Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) Poster

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8/10
A classic in the league of Marx Brothers
agrawalmannu9 October 2006
It seems Ganguli brothers were a huge fan of Marx Brothers Movies and that's what their source of inspiration was when they made "Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi". But the inspiration is limited only to the idea of all three brothers acting in a musical and a comical thriller. The movie is a showcase of talents of ever talented brothers Ashok Kumar, Anup Kumar and specifically Kishore Kumar. Watch him singing melodious "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi si", naughty "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka", hilarious "Paanch Rupaiya Barah Aana" or mad cap "Hum The Woh Thi". If there ever was a true all rounder in Indian Cinema, it was the Singer, Composer, Writer, Director and Actor Kishore Kumar and arguably he is the only Genius that bollywood has ever produced. Almost 20 years now that he died of a heart attack but you can still see his style reverberating amongst the new generation of performers.
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9/10
All time super classic hilarious movie which does not go out of style
hnrastogi2 September 2012
I need not repeat what very aptly the 3 above reviewers: Birdoberoi,Manoj Agrawal & Headley Lamar wrote, great reviews. I will write something to add a zing to it. The movie is funny and added a lot by super acting of Madhubala. The dialogues by G. Moonis and Ramesh Pant create excellent situation. S. D. Burman arranged the music very beautifully to the lyrics of Majrooh Sultanpuri. All 3 brothers were good in their roles but the movie would not have been the biggest box office hit of 1958 without Madhubala. If you remove 5 following references the movie would have been outright failure, just as Kishore wanted it to be, a FLOP (so he could take losses and reduce the taxes he owed to Govt., but Fate had other plans!): 1. Rain soaked Madhubala's visit to Mohan Garage at midnight, a 10 or more minutes of her being drenched in wet clothes. 2. Kishore's dream while asleep in Madhubala's car and singing "5 Rupaiya" 3. Kishore wakes up and finds way in to Madhubala's bedroom, she is asleep in night suit then the funny scuffle that follows, excellent natural acting by Madhubala. 4.Madhubala taking Kishore out for picnic and they sing "Haal kaisa hai janab" 5. Madhubala stalling the villain and singing "Ruk jao na ji". Point in case.It is quintessentially her performance that brought such monumental success to the movie. Just a note if you don't know it contrary to the movie story where Madhubala likes Mannu(Kishore)in reality during the shooting our Kishore da fell head over heels for Madhubala and it is said he even threatened to commit suicide if she won't marry him (even though he was already married, so eccentric was our Kishore da). The chemistry between the two in the movie is incredible where he plays naive yet likes her company. It is a classic movie and even though in Black & white but will never get old. A very clean movie a delight for next 10 generations to come.
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7/10
Landmark Hindi film pairing the Ganguly Brothers with the Two Most Beautiful Hindi Film Actresses
slazenger_72 September 2016
Saw this film for the 2nd time after a very long gap. The DVD print was very sharp and that always helps. CKNG is a landmark Hindi film for 2 reasons: (1) It is the only Hindi film which starred all 3 Kumar brothers (real family name Ganguly). (2) It paired the 2 most beautiful actresses of all time in the history of Hindi cinema--Veena (real name Tajour Sultana) & Madhubala (real name Mumtaz Jehan Dehlavi); note that this pairing was as adults. Madhubala did appear as a child actress in a 1946 film in which Veena starred. With all due consideration that old time actress Veena was in disheveled make-up for most all of her scenes, Veena's stunning beauty still managed to break through. Only at the last scene of this wacky comedy, do the viewers get to see Veena all neat and prim. Even so, it is apparent that the filmmakers did not go all out to showcase Veena's full beauty via the most suitable make-up and hairstyle befitting her. Film director Satyen Bose must have been well aware of the Marx Brothers, the Three Stooges, and the forgotten Ritz Brothers when he directed this fare. As crazy and talented as Kishore Kumar was on screen, there were generations of Indian filmgoers who for the life of them could never understand how the gorgeous Madhubala ever married him of all the people in the world. It was like gorgeous Ava Gardner marrying Mickey Rooney in the early 1940s...Truly jaw-dropping. Of the 3 brothers, only Ashok Kumar looked somewhat like a matinée idol in his youth. Let's face the facts, Anoop and Kishore looked like cartoons...And on occasion, acted like cartoons. But for this film, it was right on the money. Speaking of money, this film was the 2nd highest grossing Hindi film of 1958. Where this film fell short is in the backdrop of the romance of Ashok's Brijmohan and Veena's Kamini. That was a very promising subplot which certainly should have been given a far superior treatment than it was. The same can be said of the romantic subplot of Anoop's Jagmohan and Sahira's Sheela. Veteran screen great K. N. Singh provides a powerful, menacing presence in this movie as the main heavy. Singh was reunited in this film with his HUMAYUN co-stars Ashok Kumar & Veena, the 1945 Mehboob Khan epic. Singh was even more menacing here than he was in that historical drama. This movie most certainly had the potential of being an all time classic Hindi film comedy but ended up falling short of it. Nevertheless, it is a film that must be viewed at least once by fans of Hindi films.
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10/10
One true classic!
birdoberoi7 March 2004
This is a true classic! Simple story, wonderful music, great acting, brilliant cast and phenomenally hilarious!!!

Three brothers (brothers in real life too) manage a car repairshop, the eldest (Ashok Kumar) being a misogynist because he was jilted once. Hence, he does not want his younger, and in his eyes, naive brothers to go after women. So, he stops them from any female contact whatsoever. But the inevitable happens, and they fall in love one after the other. What ensues is all sorts of hilarious situations - an enormously funny boxing match (between the eldest and the youngest brother, played brilliantly by Kishore Kumar) where the referee (Anup Kumar playing the middle brother) gets knocked out, crazy detective routines, an out of this world car race and the typical climax - a fight sequence.

This movie stands tall amongst the greatest comedies ever, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Singin' in the Rain, Modern Times etc. Shows you that you do not need to get obscene or profane to get laughs! And believe me, this one gives you more laughs than you can handle!!!
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10/10
O Mannu Tera Hua ab Mera Kya Hoga!!
HeadleyLamarr26 August 2007
The Ganguly brothers came together for this hilarious venture. This story of a misogynist older brother (Ashok Kumar), an inept and sycophantic middle brother (Anup Kumar), and a simple yet suave younger brother (Kishore Kumar) will have you in stitches. Directed by Satyan Bose, the film had a plump and cute Madhubala in the lead.

I love Ashok Kumar as the older brother who is trying to keep his brothers away from all contact with women, Kishore as the younger brother who is falling for a woman who came to the car repair garage late one night, but most of all I find Anup Kumar incomparable as the middle brother who veers from side to side, unable to take a stand. He was a comic genius in this film. O Mannu Tera Hua Ab Mera Kya Hoga!!! LOL! Sachin Dev Burman spun magic in the songs that were situationally perfect and often hilarious! Ek Ladki Bheego Bhaagi Si was super melodious. The fantasy number Main Sitaron Kaa Tarana had Madhubala in a classical dance garb carrying a black purse! Hal Kaisa Hai Zanab Kaa, and Hum The Woh Thi were so cute. There was an excellent Mujra by the duo of Helen and Cuckoo, in which you can see Helen excel in a rare classical number.

The story was interesting, acting great by all the actors. I consider a pick me up kind of film and watch it and laugh at it any number of times. If you have not yet seen it what are you waiting for?
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10/10
OLD is GOLD
manishguptavg4 September 2019
My words can't express my feelings about this move
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10/10
Wonderfully entertaining, & frankly, a must-see classic!
I_Ailurophile4 February 2023
I can understand why Indian films at large don't appeal to all comers; few are those that aren't a total spectacle of song, dance, life, and resplendent color, full of fun and heart and a far cry from Hollywood conventions. Even British or American musicals comport themselves very differently from Indian musicals (where the tunes are woven into the tale more organically). I pity those that discount the style so readily, though, for cinema of the subcontinent is overflowing with excellence that's sorely underappreciated elsewhere around the globe. Some titles may have an easier time than others in bridging the gap between far-flung industries - and I dare say this is one of them. 'Chalti ka naam gaadi' is a Hindi picture through and through, yet I recognize sensibilities herein that other audiences will perhaps be more readily familiar with. And no matter how one wishes to break it down, it's a blast!

Superficially aided by the black and white cinematography in this 1958 film, there are traces here of film-making hearkening back to Hollywood flicks in the first half of the twentieth century. The situational humor, sight gags, and character dynamics recall comedies (especially romantic comedies) from the 20s, 30s, or 40s, just as the more tense and suspenseful parts of the plot reflect crime thrillers from the same timeframe. Then, too, anyone familiar with musicals of the 30s or 40s will surely feel right at home with the numbers here. The story, furthermore, is ripe for the telling and carries echoes of domestic fare - a tale of chance meetings blossoming into love, with ne'er-do-well elements injecting further (and darker) drama into the narrative. With all this having been said, let there be no mistake that firstly, all these facets bear distinct flavors of Hindi cinema, and second, from one to the next they're all superb! Songwriters S. D. Burman, R. D. Burman, and Jaidev give us light, enticing melodies, while Majrooh Sultanpuri's lyrics are just as warm and inviting; the choreography is less extravagant, perhaps, than in other Indian features, yet just as lovely. Ramesh Pant and Gobind Moonis' screenplay is a delight, filled with relatable characters, strong scene writing, and robust notes of comedy, drama, and romance that complement each other perfectly.

Not to be counted out, the production design and art direction are fetching, and the costume design and hair and makeup work are excellent. Meanwhile, the whole cast is a joy, giving performances of marvelous spirit that by themselves are worth checking this out. Kumar brothers Ashok, Anoop, and especially Kishore, three of a kind, are a pleasure to watch with the dynamics between them alone, sometimes reminding of The Three Stooges. Starring opposite, Madhubala is irrepressibly charming with the nuance she demonstrates as Renu, surely the true star of 'Chalti ka naam gaadi.' And of course this is hardly to count out the supporting cast, with Sahira, S. N. Banerjee, Sajjan, and others lighting up the screen with their presence. Under the skilled direction of filmmaker Satyen Bose, the end result of all this is a wonderfully entertaining movie that's as funny, absorbing, and heartwarming as any comparable title from any time or place. While some aspects are undeniably common in one capacity or another, such incidence is in no way a mark against the feature, but only assurance that all viewers will find something to like, and something to warm them to what Bose's film has to offer.

I expected a good time when I sat to watch; rare have been those Indian movies that I've not enjoyed. Still I'm roundly impressed, and so very, very pleased with how fun this is. I could easily see 'Chalti ka naam gaadi' being adapted for other cultures, and at the same time this is a splendid, discretely Hindi picture all its own. Acting, writing, direction, song and dance, work behind the scenes - everyone involved made fantastic contributions to bring this production to life; incredibly, three hours don't feel like they're nearly long enough for how terrific it is, and extraordinarily well-balanced. Once more, I do appreciate why works like this don't appeal equally to all audiences, yet this is so tremendously entertaining that I'm hard-pressed not to give a blanket recommendation for one and all. Wherever you have a chance to watch 'Chalti ka naam gaadi,' this is well worth your time!
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7/10
Superb Comedy
silvan-desouza18 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
There are some films which surprise not only us, but also the filmmakers with it's success. This is one such film which was made by Kishore thinking it will flop and he will show losses in his income but it worked. The film is a superb comedy involving 3 Brothers played by real brothers Ashok,Kishore and Anoop Kumar. Ashok Kumar detests women and forces his brothers to stay away from them, however Kishore one day meets Madhubala who comes to repair her car in midnight, they fall in love later after fighting. The film is superb and makes you laugh throughout. There are several funny scenes like Kishore entering Madhu's house,also their convo is funny, Anoop going to repair their car and getting nervous around women and other stuff. There are also villains thrown in played by KN Singh which ends in a fight scene, but yet things are kept funny.

Direction is superb Music became a rage,be it Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si, Hum Thi Woh The, Haal Kaisa Hai sung by Kishore or the famous Babu Samjho Ishaare All are perfectly picturised too Camera-work is good,The film is in black and white

All 3 Brothers Kishore,Ashok and Anoop are superb, Kishore gets the lead and he does a superb job, I always wonder why he didn't go ahead with his acting career as he was such a brilliant actor Madhubala is superb in her role,Ashok Kumar is superb too,Anoop Kumar is hilarious,K.N.Singh is good, rest are okay
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9/10
The Golden days of Indian cinemas
sauravjoshi8521 May 2021
Chalti ka naam Gaadi is a musical romantic comedy movie directed by Late Satyen Bose and stars Late Ashok Kumar, Late Madhubala, Late Anoop Kumar, Late Kishore Kumar, Late K. N. Singh, Late Mohan Choti and Late Sajjan.

This movie which is now considered as one of the cult classic of Indian cinema is known for it's mesmerizing music which is still very much popular among us the masses and is regularly heard of and for it's impeccable coming timings and above all the great acting by all the characters.

The movie is based on the life of three brothers who are women hater and plans for lifelong bachelorhood until two of them falls in love and this leads to hilariously funny situations.

Acting is superb and Ashok Kumar is a bouquet of talent when it comes to acting, he is one of the most versatile actors Indian cinema has ever produced, Madhubala is an eternal beauty and I always get awestruck whenever she appears on-screen, she is a perfect example of beauty with talent, Kishore Kumar was also fantastic he had got the most screen time and he will always make you giggle, Anoop Kumar never tasted the success like his elder and younger brother but in this movie he was also spot on with his comic timings, K. N. Singh a well known actor mostly portraying Villainous role was superb in his character, Sajjan and Mohan Choti make their presence felt in the movie.

Screenplay is evenly paced and will keep a constant smile on your face with laughter and giggles on regular intervals which is beautifully supported by mesmerizing music. Climax of the movie is funny and predictably good as most of the movies of those era used to have almost the similar endings.

Overall this is a light hearted, feel good comedy movie which can be seen with the entire family. A must watch.
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7/10
Engaging first half
jaysshukla13 June 2021
The movie's theme was hinted in the first scene itself. It was always clear that it was going to be the story of the three brothers who would try their best to keep distance from the ladies but would somehow get stuck in the romantic scenarios. This was clearly a good opening for the comedy and the first half of the movie is as satisfying as it could get. Not only does it manage to generate some good laughter but the build up for the plot was also excellent. It was also interesting how the multiple circumstances were connected in order to reach the conclusion. Most of the songs are played in the first half itself and even though almost everytime a random scene suddenly turns into a song sequence, the songs do not seem misplaced by any means. They are all placed in accordance with the characters' situations. The soundtrack of this movie deserves the popularity it has. Almost all songs are catchy and never get old. Classic in true sense.

The quality declines in the second half though. Most of the comedy scenes in the second half either felt outdated or were pretty lame. The movie certainly wasn't as humourous as it felt in the first half. The villains too were one-dimensional and the plot progression too felt ordinary.

What kept this movie from being one time watch was the brilliant characterization of all the main characters. Their motivation and the character development were brilliantly done and their goofiness was really good to watch.
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10/10
A perfect family entertainer
disharma-2413129 May 2023
1958 Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi", classic romantic comedy film is directed by Satyen Bose and produced by Kishore Kumar. He also starred alongside his real-life brothers Ashok Kumar and Anoop Kumar. The movie revolves around the story of three brothers who run an auto repair shop and have a deep passion for cars.

The film is known for its light-hearted and entertaining storyline, filled with humor, romance, and memorable songs. Kishore Kumar's comic timing and his chemistry with his brothers make the movie a delightful watch. The film also features Madhubala as the leading lady, adding a touch of romance to the plot.

One of the highlights of "Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi" is its music, composed by S. D. Burman, with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The film's songs, including the iconic "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhagi Si" and "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka," became immensely popular and continue to be cherished by audiences even today.

The film's screenplay keeps the viewers engaged throughout, with a perfect balance of comedy, drama, and romance. The interactions between the characters, especially the three brothers, create many humorous moments and laughter. The film's light-hearted tone and entertaining narrative make it a perfect family entertainer.

Overall, "Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi" is a timeless classic that continues to be loved by audiences. With its engaging storyline, memorable performances, and soulful music, it has secured its place as one of the iconic comedy films in Indian cinema. If you enjoy classic Bollywood films with a touch of comedy, romance, and fantastic songs, this movie is a must-watch.
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7/10
Three brothers... triple fun!!!
hikerhetav28 February 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This was a good movie overall. I would not say a classic comedy flick but still it manages to keep you cool, light and calm throughout and after the movie too. Story is pretty simple and theme is concentrated quite good. It's like a 'commedy of less errors' but it will keep your humor nerves fresh and healthy. The actors are pretty good and have acted really good. Actress Madhubala may not be remembered for this movie but who cares? Such storyline expects even less of what she had acted. Again, three brothers in the film shown were brothers in real life too. This makes the chemistry even more strong and hence character development is much good. The only problem comes in front of a patron is the movie duration which is overly ling of almost 165 minutes. But if you can manage your mind stay stable with every little comedy scene at regular intervals, you are through with the movie and that too with a good time. When Bollywood was making too emotional films, such comedy movies were keen to take movie fans enjoy their interest. Enjoyable flick with family for one time sure.
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3/10
If this was a great Bollywood movie, it was wasted on this American
michaelescher20 December 2006
I suppose that much of what I found hard to watch about this film was due to the cultural differences between what I find to be entertaining and what the expectations of a Bollywood aficionado would be. For one thing, the song and dance numbers were tremendously over-long and primitive in execution and the glue that held them together (the story) wasn't at all compelling.

I'm sure that there were funny bits that were lost on me since I didn't speak the language, but musicals and comedic films from other languages including Hong Kong action films and Japanese comedies work just fine for me.

And I was looking for the similarities to the Marx Brothers mentioned in previous comments about the film. I didn't see it with the exception of the conceit that the three main characters were brothers. In fact, the relationship that they had reminded me more of the Three Stooges rather than the Marx Brothers.

Oh, and whomever released this on DVD made it so the viewer had to sit through about fifteen advertisements for their other DVD releases. I can understand the average of four trailers on a DVD but this was ridiculous.
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9/10
Very well made movie
hds-2405520 September 2020
This is a three hour long light hearted story of three brothers. The film has a good storyline and is not a collection of comic situations. This has made the movie last these 60 years. The director stcks to the screenplay, the actors adhere to their director. The music lifts the movie A must watch.
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10/10
Cult & Classic Movie
prashantkumar-8855410 December 2021
It's a masterpiece of Indian Cinema . Music is astounding. Specially Ek ladki Bheegi Bhagi Si & Haal Kya hai janaab ka .

A must watch movie from the golden days of Indian Hindi Cinema .
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10/10
All three Kumars, Madhubala and the music.. Total classic
cseabhi27 May 2021
It's the story of three brothers Brijmohan(Ashok Kumar) is the eldest, Manu(Kishore Kumar) and Jaggu(Anoop Kumar). They run a car repair center. Brijmohan hates women because of a betryal and does not want him or his brother to go after any women. But the two brother Manu and Jaggu falls in love and the situation changes. Brijmohan later realizes the reason why the girl betryed him and there is twist in the movie.

Satyen Bose has done a great job in providing a wholesome entertainer. A classic comedy which is enjoyable no matter how many times you are watching it. There is perfect mix of emotions, songs, comic timings and the tension.

Kishore Kumar was fun to watch and so was Madhubala. Two of them looked good together and it was so fun and sweet to watch their scene on screen. Comic timing of Kishore and Anoop Kumar was really great. Even Ashok Kumar who is known for serious role, amazed me in the movie.

And the music. Completely amazing. Every song of the movie is a classic gem and its just fascinating how the songs has been picturized. It actually carry forward the script.

The three brothers Ashok, Anoop and Kishore Kumar made this movie a timeless classic. For any one who loves hindi cinema, this is an absolute watch. A not to be missed film.
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