This is a public service announcement for those living under rock. Most of my friends went through 18 dull years of their lives without seeing this film. I know. Crazy.

It’s hard to think of a movie that has so many B’wood heavyweights.

Best male playback singer

Best comedian/actor

Most beautiful heroine

Best bad guy

All for the price of one.

I humbly present Half Ticket.

Plot: Appropriately silly

Cast: Kishore Kumar, Madhubala, Pran, Shammi, Tun Tun, Manorama

Note to IMDB: Om Prakash has nothing to do with this movie. There is, however a hilarious cameo by Pradeep Kumar.

Music: Salil Chaudhari (great as usual)

Highlights: Too many to note, but here are just a few.

Chil chil chillaake has KK in great form. The background is filled with exceptional bunch of strange looking people. Shailendra is credited with, ahem, lyrics.

Aake seedhi lagi dil pe: A duet sung by one singer. Lata Mangeshkar was originally slated to sing the female lead. KK decided to sing it himself. His logic was simple. He was playing the female part on-screen, so he might as well sing it off-screen.

Woh ek nigaah kya mili tabeeyaten machal gayi: This Danny Kaye inspired song features Helen, the original and the best item girl.

KK playing tape recorder salesman. Things somehow lead to Shammi – KK dance.

Life lesson: Always keep an extra set of mustache in your breast pocket. You never know when bad guys will attack (see Helen song).

Social Relevance: Perhaps the only hindi film in which the groom touches bride’s feet.

Gripe: The final 15 minutes seem to go on forever, even by hindi film standards.

JB has put together some great clips here.