Jewel Thief is one of those movies I patiently watch from start to end without forwarding scenes or jumping songs. The fruit of the whole exercise is in that one scene when Shalini (Vyjayantimala) tells Vinaay (Dev Anand), “तुम्हें अभी तक मालूम नहीं हुआ !!” (You still have not realized !!)
Dev Anand is his usual in the whole film — larger than life, supersmart, intellectual — Sherlockian. And, in that one scene, the entire edifice collapses. The scene is well into the last quarter of the movie. Afterward, you have another fifteen minutes wherein an attempt is made to close all the loops. But, the left uppercut was already delivered, and we are just going through the motions of tabulating the scores.
In Hindi movies, it is rare to destroy the intellect of a lead character and show him utterly outwitted. The villain, Arjun, deftly played by Ashok Kumar, weaves a net of deception. Flawless and exciting.
More recently, in the BBC series Sherlock, we saw a similar game played by Moriarty. In ‘The Reichenbach Fall,’ Moriarty deceives Sherlock to his core. A completely flummoxed Sherlock is out-witted and out-played by the villain. However, the creators had to ruin the whole feeling by adding another season to the series. An exercise that can shame the skill-fullest of acrobats was undertaken to show how Sherlock already had a Plan B in place. A despicable try to save Sherlock’s ‘mastermind’ image.
Not here, gentlemen,,,In Jewel Thief, there is no redeeming for Dev Anand. He is thoroughly out-played. Vinaay and Shalini later manage to concoct a way to arrest Arjun. But, we all know who has won the battle of wits and who is taking home the consolation prize.
The Anand brothers — Actor Dev and Director Vijay, through their banner ‘Navketan Films,’ have given some of the most memorable films. Navketan gave us notable films like Johnny Mera Naam, Nau Do Gyarah, Tere Mera Sapne, to name a few. Also, how can anyone forget the iconic ‘Guide.’ Navketan is a key pillar of Indian cinema history. Spanning three decades, from the fifties to the seventies, Navketan was synonymous with Dev Anand in the lead role. The production house was built around the stardom of Dev Anand. Yet, the banner refused to rely solely on the celebrity of its lead. They always chased good stories. Today’s stars can learn a trick or two from the Anand enterprise. Navketan model was to backload the fees for its star. Dev Anand’s payout was entirely from the profits post the release of the film. This freed up budgets for the film’s shooting. In sharp contrast, these days, the fees for a star weigh more than sixty percent of a film’s budget. This leaves minimal legroom in accommodating the supporting cast and music choices. The economics dictate that the songs need to constantly showcase the movie’s USP – its star. The overall package suffers. Whereas in the Navketan model, budgetary room allowed top-notch actors like Ashok Kumar to be roped in. The music could stay true to the film’s theme. The songs ran complementary to the story.
When “Hothon pe aisi baat main dabake chali aayi” plays on screen, you are riveted. The song is the perfect example of what flavor a song can add to your storytelling. The lyrics, the visuals, the drama laid out by the music is pure enjoyment. Jewel Thief is that — pure enjoyment.
Despite our thesis against star culture, the paradox is that ‘Jewel Thief’ works due to the stardom of Dev Anand. The creators play upon the preconceived notions of the audience. When it comes to a star, the audience always views him through a certain persona. Dev Anand is the affable star we know. He is charming, smart, and larger than life. When we sit for Jewel Thief’ we hold on to this persona and impose it on Dev Anand’s Vinaay. He is a top-notch jeweler with a deep knowledge of rare stones. His accounting skills are off the chart as he routinely saves thirty to forty percent for his employer. His deduction skills outshine the policemen he is working with. He is laying the trap for the world’s most elusive Jewel Thief – Amar. Dev Anand is always the most competent person in the room. The movie never lets us discard this notion. Thus when the plot twist arrives out of the blue, we are left shell-shocked.
I still recollect the first time I heard “नहीं, नहीं, नहीं..”, the echo reverberated within me for the next five minutes—a truly ‘Wow’ moment. I was lucky to experience this hair-raising moment in the confines of a theater, at a festival organized in Pune to commemorate fifty years of Dev Sahab’s cinema. I wish more such festivals are arranged to enjoy the classics the way they should be. When you are the prisoner of your seat, transfixed to the screen, it is ‘an’ experience. After all, can a 360-degree virtual reality headset replace the thrill of a roller coaster!
Everyone hails ‘Guide’ as the benchmark Vijay-Dev Anand film. I do like ‘Guide,’ however, I love Jewel Thief when it comes to entertainment. Dev Anand’s films like Baazi, CID, Nau Do Gyarah, Johny Mera Naam, Hare Rama Hare Krishna are the films you enjoy. On a tiring day, Dev Anand is your go-to guy if you want some magical relief. Many feel that once the suspense is revealed, a movie loses its thrill; however, Jewel Thief never loses its novelty. Because, ultimately, it is a good story. So the next time you have a couple of hours for yourself, sit back, stay away from the forward button, and just enjoy the film.
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