"Don" 1978 One of the classic masala films of the 1970s, Don is a magnificent showcase for the lanky charm of Amitabh Bachchan in his prime. The title character is a powerful lieutenant in an international smuggling ring. Early in the film the body count mounts - and so does Don's arrogance, as he utters the film's famous line, Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin - namumkin hai: "It's not just difficult to catch Don - it's impossible." Soon, though, Don is not just caught but killed, and the police official who is the only witness to his death hatches the cunning plan of hiring a doppleganger to infiltrate Don's gang and collect intelligence. Enter Vijay, a rough, uneducated, paan-chewing Bombay street performer who just happens to be a dead ringer for the departed Don. Vijay must now convince the gang that he is Don - and, after his patron's death, convince the police that he isn't.
Improbable? Sure. But never mind - Don is a thoroughly fun ride. Throw in the beautiful Zeenat Aman as the tough-as-nails, steely Roma, who infiltrates Don's gang to avenge her brother's death, and one of the funkiest, best soundtracks of the era, and it's no wonder this film is a classic. The wheels come off a bit in the film's final third as the plot holes stretch a little wider than they should and the action scenes strain the suspension of disbelief. Still, Don is precisely the kind of escapist fantasy that Bollywood excels at, especially in that era, and Amitabh has plenty of irresistable charm to make up for whatever shortcomings may exist in the script. And it's all in good fun - with its tightrope escapes from tall buildings, improbable urban car-chases, and exploding suitcases, Don never takes itself too seriously.
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