Teesri Manzil: Movie Review

Firstly I would like to state that I loved this movie. I would not have been able to put as much effort into writing this, if I did not completely and utterly LOVE this movie.

As I write this review I ask myself, is Teesri Manzil the greatest movie of Indian cinema? Well, no. Perhaps not.

Is it a movie that changed the world of film making? Hmm, not really.

But it is a great movie, a memorable one. It has the kind of content for which it will be remembered or at least should be remembered for a really long time.And as I said, I loved it.

What I would like to also state is that after watching this film, I love Shammi Kapoor. 

You see, in this world there are actors. There are method actors, there are serious actors, there are versatile actors. And then there is this man. A rebel, a clown(a sexy one), a wild burst of fierce energy and passion that is the unique signature of the one and the only Shammi Kapoor.

Okay now to proceed with the movie review.

Teesri Manzil is a movie about a girls hatred towards the man she thinks is responsible for her sister’s death, this man’s need to prove his innocence and love to her, while the real killer lurks after him.

Rupa the sister of Sunita (Asha Parekh) dies, seeming to have committed suicide by jumping from the third floor of Park Hotel Mussoorie. But Sunita thinks that Rupa killed herself because of Rocky (Shammi Kappor), the hotel band drummer fooling around with Rupa.

When Sunita arrives at Park Hotel, Rocky comes to know of her hatred for him and hides his identity from her. Rocky takes the guise of Anil Kumar Sona, a rich industrialist’s son. Slowly Sunita and Rocky fall in love and Rocky wants to tell her the truth about her sister.

The question is who was responsible for the death of Rupa? The police inspector Das, who has been trailing Rocky thinks that it was most certainly a murder.

Is Rocky a murderer? Is Ruby(Helen) the hotel dancer, the culprit? Is it Ramesh(Prem Chopra), the fiancé of Rupa? Or is it someone else entirely?

Rocky was also on the third floor of Park Hotel, the night Rupa jumped from there. There is a lingering doubt in the mind of the murderer that he/she left some proof behind and Rocky might be the person who has knowingly or unknowingly found it. 

Rocky has to find the real killer with the help of Inspector Das, before the killer gets to him. And the murderer is the kind of cruel, shrewd person who will not stop at anything to protect himself/herself.

At its essence Teesri Manzil is sprung around the theme of how dangerous love can be. It is also about a young man discovering his capabilities when his survival is at stake.

Besides the story this movie has some great songs. To pick a favorite is difficult, but I think I liked O Hassena Zulfowali and O Mere Sona the most.(Though watching Shammi Kapoor perform on any of the songs is a treat.)

At the very start of the movie there is an amazing scene where we see Rocky(Shammi Kapoor), Sunita(Asha Parekh) walking towards the train ticket counter but the camera focuses only on their legs.

So if you want to find out who the murderer is, watch this movie. If you love Hindi movies, then watch this movie. If you saw this movie many years back and vaguely recall what it’s all about then, watch. This. Movie.

PS: There is another part to this review containing spoilers. Click here to read.