Indeed, if a mainstream Bollywood star of the 1970-90s hasn't played dual roles at least once in his or her career, there must be something wrong with them. Playing double roles was, if you like, the litmus test of a film star's acting talent and ability to carry a film on his or her shoulders. This is one of the age-old obsessions of commercial Hindi cinema which is getting some revival off late, too, in films like Tanu Weds Manu Returns. Mostly such films were about twins lost at birth, then there's the parent/child lookalikes, and while many of them are entertaining, not all of them are of great quality. As a matter of fact, examples of such films where everything, from script to acting, is up to the mark, are few and far between. Seeta Aur Geeta is one such film - made by the great Ramesh Sippy, it is pure quality entertainment with a brilliant performance by Hema Malini.
Does Kishen Kanhaiya live up to the fame of some of the famous twin movies? Not really, but it's not bad either. Anil Kapoor is an enjoyable actor, and Rakesh Roshan sure knew how to make use of his star quality on screen, although it hardly rings true that twins would be identical even in the size of their mustache! In style and execution, this film falls along the lines of ChaalBaaz, with some exaggerated elements and slapstick comedy. But Kishen Kanhaiya is slightly better, and more because it doesn't just rely on the twin story. The film's recurring tune, later shown in the "Krishna" song, is very nice, and "Kuch Ho Gaya Kya Ho Gaya" is fun. It has a brilliant wide-eyed villain in Amrish Puri and above all, it has Madhuri Dixit, who just can't be relegated to pretty ornament as with her natural presence and stunning beauty almost steals the show. A nice show, then.
