SHIKARI 1963 (SINISTER CINEMA)

Well what can I say about this? A lot actually.

This is an Indian version of King Kong believe it or not. After a few song and dance numbers at the beginning of the movie, a crew of circus people and adventurers set sail for an island where they all believe a giant gorilla lives.

They go thru the usual routines of all these kinds of films including hazardous jungles, dangerous volcanoes and some poisonous serpents. Along the way we are entertained by some interesting singing and dancing, which always amuses me, but I have to admit I actually liked a few of the tunes.

One of the members of the expedition is named Jagdish (Madan Puri) and he wants to bring back the gorilla at all costs, including murder. During the course of the film it changes courses several times.

We are even introduced to a character named Dr. Cyclops (K. N. Singh) who is conducting bizarre experiments on people and animals in a secret cave. We learn that he is also responsible for the giant ape.

The effects are not too good, but that doesn't matter too much. We have a man in a moth eaten gorilla suit, strange serpent monsters living in a cave and a giant lizard monster as well.

The running time is listed at 139 minutes but the print I have from Sinister runs 133. This I believe is due to a jump cut after Jagdish murders a companion and then the film jumps to the explorers discovering Dr. Cyclops. Why there is such a jump cut I don't know, but it is startling.

However, I am not tearing this film apart. I went into this thinking I would just hate it, but was I wrong. Yes the comedy is strained and the film is too long, but there is something compelling in watching a film from another country that is so different from ours.

This is only the third film I have ever seen from India and I have found them all entertaining. These can only be enjoyed if you can let go of all the preconceived notions we hold about other cultures. The print is subtitled and as I said, there are a couple of musical numbers I really liked.

I can't recommend this for everyone, of course, but if you're so inclined check it out.