A Relook at 'Mr and Mrs. 55'

Even though the film was meant to be a light hearted entertainer, it packs in its narrative certain key social difficulties of its time.

Complex issues like unemployment, gender disparities, womanhood and matrimony are thought through in the film along with memorable songs and hilarious comic scenes.

One of the primary social reflections that film makes is about the high levels of unemployment.

Preetam, played by Guru Dutt, is educated and he is a skilled cartoon artist, but he has no opportunity for work. He is left on the mercy of his friend, who lends him necessary help every now and then.

On the other hand, the film highlights the threat of misdirected reaction towards gender violence against women which may end up encouraging contempt and hate for men.  

Sita-devi, a women's right activist, has been harboring disregard for men and particularly towards the matrimonial association.

She is a custodian of her niece Amrita (played by Madhubala) , who is a naïve, young heiress to a rich inheritance from her late father. 

Knowing that his sister Sita-devi would discourage Amrita from getting married, Amrita's father had set Amrita's marriage within one-month after she turns twenty-one as the condition for Amrita to lay claim on this bequest.

To fulfill the condition, Sita-devi, decides to fix a sham marriage for Amrita.  

 She lands up to Preetam, an educated man in need of money, who would marry Amrita and soon divorce her without actually living any bit of this  matrimony.

Preetam who initially repudiates Sita's proposition of fake marriage in exchange of a handsome monthly salary, feels a change of heart as he gets to know that the marriage is with Amrita.

Amrita and Preetam had been coming across each other because of certain chance encounters. 

While Amrita had not picked much notice of Preetam, Preetam on the other hand was smitten in adoration for her in these brief accidental meetings.

Amrita feels disdain for Preetam on knowing that he is the man her aunt convinced to marry for a small amount of money. He remains unable to tell Amrita that he agreed to the marriage in the hope of somehow being with her.

In his quest to convince Amrita of his love and his true intention, he once captures Anita and takes her to his village. Spending some time with his family, Anita starts feeling inspiration to live the matrimonial, homely life with Preetam, but before coming to this realization she had already informed her aunt about her location.

The confusion and distrust aggravates between the couple, which is further fuelled by the aunt and a divorce almost gets finalized, till Amrita gets to know about the obfuscations and falsities her aunt has been making to break their relationship.

Amrita takes charge of her life and for the first time keeps a firm stand against the suppression of her aunt in favor of living a life with Preetam. 

The film projects the idea that women need freedom not from men but from anyone who thinks women can't think for themselves.

The film is founded on the idea that rich people often have a frugal understanding of human relationships and the poorer ones often bear an enriched sense of love and association.

The film's narrative refuses to just be a unidirectional story between Preetam and Amrita as Johny, played by Johny Walker, prominently features humorous sub-plots, sequences that extend the canvas of the world that the film tries to inhabit.

The film is interlaced with songs that are almost conversational and give the narrative an added channel of expression and emotion. 

Like this Qawwali song being performed on streets, is incidentally resembling Preetam's inner state of distraught.

Owing to such high-points the film was very successful at the time of its release, and it is considered among the classics of cinema ever since.