indian cinema heritage foundation

Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi (1974)

  • Release Date1974
  • GenreComedy
  • FormatB-W
  • LanguageHindi
  • Run Time145 min
  • Length3980.69 meters
  • Gauge35mm
  • Censor RatingU
  • Censor Certificate NumberU-75413-Mumbai
  • Certificate Date17/07/1974
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They say it is a mad, mad world, populated by mad, mad people with mad, mad ideas. It is our mad idea to introduce you Mr. Bandookwalla, last but not least in a long line of multi-multi-multi millionaires whose biggest problem has been what to do with their money. Fearing that he has a failing heart (which always beats strongly when in the company of the female sex), Mr. Bandookwalla conjures up a wild scheme for finding a heir who will inherit a major part of his fortune. The heir would necessarily be a man (Mr. Bandookwalla did not trust any woman outside of his bed); and the symbol of manhood is a flowing beard! And so....

....... his fortune would go to the man with the longest beard in the country.

Then the fun begins; a fight to a finish as one bearded man attacks another - not with gun, not with a stick, not with a dagger, but with a pair of scissors; off with his beard, and on with the show! And soon the roads are clogged with so many ex-beards, and the fight narrows down to two of the leading contestants. One was a roving showman with a luxurious flowing beard, who called himself Mr. Gypsi; the other a cut-throat jail bird by the name and style of Kharag Singh.

Gypsy and Kharag- face to face, beneath a blazing sun, clashing to the searing cuts of specially sharpened scissors (imported variety, smuggler style of Kharag; genuine cottage industry product with Gypsy); facing a beardless existence in a heartless world where winner takes all. The two beards were entangled and entwined till one could hardly distinguish one from the other, and each man was in danger of cutting of his own beard.

Then the victor emerged triumphant, to claim the prize from the hand of Mr. Bandookwalla. But as there is many a slip between cup and the lip, as there are many pairs of scissors between the beard and the prize. And so appeared at the last moment.... but hold on, leave something for the screen to reveal, apart from the lovely ladies, that is.

 

[from the official press booklet]

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