Taxi Driver (1954) :
Brief Review -
Dev Anand and his wife Kalpana Kartik's chemistry saves Chetan Anand's run-of-the-mill romantic drama. There is one trivia about this film that some people know already, but still, I'd like to share it again. Dev Anand and Kalpana were married during the lunch break while shooting for Taxi Driver in 1954. Now, that's an interesting one. Generally as well as logically. Their chemistry in the film showcases the love they share for each other, and that's the best thing about this film. Chetan Anand's Taxi Driver is a typical romantic drama with mainstream commercial elements, and most of them are too predictable. Taxi Driver wasn't supposed to be a philosophical film or a cult film at all, so all it does is justify its audience-friendly vision. Romance, drama, thrill, love triangle, action, happy ending, etc. Used to be the essential elements of any Hit film of that time, and Taxi Driver runs on the same fuel. Mangal is a taxi driver who enjoys his typical daily life that includes work, drinking, and a little bit of flirting with a club singer, Sylvie. One odd night, he saves Mala from two hoodlums and then takes her home. Both fall in love, but Mangal has to leave Mala for her own good. Dev Anand's Mangal is a regular street-type fella with no philosophies or principles in life. That's why he fails to generate sympathy. Surprisingly, Sylvie's character comes out as a clever and kind one, and you simply just can't hate her. Dev's chemistry with Kalpana is superb. Not just the romance, but they have some good comic and emotional scenes too. That scene when he transforms Mala into a male cleaner and the one when he leaves her outside Ratanlal's house is fantastic. I was expecting an intellectual climax, but Chetan Sir chose the commercial and ordinary way. Overall, a good flick for its time, but doesn't do anything outside of that.
RATING - 6.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Dev Anand and his wife Kalpana Kartik's chemistry saves Chetan Anand's run-of-the-mill romantic drama. There is one trivia about this film that some people know already, but still, I'd like to share it again. Dev Anand and Kalpana were married during the lunch break while shooting for Taxi Driver in 1954. Now, that's an interesting one. Generally as well as logically. Their chemistry in the film showcases the love they share for each other, and that's the best thing about this film. Chetan Anand's Taxi Driver is a typical romantic drama with mainstream commercial elements, and most of them are too predictable. Taxi Driver wasn't supposed to be a philosophical film or a cult film at all, so all it does is justify its audience-friendly vision. Romance, drama, thrill, love triangle, action, happy ending, etc. Used to be the essential elements of any Hit film of that time, and Taxi Driver runs on the same fuel. Mangal is a taxi driver who enjoys his typical daily life that includes work, drinking, and a little bit of flirting with a club singer, Sylvie. One odd night, he saves Mala from two hoodlums and then takes her home. Both fall in love, but Mangal has to leave Mala for her own good. Dev Anand's Mangal is a regular street-type fella with no philosophies or principles in life. That's why he fails to generate sympathy. Surprisingly, Sylvie's character comes out as a clever and kind one, and you simply just can't hate her. Dev's chemistry with Kalpana is superb. Not just the romance, but they have some good comic and emotional scenes too. That scene when he transforms Mala into a male cleaner and the one when he leaves her outside Ratanlal's house is fantastic. I was expecting an intellectual climax, but Chetan Sir chose the commercial and ordinary way. Overall, a good flick for its time, but doesn't do anything outside of that.
RATING - 6.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.