''Aaj Kaa M.L.A Ram Avtar'' ( ''Today's MLA Ram Avtar'') is a 1984

political satire Political satire is a type of satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics. Political satire can also act as a tool for advancing political arguments in conditions where political speech and dissent are banned. Political satir ...

film starring

Rajesh Khanna Rajesh Khanna (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. Considered as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, h ...

. It was a remake of 1983

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...

language film '' MLA Yedukondalu''. The film was appreciated by critics, especially Khanna's performance, but failed to impress the box-office.

Plot

Ram Avtar works as a widowed barber in a small village and lives with his second wife, Sushma, who looks after him and his kids. Ram Avtar also personally grooms Minister Digvijay Singh. When Digvijay's political party is in need of someone to stand in the forthcoming election, Digvijay recommends Ram Avtar as his choice. This chance is grabbed by Ram Avtar and he wins the elections and becomes a big politician. Sushma watches the changes in his life from the sidelines.

Cast

as Ram Avtar *

Shabana Azmi Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Her career in the Hindi cinema, Hindi film industry has spanned Shabana Azmi filmography, over 160 films, mostly within independent and neorealist paral ...

as Sushma *

Shatrughan Sinha Shatrughan Prasad Sinha (born 15 July 1946) is an Indian actor and politician. He is a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Asansol constituency as a member of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). Earlier he was elected as Member of Parliament ...

as Kranti Kumar *

Asrani Govardhan Asrani (born 1 January 1941), known popularly by mononym Asrani, is an Indian actor and director whose Bollywood career has spanned over five decades. He has acted in over 350 Hindi films. Asrani has played the lead roles, character ...

as Bhajanlal *

Satyen Kappu Satyendra Kappu (born Satyendra Sharma; also credited as Satyen Kappu; 7 February 1931 – 27 October 2007), was an Indian character actor in Bollywood films. He has acted in 390 films. His most remembered role is Ramlal in the movie ''Sholay'' ...

as Digvijay Singh * A. K. Hangal as Balmukund Tripathi *

Madan Puri Madan Puri (30 September 1915 – 13 January 1985) was an Indian actor of Hindi and Punjabi films. His brothers were actors Chaman Puri and Amrish Puri. As a character actor mainly in negative roles (villain), he acted in about 430 films in ...

as Makhanlal Kesari *

Om Shivpuri Om Shivpuri (14 July 1938 – 15 October 1990) was an Indian theatre actor-director and character actor in Hindi films. A National School of Drama, New Delhi alumnus, Shivpuri became the first chief of the National School of Drama Repertory C ...

as Gaurishankar *

Shubha Khote Shubha Balsavar (''née'' Khote) is an Indian film and television actress who has worked in several Hindi-language and a few Marathi- Bhojpuri- films. She is also a former women's national champion in swimming and cycling. Early life and educa ...

as Mrs. Bhajanlal *

Deven Verma Deven Verma (23 October 1937 – 2 December 2014) was an Indian film and television actor, particularly known for his comic roles, with Bollywood directors like Basu Chatterji, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Gulzar. He also produced and directed fi ...

as Digvijay's PA * Huma Khan as Bhajanlal's Daughter * Chitti Babu

Soundtrack

Lyrics:

Indeevar Shyamalal Babu Rai, known professionally as Indeevar (also credited as Indiwar and Indeewar), (1 January 1924 – 27 February 1997) was one of the leading Hindi film lyricists from the 1960s then through1990s Early life He was born and grew ...

Reception

The Hindu ''The Hindu'' is an Indian English-language daily newspaper owned by The Hindu Group, headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was founded as a weekly publication in 1878 by the Triplicane Six, becoming a daily in 1889. It is one of the India ...

'' in its review of the film wrote on Rajesh Khanna's performance, "Like most of his works, it also keeps you engaged with its pulsating heart and potent dialogues. In his climactic speech, Ram Avtar brings out what ails Indian democracy. When he says that those who sell their votes are equally corrupt as those who buy them, it rings a bell. When he points out that Indian public usually claps for bombastic speeches and unrealistic promises, it seems he is addressing aaj ka (today's) voter.

References

External links

* 1984 films Hindi remakes of Telugu films 1980s political drama films Indian political drama films 1980s Hindi-language films 1980s Indian films Films directed by Dasari Narayana Rao Films scored by Bappi Lahiri {{1980s-Hindi-film-stub