Seven on Seven

Review By Kamal K Performances, Songs, music and comedy were great. Suprise element was Amitabh as Babu and performance of Ranjeeta. Yet another Superhit movie of Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini Jodi. Apart from this movie they gave Superhit movies like Sholay, Gehri Chaal, Desh Premee, Naseeb, Baghban, Nastik and Trishul. Satte Pe Satta is must watch.

Bollywood has always ripped off, sorry paid homage to Hollywood films and here its the turn of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers to get the Bollywood treatment. Amitabh Bachchan still in his pomp plays Ravi the more educated and cultured eldest brother. The other brothers are what might be termed as 'junglee' living in the jungle. When Ravi gets married his wife Indu sets about straightening the brothers and getting them spruced up and tidied up.Soon the brothers are also looking to get hitched. Of course Bollywood films have long running time and in amongst the singing and the dancing, there has to be a dastardly villain. The second half of the film introduces a conspiracy plot line. Indu's wheelchair bound friend is an orphan under the care of her uncle played by Bollywood's favourite bad guy Amjad Khan who wants her money. Khan hire an ex-con Babu (Amitabh Bachchan in a dual role) who kidnaps Ravi and enters the house impersonating Ravi and hopefully do away with Khan's niece. The thriller element sits uneasily with the first part of the film but this is how the Bollywood formula works. The 'seven brothers' part is a lot of fun, this is a good showcase of Bollywood circa early 1980s and of course a chance to see a younger Amitabh, then the equivalent of Robert Redford/Paul Newman in India. This film was released just before he had a serious health issue and I believe he never reached the height of his popularity after he recovered.

Satte Pe Satta was another hit of Amitabh Bachchan and perhaps his only collaboration with Raj Sippy. The film was a remake of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. The film had a good ensemble cast of Amitabh, Shakti Kapoor, Kanwaljet, Paintal,Sudhir.etc The first half is a riot at many places like the fights between the brothers, Amitabh-Hema romance till the wedding. The Babu twist too is well handled, the drunk scene which Amitabh didn't dub for was simply superb, while the emotional scenes between brothers is also well handled, the end though being filmy works well for it's time Direction by Raj Sippy is good Music by RD Burman is magical, Dilbar Mere by Kishore is superb, Pyaar Humein by Kishore and an array of singers is fab, ditto for Dukki pe Dukki ho, Mausam Mastana is good too, Pariyon ka Mela Hai and Zindagi Milke Bitayenge are also fab Amitabh Bachchan is a natural in both roles, he portrays both the roles equally well, for the gangster's role he is given grey in his hair and also has lenses to add for the role, his expressions when he tries to kill the girl is simply fab, Annete a singer from RD Burman's troupe used to gargle to make the sound used when Babu enters which is also used by Raj Sippy in Andar Bahar(1984). Hema Malini(was pregnant during the making) is superb and her comic timing is fab as always. Kanwaljeet, Paintal, Sudhir, Shakti Kapoor all are superb Amjad Khan is as usual,Ranjeeta Kaur and others are good too

That's Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, for you in Hindi ! If Amitabh, and Hema Malini were not there in the lead role, this movie, perhaps would have fallen flat on it's nose ! But it's the dual role of Amitabh, one as a simpleton, hard-working, duty-conscious, loving brother, and the other, a contract killer at that ! Unable to manage his unruly, filthy, and lazy seven brothers, now what was Family Planning workers were doing all this time , one may wonder ? Amitabh also manages to win the love of a nurse, played by Hema, and gets her into marrying him, finally, though she is negative in the beginning, and brings her to his farm house ! She is hardly aware, of what's in store for her ! Those grown-up in age, but little kids in behavior , one more than half-a - dozen brothers, she is practically in tears ! But perhaps it's her profession, which comes to her rescue, while making these useless young men, into clean, neat, tidy, and smart fellows ! Amitabh is also surprised at this make-over, and loves his wife even more ! And then there is a twist ! our real hero is replaced by a duplicate, who has only the color of his eyes different than the original one ! and that can be managed,by the contact lenses, isn't it ? Then follow all the essential ingredients of a block buster ! The confusion, the torture by the villain, and the climax ! Ranjeeta, that talented actress, who played her first role as Laila, with Rishi kapur, enacts a handicapped , rich girl ! Amzad Khan is good as her uncle, who wants to kill her in an organized accident, and swallow her wealth ! The choreography is good, all have done their parts quite well, and the plot line includes some moments, when the replaced hero does not take the advantage of his position ! But some how, the movie did not make that well on the box ! Perhaps, the Indian audience could not digest the very concept of a young , married woman , playing elder sister to such grown up boys, and being so close to them, physically as well, to even make them bathe ! Though this is some thing different than the usual sing and dance situations, perhaps the number seven should not have been copied to such an extent ! If you sit and enjoy this one, without remembering the original, go ahead, you will not repent , after all, there is Amitabh in it !

Satte pe satte is a copy of Seven brides for seven brothers apparently, but who cares. I have not seen the Hollywood version so I cant comment on which is better. Almost 55% of Bollywood films are borrowed from Hollywood so its no surprise. This is an amazing movie that is so funny and entertaining with added thrills. Amitabh Bachchan is the superstar of Cinema and acts superbly in this movie. Hema Malini is quite fun in this movie and acts well as usual. The remaining six brothers acted alright, the only one I know is Shakti Kapoor who is popular. Amjad Khan is the villain in this movie and as usual the veteran does a good job. The movie has some lovely music baring Mausam Mastana, Dukki pe Dukki and Pyar hume being the best. This is a movie that should appeal to all audiences because its entertaining.

If you asked any of the great Bollywood actors who worked in this film whether or not it was the most fun project of their lives, they'd probably all answer "yes". Adapted from the musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers", this film is crammed with one-liners and quotes that will ricochet in your memory eternally. The songs are amongst the best to have come out of India during that whole period, and are instantly recognisable today. Having grown up under the Amitabh umbrella and seen all of the classics, this film still shines as one of his most memorable ventures. A playful look at a family of 7 brothers living on a farm, with all it's ups and downs, tragedies and laughter, and the impressive effort by all of the cast, it's truly a gem.