Hum aapke hain kaun and the immediate ROP

On a lazy sunday afternoon, I was swaying between my urge to sleep and watch the India-Pakistan match. My 10 year old nephew was conducting the stess testing on the television remote control. I was barely able to see what was playing on which channel. During this catch-a-glimpse-of-the-program-if-you-can game, I managed to snatch a view of the movie - "Hum Aapke Hain kaun - Who am I to you!" playing on Zee Cinema.

The second Shaadi scene was in full swing. The Baraat has just arrived. The always-Prem of all Barjatya is dancing with all the sorrow in the world. The Dulhan is decked in all pain. The Khan evades the questioningg looks of the faithful servant Lallu - Mr Berde. He picks up the trumpet, blows out his distress and prances along.

This saga of Melodrama would have continued, if not for the entry of God - the mystical, Lallu - The invoker, Tuffy - the receiver of all divine revelations. Thanks to this trio, we did not have to wait for - "Kitne baar poochu, Hum Aapke Hain kaun" (sequel to HAHK, HAHK 2) to see Prem's wedding to Nisha. Dekha jaaye to, Mr Barjatya (B), used the power of Lord Krishna (LK), to swerve the movie to a befitting albeit highly expected 'Kahani mein obvious twist'.

During the pre - "The family that prays together, eats together ….. Stays together" age ( a.k.a. Hum saath saath hain - We live together together!), LK had to be specifically appeased. And here, Mr Berde(Lallu) was tailored by Mr. B for the same. Somewhere during the pace of the movie, Lallu realises that he has not contributed enough to the movie and starts invoking the blessings of LK. He stands in front of LK, hands folded. Amidst the chanting if 'Radhe Krishna, Gopala Krishna', the wool/flower tied at the end of the flute, which LK is holding to his lips, sways (Did someone open a window??). A halo appears around him. A perfect lighting set-up! Immediately, the focus shifts on Tuffy. The audience is left to deduce that Tuffy received some divine revelation. But why did Mr B use a Dog?? This is not the only scene. Read on, but don’t forget this deduction.

If you go back half the movie, you will realize the serious but unbelievable comradeship between LK, Lallu and Tuffy. During the "Joote do, paise lo - Give shoes, take money!!" parody, the bridegroom's shoes are stolen by Nisha and her giggly troupe of friends. Lallu needs the shoes. He again prays. Tuffy blinks (remember the deduction, we spoke about). The canine tugs at Lallu's dhoti. Bingo, Lallu and Prem run behind Tuffy and return with the jootas! God, are you really there? Do you really answer to such prayers?

The director was well aware of Lallu’s transcendental ability. He used it only wherever needed. When Pooja was dying after rolling down the staircase, Lallu was not around, In fact the director quietly sent him away to his hometown. Now, Tuffy could not alone execute the ‘Tell me how I save her’ act. This would have been definitely very filmy and bollywoodish!! Imagine, Tuffy administering some medicine or blowing air into Pooja’s mouth, leaving the qualified doctors baffled and ashamed. Phew… Poor Tuffy must have felt so helpless! Moreover during that age, LK could not pro-actively help out, not in this movie atleast. And Mr B wanted Pooja to die, yes that is right, die! This is the reason he sent Lallu away to save his sister-in-law.

Hmmm! What a well-synchronized movie! Mr B used LK at the right reel and role, to pause or stop a movie from chugging into monotony… Ah whatever! Lallu definitely had the power … Like Return on investment; let’s talk about Return on Prayer (ROP).