Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003)

मुन्नाभाई M.B.B.S. 

Before Mumbai's favorite lovable tough-guy Munnabhai ran into Gandhi baba, he had his own father to contend with.   Though I saw the films in reverse order, Munnabhai M.B.B.S. came before the outstanding and delightful Lage raho Munnabhai, introducing movie-watchers to the goonda with a heart of gold and his sidekick Circuit. 

Munnabhai (Sanjay Dutt) runs a cheerful money-laundering and shakedown racket with the help of his loyal friend Circuit (Arshad Warsi) and a rag-tag passel of thugs.  When Munna learns that his parents (Sunil Dutt and Rohini Hattangadi) are coming to Mumbai for a visit, the troops go into overdrive to get everything set for the biggest con they ever pull: convincing Munna's parents that Munna is a physician (the "M.B.B.S." of the title is in India what M.D. is in the United States).  They transform their gangsters' hangout into a bustling clinic, complete with a sign out front honoring the name of Munna's father.  The ruse seems to be working, but Munna's bluff is called when his father runs into Dr. Asthana (Boman Irani), his former village doctor - now the dean of the top medical college in Mumbai. Munna's father proposes to get Munna married to Asthana's daughter, Chinki (Gracy Singh), herself a doctor.  But when Asthana gets wind of Munna's deception and humiliates him and his parents both, Munna vows to win back the respect of his father, of Asthana, and of Chinki as well - he enrolls in the medical college himself, and soon he is changing the lives of everyone from the staff to the patients with his unique brand of sensitive tough-guy medicine.

The best thing about Munnabhai M.B.B.S. is that it's just plain funny.  Munna and Circuit are well-crafted characters and great fun to watch.  Their inimitable way of seeing the world is always good for a hearty laugh - they are always convincing people to do the right thing, but their methods are more than a little suspect.  Throw in a little (but not too much) slapstick and some excellent physical comedy from the principals as well as the gifted Boman Irani, and you're pretty much guaranteed giggles all the way through.

Apart from the yuks, there's just the right amount of tenderness and feel-good message as well.  Munna's dedication and stick-to-itiveness when he sets his mind to a task and Circuit's unwaveringly loyal friendship are sweet and even a little inspiring.  And the father-son dynamic of the story - enhanced by the real-life father-son casting of Sanjay and Sunil Dutt - adds another dimension to Munna's character; no matter how tough, no matter how ruthless and feared in his underground business, Munna still craves the approval of his father and will go to extraordinary lengths to achieve it.  He may be a goonda, but he's a loveable teddy bear on the inside; all he needs is a chance to set himself right and his innate goodness becomes contagious.  This is shown with both humor and poignancy as Munna teaches the hospital staff to really look at the people they are treating.

It's not fair to compare Munnabhai M.B.B.S. to a film that didn't exist at the time, but in spite of everything it does right, I can't help feeling that Lage raho Munnabhai is the better film of the two.  Perhaps it's just that I saw the newer film first; or perhaps the concepts of Gandhi-giri and small acts of patience and kindness strike me as more practically applicable than magic hugs.  Or may it's the weird and conflicting attitude that Munnabhai M.B.B.S. presents about free-spirited, sexually forward women - on the one hand, Munna wants nothing to do with one such woman whom he thinks is Chinki, but on the other, he's delighted to hire a writhing, spandex-clad dancing girl to entertain a cancer patient (Jimmy Shergill) who doesn't want to die a virgin.  But whatever its shortcomings relative to Lage raho Munnabhai, they are small and on the margins; on balance, Munnabhai M.B.B.S. is a satisfying and fun film, warm and good-hearted without being cloying.  It's the best visit to the doctor you'll ever have.

Comments

[maxqnz]

It's not just you, carlaji. I saw them in the "right" order, and still thnk LRM is the better film. However, I agree with everything you've said about MBBS. It was very funny, and great fun. Also, I saw it on DVD, saving me the "are you here for the *Indian movie*?" enquiries when I was the only gora at the cinema for the showing of LRM I attended. Both were good movies, and I pleased to on both. On balance I would say that LRM was the better movie, but MBBS was the funnier. I too very much enjoyed the Sanjay/Sunil chemistry. Maybe it's a reflection of the stronger family ties in Indian society, but this sort of pairing often seems to bring out the best in BW movies, as it did (imo) with the *real* B aur B, Amitabh and Abhishek. I'm very interested to see how Munna's trip to America turns out. Of course, that now comes after " मुन्नाभाई भगोड़ा-गिरी". :-)

[माझी]

बोले तो फुल्टू झक्कास रीव्यू लिखेलाय तुमने कार्लाजी :)! शुद्ध हिन्दी में बोलूं तो "एकदम अच्छा रीव्यू लिखा है आपने कार्लाजी. इस फ़िल्म का आधा मज़ा तो मुंबइया हिन्दी सुनने में ही है बॉस, ख़ास करके मेरे जैसे मुंबईकर के लिये.. लिखती रहिये.

[Memsaab]

I have to agree with maxqnz that MBBS was the funnier film, but LRM has actually changed the way people behave towards each other (at least temporarily) and that is something not many filmmakers can say about their movies, which for me anyway kind of elevates it above the usual "good" "better" "best" tags we like to give...

Beautifully written analysis, Carla!

[Sanket]

Saw them in the 'correct' order as well and although I thoroughly enjoyed the first one - the second one had everything the first one had with the added Gandhi philosophy thrown in to take the movie to that proverbial 'next level'. And as a lover of hearing Hindi/Urdu being spoken - the Bombay slang Hind dialogue was indeed music to my ears!

[Meera]

Carla

I too saw the movies in the right order. MBBS was really hilarious. I saw LRM on the big screen and thoroughly enjoyed that as well. I think it is a bit unfair to compare the two coz they stand on their own ie full paisa vasool as the saying goes in India.

Keep the reviews flowing carla.

Meera