Ankhen (1968) :
Brief Review -
YRF's Spy-Universe will age out and probably die matching half of this. Dharmendra as the most patriotic, intelligent, and charming spy ever! Aankhen has to be the most technically advanced and patriotic spy thriller Indian cinema had produced by that time. The only thing that can be argued to be better than this would be Johnny Mera Naam (1970), which has many elements to boost itself. Rest; I don't think there is any competition for this stylish spy saga, even in today's time. This is more like Sean Connery's James Bond series zone, and surprisingly, Indian cinema wasn't late with this. In several aspects, Ankhen surpasses all those James Bond films too. You don't expect the leading charming hero, the Indian spy, to deny romantic advances from a beautiful girl by saying, '"Nation is more important, and spies can't really have time for love and family," and stick to it until the end. I am cutting the half-star for that love triumph cliche at the end. Mala Sinha and Dharmendra's meetings in Japan are so adorable. You don't see Hindi cinema girls flirting so beautifully and then giving up their love by spreading flowers at the lover's feet and saying, "I am ready to wait." This is incredible. Then, you don't see the same male spy rejecting another beautiful girl's proposal (from the enemy's group), even when she has proved her love by going against her own bosses. Those hidden ghettos, telephones, machines, alarms, and fooling enemies in every step-these all were way ahead of their time and even look the same even today, after 5 decades. "Milti Hai Zindagi Mein Mohabbat" is a beautiful song that appears in the beginning and remains the best song in the entire film. Dharmendra plays the most charming, patriotic, and smartest spy ever, arguably. Mala has done a brilliant job, and so has Ramanand Sagar as the director. No wonder the film was a huge blockbuster despite modern themes. This is the super-agent film we all should embrace and cherish forever. Near classic!
RATING - 7.5/10*
By - #samthebestest.
