Shaukeen: A Hilarious Comedy of Second Youth

Shaukeen is a delightful, light-hearted classic Bollywood comedy that explores the universal desire to relive one’s youth. Directed by the masterful Basu Chatterjee, the film is a humorous and touching look at three elderly men trying to find a spark in their twilight years.

The Story Line

The story centers on three inseparable elderly friends: Om Prakash Chaudhary (Ashok Kumar), Inder Sen (Utpal Dutt), and Jagdish Bhalla (A. K. Hangal). Feeling that their lives have grown dull and monotonous, they hatch a plan to inject some excitement back into their routine. They decide on a small vacation to Goa, hoping to have some innocent fun and perhaps even flirt with young women.

Their adventure truly begins when they meet Anita (Rati Agnihotri), a lively and beautiful young woman. Unbeknownst to them, Anita is the girlfriend of a young man named Ravi Anand (Mithun Chakraborty). As the three friends try their best to win Anita’s heart and impress her, their attempts at “doing young” spiral into a hilarious series of comic misunderstandings and embarrassing moments.

Ultimately, the three friends learn that Anita is deeply in love with Ravi. They realize the folly of their actions and feel genuine guilt. They make amends by settling all matters and deciding to host Anita and Ravi’s wedding, bringing the story to a sweet and satisfying close.

Performances and Legacy

Basu Chatterjee‘s direction is exceptionally well-handled, navigating the delicate subject matter with grace and a gentle, comedic touch. The film’s immense success is largely credited to the stellar performances, particularly from the trio of seasoned actors: Ashok Kumar, Utpal Dutt, and A. K. Hangal. The music, a crucial element of the film’s popularity, was composed by the legendary R. D. Burman. The soundtrack includes the super-hit song, “Jab Bhi Koi Kangana Bole,” beautifully sung by Kishore Kumar, which remains a favorite to this day. I focused on making the language clearer, more formal where appropriate, and structuring the information for better readability.

Vidyasagar Chaturvedula

Principle Correspondent, Prime Post

Vidya Sagar Chaturvedula is a passionate film enthusiast whose four-decade career spans multiple sectors, including media and industry. Fluent in Telugu, Hindi, and English, he has a deep appreciation for cinema, particularly films in those three languages. His passion goes beyond simple viewing; he enjoys analyzing directional skill, the emotional depth of actors’ performances, and the profound meaning embedded in dialogue. Mr. Sagar is known for his ability to clearly articulate and narrate his insightful film analyses after watching a movie.