Shakti

Acting by Amitabh Bachan and Rakhi was amazing...it was a little awkward to see them in son and mother's role considering they both played romantic roles in most previous films but I guess, realistically speaking, Indian backward mentality of any woman 30+ starts playing mama's role for same actors they starred opposite. Same thing is happening with today's starts like Sharukh and Salman who are close to 50 and yet playing opposite to girls who could be their daughters but same role is never reversed with an actress in her 40s starring opposite to actors in their 20s. Coming back to this movie...I was surprised seeing so many positive feedbacks even though story highlighted a big flaw (IMHO) where who is sane mind would put their job/ duty over their family? Is love and loyalty for one's job more important than taking care of their family? In reality, I don't think...it, for me, this point is debatable and sadly the writer (Khan and Akthar) appear to be enforcing their point of view till the very end without even realizing that two people (son and mother) both died because of father's duty in the movie. The mother died saving father and son was killed by father in the name of duty and there was no sense of regret or realization from the character of Dilip Kumar of his decisions were questionable in the movie. I will give it 3 out 10 only because of superb acting by Big B and Rakhi. Otherwise this film, in my view, has a terrible ending and a poor message.

Two mega stars of Bollywood, Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan star in this action drama. The story is pretty familiar, with the father cast as a dedicated inspector and son a criminal. Instead of regular stunts and villains, the film focuses much on the psychological relationship between a father and the son, who both love each other immensely but fail to understand each other until it is too late. In their roles as a father and son, both mega stars have performed brilliantly and instead of their star power they have shown their pure acting skills. Smita Patil and Rakhee both have shared some of the most heart felt sequences. Music and songs are good enough. The flaws if you want to point out include certain sequences which are familiar from other Amitabh Bachchan movies like the regular cop and criminals chase, Amitabh's alcoholic scene, or the regular image of the police. Rating: 2 stars out of 4

Shakti review : While Salim Javed's Deewaar (1975) had two warring brothers on opposite sides of the law, their Shakti saw the same situation arise between a baap - beta duo. Noted for being the only film to feature acting legends Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan together, Shakti is one of the most powerful and intense films made in Bollywood. Continuing to stir a debate on who was better - Dilip Saahab or Amitabh - Shakti remains favourite film of both the legends fans. In my opinion, Dilip Kumar had an edge over Amitabh at script level itself as his role of upright honest cop Ashwini Kumar was far better written than Amitabh's Vijay who is a flawed brooding anti hero with minimum dialogues. Even then, Amitabh was excellent in the film and his rant in drunken stupor to Smita Patil demonstrates the actors class. Every scene where Bachchan and Dilip Kumar come together is electrifying experience for the audience. The police station scene where Dilip Saahab reprimands his reel son Amitabh to Rakhee's death scene where Amitabh consoles a weeping Dilip Kumar is extraordinary. Full marks to director Ramesh Sippy for not only doing total justice to the Salim Javed script but also for extracting outstanding performances from the entire cast - Rakhee and Smita Patil included. If not for Sholay (1975), Shakti would've been the best film of his illustrious career. RD Burman's music is melodious and the awesome background score (BGM) was later referenced in most of 80s and 90s films. MS Shinde's editing is another strong point of the film. Shockingly, Shakti underperformed at the box office when released in late 1982 though it has gathered a cult following today. Earlier in the same year, Jeetendra's masala potboiler Farz Aur Kanoon, which had a similar plot, became a super hit while the hard hitting realistic Shakti tanked. But then, who remembers Farz Aur Kanoon today??!!!! Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

This film reflects excellently, how man falls victims of circumstances. The Police Officer (Dilip Kumar), when asked by gangster JK (Amrish Puri) to pay up the ransom (in exchange for release of his young son,) out of bravado, retorts that the gang can kill his kidnapped son Vijay, he will never compromise. The gang records the Police Officer's retort and plays it to the captive child, who is shattered after listening to this. This incident is the turning point of the movie as a whole and though the Police Officer-father is somewhat contrite about this, the 'wayward' son (Amitabh Bachchan) never sees him as a father. Also, there is another incident, in which Vijay fights off some goons who try to molest a woman (Smita Patil), soon after which he is arrested on murder charge. Vijay's father is reluctant to defend him. This definitely and decisively turns DCP Ashwini Kumar into a sworn enemy in his son's eyes. The film ends with the father killing the son as he tries to escape after killing his childhood captor JK (this avenging his mother's murder) and even while dying the son tries to avoid the father as he advances to touch him.

It was 1982, and I waited all evening at Jumbo Video Centre in Kuwaiti Building in Bahrain to get my hands on a copy of Shakti on VHS. I was in class VIII that year, still realising the depth and breadth of Hindi cinema, and commercial films with large stair casts were my regular beckoning. Shakti was one of the most anticipated films of the year, billed "The Clash of The Titans", and I had huge hopes of entertainment pinned on it. After having waited until 10 pm that night, the much coveted video cassette was handed over to me by Rajesh, the owner of the parlour, and I remember running home all of the over a kilometer distance in excitement, my parents also waiting to watch the epic. Epic it was by all standards. Produced by Mushir-Riaz and directed by Ramesh Sippy, it opened to a scene straight out of Sholay's opening scene, a train stopping at a deserted platform and a young man stepping out, none other than Anil Kapoor, recently having debuted with Woh 7 Din. Then came thespian Dilip Kunar and Smita Patil, the only other survivors of the family, and Shakti began its narrative on a truly sombre note. As the flashback played out for the rest of the film, the story gathered pace, and how! As it starts out telling the tale of a childhood kidnapping of Vijay, the only son to Ashwini Kumar (the pivotal character played by Dilip Kumar, you almost thought that this is going to be another potboiler, urging yourself lower the expectations. But Shakti was meant to belong to a different class of filmmaking. As the father-son conflict started spawning, Amitabh Bachchan made his grand entry as the brooding, intense anti-hero, torn between the love for his mother and the dislike for his father's diehard principles. Oh the clash of the titans it undisputedly was, a simmering, smouldering conflict that rose to dizzying heights, leaving the viewers drooling over the prospects of a crescendo at the climax. Rakhee Gulzar's Sheetal and Smita Patil's Roma were the soothing balm of the dazzling war of histrionics of the two superstars, one from the past and another reigning the present. Everything was prim and proper. The music by R.D. Burman turned the melancholy strains of the story into melody, that's today considered classic. The episodes where Ashwini and Vijay came together on the screen were dramatically underplayed by the director, allowing the two of them to act out their hearts - and a battle royal it was. I know who won the trophy on this occasion, the winner was loud and clear, albeit in an intense silence and a well nuanced, controlled dialogue delivery and body language, but allow me to be politically correct by stating both Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan held their fort and gave their best. The viewers were the winners, rarely had we seen anything as good in commercial cinema since Deewar. Every moment was Shakti was worth its weight in gold. The imax was predictable as it had been defined right at the start, but a tearjerker it was in the end, sounding off the end to the legendary clash and it did deliver the crescendo it promised. Shakti turned 38 this year and I read with utter horror yesterday that there's a plan to remake it. Pray tell me it isn't a sacrilege to reinvent the wheel and try to improve upon perfection? Who can step into the shoes of and stand in for Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan? Why take away our simple pleasure of watching replay of Shakti with all its bells and whistles in original? What justice do you think this remake will mete out? I have watched Shakti over 40 times and can see it another forty times as it remains one of the best films of my lifetime and it should be preserved for its worth, not dabbled with for the purposes of experimentation or commercial benefits. Please allow Shakti to retain its place in our hearts and minds.

Shakti is a very interesting film, although it's hardly original. The film is in a way a variation of Deewar, which in itself is a version of Ganga Jamuna. The only difference is that Deewar shows a clash between brothers and Shakti between a father and son. But that being said, the relationship is actually very, very well portrayed. Due credit should go to Ramesh Sippy who is one of the great directors of mainstream Hindi cinema. He directs the film really well and except for the action sequences, which are not very well done, and some of the scenes towards the end, the film is a huge surprise in its depth, subtlety and realistic dialogue. The interactions between the characters are often quite real and the narrative reminds one of some European films, as its power comes from its serenity. Even the background score is often beautiful and soothing and not the usual whiny type. The actors are very good - Kumar is typically understated in the part and so is Bachchan who gives another fantastic performance, letting the viewers sense his inner pain all through. The two actors work really well opposite one another, while Raakhee and Smita Patil absolutely shine each in her role. Raakhee takes up the risk of playing wife to Kumar and mother to Bachchan, usually her regular romantic costar. While in other films such casting decisions are pathetic and seem to belittle the value of the actresses and their sell-by-date, here it seems like Raakhee's conscious choice to challenge herself. She is excellent. In a smaller part, Patil, a stupendous actress, does a lot with so little. Bachchan's scenes with Raakhee and Patil are of the film's best. Shakti is an unoriginal story which turns into an original, captivating film, which is not extraordinary but worth a watch.

It is indeed a feast to watch the performance of the superstars in the movie. The plot is well developed. And Amitabh stands shoulder to shouler with 'Mughal E Azam' Dilip Kumar. Its not a question of who tops whom ? or who is best and who is worst ? They both suited their roles. And its a pleasure to watch them. Highly recommended in the must see movie.

Ramesh Sippy directed few Indian films, I think approx. ten or eleven. But almost all were super hits with box office records. It would be appropriate to call him the William Wyler of Indian cinema. With the help of two superstars, Dilip being more mature and compelling than Amitabh; Sippy was successful in churning out an emotionally charged blockbuster with excellent acting performance by all, even Ashok Kumar in his cameo role as the IGP. The dialogues are superb and completely synchronize with the turbulent sequence of events throughout the film. Good songs and great acting by the cast constitute something which is devoid in present day movies. The climactic, action packed and emotionally electrifying ending of the film is something special to remember for the audience. Dilip Kumar excels while Amitabh continues to carry the torch of stardom.

After reading Simon Booth's comment, I could not help comparing Deewar and Shakti. Deewar and Shakti have similar story lines but yet they are so different. In addition to being the story of a mother torn between two sons on the opposite side of the law, Deewar is also a comment on the prevailing socio economic conditions in India in mid 70s. It deals with unemployment, Ravi (Shashi Kapoor) unable to find a job despite having struggled so hard. It deals with the inability of people to get rich by legitimate means. Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) has to become a smuggler to fulfill his aspirations. There is also an idealist retired school teacher (A K Hangal) unable to make ends meet. Deewar brings out the failure of the system after thirty years of socialism. Shakti is story of relationships. More precisely the tense relationship of three characters - father, mother and son. Its the story of a father and son conflict with the mother unable to side with either. It is also the story of parents who miss their estranged son and cannot figure out what went wrong in bringing him up. Finally it is the story of unexpressed affection. Remember the final scene where dying Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) tells his father Ashwini (Dilip Kumar) that in spite of trying hard to not he always loved his father. And Ashwini says why did he not ever say so. Shakti is fairly consistent with the storyline. Deewar has some avoidable songs. The romance between Ravi and his girl friend distracts you from the story. Having said so much both are great movies. Every time I have found them to be equally engrossing.

Amitabh plays a wayward son to Policeman Dilip Kumar. Dilip Kumar who is known to have a polished way of acting without much shades in any film of his, he goes smoothly playing a father, he does very well as a disciplined police officer. Amitabh known for easily shifting shades in many of his superhit films does it again. He is the bad boy of the movie, the story revolves around him, he is very good to his girl friend & is a mama's boy. He plays all the shades in 1 movie with ease. Everybody can see the vast difference when comparing why Amitabh was way too good, it was as easy as saying Amitabh is taller than Dilip & all big heroes physically also. Rakhee too has 2 shades to the role she played, supporting both husband & son. In a way the comparison could have easily been between Amitabh & Rakhee. Amrish Puri does a good job as villain too. A must watch for every movie goer to watch Amitabh the supreme actor in action.