Today Milap is remembered mainly as Raj Khosla's directorial debut and nothing more. But to be fair to Khosla, a most underrated director, the film shows enough of his craft to suggest he was destined for better things. There is a certain control over the narrative and the early signs of fine picturization of the songs, always a strength of Khosla's. This was something picked up from mentor Guru Dutt, whom Khosla had assisted in Baazi (1951), Jaal (1952), Baaz (1953) and Aar Paar (1954) prior to this film. In fact, the way Khosla introduces Geeta Bali in the Humse Bhi Karlo number in this film is identical to the way Guru Dutt had introduced Shakila in the Babuji Dheere Chalna song from Aar Paar.

The film is obviously and almost totally 'inspired' from the Frank Capra masterpiece Mr Deeds Goes to Town (1936). So we have Dev Anand and Geeta Bali doing the Gary Cooper - Jean Arthur act. Only here Geeta Bali isn't a reporter but a 'plant' to help cheat Dev Anand out of his wealth. And of course being the heroine, she isn't naturally bad but is forced to be so to help her criminal brother on the run. To Khosla's credit, he keeps the film moving along engrossingly enough. And at least in his country bumkin avtar, he has managed to somewhat shorn Dev Anand off the 'starry' mannerisms that Dev had begun to incorporate in each and every role he played.

In fact, Dev Anand gives a fairly good account of himself in the film and one would have to count this as one of his better performances. Geeta Bali in a role tailor-made for her is a natural. It's a pity a talent like hers got wasted in too many B-grade and C-grade films. KN Singh is a great, slimy villain as always but the Johnny Walker comedy act is a big weakness in the film, in particular the tacky sequence when Johnny gets behind the wheel of the car that just seems to go on and on.

Technically, the film is reasonably competent. Apart from VK Murthy's efficient camerawork, special mention must be made of N Dutta's musical score, in particular the Geeta Dutt solos Jaate Ho To Jaao Par Jaaoge Kahan and Humse Bhi Kar Lo Kabhi Kabhi To Meethi Meethi Do Baaten (No one could get the sexy effect quite like her) and the romantic Lata Mangeshkar solo Yeh Baharon ka Sama. 

All in all, a reasonably assured debut for Khosla.