| Boeing Boeing | |
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| Directed by | Priyadarshan |
| Produced by | Evershine Productions |
| Written by | Priyadarshan Sreenivasan (dialogue) |
| Starring | Mohanlal Mukesh M.G. Soman Jagathy Sreekumar Lizy Sukumari Menaka Maniyanpilla Raju Sankaradi |
| Music by | Reghu Kumar K. J. Joy |
| Cinematography | S. Kumar |
| Editing by | Sankunni |
| Distributed by | Evershine |
| Release date(s) | 1985 |
| Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Malayalam |
Boeing Boeing (Malayalam: ബോയിംഗ് ബോയിംഗ്) is a 1985 Malayalam film directed by Priyadarshan, a film adaptation based on the 1960 French play Boeing-Boeing. The story follows Shyam (Mohanlal) who tries dating more than one air hostess with the help of his friend Anilkumar (Mukesh). It works like a charm at first but things start to crumble which leads to a series of funny events.
Priyadarshan remade the film again as Garam Masala (2005).
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Mohanlal plays Shyam, a silvertongued but essentially likeable weasel. He's a flirt, engaged to wed Sreekutty(Menaka). He doesn't have much luck with women, or his career, but when a bunch of opportunists seem to pop into his life with all kinds of dreamy offers, he bites. Suddenly, he finds himself stirring an ambitious fiancée soup, dating three airhostesses and driving cars he doesn't own with the help of his friend Kuttappan(Maniyanpilla Raju).
He rises to the occasion admirably. Even as he meticulously takes down flight schedules and itinerary details, he finds himself flummoxed on many a turn, where he lies magnificently through his teeth. Soon, he's 'in the zone', and a complete player, addicted to the thrills of infidelity.
And everyone is a co-conspirator. Mukesh is Anil, a smarmy stud with an exuberant lack of scruples. While managing to wangle his way to a promotion, a Mumbai trip, he looks up to Shyam, despite the obvious rivalry, Anil decides to move in as acolyte.
Shyam is a pro, and wants Anil out of his life, but has to begrudgingly admit that he's a huge help with the ladies. Anil might act unflappable with others around, but grovels in front of Shyam to let him stay. Beneath the egos and competition, however, it's pretty visible that these two like each other.
Another one stirring the broth is Sukumari, the oddly named Miss Dick(Dickammayi), a moody chef whose husband was in Military, who eloped and married her sister. She has been warned about women in the house, but is unaware of her domestic duties would involve shuffling pictures in and out of photoframes, and making three different kinds of dinner on the same night. Justifiably, she often flies off the handle and vainly demands a never-forthcoming raise.
There's a startlingly fine moment when Shyam and Anil are devastated by the airhostess-surfing game they play. They've barely managed to disengage from a lethal imbroglio, and look set to quit while they're still ahead. Both men are exhausted, downbeat and seemingly resigned to their fate. Elena, one of the three airhostess(Lizy) starts feeling softcorner for Anil and they decide to lead a life together. Shyam and Anil size each other up and sigh wearily, and just when they're going to throw in the towel, they solemnly make their decision. 'One for you, two for me,' Shyam mutters, as if it's the most natural thing in the world. Anil, equally cool, nods and seals the deal. But the commotion doesn't end over there. The other two air hostess finds out that they have been cheated. By the end both Shyam and Anil realizes their mistakes and Shyam decides to marry his "Murapennu", Sreekutty.
Boeing Boeing is considered by some as the most timely comedy of the '80s. The comedy scenes from the films are still popular among the mass and has a huge cult following. It was also praised for the combination of the well appreciated duo of Mohanlal and Mukesh who did several such roles together later. This film was the last Priyadarshan film Yesudas sang for before their fallout. Later Yesudas sang for Priyadarshan 14 years later in 1999 for the film Megam. Again after that Yesudas has not sung for Priyadarshan. In 2005, Priyardarshan, shot a Hindi version of this film named Garam Masala starring Akshay Kumar and John Abraham. The movie was a big hit.