Dadagiri

I wouldn't even blame you for not knowing anything about this movie. And as Basanti would have said it, "Yeh toh wahi misaal ho gayi, koi zaamendaar ki bekaari toh hai nahi, ki marzi na marzi karni hi padegi".

A 1987 release, this movie marked the debut of Deepak Shivdasani as a director. Deepak, who? He directed Bhai (the one with 'Khul Gaya Naseeb' song and Sunil Shetty in its star cast) and Baaghi (starring Salman Khan and marking the debut of Nagma).

The movie is not bad but perhaps it might not adhere to today's audience's taste, who would predict perhaps each and every aspect of the movie. There's nothing that is noteworthy about this movie but for perhaps a typical 80s style direction.

Interesting tidbit: Anu Malik is the music director for this Dharmendra, Govinda, Padmini Kolhapure, Amrish Puri starrer flick. The music is a disaster. And it is surprising to find that even in those days, Anu did not hesitate from lending his voice to songs. It's the 'Barkha bani Durga' background song. Yeah, those are indeed the lyrics of one of the songs! If interested, the ear-irritating collection can be found here.

In fact, one of the songs (Joh Muskuruhaat) has been repeated by Anu in another album of his. I can't seem to recollect it now but will update this part pretty soon.


Story: Dharma daada (Dharmendra) and Deepa (Rati Agnihotri) love each other. But to save the life of her ailing father, Deepa sacrifices her love and marries some one else leaving a heart broken Dharma who get's addicted to alcohol. A few years later, Deepa's husband dies leaving behind their daughter Barkha (Padmini Kolhapure).

Deepa's husband's elder brother, Bhanupratap (Amrish Puri) kills Deepa in a plan to acquire her entire wealth. However, he's trapped by fate as Deepa's will has handed over a trust, the responsibility to caretake the wealth and business till Barkha turns 21. Bhanupratap and his wife (Shashikala) move to Deepa's house along with their 2 kids - Roshan (Rakesh Bedi) and Chandni.

Barkha grows under the terror and fear of Bhanupratap and his family. To relieve herself of the pains, she tries to commit suicide. Suraj (Govinda) saves her. It's first sight love for Suraj to be only accepted later by Barkha.

Bhanupratap makes Barkha sign legal deeds to transfer all her wealth to the former on the day she turns 21. Post that, she's thrown down from a cliff. Dharma dada saves her to find that she's the daughter of his long lost love, Deepa. He decides to avenge Deepa's murder. He teaches Barkha fighting skills and transforms her from Barkha to Durga (Guess, which song would be playing now? :)). A series of twists before the goons are killed and all is well.

Did you say where did I get to see this movie? It's on Rajshri. Here's the link for the more inquisitive ones. And you would be amazed by the high quality print.

think M Rating: 2.0/5.0

Mr. India

"Komal, khush hui" - This was the fact when I saw this movie for the 1st time as a kid in Maheshwari, a local Hyderabadi theatre, and it is the fact even today when I see this movie in the comforts of my house.

This 1987 release impressed kids and elders alike - a movie with its share of errors but credits, more or less, to every department.

Laxmikanth Pyarelal did a job par excellence in this audio collection - All songs are melodious. I would say Javed Akhtar's best in the album is "Zindagi ki yehi reet hai". Alisha Chinoy got her first break with the national rage of those times - "Kaate nahi kat te" with the ultimate, Kishore da abridging this duet song.

Salim-Javed penned the dialogues for this movie. Not only are the characters well-thought and sketched out: Mogambo, Hawa-hawai, Calendar, etc., everyone has their share of entertaining dialogues.


If you are waiting for the story, then we are going to do this a bit different this time :). We will know about various people in this movie and their lives.

Late Ashok Kumar as Prof. Sinha
Assistant & friend to a great scientist, Prof. Verma (the latter had devised a gadget (looks like a fancy watch with 3 dials) which when turned on, on someone's hand, makes that person invisible but red color/glass reveals everything). Sinha also witnesses latter's murder and keeps running away from goons and the last time he runs, he decides to share the location of this gadget with Prof. Verma's only son - Arun.

Anu Kapoor as Gaitonde
Editor of 'Crimes of India' with Seema Soni as his fav. crime reporter, a person always fed up with his 2 phones - as they never dial the number you want, but get cross-connected and worst, it gets wrong calls - from people asking for a veterinary doctor, and even Amitabh Bachchan! Mr. India (the invisible person) changed his outlook in life. :)

Satish Kaushik as Calendar
A gem of a personality, assisting his friend Arun for no money in running an orphanage and all other aspects of latter's life.

Late Ajit Vachani as Daaga
The 'betaaj badshah' of all grocery scams and prime minister of Mr. Mogambo's to-be dynasty.

Sharat Saxena as Teja
Another of Mr. Mogambo's to-be dynasty's prime minister, 'betaaj badshah' of drugs, guns, etc.

Late Amrish Puri as Mogambo
"Mogambo Khush Hua", a dialogue which became one of the coolest and most happening villains' dialogue. One of those few villain roles that gained so much popularity after Sholay's Gabbar Singh. Mr. Mogambo's aim in life is to rule India after getting the gadget which Prof. Verma devised. He makes 3 dangerous missiles on some unknown island to destroy India. Does he succeed in launching them?


Sridevi as Seema Soni/Hawa-hawai/Charlie-Chaplin
A crime reporter, working for Mr. Gaitonde, hates kids and so decides to change her lease. She finds Arun and pays advance - only to find the latter cheated her - as the former runs an orphanage (and there are kids and kids and kids all over the place). Her 1st day is no fun - esp. with kids and cockroach around. She loves Mr. India because of his good deeds. He's the one who saved her when she plays Hawa-hawai at Daaga/Teja's den to find out their secrets. But when truth is revealed, will she stand by her love?

Anil Kapoor as Arun Verma/Mr. India
Arun, an orphan, perhaps the reason as to why he loves kids. Makes sure he gets orphans to his house... he's a music teacher and has hard time managing finances for running the house with so many kids (10-12) and Calendar. They have spent hungry nights too when Teja starts troubling him to vacate his house (rental though) for Mr. Mogambo to send weapons to Mumbai at his will and wish. Life takes an interesting turn when he finds his father's gadget. Now, the villains be better ready for our Mr. India, but the smart villains pose him with a difficult question - who does he loves the most - his kids and Seema or his country?

Watch the movie, an out and out entertainer, to find out more!!! This movie stands out separately from others in the bunch - why? It has a story that is touching, simple, well-thought and it's a cute-fiction.

Shekhar Kapoor and Satish Kaushik, director and associate director of the movie, respectively deserve kudos. I hope Mr. Boney Kapoor does enough justice to its sequel.

If only I had not defined the ratings such that no one gets a 5.0, ...

Rating: 4.5/5.0