picturized on himself. I love his bizarre drama troop leader character anyway, but the way he moves so deliberately in this track is especially fun to watch.

Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si from Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi is another classic. The song takes place right as Madhubala has brought her car to Kishore's garage. It's the middle of the night and pouring rain. She's kind of nervous and Kishore is taking full advantage of the situation by playing with her! (And playing various automotive tools as instruments.)

Aake Seedhi Lagi from Half Ticket features Kishore and Pran dancing to a duet sung by Kishore and Kishore! Hilarious! The story according to the peanut gallery in the youtube comments is that Asha Bhosle was out of town so Kishore just decided to record both parts himself.

Of course, I love Kishore picturized on other people, too. He works well with Amitabh Bachchan, of course. I always though M. Rafi was a better fit for Rishi Kapoor, though.

Here's Kishore picturized on Dev Anand in Jewel Thief in one of my favorite Kishore tracks - Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara. I love the yodeling!

And here is Kishore picturized on that old cradle-robber Rajesh Khanna in another excellent yodeling/travel song Mere Sapnon Ki Rani from Aradhana

That's Kishore Kumar singing both the male and "female" parts for this song picturized on Kishore and Pran from Half Ticket. Let me emphasize again how excellently funny this movie was. Maybe Paresh Rawal could pull this off today, but I can't think of too many others.

(Imagine Johnny Lever in drag....EW! Although, I'm sure it's been done somewhere.)

Almost as entertaining, although for different reasons is this rendition from my favorite show SVOI, performed by earnest Abhas in front of a bemused audience. Watch his face as he sings the 'lady's' part! Hilarious!

Before I get all swoony over Kishore Kumar and Madhubala and their tragic marriage, let me first complain about the shoddy quality of the DVD. It makes me so sad to see classics like Half Ticket treated so poorly. While American, European, and films from places like Japan get painstaking restoration, beloved Hindi films get poor sound quality, washed out (or seriously trippy - I'm looking at you colorized Mughal-e-Azam) pictures, and worst of all - MISSING REELS!

So, anyways, Half Ticket is the story of a rabble rousing younger son of a business tycoon who angers his father so much that his father wants to get him married off to calm him down! ( The plot is just an excuse for Kishore Kumar to run around and act silly! YES! )

In conclusion, Pran was really good looking as a young man.



Also, I want to see films like this treated better. There were a few missing reels on the DVD that ruined a number of joke set-ups. Even for just a timepass comedy, there were a number of wonderful scenes and plot threads - like Kishore Kumar's forcing the household help to go on strike and the Pran/Kishore duet dance number.

(And no mention of Half Ticket would be complete without the roller skating number.)

* Yesterday I ordered Om Shanti Om, Namastey London - purchased specfically to compare and contrast with Purab aur Pachhim, and Hera Pheri - purchased because I am such an Akshay fangirl.

* I finished episodes 2 & 3 of Absolute Boyfriend-o and have many screencaps. Also, it really made me want to eat cream puffs. Did anyone else have that problem?

* While watching Half Ticket, with the beautiful - if high maintenence - Madhubala, I was sad because ladies are no longer allowed to be healthy looking.



Don't even try to tell me that Madhubala is fat!



No wonder Kareena collapsed on the sets of Tashan. Look at those ribs!

* Also, yes, I cannot stop yapping about Tashan. Isn't it odd how some things stick with you? I, for one, will never understand the appeal of Stargate. I picked up a book at the library yesterday that explores why we rely so much on our media consumption habits to dicate how we view one another.

* I also picked up a biography of PRAN! I cannot wait to read this.

Is there anyone who loves Kishore Kumar hamming it up for the camera more than me? I don't think so - which makes Half Ticket, which I started watching last night, seem to have a target audience of me.

Who else could they have been aiming this at? Two of my favorite character actresses Tun Tun - as the mother of the world's most obnoxious child and Manorama - as a 40ish lady with an Elvis obsession - plus a young, dashing Pran and Madhubala and Kishore paired opposite one another. And, to top it all off: HELEN!

I will have screencaps... oh, yes.