Dial A for Aitbaar

22.3.1985

37 Years of Dial A for AITBAAR

( Adapted from Dial M for Murder )

Aitbaar is the story of Neha (Dimple Kapadia) who loves a singer – Saagar (Suresh Oberoi) but finding him as not prepared to marry her immediately, she under pressure gets married to a Tennis player /playboy– Jaideep (Raj Babbar) according to the wish of her father. But her married life proves no better than a nightmare for her. Aggrieved due to the ill-treatment meted out to her by her husband, she is about to commit suicide when suddenly she comes across Saagar again. Immediately thereafter, an unexpected but apparently joyful twist arrives in the tale of her life when she finds her husband as transforming himself for the better. She is extremely happy for the welcome change in him and the consequential pleasant change in her life but her happiness proves to be short-lived when a letter of Saagar that he had written to her, gets stolen from her purse and then someone blackmails her on the basis of that. She pays the demanded money to the blackmailer but does not get the letter back. One day a stranger known as Vikramjeet (Sharat Saxena) breaks into her house and tries to kill her but loses his own life in her hands. Neha is arrested, tried and awarded death-penalty for the crime because it is proved in the court that she has deliberately killed Vikramjeet. However police inspector – Barua (Danny ) smells a conspiracy against Neha in the chain of events that has taken place and starts re-examining the facts silently. And before Neha is executed, he is able to unearth the conspiracy and unmask the conspirator. He only tells (now proved innocent) Neha how a perfect murder had been planned to eliminate her, how it backfired, how the conspirator cashed even the unplanned result of his conspiracy to his advantage and how the destiny ensured poetic justice leading to her exoneration.

( No Spoilers)

Aitbaar is an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Director Mukul Anand has been able to indianize the classic work of Alfred Hitchcock ( Dial M for Murder) very well and present a highly entertaining and virtually spellbinding movie for the Indian audience. Nowhere the story slackens and nowhere any boredom creeps in. It’s a brilliant drama in which there is hardly any suspense for the viewer, nevertheless there is no dearth of curiosity for him. It’s the sheer brilliance of the story idea as well as its proficient execution that the viewer cannot leave the movie in between even for a single minute. 

Tight and speedy screenplay has been ably supported by the power-packed performances of the principal characters and the melodious and meaningful songs are the icing on the cake. Resultantly, the overall impact of the film is just superb.All the four principal actors – Raj Babbar, Suresh Oberoi, Dimple Kapadia and Danny have performed excellently. However if I have to choose the best performer, I will select the coughing but cunning police inspector – Danny for the honour. And needless to mention, Dimple looks very pretty and emotes very well and is the central focus of the film.

Bappi Lahiri has composed laudable melodies and music for this movie with the meaningful lyrics being penned by Hasan Kamaal. Two songs out of total four, are unforgettable. Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezaar Aaj Bhi Hai, sung by Bhupinder and Asha, is one of the best Bollywood Ghazals of all times. However my liking is even more for the Bhupinder-Asha duet – Aawaaz Di Hai Aaj Ek Nazar Ne Ya Hai Ye Dil Ko Gumaan.

There is Leena Das with a classical cabaret Tum aur main aur yeh bekhudi which has Asha Bhonsle at her seductive best

Producer Romesh Sharma and 

Director Mukul Anand have nowhere compromised with the production value or quality of the movie. Cinematography is brilliant, editing is par excellence and all the other significant aspects of the movie have also been taken care of very well.

If you have not seen "Aitbaar", do so right away. I promise you that you will not regret it.

The same has been adapted into a Marathi Drama aptly titled " A Perfect Murder".

I have seen all 3 and beleive me they are all worth the time and money spent.