Doctor Ramu has spent years in the jungle trying to develop a serum
that will grant eternal youth, but now that he has finished, lions attack
and kill him, while his boy escapes in a hot air balloon together with his
servant Dada, and his wife Uma goes insane. 15 years later, the
professor, doctor Ramu's father, launches an expedition to the jungle to
fin d traces of what happened to his son, an expedition that is also
joined by Biharilal, a shady adventurer who actually wants the doctor's
serum (the formula of which the doctor hid in a locket around his son's
neck), and Leela, the adopted daughter of the professor. In the jungle, it
doesn't take our heroes long to run into cannibals ... but they are chased
away by a jungle man soon enough, Tarzan. It doesn't take the professor
and company long to figure Tarzan is actually the professor's grandson,
and they try to communicate with him, but he's just not interested. He
likes Leela though, so he kidnaps her, and she soon learns to like him
back and enjoy jungle life. The cannibals in the meantime have not been
idle, so they eventually attack the professor's party again, and with no
Tarzan to save them, they are powerless and are quickly captured and
dragged to cannibal village where they are to be torn to pieces by the
cannibals' gorilla-like monster. The cannibal also capture Tarzan's dog
and use him as a bait for Leela. However, the dog is plenty smart, and he
soon manages to loosen his ropes, escape, and get Tarzan. Tarzan arrives
just in time to save Leela from the monster, and he, Dada and his dog
manage to hold off the cannibals and free the professor and company. Then
they manage to escape across a canyon and make it impossible for the
cannibals to follow. Uma shows up, wearing two life-size skulls on her
arms (really) and talking like a madwoman - but the professor, who has
never seen her before, does still recognize her to be his daughter-in-law.
Even Tarzan begins to realize she might be his mother. Then though,
Biharilal decides to show his true colours, and he tries to shoot Tarzan
for the serum around his neck - but Uma catches the bullet meant for her
son. Biharilal is quickly overcome, while in her death, Uma finds back to
sanity. The professor and company depart, but Leela stays behind with
Tarzan. Basically, this is a cheaply made (and unauthorized) Tarzan
movie made in India but borrowing heavily from its US-American
counterparts. Basically, it's easy to see here what is wrong with the film
due to business restrictions, primitive filming conditions, rushed
schedules and the like - but at the same time, it's a loveable and
enjoyably pulpy piece of escapism that might not speak to your inner
critic ... but to your inner child! That said of course, there are
better Tarzan-movies out there that speak to your inner
child even louder.
|