Chachi 420

Plot synopsis:
Jaiprakash Paswan a.k.a. Jai (Kamal Haasan) and Janki Paswan (Tabu) are fighting a divorce case. Janki is the only daughter of Durgaprasad Bhardwaj (Amrish Puri), a staunch Brahmin businessman. Jaiprakash, a Dusadh, is an assistant dance director in films. The duo fall in love and married against the will of Durgaprasad. However, Janki buckles under the pressure of a middle-class life. Other differences crop up between the couple and Janki walks out. The court grants the divorce. Jai is allowed to meet his beloved daughter Bharti (Baby Sana) once a week. But when he sneaks into the Bhardwaj house to steal Bharti, he loses visitation rights.
Meanwhile, Durgaprasad puts ads in local newspapers for a nanny for Bharti. Jai sees this as an opportunity and calls Durgaprasad. Impersonating a female, he introduces himself as 'Mrs. Lakshmi Godbole' and applies for the position. With the help of a drunkard makeup artist Joseph (Johnny Walker in his last and memorable role), Jai undergoes a complete transformation into Lakshmi Godbole, a dignified elderly Marathi woman. He goes to the interview, where he is generally viewed as the last pick. But Bharti has an accident, and Lakshmi acts promptly to give first aid. Lakshmi gets the job and the respect of the Bhardwaj family.
Jai begins the job, but creates plausible stories so that his real work schedule does not clash with the job in Bhardwaj's home. Apart from Joseph, only Bharti (who sees through her father's disguise) knows the real identity of Lakshmi. Jai learns that Durgaprasad's secretary Banwari Lal (Om Puri) is not exactly thrilled at Laxmi's entry. The reasons are various, such as Banwari's womanizing nature (which naturally views an old woman like Lakshmi with dislike) and his desire to siphon off Durgaprasad's money via friendly maids.
Meanwhile, Durgaprasad decides to get Janki remarried to Dr. Rohit (Rajendranath Zutshi), her childhood friend. One day, when Janki and Rohit get attacked by goons in the market, the doctor scampers. Lakshmi saves Janki's life and modesty. Later, Durgaprasad tells Lakshmi that he has changed his mind about the marriage on learning of Rohit's cowardice. Lakshmi also exposes the thefts committed by the maid in the Bhardwaj house. The maid is fired. Banwari has no other option but to let a male cook be appointed instead. Jai runs into his old friend Shiraz (Nassar), a Muslim restaurant chef who is now doing menial jobs as he lost his job trying to help Jai. Laxmi introduces Shiraz to the Bhardwaj household as Pandit Shivraj Sharma, a mute Brahmin cook. Interestingly, even Shiraz does not know that Lakshmi and Jai are the same person.
Jai learns that although Janki likes Lakshmi, who by now has earned the affectionate title of Chachi (a respected aunt), she still loathes Jai. Meanwhile, Jai has other problems in his own home. His landlord Hari (Paresh Rawal) is after him for his rent. After he sees Lakshmi, Hari falls for her. As if that is not enough, a struggler named Ratna (Ayesha Julka) tries to cozy up to Jai. Meanwhile, Durgaprasad also falls for Lakshmi and goes to the extent of proposing to her.
Jai, as Lakshmi, buys time by telling Durgaprasad that 'she' is married but 'her' husband has left 'her' and got converted into a Christian named Joseph. Lakshmi also convinces Durgaprasad that 'she' is still waiting for 'her' husband. On the other hand, Jai tells Hari that Banwari is Lakshmi's husband Durgaprasad. He also tells Hari to harbour no feelings for Lakshmi. At same time, Jai tells Banwari that Lakshmi's husband has converted and calls himself Haribhai.
Banwari intensifies his efforts to discredit Lakshmi in the eyes of Durgaprasad and Janki but in vain. Meanwhile, Janki and Durgaprasad realize that they have punished Jai too hard for all the things he has done. Banwari gets a small victory when he blows Shiraz's cover. But Lakshmi makes Durgaprasad see sense that religion and caste do not matter. Durgaprasad shows mercy on Shiraz, giving a verdict that the cook can stay and need not put up his act anymore. However, now Durgaprasad ends up hurting Janki's feelings.
Banwari and Janki see that there is something fishy about Lakshmi. Meanwhile, Shiraz tries to force Lakshmi to marry Durgaprasad. Shiraz threatens 'her' by covering himself in kerosene, which forces Jai to reveal himself. But, owing to a misunderstanding about this scene, Banwari is able to convince Janki that Lakshmi is a promiscuous woman who is seducing the cook as well as Durgaprasad. Janki, who is very hurt by the turn of events, leaves her father's home and goes to reconcile with Jai. But on seeing Ratna waiting for him, and Lakshmi's clothes strewn about his home, Janki gets the wrong idea that her husband is also promiscuous. Janki goes to commit suicide. Jai/Lakshmi follows on a motorcycle and jumps into the river to save her. There, Jai/Lakshmi reveals his/'her' true self. Janki hears the whole story and reconciles with him. They come up with a story that Lakshmi died trying to save Janki.
To tie up other loose ends, they convince Banwari that Lakshmi is dead. They threaten and blackmail Banwari with his secrets to ensure his silence. They tell Hari to let it go. Joseph almost accidentally betrays some part of the truth, but Jai hushes up the matter by saying that Lakshmi will always remain alive in the hearts of everybody who knew her. Jai and Janaki remarry.

Tags: adult comedy, flashback

Review:
Indian Mrs. Doubtfire...only funnier!.
I LOVED this movie!
I have just recently discovered Bollywood films and this one was on TV recently.
It was much funnier than Mrs. Doubtfire with less goofiness and none of that hit-you-over-the head type of audience pandering.
Even as a Black girl sitting at home I was able to understand and laugh at 100% of this movie.
It's not often that I have the patience to sit and watch a movie that runs for 3+ hours but the complexities and hilarity were so well blended that I felt myself drawn to the screen.
Not only did it have my rapt attention but I had to READ the entire thing so you know it's good when...
Someone commented that they bought it on DVD and now that I know it's available I will do the same!.
Bollywood remake better than Hollywood original.
I first caught this at the Eros Cinema in Bombay.
Even without English subtitles this non-Hindi speaker thoroughly enjoyed it.
Recently I found this on DVD with the subtitle option and liked it all the more.
Much funnier than the original "Mrs. Doubtfire", not nearly so cloying.
I first knew Kamal Hassan (writer, director, lead actor) from a Tmail gangster film, "Narayan".
That he is so funny, and subtle even in a larger-than-life role, was a great surprise.
Don't miss this if you ever get the opportunity.
The fight scene in he baazar is an instsant classic!.
Good remake of MRS DOUBTFIRE.
Kamal Hassan one of the most talented actors we have This is one of his most remembered films after EK DUJJE KE LIYE(1981)The film was also directed by him and the film is a good movie to watch In fact Kamal Hassan looked so perfect as a women that he was unrecognisable The film starts off well but actually kick starts when kamal becomes a women the film has several hilarious scenes like the entire revelation of the servant, Om Puri's lines The escapades by kamal Hassan and the confusionTill the climax the film keeps you entertainedDirection by kamal Hassan is very good Music is goodKamal Hassan is flawless in his role as a women and even as a lover the role got him immense popularity Tabu too does well Amrish Puri is superb always in deadpan humour and he rocks here as well Om Puri too is hilarious in a comic role Johny Walker is good Ayesha Jhukla is okay Paresh Rawal lends some funny moments.
Great Adaptation of Mrs. Doubtfire.
I saw this film for a comedy class and throughly enjoyed it.
It is the only Hindi movie I have ever seen, and it was excellent.
It is somewhat similar to the movie, Mrs. Doubtfire, however, there are many style and plot differences.
It is funnier than the original without losing the touching family side of the story.
It centers around a man, a film choreographer, who loses his daughter when he and his wife get a divorce.
She moves back home and he eventually sees an ad to be his daughter's caretaker.
He ends up enchanting the family with his super "woman" feats.
He also catches the affections of the father of the ex-wife.
Very long, but the movie is great from beginning to end.
Overindulgent but fun remake of Mrs Doutfire.
Kamal Hasan remakes Mrs Doubtfire and gives an inspired performance as Mrs Luxmi Godbole, a god-fearing Maharashtrian matriarch.
'Chachi 420' itself is a bit of a mess.
The film is overlong with messy subplots and Tabu is strangely lackluster.
Yet Kamal Hasan makes it worthwhile with his superb comic timing.
It does get overindulgent at times with some unnecessary songs.
Amrish Puri is good as usual.
Om Puri has a brief but funny cameo.
There are some risqué scenes involving Nasser, so family audiences beware.
Still, the film is well worth watching on television or DVD.Overall 6/10.
Worst movie ever!.
Absolute Entertainment!!
Full of comedy and absolutely the best remake of MRS DOUBTFIRE.