Yamla Pagla Deewana

Santosh Tyagi and Sunita Jajodia did not leave the auditorium in the middle of the show. Bose-babu did not have a haircut (see December 25 post ) either. Everybody was so taken in by the antics of the sardars on screen that nobody stirred out even for a leak. And at the end of three hours, all 24 of us were fit to roll down the aisles – so hilarious was the movie.
Yamla Pagla Deewana was by far the most enjoyable and best organised movie outing we have had so far. The timing was just perfect – bang in the middle of the month. We got to watch it within a day of its release. Besides, Kishor-bhai had thoughtfully ensured that our seating arrangements were such that everybody could let his/her down without being conscious of the person sitting next. The ladies chose to be with their own, tittering and cracking up among themselves, while the men, not having to be at their best behaviour, simply went berserk at every cinematic gag and prank.
Above all, the movie was the winner. Playing petty conmen in a family, the three Deols – papa Dharmendra and sons Sunny and Bobby – were in their elements, just as we had wanted them to be: crazy, boisterous, irreverent and plain stupid. This was looniness at the extreme, not the kind of film that has to be experienced with the head, but by the heart. And the best part is that it makes no pretence of logic, actuality or even a storyline. Yamla Pagla Deewana is honest, unadulterated comedy at its ludicrous best – total value for time and money. Little wonder, a delirious Shekhawat-ji just could not get over the 'Patiala peg' hang-up, long after we had left the auditorium.
Earlier in the day, we had two surprise guests from ‘Caneda’ in the Garden. Mrs and Mr Ramniklal Parsotam (left) are samdhis of Renu and Kishor Babani and they are here on a vacation for a few days. This is their first visit to India. They caught us at our morning madness (mercifully from a long shot as they kept to the walking track) while we went through the exercise routine. Later, the couple graciously joined us for the movie.

Bhaswati Bose says:
The movie was good -- total paisa vasool. Watching it in a big group was all the more fun. Indeed, it was the most enjoyable movie outing we have had till date. It was nice of members to bring along their relatives. As I always say, the more the merrier!
--Bhaswati