The Great Gambler (1979)

1979

Directed by: Shakti Samanta

Music: RD Burman

Lyrics:

Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Neetu Singh,  

Utpal Dutt, Madan Puri, Prem Chopra, 

Roopesh Kumar, Sujit Kumar

While watching Alibaba aur 40 Chor, I realised that it'd been a long time since I had immersed myself in pure masala films. It is all very well to watch and review 'good' films, but there is a certain joy in watching the masala films that Hindi cinema did so well during a certain period. So, flipping through my films, I also decided that I had ignored Amitabh Bachchan for too long. At his peak, it seemed there was nothing he could do wrong. Funnily enough, the film I chose, The Great Gambler, is a lesser-known AB film and, while it did comfortable business in Bombay, did not achieve the super success that his other films did. But the suspense thriller, with its fast-paced plot, tight screenplay, excellent production values (for the time), high-octane action, and deft direction by Shakti Samanta (he of the Shammi Kapoor and Rajesh Khanna fame), led to this film attaining cult status in following years. 

Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) is a small-time gambler, making his living off the streets of Bombay.  He is as quick with his fists as he is with cards - he can "make the cards dance at his fingertips", he says. Escaping from the police after a street fight once, he is picked up by the local crime boss, Ratan Das (Madan Puri), who also runs a casino where well-heeled customers come to lose their ill-gotten wealth. He soon convinces Jai that gambling legally is a far better option that living by his wits on the streets. 

Spiffed up to look like a high-class card sharp, Jai soon gets into the groove of relieving his customers of their excess money. One of these men is Nath (Jagdish Raj), a government employee who handles the country's atomic projects. He is on a losing streak but like most gamblers, feels that his luck will turn. Ratan Das encourages that belief by providing him with money on credit. Jai's winning hand leaves the man bankrupt and unable to repay his gambling debts. No worries, says Ratan Das. He will forgive the debt if Nath will only do him a favour. 

The military has developed a top-secret laser weapon that can destroy any ship, aeroplane or submarine within a 50-mile radius. Bring him the blueprints of the plan, and all will be forgiven. Nath is compelled to do as he is told for fear of professional suicide and personal loss of family and honour.

Ratan Das is merely the front. The real leader of the spy ring that is operating in India is Saxena (Utpal Dutt), whose trusted lieutenants, Romesh (Prem Chopra), Sethi (Roopesh Kumar) and  Marconi (Sujit Kumar) help sell the nation's secrets to enemy governments. Of course, the secrets are sent through 'top-secret' channels - through film reels of Monica's (Helen) dances. (Hey, who would suspect film reels of Helen's dances, right?) 

One such reel falls into the hands of the Crime Branch. Suspecting that the dance reels are something out of the ordinary, and hide messages that might be important to the security of the country, Verma (Om Shivpuri) delegates his best man, Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan again) to investigate the matter.

In the course of his investigation, Vijay decides to take Monica in for questioning. Unfortunately, they are spotted by Sethi who decides the danger of Monica talking to the cops is too large to allow her to live. 

Monica has barely time to stutter out Sethi's name before she dies. Sethi escapes, and informs Saxena that Monica has been taken care of, but he cannot be sure that Vijay didn't catch a glimpse of him. Saxena is concerned - perhaps Sethi should go to Marconi in Rome until the matter dies down. He assures Sethi that he is grateful and will see that Sethi is rewarded well.  

As soon as Sethi is removed from his presence, however, he orders Romesh to inform Marconi to 'take care' of Sethi. The fact that Sethi has been seen is a matter of danger to all of them. 

 

He also asks  Romesh to find another dancer to replace Monica. Romesh is quick to offer the services of his girlfriend, Shabnam (Zeenat Aman). She is a nightclub dancer, and a very good one at that. So Shabnam is co-opted into the gang. 

Sethi, who arrives in Rome is welcomed with great delight by Marconi. But before they can get around to celebrating his arrival, Marconi is informed by Romesh that he has to get rid of Sethi. He is a danger to them. A shocked Marconi decides to take the call in another room. Sethi, no stranger to danger, eavesdrops on their conversation, and is furious at being betrayed by his own gang. 

He escapes from Marconi, and on his way out of Marconi's den, Sethi steals not only the film reel that contains the secret K2 plan,  but also the code book that the gang uses. He first calls the cops in Rome, asking them to pass a message on to their Indian counterparts - if they want to know who murdered Monica, the secret behind the dance films that are smuggled out of the country, and the names and addresses of the gang members, he will provide the answers - his price? 50,000 US dollars. 

 

Meanwhile, Saxena is furious at the theft and the fact that Marconi hasn't been able to trace Sethi. Two days have passed without any news. He orders Romesh to call Marconi and find out what's happening. When Romesh gets his men to call Rome, Sethi is calling the Crime Branch office as scheduled. The meeting will be in Venice, at a casino, he says. He provides the details, and also the code name for the police agent - 'Delhi friend'. (Yeah, he is not very imaginative.) And if they try any tricks, he will repeal his offer, and the blueprints will be offered to the highest bidder. Sethi also insists that the police send the officer who arrested Monica to complete the deal. 

 

Sethi's phone call comes in on the same wavelength as the gang's, and his call is intercepted by Romesh and Saxena. Hearing of the plan to get back the blueprints, Saxena deputises Romesh to find out who the police agent is.

 

Meanwhile, Ratan Das has a bigger gamble up his sleeve. His best friend, Deepchand, left India after the Partition, and settled in Lisbon. Deepchand has a nubile young daughter (Mala). The friends had planned on turning their friendship into a relationship, with Ratan Das' son marrying Mala when they were both old enough. Unfortunately, Ratan Das' son died in a plane crash several years ago. But he would still like the marriage to take place. He considers Jai no less than a son; he would like Jai to go to Lisbon and marry Mala. 

Jai is not very pleased to have his future thus summarily disposed of, but Ratan Das quickly assuages his qualms. This is a business deal - Deepchand is a very wealthy man, and Mala is his only heir. Marry Mala, and the wealth comes to Jai. It will be a 50-50 split. The prospect of easy wealth intrigues Jai, and he agrees. Ratan Das provides him with Mala's photograph, a passport and his ticket.

Back at the crime branch headquarters, Verma is ensuring everything is in readiness for Vijay's travel. Vijay is to travel under the name, Jai. (Why? Never mind.) He has to contact the police agent in Rome, who will organise the money and notify him of any change in plans.

Romesh manages to find a photograph to identify Vijay. Bribe him, says Saxena. He cannot be bribed, says Romesh. Well, find a weakness, says Saxena. If not money, then a woman perhaps. Take Shabnam with you. Ask her to fall in love with Jai. 

Romesh is aghast. Shabnam is his girlfriend. He intends to marry her. But Saxena allays his fears. Get Jai to fall in love with Shabnam, get the plans from him, and then... So Romesh and Shabnam also book themselves on the same flight to Rome via Cairo.  
 
Now, Jai and Vijay are spitting images of each other, and they are both booked on the same flight to Rome, via Cairo. So when Romesh and Shabnam run into Jai at the counter, they mistake him for Vijay, and scheme to get Shabnam seated next to him on the flight. Jai, not too bothered about his supposed fiancee, has a pleasant time flirting with Shabnam during the journey.  

The real Vijay, travelling from Delhi, arrives in Bombay too late to catch the flight, and has to book himself on another flight the next day. He informs his boss and asks him to intimate the change in plans to their agent in Rome.

Jai and the others reach Cairo. Romesh gets one of his associates to call the airline officials and inform them there is a bomb on the connecting flight. They are asked to go to a hotel to wait it out. As they step outside, Jai and Shabnam run into Romesh who, now in disguise, introduces himself to them as Abbasi, an Arab taxi driver. He informs them that the flight is cancelled, and that the next flight is scheduled for the morrow. Jai is nonplussed - he has to travel to Rome that day so he can take the connecting flight to Lisbon. Shabnam is puzzled; surely he means Venice? Ah, well, wherever it is, they can only go the next day. So why not enjoy Cairo today?

Jai is game. He and Shabnam wine and dine, and Shabnam, egged on by 'Abbasi', also takes the opportunity to show off her belly-dancing moves. Jai is getting steadily drunk, but nothing prepares him for the morning after. 

 

It doesn't take him too long to present his credentials though, and the gang's doubts are laid to rest. But then, where is the other Jai? No matter, says Romesh, who appears to have a smidgen of grey matter. Jai is Vijay's spitting image, and the gang can use his services. Jai has no choice but to agree. Romesh is also clever enough to send Marconi to intercept the real Vijay.

 

Vijay, not knowing of these complications, has reached Rome, where he makes contact with the police agent there. As he finishes his call, he runs into Mala, who obviously mistakes him for Jai. She shows him 'his' photograph and informs him that her father expects them at Lisbon the next day. 

 

Vijay is puzzled but he needs to find out who his doppelganger is. In their profession, the presence of an impostor is dangerous. He decides to play along. Their trip to the hotel is not uneventful. Marconi, acting upon Romesh's message gives them chase. Luckily for Vijay, he is a far better driver than Marconi. 

Mala decides to take 'Jai' on a tour of Rome. She makes it clear that she loves him, and Vijay is not immune to her charms, even though he knows he is not the person she is waiting for The next day, Vijay and Mala proceed to Lisbon where they are met by Deepchand (Iftekhar).

 

Back in Rome, Romesh, Shabnam and Jai have just arrived to be met by Marconi. They are staying at the same hotel that Vijay and Mala stayed in the previous day. And the hotel clerk, mistaking Jai for Vijay, passes on a message that has come for the latter. Up in their hotel room, when Jai calls the agent, he is told that there is a change in plans - the deal will now be on the 19th, not the 20th. He is sending a man to give 'Vijay' the money; the meeting will be at the Colosseum. 

That evening, Jai proceeds to the Colosseum, meets the police agent, receives the money, and then, to his shock and horror, Marconi shoots the man. He and Romesh inform Jai that if he betrays them, then the murder (and robbery) will be foisted on him. Jai has no other recourse but to proceed according to their diktats. However, that night, he tries to coerce Shabnam into revealing all. 

His contempt sears her. But she is resourceful enough to remind him that his passport is still with Romesh. How is he going to escape without it? 

Back in Lisbon, Vijay is getting more and more entangled with Mala. She is not loath to tell him, or show him, just how much she loves him. And Vijay's conscience begins to trouble him.

 

Besides, he is no closer to finding out who Jai really is. That night, he calls the agent in Rome again, and is shocked to find that not only has his doppelganger taken the money, but has also apparently murdered the courier. The agent asks him to come to Rome - immediately. Vijay leaves, leaving behind a note for Mala - confessing that he is not the right Jai.

Jai, on the other hand, is on his way to Venice, accompanied by Marconi, Romesh and Shabnam. He points out to the others that Sethi knows them; if he sees Jai with Romesh and Marconi, the deal will fall through. Romesh agrees; he decides that Jai and Shabnam should stay at one hotel, while he and Marconi will stay at another.

Jai is under no delusion - he knows that Romesh has a bullet waiting for him. But Shabnam assures him that she will ensure his freedom. Jai doesn't believe her, but she not only tells him about the truth about the papers that he is supposed to get back from Sethi, but also returns his passport. Jai is touched but he still cannot bring himself to believe her.

However, as the day passes, it is clear not only to Jai, but also to Romesh, who is watching from afar, that she loves him dearly. 

And onwards to the casino, where 'Delhi Friend' is to meet Sethi to collect the papers and the tape. Unfortunately for Vijay, he is still in Rome, while Jai is already in place in Venice. The deal is struck with the wrong man. And Sethi is double-crossed by, as he thinks, Vijay. 

So what is in store for the real Vijay when he reaches Venice? Sethi is baying for his blood. Romesh and Marconi are chasing after Jai who has given them a slip - or has he? What will happen to Shabnam now that Jai has gone away? Or to Mala, who is pining after Vijay? Tighten your seatbelts, because from here on, there is a chase a minute - on boats, in cars, on trains... there are murders, time bombs, disguises, sibling unmasking, kidnapping, ransom notes... throw in some emotion, some romance, a comedy scene that mercifully doesn't last too long, major action Hindi fillum style, Shetty in blackface, and lots and lots of fisticuffs in a finale that is perfectly in keeping with all the masala goodness that has gone before. All in all, it's a blast!

The Great Gambler takes you on a thrilling ride through the streets of India, Cairo, Rome, Lisbon, Amsterdam and Venice. And instead of using these exotic locales as an excuse for songs, here, we see the plot develop very organically in these locations. A re-watch didn't bore me - there are enough twists to keep you hooked onto the action, and the story, convoluted though it is, grabs your attention from the first scene. Samanta is particularly good in establishing Jai's credentials within two scenes. It might not be the best Bachchan film in its genre, but it definitely packs a huge amount of entertainment, and believe me, that is saying a lot. 

For once, the separated twin brothers do not get a song or a tattoo or a birthmark to recognise each other. They are more believably identified by a family friend. (Shakti Samanta does not seem to believe in one of the most important canons of missing siblings. Even in China Town, the separated siblings had to depend on their mother to inform them of their shared brotherhood.) Secondly, turning the trope even more on its head, both brothers look, sound and act the same - they don't have any identifying marks to let even the audience know who is who. That leads to a certain amount of confusion as to whether we are watching Jai or Vijay-as-Jai onscreen. In that sense, Samanta invites us to guess quite as much as the characters. And yes, the sister is neither raped nor murdered. Nor does she fall in love with one of the villains who use her to get to the brothers. (Are we sure this is really a masala?) 

What is even better is the role of the heroine/vamp. Talk about subversion. Helen, who is automatically slotted into the role of vamp, gets her comeuppance quite soon into the film. (She only has a cameo here, not even a song.) And like in Don, Zeenat steps into the bad girl's shoes. By all the trusted foundations of masala cinema, a woman who is one man's girlfriend, who doesn't mind being part-criminal, is quite unconcerned when a man is murdered in front of her, who betrays the hero, and is plotting against the security of the country, should come to a bad end. She certainly does not deserve a chance at happiness. Not so in this film. Zeenat, who gets a meatier role than Neetu Singh, the regulation heroine (who gets only one song to Zeenat's three), not only falls in love with two men, but gets to redeem herself and have her own happy ending. What is even more of a sock in the jaw of patriarchal morality is that the hero loves and accepts her - without casting aspersions on her moral character, or even bothering about the inconvenient fact that she had a previous lover. Neither does she apologise for her past. This matter-of-fact, and mature treatment of a masala romance was refreshing, to say the least! 

The villains were equally interesting. Veteran Utpal Dutt was in full form as the suave chief, who has a passion for humming songs even while dispatching his men to kingdom come. Prem Chopra's Romesh was a very nuanced character. A villain who not only has a girlfriend whom he loves, he also has the emotional bandwidth to not quite like the fact that his boss wants to engage her in the vile business of pretending to love another man. He is protective of her, is frustrated by her growing closeness to Jai, and is broken-hearted at her final betrayal. He actually gets to show those emotions, and it moves him from being a cardboard cut-out to a multi-dimensional character of his own. And Prem Chopra does a wonderful job. 

I'm afraid I giggled at Samanta regular, Sujit Kumar. His Marconi was a blast, with the affected Hindi, and the mannerisms. I must confess that he added greatly to the fun of watching the film. He definitely was not boring. Roopesh Kumar fulfilled the role of the serious villain - and rather well, at that. Betrayed by his own gang, and looking for revenge, he infused his character with the right amount of gravitas. 

So, was it all sunshine and roses? Nope. There were enough unintentionally hilarious moments like the graphics that describe the super-secret K2 weapon. (Yes, really. Apparently, the Indian government could only get the services of a cartoonist to compose the graphics. On second thoughts, a real cartoonist might have done a better job.)

 

No one is really sure what exactly the K2 weapon is, either, if you listen to the various descriptions of the same - nuclear weapon, atomic weapon, laser, rays... Then there is a time bomb that the villains set to explode 45 minutes later, thus giving one of the heroes enough and more time to rescue everybody. For some reason, the time bomb looked like a milk bottle - a green milk bottle. (I laughed outright. It was such a silly scene.)

 

The plot, of course, like all good masala plots depends a lot on coincidences. Identical twins, the serendipitous twists that put them in the same geographical area, etc. What works is that the action is suitably rapid, and doesn't leave you time to think - or get bored. RD's music wasn't the greatest, with Do lafzon ki hai probably being the only good tune there was. But he scored big time with the background music that complemented all the testosterone-driven action.

 

But do watch it - for the smouldering chemistry between Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman, for the insane entertainment value, for some great action. It is certainly paisa vasool, and more one cannot ask from a masala film.

For trivia lovers: 

• The Italian stanzas in Do lafzon ki, shot on a gondola in Venice, is sung by Sharad Kumar. For those who are wondering who he is, he played the role of Zeenat Aman's brother in Don.   
• Producer Boney Kapoor stepped in as Amitabh Bachchan's double.
• And I save the best for the last. IMDB informs me that Shakti Samanta had initially announced this film in 1967 - with Shammi Kapoor!