Chachi 420 (1997)

Another day, another iconic Tabu movie.

According to my calculations, this must have been the first Tabu movie I ever saw (and also Kamal Haasan movie, but don't want to inflate his god complex anymore). Either this, or Hera Pheri (2000). The fact that both of them are genuinely such hilarious movies, and have survived the test of time, and wokeness, and what not, makes me feel quite pleased. It's nice to know that you can go back to certain movies and, if not feel the same way again, then at least feel good for some time. Also, the fact that Queen T graces both movies with her god-like (sorrz, KH) acting skills has not escaped me. Maybe I was born to be a life-long stanner of TCU.

The most iconic aspect of this movie for me was the complete, no-holds-barred annihilation of Brahminical superiority. As a Brahmin myself, few things give me more pleasure than watching Brahmins being taught a lesson in humility and humanity. Kamal Haasan was truly a man (?) ahead of his time. There is absolutely no subtlety about the dirtiness and pervasiveness of casteism, and that in itself is transgressive, considering how mainstream Hindi cinema has generally been silent about caste. The fact that Chachi 420 is a comedy movie makes it that much more subversive- when one laughs at the ridiculousness of caste-based lifestyles, one cannot help but think about how much sway caste has over our own daily routines- what we do, who we interact with, what we eat, etc. Also, the fact that the movie ultimately picks Kamal Haasan's Jaiprakash Paswan (Paswan is a scheduled caste community from north India) to sympathise with, instead of Durgaprasad Bhardwaj (Bhardwaj, on the other hand, is a caste name exclusively used by Brahmins), makes it very clear that caste is the ultimate oppressor, and only one willing to stand up against it and claim his own happiness, can be considered as the "hero". In that sense, it is fitting that Janki (Tabu) and Jaiprakash, and their daughter Bharti (a sneaky reference to Bharat Mata, I'm so sure, because Kamal Haasan is anything but subtle) are the only characters who are blessed with a happy ending.

SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER: SKIP 2 NEXT PARAGRAPH IF U WANT 2 SAVE YOURSELF!!!!!

The symbolic murder of the eponymous Chachi cannot be missed in this context: Jaiprakash pretends to be a Brahmin woman, Lakshmi Godbole, to spend time with his daughter and be a part of her upbringing, and later, in the movie's climax, after admitting as much to his ex-wife Janki, he shrugs off the "Chachi" dilemma by telling Janki that they can just tell Durgaprasad (who is by the way, completely BESOTTED by Lakshmi) that Chachi drowned while trying to save Janki. The Brahmin presence, through which Jaiprakash gains entry into the Bhardwaj household, and ultimately, the consciences of its individual members, has fulfilled its purpose, and can be discarded without guilt or remorse. And that, my friends, is what they call "subversion". Also, of course, the fact that Durgaprasad, the gatekeeper of this agrahara, is the one who falls in love with a Dalit man masquerading as a Brahmin woman, is the reason why irony got a new lease on life post 1997. 

SPOILER OVER. 

Here's a list of some more compelling reasons to watch this movie:

1. Kamal Haasan playing the Macarena song on harmonium during a Karwa Chauth function

2. Queen T's constant serving of LEWKS- corporate, sanskaari, the gal can rock anything.

3. "Bhagwaan nahi hain!" "Chup, naastik." The latter being said by a man who somehow manages to slip in the fact that he's a rationalist and an atheist in every single interview of his, especially the political ones.

4. The smartass kid.

5. Om Puri's underrated comic presence.

6. Paresh Rawal as the pre-Babu Bhaiyya landlord

7. JOHNNY WALKER!!! And an excellent reference to his iconic roles as the perpetual drunkard :')

8. That scene where Kamal Haasan is getting his chest waxed 

9. The climax scene- just, *chef's kiss*

10. And this one scene, that I'm still laughing at. Best optics eva. A friend who watched the Telugu version paused the movie and laughed for 5 minutes. And no, none of this is exaggerated at all.

A classic for the ages. And probably the reason why I'm woke today. To quote an old Johnny Walker song- "Sar jo tera chakraaye, ya dil dooba jaaye, aa jaa pyaare, paas humaarey, kaahe ghabraaye, kaahe ghabraaye."

PS- this definitely elevates Mrs. Doubtfire (1993). Don't @ me.