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() is a 1989 Indian
Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
-language action crime film directed by Aditya Bhattacharya, starring
Aamir Khan Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Bollywood, Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of film g ...
and Supriya Pathak in the lead roles with
Pankaj Kapur Pankaj Kapur (born 29 May 1954) is an Indian actor who has worked in Hindi theatre, television and films. Recipient of a Filmfare Award and three National Film Awards, his most acclaimed film roles include that of Inspector P.K. in '' Raakh'' ...
, Gajanan Bangera and Jagdeep. The film was Aamir Khan's first movie after ''
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak ''Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak'' (; ''QSQT''), also known by the initialism ''QSQT'', is a 1988 Indian Hindi-language romantic musical film, directed by Mansoor Khan in his directorial debut, and written and produced by Nasir Hussain. The film st ...
'' and it received much critical acclaim and subsequently three
National Film Awards The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...
in 1989 and developed a considerable following over the years. The film also marked the Bollywood debut of ace cinematographer
Santosh Sivan Santosh Sivan ISC (born 8 February 1964) is an Indian cinematographer, film director, producer and actor known for his works in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi cinema. Santosh graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India and has, to ...
and film editor A. Sreekar Prasad.


Plot

As declared in the subtitles of the opening scene, the events of the film take place in a big city in India. After the police riots of 1990, the State Forces were disbanded and replaced by a central one. The police now had more powers. The crime rate continued to escalate. In the wealthier quarters of the city, though, life went on... but it was an uneasy calm. Aamir (
Aamir Khan Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Bollywood, Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of film g ...
) had just turned 21. He is from a rich family. The only colour in his otherwise mundane life was his obsession for Neeta, an older, more pragmatic woman, who likes him, but does not share his plans for their future. One night, on their way back from a party, Neeta is molested by a local crime boss, Hassan Karmali, and Amir intervenes violently. On their way back home in their car, they are intercepted by Karmali, and his goons, and Karmali rapes Neeta, with Aamir watching helplessly. Unknown to Aamir, an off-duty police officer is a silent witness to the incident. Frustrated, possessed by impotent rage and a sense of injustice, Aamir has to find release. He leaves home... he turns to Sub-Inspector Kapoor – the silent witness. Kapoor, pretending to be unaware of the incident, agrees to help Aamir, as, in spite of dancing to their tunes, Kapoor hates the Karmalis and his inability to act against them. (Years ago, Kapoor had taken on the Karmali clan, an unwise move that nearly destroyed his career.) Aamir now feels he has a friend. Till one day, realising the truth, he is shattered. Soon after, S.I. Kapoor is suspended after he loses control in front of his superiors at a party thrown by Karmali and tries to shoot him. His life begins to spiral downwards. Now alone, frightened, without a job, and with nothing to lose, he sees in Aamir the means to fulfill his dark, unresolved dreams, which have by now taken the form of an obsession. Together they set about eliminating their common enemy – members of the dreaded Karmali family. Kapoor, the embittered cop, becomes a dark mentor to the innocent but fearless Aamir. Neeta, unaware of the changes in Aamir's life, has decided to put her past behind her. She begins, slowly but painfully, to reconstruct her life. Meanwhile, Aamir slips into a vortex of terrifying violence – a road to certain doom. While the first murder he commits drives Amir almost crazy with guilt, slowly, he gets used to it and even starts enjoying it. Theirs is a war with no victors, a battle that has no glory. Amidst the lies of a logical life, sometimes the only truth is in madness, in losing control. Finally, Kapoor and Aamir manage to corner Karmali at his sister's wedding. As Kapoor shoots Karmali dead, he is shot at and killed by one of his corrupt ex-colleagues. After Kapoor dies in his arms, Aamir picks up his gun and supposedly shoots down the corrupt cop. The last scene once again returns to the opening sequence, where Aamir, now on death row, contemplates the events of his short and poignant life.


Cast

*
Aamir Khan Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Bollywood, Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of film g ...
- Amir Hussein * Supriya Pathak - Neeta *
Pankaj Kapur Pankaj Kapur (born 29 May 1954) is an Indian actor who has worked in Hindi theatre, television and films. Recipient of a Filmfare Award and three National Film Awards, his most acclaimed film roles include that of Inspector P.K. in '' Raakh'' ...
- Inspector P.K. * Jagdeep - Ustad * Gajanan Bangera - Inspector * Naina Balsaver - Naina * Homi Wadia - Hassan Karmali *
Madhukar Toradmal Madhukar Toradmal (24 July 1932 – 2 July 2017) was a Marathi actor, writer, professor and translator who acted in numerous Marathi dramas and movies. He translated over 20 plays. He was associated with Marathi theatre since 1971 and performe ...
- Karmali Seth


Crew

* Art Direction – Partho Sengupta


Re-release

This film was to be re-released in theatres in India on 12 June 2009 after 20 years with digitally re-mastered prints, by the film producers together with Palador Pictures. It was to be followed by DVD release in August 2009. The scheduled re-release eventually did not happen due to certain undisclosed reasons, ostensibly because it fell during a producer-multiplex owner standoff during the period.


Awards

36th National Film Awards: Won * Best Supporting Actor
Pankaj Kapur Pankaj Kapur (born 29 May 1954) is an Indian actor who has worked in Hindi theatre, television and films. Recipient of a Filmfare Award and three National Film Awards, his most acclaimed film roles include that of Inspector P.K. in '' Raakh'' ...
* Special Mention (Feature Film)
Aamir Khan Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Bollywood, Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of film g ...
* Best EditingA. Sreekar Prasad ; 35th Filmfare Awards: Nominated * Best Actor
Aamir Khan Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, filmmaker, and television personality who works in Bollywood, Hindi films. Referred to as "Mr. Perfectionist" in the media, he is known for his work in a variety of film g ...
* Best Supporting Actor
Pankaj Kapur Pankaj Kapur (born 29 May 1954) is an Indian actor who has worked in Hindi theatre, television and films. Recipient of a Filmfare Award and three National Film Awards, his most acclaimed film roles include that of Inspector P.K. in '' Raakh'' ...
* Best StoryAditya Bhattacharya


References


External links

* {{IMDb title, 0290820 1989 films 1980s Hindi-language films 1980s crime action films 1989 action thriller films 1989 crime thriller films Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor National Film Award–winning performance Indian rape and revenge films Films about rape in India Films scored by Ranjit Barot Films whose editor won the Best Film Editing National Award Indian crime action films Indian action thriller films Indian crime thriller films 1989 directorial debut films Hindi-language action thriller films Hindi-language crime thriller films