Great Gambler (1979) - A double role of Amitabh Bachchan and also starring Neetu Singh and Zeenat Aman

The Great Gamber released in the year 1979 and was directed by the super hit director Shakti Samanta and had in a double role, Amitabh Bachchan. Essentially a film about look-alikes and mistaken identities, it was a departure for the director in terms of the genre of the film and the hero. Samanta was known for his romantic films and for his close association with Rajesh Khanna. The film did not do too well but is known for its foot tapping songs.

Jai (Amitabh Bachchan) is an expert gambler and has been one for as long as he can never. He has the reputation of never having lost a game. His skills bring him to the attention of the underworld don Saxena (Utpal Dutta). Saxena is keen on hiring Jai as he wants the latter to win large amounts of money from rich people and then to influence them into doing whatever he (Saxena) wants. Jai agrees to play for Saxena without knowing of the bigger plan. One of Jai’s first victim is Nath(Jagdish Raj) a government employee who loses amount of money to Jai and is then blackmailed by Saxena into revealing the blueprints of a top-secret military laser weapon that can hit any target within 50 miles.

The Indian police come to know of this plan and assign the case to Inspector Vijay (Amitabh Bachhcan agajn) who is asked to apprehend Jai at any cost. The only hitch to this plan is that Inspector Vijay is Jai’s look alike but unlike his doppelganger he cannot gamble. There is a confusion of identities and Jai and Vijay both coincidentally are sent to Rome. In Rome Vijay is sent to recover proof against underworld don Saxena by his past henchman. On the other hand Jai is onto a money-making scheme that has him marrying rich girl Mala (Neetu Singh) in order to inherit her money. Mala however mistakes Vijay for Jai at the Rome airport and Vijay decides to go along with this to find out more about his look alike. Jai meanwhile meets Shabnam (Zeenat Aman), a club dancer who has been sent by Saxena to sidetrack Vijay and sabotage his mission to retrieve evidence against Saxena. However Shabnam mistakes Jai for Vijay and Jai gets involved into killing Saxena's former henchman to retrieve the blueprints of the laser weapon. The climax sees Jai and Vijay joining hands to finish off the bad guys.

Despite the heavy duty presence of big stars, the film refuses to take off primarily due to its many twists and turns that at times becomes a tad confusing. However Amitabh Bachchan’s suave portrayal of Jai and his dynamic characterisation of Vijay makes this film worth a watch.

CAST AND CREW

Directed by Shakti Samanta
Produced by C.V.K. Shastri
Written by Shakti Samanta, Ranjan Bose
Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Neetu Singh
Music by Rahul Dev Burman

Mr. Natwarlal (1979) - Starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha

Mr. Natwarlal, the film releases in 1979. Starring superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha it features some superb song tracks and a very interesting story line. It also has Amitabh Bachchan crooning for the first time for any film of his and the number “Mere Paas Aao, Mere Doston” has continued to entertain kids and adults down the years. In fact the song even fetched him a Filmfare nomination as Best Playback Singer (Male) along side being nominated for the Best Actor Award for the same film.

The story of the film resolves around Natwar (title role played by Bachchan himself) who lives with his beloved older brother and caretaker, police officer Girdharilal (Ajit). He has been assigned the case of apprehending notorious gangster Vikram Singh ( Amjad Khan). But the wily criminal entraps the honest officer and gets him arrested, dismissed from employment and imprisoned. The young Natwar remains a silent spectator to his brother’s victimization and swears to take revenge. He grows up and creates a secret identity for himself, posing as a powerful and mysterious underworld figure named (eponymous) Mr. Natwarlal. He becomes a modern-day Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and bad to help the poor and good.

He is successful in locating Vikram Singh who resides in the hilly regions of North India. Accordingly he relocates himself to be in the same area as his enemy. He also finds himself falling in love with a local girl (Rekha) who reciprocates his feelings. However punishing Vikram Singh proves to be a difficult task as he is a formidable presence in the area. On top of that he has to convince the suspicious villagers that he is not the ‘bad’ guy and tackle a man-eating tiger. Whether he is able to ultimately avenge his brother’s ill fortune and bring Vikram Singh to his knees forms the climax of the film.



A typical Hindi masala film, Mr. Natwarlal, is nevertheless very entertaining. Superb acting by Amitabh Bachchan (as mentioned above, he received a Filmfare Best Actor Nomination) and the terrific on-screen chemistry between him and Rekha are the highlights of the film. Competent direction by Rakesh Kumar and good music by Rajesh Roshan makes this movie a complete entertainer.

Lyrics and videos of songs from the movie (Mr. Natwarlal):

1. Oonchi Oonchi Baton Se (link)

2. Qayamat Hai (link)

3. Pardesiya (link)

4. Tauba Tauba Kya Hoga (link)

5. Mere Paas Mere Aao (link)