Khanna-o-Rama! Hera Pheri - Craazy Beginnings for the Vinotabh!

Can you resist a film where Vinod lampoons New Age yogis?

This won't be a review per se but more of a "Look what crazy batshit things are so wicked in this film" kinda of a rambling, like I usually do

I lie when i say this is the Vinotabh first outting, they came together in Zameer(1975) which i have but Vinod was just sassing up that boring horses-n-lost-children-masala film by being a long lost daku brother! Hera Pheri is the definitive masala pairing of the Vinotabh in its hot and hilarious way, it was directed by my favorite Vijay creator Prakash Mehra, who adds a shovel full of masala into this film. Its full of mistaken fathers, a memory lost mother, general madcappery, and letting the lead hotties establish a good goofy rapport that is lovely! Its a great film but its full of batshit things that cement its popularity with me such as:

Exhibit A = Mr Cyclops aka Tiger: This wonderful creation was pointed out in the Planet BollyBob, as a weird cyclops man who terroizes the neighbourhood and sometimes appears in Greek epics! Naaw this is Tiger, the scary bodyguard of the lead villain Pinchoo Kapoor, who is Vinod's dad and who also killed Amitabh's dad and made his maaw go nutty. Tiger's introduction was the most hilarious thing everr, as Pinchoo is making a plan to kill Amitabh who has insulted his son, so he coos "Tiger, Tiger" like a little dog would be beckoned. Instead Tiger turns out to be this creature, an Indian cyclops that Vinod beats up when he turns the table on his dad's dastardly plans! Tiger's creative makeup design was done by Oscar winning designers who tacked on perhaps a paper eye over the hapless actor, who growled as well to add some panache to his role!Exhibit B = Undercover Sadhuman aka Sheeram Lagoo: Yes this is one the most craziest wigs I've ever seen in my life! Sadhuman is actually the Police Commisioner of the area, who strides in the room when the Vinotabh are trying to wrangle out of being arrested for taking money thats not theirs. Sadhuman makes a spectacular entry as the other police man turns into a statue and salutes upright, and the Vinotabh chuckle as Sadhuman walks in the building! But I'd like to describe if i can the amazing wig that he sports, it seems to grow from the farthest side of his head and the beard too must have some scraps of food like Mr Twit from the Roald Dahl story or even Hritik's Jesus beard! Unfortunately the delightful design of Sadhuman's facial attire is whipped off when he turns into Police Commisioner! Ohh well atleast he keeps on the horridly big and bushy eyebrows to frown at the Vinotabh!

Exhibit C ="Waqt Ki Hera Pheri Hai" song: I'll let these images speak for the madcap menace of this wicked song! Naaw the Vinotabh now is generally yukking it up Marx Brothers style by playing dressup as two yogis that lecture the gang of baddies on their naughty ways, but they also do this to steal the loot, but what I loved about this part was how Vinod dressed up as a yogi and aping about, I don't know maybe I'm overdoing it but its a bit funny to see Vinod in a yogi getup and then see that a few years later he trots off with Rajneesh and the whole song is trying to lecture the baddies on their material ways and that ends off the only profound thought on this craazey film!
Loonying it up like Harpo and Chico!
Twisting the night away with Tuntun And generally doing the twist as dancing yogisDressed up now as Yogi Policemen!

Exhibit D = Saira's pointy Madonna bra: This is absolutely nothing unusual in the early 60's n 70's cinema where the heroines where the most hilarious bra's ever created! One that Madonna must have stolen from all the Mala's and Saira's of the heyday. I don't why I'm in a silly crazy mood on Khanna week, my mind just happens upon the silliest things in his films, alas I can blame on the Sweets I ate and am eating right now! But this bra must have been designed by Howard Hughes along with his Jane Russel bra, especially in this orange dress where the poor gal looks like she's aiming bazookas at her willing vixtim Amitabh! End of semi innapropriatness, NOT FOR LONG!

Exhibit E = The Slap of Friendship: This wicked moment happens when the Vinotabh split ways NAHIEE, you all scream, they are now known as Amitabh and Vinod! The best mates breakup when Vinod goes all gaga over his new daddy and rebuffs Amitabh. They meet at a bar where Amitabh nastily insults Vinod as a "kaminey, kuta, rascala!" Vinod unleashing his hurt gives the "Slap of DOOOOM!" Amitabh reacts badly to this smack and touches his cheek where his friend has attacked! The camera in a moment of emotional crisis cuts to Vinod who feels bad but not wrong!
Vinod gives "The Face of Anguish, and Regret"
Vinod gives the "I wanna turn back the time!" gesture
Its too late! Amitabh goes down his usual Sharaabi path!


Goga Kapoor is mildly disturbed by the Vinotabh's phonecall!
Exhibit F = Phonecall-Gate: There is a fabulous techno remix album called "Bombay 2:Electric Vindaloo," which has the most awesome cover art compiled from the mad films they've remixed and this includes Hera Pheri and its impressive array of shocked reactions from gangsters on the phone! I suggest you buy the album and enjoy PhonecallGate!

The pranksters getting up to mischief!
PhonecallGate gave this poor man a near heart attack! This man's wig was dislodged when answering the mysterious prank call!He wondered if he could get the money in time, before the Vinotabh's hotness rays killed him! Who were these gorgeous pranksters terroizing this gangster!

Prakash maybe that's taking Miss Mulvey's theory too far! NOt!
Exhibit G = CHUDDDIS! Yes you know I can't resist not putting a screenshot of Vinod or anyone in their chuddis or even being shirtless and revealing that trademark Khanna chest fuzz! I think Prakash Mehra was a director who read Laura Mulvey's essay on the Male Gaze and said "You know what there are women out there, that need to objectify the Vinotabh(mostly Vinod) I will rake in the paisa if the Gaze is directed at them" and so he did! There are many films where Vinod is objectified through shots of him fighting in tight white trousers and gratuitously necessary shots of his bum in Muqaddar Ka Sikandar or even Amitabh in any film there's a showcase of his supa fly wardrobe and cute closeups! But here are the CHUDDIS!
Vinod is quite the predecessor to my favorite muccha man Magnum PI!
Vinod in some actual Chuddis, in another chaotic Marx Bros esque scene where the Vinotabh are beaten up by many bad men and also get their clothes off in this rough n tumble dishoom bit!
Even Amitabh is pleased with Vinod's Magnum PI hot pants!
AWW wouldn't we all like to be woken up to a shirtless Khanna?

I end all my special exhibits and direct you all to some general miscellaneous crazy screencaps in this most mental and fun movie!

Some chandelier loving of course!
Amitabh prays to the mighty chandelier for some extra zaniness!
Thats Macmohan in the back spying on Vinod's lovestory! Sorry Mac not all super fly guys like you can get a gal!
I leave you all with this fitting picture! Everything is rright in the world when a picture like this can occur in a movie and satisfy my female gaze! Let me know your thoughts and definitely order this zany masala film!