I am no movie-buff but I definitely know a little bit about good
and not so good cinema.

Dev Anand starrer 1961 hit "HUM DONO" is a Classic Masterpiece.
No two opinions about it.

The film revolves around Anand and his tryst with destiny.The storyline is exquisitely simple and happens during World War 2.Anand (Dev Anand) and Mita (Sadhana) are madly in love.But Mita is a daughter of a rich but a self-made man (Gajanan Jahagirdar).

On the day when Anand formally goes to Mita's palatial home to meet her father, he gets insulted by her father on the same old "SUKHI ROTI " issue.

A frustrated & pained Anand joins Army and goes to Burma.
While on the battle-field, on day, he finds a wallet belonging to a certain Major Verma.

He goes to the base camp only to discover that Major Verma is just his look-alike.(Thankfully the guys at Navketan did not think of Judwaa bhais Lost & Found formula  here)

Both become fast friends and in their freindship Major Verma shares his grief and pain over separation from his --or rather everyone's family.

"Woh kya hain ki humein apne maa se, premika se , biwi se alag karta hain.." he says in a voice which moves you to tears !

Later in the war, Major Verma is fatally injured and almost sure of death.He forces Anand to leave the war-front position with a promise to take care of his mother (the great Lalita Pawar ) and his wife Ruma (Nanda) if he dies.

Anand leaves the Major dying on the battle-field and joins his other team-members and continues fighting the war.

The next thing we know that Anand is promoted as a major and his leave is granted by Army superiors - he returns to his home and another grief awaits him.

His mother is no more but Mita has been waiting for him for all this time.But a greater surprise and shock awaits him.

His plans of marrying Mita are shattered when he visit Major Verma's house to fulfill his promise but is mistaken for Major Verma himself. And due to Rooma's weak heart, he is forbidden to reveal his true identity by Major Verma's family doc.

Caught in a strange strife he has to decide between a conflict to tell Rooma the truth or not....

A lot of high action and emotional drama follows and finally he is able to win Mita over all his obstacles.

The movie is shot beautifully ( though it is shot in black and white) and what is beautifully portrayed is the interplay of the characters and their emotions truely echoes the fact that the film is made with a lot of passion and love.

The utter destruction that war causes on the soldiers and their families is also quite self-evident.

And now about the players -

Dev Anand - I think this is one of best films by Dev Saab...I have truely liked him only in GUIDE so much as in this film.

He has done a classic act with both the characters and their mannerisms..on one hand, Anand - the young man madly in love, careless but yet very self-motivated and on the other hand the warm but strict Major Verma really deserve all accolades.

Sadhana is just too cute as Mita - really uses her eyes terrifically.

Nanda has really portrayed a mature housewife for whom PATI PARMESHWAR is the whole and her soul. And strikingly her love is revealed at the climax to be of such a high superlative and spiritual value that one can just wish to be loved in such a way by his/her spouse.

Music by Jaydev is amazing - all the tracks are melodious and you tend to loose yourself when you listen.

"Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya" (Md.Rafi) is an all-time inspirational while "Abhi Na Jaoo Chodkar" (Md.Rafi-Asha)takes love to a new high. "Allah tero Naam"(Lata)  is one of the best bhajans the Indian film industry has ever produced.

"Kabhi khud pe kabhi halaat pe rona aaya" ( Md.Rafi again) is a real slow melodramatic kinda track.

Direction by Vijay Anand is awesome.Starting with the romantic scene between Anand and Mita, the battlefield sequences, funny scenes at the Battle-field ( when soldiers are confused when both these "judwaa bhais" come together), family scenes at Major Verma's house  are all shot with 1000% honesty, sincerity and simplicity giving it a classic masterpiece look.

Three Cheers to all those who have made, saw and liked this movie !

To end ,

"Main zindagi ka saath nibhaata chala gaya,

Har fikr ko dhue me udaata chala gaya,

Barbaadiyoon ka sok manana fizuul tha

Barbaadiyon ka jashna manaata chala gaya" 

meaning ---

I lived my life with a full heart,

Puffing out all worries like the (cigarette's) smoke

T 'was futile to grieve ( or ponder over )  my losses

(Thus) celebrating the losses I lived