Yahan Wahan (YW) means here and there and in this case is the name of a delightful film. It is a low budget, light comedy film reminding you of the likes of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee. The film is produced by Usman Khan and directed by Rajat Rakshit.

YW is a story of 2 ordinary people meeting and falling in love; they have to face some challenging but hilarious situations. Starring Farooq Shaikh, Surinder Kaur, Jagdeep, Aruna Irani and Dina Pathak, it is a less known but nevertheless enjoyable film.

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The Plot

The young couple in YW is Rashi Verma (Surinder Kaur in her debut film) and Rajesh Chopra (Farooq Shaikh). Rashi is a young working woman (an interior decorator by profession). She stays with her childhood friend Neeta (Aruna Irani) in a small rented flat. The flat has its problems like unreliable water supply, a squeaky fan etc. The 2 friends carry on their routine in spite of the hardships.

It’s Rashi’s birthday. Neeta wishes her in the morning before they leave for their respective jobs. Rashi works as an interior decorator. Her boss is Mr. Kapoor (Col. Raj Bharti). She is not expecting her office colleagues to remember her special day but she is in for a pleasant surprise when her boss and colleagues wish her. Mr Kapoor announces that the afternoon tea and snacks (read cakes) will be sponsored by Rashi. She agrees knowing too well that Kapoor is crazy about cake. He loves them and likes to eat them all.

Rashi has gone to “Commerce Building” for some work. Here she meets the hero Rajesh for the first time. They are riding in the same elevator when it suddenly stops. Rajesh is hyper and can’t stop talking nonsense. Rashi is irritated by his behaviour but is somewhat impressed by this good looking man.

The two meet again when they are trying to get a taxi. Later, Rashi is looking for a carpet for one of her clients when Rajesh arrives in the same shop. Rajesh assumes that she is purchasing the expensive carpet worth Rs. 40,000 for herself and must be from a rich family. He tells her clearly that he has not been following her and this is a meeting by chance. He notes that it is a coincidence that they have met three times in a single day.

Back home, Rashi tells Neeta about Rajesh, his personality etc. She is so impressed. Neeta tells her to consider it as a one-off meeting and forget about it. But can Rashi do so?

Rajesh is in a similar condition. He dreams that a rich and snobbish Rashi is visiting his home. She is embarrassed to see his small house and insults him on his face. Rajesh wakes up. He decides to try and meet her again by going to the same building. Rashi thinks of doing the same. But they end up missing each other. However, luck is on their side. By another coincidence, they go to attend the same ghazal performance in the evening. There is a sense of relief when they see each other. Love is in the air!

Rajesh takes her to a restaurant. He praises her for her simplicity in spite of being so rich. She does not correct his assumption. He offers to drop her home. But she is reluctant. She cannot have him seeing her accommodation with all its issues. He is bound to feel insulted after knowing the truth. She makes an excuse that she has to go and see a friend who has met with an accident. They agree to meet again for lunch.

Next day, Mr Kapoor informs Rashi about their new client Mr. Chopra whose flat needs to be redecorated and the job has been assigned to Rashi. Chopra has gone to New Delhi for a week and left the flat’s keys with Kapoor. Rashi can visit his house and start her work. Unknown to Rashi, the new client Mr Chopra is none other than Rajesh. Additionally, Rajesh was supposed to go to New Delhi but that has been taken care of. He will stay in Mumbai.

Its their lunch date and Rajesh insists that post lunch, he will come to her house. He is free today and there will be no excuses this time. Rashi finds herself in a tight spot. She cannot take him to her place as she fears the truth will be out. She needs to keep with the pretense. She comes across the keys of Mr. Chopra’s flat in her purse. An idea strikes her. She decides to take Rajesh to her client’s flat and behave as if it is her flat.

So they go to “her” flat in Gulistan apartments on Pedder Road. Rajesh doesn’t know what is happening when he arrives at his building, on his floor and enters his flat. It is humorous to watch as Rashi cooks up one lie after another when Rajesh asks her “awkward” questions.

Rajesh goes to his friend’s house as he cannot stay in his own flat now that Rashi has “occupied” it. His friend is Fatikchand Bandopadhyaya (Jagdeep), an eccentric Bengali who talks in extra pure shuddha Hindi. Rajesh realises that Kapoor must have rented his flat to Rashi as he had the duplicate keys. Rashi is an honest girl and not to be blamed.

Rashi on the other hand feels guilty that she is lying to Rajesh and staying in a client’s flat. What will happen if the client suddenly returns. She will not be able to face the consequence. Neeta tries to calm her down and asks her not to overthink and enjoy their stay in the luxurious flat.

So, the drama falls into place. But there is one problem after the other. Rajesh’s mother (Dina Pathak) comes to the flat to meet her son (she calls him Billoo fondly). She is perplexed to find two young ladies staying there. Hurriedly, Neeta tells her that there was a telegram stating that Mr. Chopra’s mother will be arriving. This old woman must be the client’s mother. They cannot ask her to go away. They make up a story that they have purchased the flat but she can stay with them. They will help to locate her son’s new address. Seeing no option, Rajesh’s mother settles down in the flat.

The chain of problems, half truths and cover ups continues. Fatik and Neeta also fall in love and decide to spend the rest of their lives together. Amid all this Rajesh and Rashi get closer to each other. There is some misunderstanding created between them. But eventually, the truth is revealed and everything is forgiven and forgotten.

The Music

Indivar and Kalyanji Anandji are credited for the lyricist and music direction. Suresh Wadkar and Alka Yagnik are the singers. One song that stands out is the beautiful ghazal Taj Mahal mein aa jaana…performed by Rajendra Mehta and Nina Mehta on screen.

My Thoughts

YW is a simple film. There are no big stars or budget. There is no villain and scenes of action and revenge that you would find in a typical potboiler. Farooq Shaikh and Surinder Kaur perform brilliantly. There reactions are hilarious to watch as they have to invent a new story every time to cover the lies. Surinder Kaur may not be the conventional Hindi film heroine but she is impressive in her debut film. I was wondering what would be the outcome if Deepti Naval had been paired with Farooq Shaikh. Dina Pathak is fine. Jagdeep and Aruna Irani are most irritating with their over the top acting, expressions and and body language.