2401:4900:5A34:E00C:F8E5:F2B3:C26F:D376 at 03:56, 15 May 2021

2021-05-15T03:56:03Z

New page

{{for|the TV series|Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi...Let's Go}}
{{short description|1958 film by Satyen Bose}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
| image = Chalti ka Naam Gaadi.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Satyen Bose]]
| producer = Anoop Sharma<br />[[Kishore Kumar]]
| writer =
| based_on = 
| starring = [[Ashok Kumar]]<br />[[Madhubala]]<br />[[Kishore Kumar]]<br />[[Anoop Kumar]]
| music = [[Sachin Dev Burman]]
| cinematography = Aloke Dasgupta
| editing = R. M. Tipnis
| studio = K. S. Films
| distributor = M/S Issardas Naoomal
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1958|12|8}}
| runtime = 173 min
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
| gross = {{INRConvert|25|m}}<ref name="Boxoffice" />
}}

'''''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi''''' ({{trans|That Which Moves Is Called a Car}}) is a [[List of Bollywood films of 1958|1958]] Indian [[Musical film|musical comedy film]] directed by [[Satyen Bose]]. Starring [[Madhubala]] with the [[Ganguly family|Ganguly brothers]]—[[Ashok Kumar]], [[Kishore Kumar]] and [[Anoop Kumar]], the film revolves around a middle-aged man who resents women due to some misunderstandings and forbids his younger brothers from marrying.<ref name=":1" />

Expected by Kishore Kumar to flop,<ref name="flop" /> ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' opened to major commercial success, eventually becoming the most successful work of Bose and [[Ganguly family|Ganguly brothers]],<ref name="Boxoffice" /> as well as Madhubala's fourth consecutive major hit of 1958, thus solidifying her position as the [[Superstar|top female star]] of late 1950s and early 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bali|first=Karan|date=2017-10-17|title=Incomplete Films: Chalaak|url=https://upperstall.com/features/incomplete-films-chalaak/|access-date=2021-04-18|website=Upperstall.com}}</ref>

''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' has received overwhelming positive reviews from critics for its comical situations, soundtrack, execution and performances.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> Over years, the film has gained classic status and has also inspired several films including ''[[Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi]]'' (1974), ''[[Saade Maade Teen]]'' (2006) and ''[[Dilwale (2015 film)|Dilwale]]'' (2015).<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/the-remake-saga/1073397/ |title=The Remake Saga |last=Swamy |first=Rohan |date=13 February 2013 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=2019-05-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-12-01|title=Bollywood throwback movie review: Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)|url=https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2016/12/01/bollywood-throwback-movie-review-chalti-ka-naam-gaadi-1958419964/|access-date=2021-04-18|website=The American Bazaar|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Brothers Brijmohan, Manmohan and Jagmohan Sharma run a garage. Brijmohan hates women and does not allow any women or pictures of them in his garage unless it is an emergency. One day, while Manmohan is on the night shift, a woman named Renu comes to the garage seeking help as her car breaks down. Renu gets angry at Manmohan because he is sleeping when he is supposed to be on duty. Manmohan does not like the fact that Renu shouted at him and initially refuses to repair her car, but finally agrees. Manmohan fixes the car, and Renu leaves, forgetting to pay Manmohan for his services. He tells his brother Brijmohan about this and realizes that Renu forgot her purse in the garage. Manmohan goes through it and finds a pass to a concert. Manmohan goes to this concert to recover his money. When Manmohan reaches the venue, he is not allowed to enter as the pass has Renu's name on it. Not wanting to let go of his money, Manmohan waits in Renu's car to meet her when she comes out. He, however, falls asleep and Renu does not notice him; she drives home and parks in her garage with Manmohan in the car. When Manmohan wakes up, he gets hungry and looks for some food in Renu's garage. A servant in the house sees this and chases Manmohan, who manages to escape. On his way home, he notices a few men dumping a corpse on the road and fleeing. When he tells his brothers about his night the next morning, they have a hearty laugh at his expense.

Later, Renu calls the garage asking for help with her car and assuring she will pay back her fees. Manmohan refuses to go to her house, fearing that he will be recognized by Renu's servant and will get into trouble; Jagmohan decides to go. Jagmohan meets Sheela in Renu's house and the two start talking. Jagmohan is, however, afraid of women. He gets nervous because Sheela is around and cannot repair the car. After Jagmohan takes off (not before drinking 10 glasses of water due to anxiety), Renu decides to call Manmohan. Meanwhile, Renu's father is approached by Raja Hardayal Singh, who wants to get his younger brother married to Renu. Renu's father decides to talk to Renu about this, not knowing that Raja Hardayal and his brother are crooks – Manmohan saw Raja Hardayal's brother dump the corpse.

As Renu is falling for Manmohan and the crooks desperately want her inheritance, Renu and Manmohan are captured by Hardayal's men. In captivity, they meet Kamini, the woman whose photo Renu had found in Brijmohan's room. Brijmohan and Kamini were in love, but she was married off to Raja Hardayal. Brijmohan is under the impression that she dumped him for a richer man; as a result, he decides that he never wants to associate with women again. Kamini tries to free Renu and Manmohan, but a guard enters. Kamini, however, is able to escape and goes looking for Brijmohan. Meanwhile, Raja Hardyal Singh captures Renu's father and forces him to get Renu married to his brother, threatening to kill Manmohan if he doesn't. Before Raja Hardayal Singh has his way, Brijmohan is brought to the scene by Kamini. Brijmohan, who is a [[boxing]] champion, fights Raja Hardyal Singh's men with the help of his two brothers. In the end, Brijmohan and his brothers are victorious. Manmohan and Renu decide to get married. So do Brijmohan and Kamini, and Jagmohan and Sheila.

== Cast ==
* [[Ashok Kumar]] as Brijmohan Sharma
* [[Madhubala]] as Renu
* [[Kishore Kumar]] as Manmohan "Manu" Sharma
* [[Anoop Kumar]] as Jagmohan "Jaggu" Sharma
* Sahira as Sheela
* [[Veena (actress)|Veena]] as Kamini
* [[K.N. Singh]] as Raja Hardayal Singh
* [[Mohan Choti]] as Maujiya
* [[Sajjan (actor)|Sajjan]] as Prakashchand
* [[Cuckoo Moray|Cuckoo]] as Dancer
* [[Minhaj Ansari]] as Dancer / Singer
* [[Asit Sen (actor)|Asit Sen]] as dead man (Prakashchand's gang throw on a road)
* [[Helen (actress)|Helen]] as Dancer / Singer
* [[S N Bannerjee]] as Renu's Father.

== Production ==
[[Kishore Kumar]] made ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'', hoping it would fail commercially; he wanted to show losses in his income, and thus avoid paying a huge income tax to the authorities. To his disgust, the film became a success; as he did not want to add to his earnings, he gave ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' and all its rights to his secretary Anoop Sharma, who retained the copyright. The income tax case on Kishore Kumar was not solved even after forty years.<ref name="flop">{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Kishore-Kumar-thought-Chalti-Ka-Naam-Gaadi-would-flop/articleshow/39212923.cms |title=Kishore Kumar thought 'Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi would flop |last=Bhattacharya |first=Roshmila |date=29 July 2014 |work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=9 May 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170509114702/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Kishore-Kumar-thought-Chalti-Ka-Naam-Gaadi-would-flop/articleshow/39212923.cms |archive-date=9 May 2017}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[S. D. Burman]]
| cover =
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = 1958
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| language = [[Hindi]]
| label = [[Saregama]]
| producer = S. D. Burman
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

The music is composed by [[S. D. Burman]] and his son, [[R. D. Burman]] is the assistant music composer,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thespeakingoutloud.com/entertainment/black-and-white-bollywood-movies |title=Black and White Bollywood Movies |website=[[The Speaking Out Loud]] |access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref> with lyrics by [[Majrooh Sultanpuri]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.jiosaavn.com/album/chalti-ka-naam-gaadi/ArE91vcnrfM_ |title=Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi |website=[[JioSaavn]] |access-date=2019-05-05}}</ref> The songs "Hum The Woh Thi" and "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si" were based on [[Tennessee Ernie Ford]]'s "The Watermelon Song" and [[Merle Travis]]'s "[[Sixteen Tons]]" respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/how-two-songs-in-chalti-ka-naam-gaadi-were-inspired-by-american-singer-tennessee-ernie-ford/ |title=How Two Songs in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi Were Inspired By American Singer Tennessee Ernie Ford |last=Srinivasan |first=Karthik |date=13 November 2018 |website=[[Film Companion]] |access-date=13 November 2018}}</ref>

The soundtrack was popular with audience, and was placed at #51 in ''[[Film Companion]]''<nowiki/>'s list "Top 100 [[Bollywood]] albums".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nair|first=Vipin|date=2017-09-19|title=#51 Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi: Top 100 Bollywood Albums|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/bollywood-features/51-chalti-ka-naam-gaadi-top-100-bollywood-albums/|access-date=2021-04-17|website=Film Companion|language=en-US}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! #
! Song
! Singer
|-
| 1
| "Babu Samjho Ishaare"
| [[Kishore Kumar]], [[Manna Dey]]
|-
| 2
| "Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si"
| Kishore Kumar
|-
| 3
| "In Haathon Se Sab Ki Gaadi"
| Kishore Kumar
|-
| 4
| "Hum The, Woh Thi Aur Sama Rangeen"
| Kishore Kumar
|-
| 5
| "Main Sitaron Ka Taraana"
| '''[[Asha Bhosle]]''', Kishore Kumar
|-
| 6
| "Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka"
| Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar
|-
| 7
| "Hum Tumhare Hain"
| Asha Bhosle, [[Sudha Malhotra]]
|-
| 8
| "Ruk Jaao Na Ji"
| Asha Bhosle
|-
|}

== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'', the [[List of Bollywood films of 1958#Highest%20grossing|second highest-grossing Indian film of 1958]], grossed [[Indian rupee|₹]]2.5 [[crore]], including a [[Net income|nett]] of ₹1.25 crore at the box office.<ref name="Boxoffice">{{Cite web|title=Box office 1958|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=164&catName=MTk1OA==|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922022104/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=164&catName=MTk1OA%3D%3D|archive-date=22 September 2012|access-date=30 January 2011|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref> Adjusted for inflation, its gross was equivalent to about ₹485 crore in 2016,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi - Lifetime Box Office Collection, Budget, Reviews, Cast, etc|url=https://bestoftheyear.in/movie/chalti-ka-naam-gaadi/|access-date=2021-04-18|website=BOTY|language=en-US}}</ref> and it remains one of the highest-grossing Indian films in the history (when adjusted for inflation).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top Earners 1950–1959|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=122&catName=MTk1MC0xOTU5|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919200259/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=122&catName=MTk1MC0xOTU5|archive-date=19 September 2012|access-date=30 January 2011|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2006-04-22|title=BIGGEST BLOCKBUSTERS EVER!|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/alltime.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422165153/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/alltime.htm|archive-date=22 April 2006|access-date=2021-01-24}}</ref>

=== Critical reception ===
''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' has received overwhelming positive reviews by modern-day critics. Author [[Dinesh Raheja]], writing for [[Rediff.com]], said that "if the best [[screwball comedies]] are those that continue to connect even with the modern generation, this fifties jest-setter is a sureshot winner."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=rediff.com, Movies: Classics Revisited: Why Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi is nonstop fun|url=https://m.rediff.com/movies/2003/jan/08dinesh.htm|access-date=2021-04-17|website=m.rediff.com}}</ref> He also commented favourably on Madhubala and Kishore Kumar's chemistry, adding that ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' was the finest of the five films they made together.<ref name=":0" />

[[Sandipan Deb]] of ''[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]'' called it "[[List of films considered the best|best Hindi movie ever made]]", noting its treatment of female characters:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Deb|first=Sandipan|date=2020-10-12|title=The best Hindi movie ever and the inimitable Kishore Kumar|url=https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/the-best-hindi-movie-ever-and-the-inimitable-kishore-kumar-11602460560015.html|access-date=2021-04-17|website=mint|language=en}}</ref>

{{quote|What is not often mentioned about ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' is its portrayal of women. [[Madhubala]]'s character is that of a remarkably liberated woman, driving her own car and determined to be in charge of her life in a male-dominated world. [...] [[Anoop Kumar]]'s beloved runs a petrol pump. [[Ashok Kumar]]'s former girlfriend was forcibly married off, but he does not think twice about taking her back when they meet 10 years later. I cannot think of another [[Hindi film]] from the 1950s (or even 1960s or 1970s, in fact) that treats women so equally as men, and in which all the male protagonists are less chauvinistic.<ref name=":1" />| |title=|source=}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0128985}}

[[Category:1958 films]]
[[Category:1950s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by S. D. Burman]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian comedy films]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films featuring an item number]]
[[Category:Films directed by Satyen Bose]]
[[Category:Indian films with live action and animation]]
[[Category:1958 comedy films]]
[[Category:Hindi-language comedy films]]

Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi - Revision history

2401:4900:5A34:E00C:F8E5:F2B3:C26F:D376 at 03:56, 15 May 2021