Heavy Petting – What would our films be without Tuffy

What would our Hindi films be without a dog like Tuffy or Tinchu?

A dog is not just a man’s best friend: he is an umpire during a cricket match, a letter delivery service and a faithful mourner, because “Pooja ke jaane ke baad, Tuffy ka bhi mann nahin lagta.”

A dog is not just a man’s best friend: he is an umpire during a cricket match, a letter delivery service and a faithful mourner, because “Pooja ke jaane ke baad, Tuffy ka bhi mann nahin lagta.” In Hum Aapke Hain Koun…! (1994) the late Redo, an Indian Spitz, played Tuffy to perfection.

In Teri Meherbaniyan, Moti, the dog (in photo), cries copious Nirupa Roy tears, but makes sure to take revenge on his master’s killers, much like an angry young Bachchan.

In Gunda (1998), Tinchu the monkey provides Mithun Chakraborty much-needed friendship in a world where his enemies speak in rhyme, rape with impunity, use babies as body shields; he even rescues the understandably traumatised baby who won’t stop crying.

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Ajooba (1991), an Indo-Russian effort, was the first and last time a human being (Amitabh Bachchan) was raised by a dolphin.

Rekha has so many animals to thank in Khoon Bhari Maang (1988): the dog and the horse who were by her side, hastey hastey, and that crocodile who mauls her in the first half, but realises his mistake and then helpfully kills Kabir Bedi in the end.

Special Mention: Every white dove or pigeon that has had sex on behalf of the lead actors in the film.

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