Who has never seen a twin movie? Ever since the rise of the Olson twins Disney and such production companies have produced one twin movie after another. But who remembers the days when turning one person into two people in the same frame wasn't a mere matter of computer technology and whiz kids, but when it was a question of magic. To this day I am amazed at the high technical quality of the Parent Trap with none other than Hayley Mills. This same amazement came over me when I saw Seeta aur Geeta, for it is Bollywood's version of the Parent Trap.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
On a very rainy night a man and his very pregnant wife seek refuge in a strangers house. There the woman gives birth to two beautiful girls. The woman who helps her deliver cannot have children and in a moment of 'madness' she decides to keep one of the girls. Although the couple is torn over what they have done, they believe it was meant to be especially when upon departure the newly father exclaims his gratitude by saying that if he had had twins he would have surely given one to them.
This is how Seeta and Geeta are seperated at birth. Seeta who is raised by her real parents grows up in a very wealthy home. Unfortunately at a very young age her parents die and her aunt and uncle move in with her. They mistreat her horribly. Rather than treat her as family, they treat her as a slave. Geeta on the other hand grows up in a very poor, but very loving home. As nice and demure as Seeta is, so mischievous and perky Geeta is. Together with her friend Raka she pulls one scam after another. Through a twist of fate the two sisters unknowingly change places. As Geeta Seeta finds the love of a mother she has never known. Whereas Geeta discovers the fortunes she has always craved. Ofcourse the families are baffled by the sudden changes in characters of the two girls. Suddenly their bold scam artist is cooking and cleaning and sowing. And their demure houseslave is giving as good as her sister got in the past.
Ofcourse this situation cannot go on and after a few romantic escapades with Raka and Ravi, events start to unfold and eventually the story reaches its climax.
This movie although in story quite different from The Parent Trap, is extremely funny. Hema Malini is absolutely brilliant as both the good girl and the bad girl. And one can't help but cheer her on. I know I was right there with her on the front line when she was teaching her auntie a lesson or two. The story is also well thought out. Unlike many Bollywood movies it doesn't have too many weird twists and turns. I say this with a little apprehension because naturally any movie that involves two twins changing places by accident or otherwise has some weird twists and turns. However, one takes those for granted when watching two young women fall in love, discovering and appreciating the love of their family and reaching their full potential. If only Bollywood made more movies like this.
*****/5 stars
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
On a very rainy night a man and his very pregnant wife seek refuge in a strangers house. There the woman gives birth to two beautiful girls. The woman who helps her deliver cannot have children and in a moment of 'madness' she decides to keep one of the girls. Although the couple is torn over what they have done, they believe it was meant to be especially when upon departure the newly father exclaims his gratitude by saying that if he had had twins he would have surely given one to them.
This is how Seeta and Geeta are seperated at birth. Seeta who is raised by her real parents grows up in a very wealthy home. Unfortunately at a very young age her parents die and her aunt and uncle move in with her. They mistreat her horribly. Rather than treat her as family, they treat her as a slave. Geeta on the other hand grows up in a very poor, but very loving home. As nice and demure as Seeta is, so mischievous and perky Geeta is. Together with her friend Raka she pulls one scam after another. Through a twist of fate the two sisters unknowingly change places. As Geeta Seeta finds the love of a mother she has never known. Whereas Geeta discovers the fortunes she has always craved. Ofcourse the families are baffled by the sudden changes in characters of the two girls. Suddenly their bold scam artist is cooking and cleaning and sowing. And their demure houseslave is giving as good as her sister got in the past.
Ofcourse this situation cannot go on and after a few romantic escapades with Raka and Ravi, events start to unfold and eventually the story reaches its climax.
This movie although in story quite different from The Parent Trap, is extremely funny. Hema Malini is absolutely brilliant as both the good girl and the bad girl. And one can't help but cheer her on. I know I was right there with her on the front line when she was teaching her auntie a lesson or two. The story is also well thought out. Unlike many Bollywood movies it doesn't have too many weird twists and turns. I say this with a little apprehension because naturally any movie that involves two twins changing places by accident or otherwise has some weird twists and turns. However, one takes those for granted when watching two young women fall in love, discovering and appreciating the love of their family and reaching their full potential. If only Bollywood made more movies like this.
*****/5 stars