Only a team of Torchbearers of Indian cinema could have justified this splendid piece of work, which goes by the title "Mashaal (Torch)". At a time when most of the filmmakers were cashing on India's newly developed taste for action packed entertainers, Yash Chopra took a daring move by bringing the subject of freedom of press to the silver screen and by roping in Dilip Kumar he also made sure that this directorial venture of his gets the attention it truly deserved.
Yash Chopra succeeds in delivering this message that "when there is darkness everywhere, then the best and the only weapon one needs is a source of light i.e. Torch (Mashaal)". In this movie the newspaper is portrayed as the torch for the society and to win the marathon of life it's the ultimate responsibility of the elders of the society to make sure that the Torch that they have been carrying all their life is passed on to the mentored youth of the nation - The Ultimate Torchbearers.
This movie is about hope that, even a hopeless man on a path of immorality can turn a new leaf if shown hope of a brighter future (a role brilliantly performed by Anil Kapoor). This movie also tells you that even an honest and optimistic man could become a monster if made helpless and robbed off the only thing that he lived and cared for (Dilip kumar's sensational performance as an honest reporter and a vengeful bootlegger is a treat to watch).
A man's desperate attempt to save his dying wife, which I guarantee is one of the best scenes in the history of Indian cinema, will leave your heart bleeding for days.
Time will never succeed to cast its shadow upon this eternal beauty!
Disclaimer - While rating this movie I have considered the fact that this movie was made in 80's, much before The Post, Spotlight, Nightcrawler and many more of Hollywood's spectaculars which dealt with a very important subject of freedom of the press and how politicians and other influential group of people try to influence on what a common citizen gets to know.
Time will never succeed to cast its shadow upon this eternal beauty!
Disclaimer - While rating this movie I have considered the fact that this movie was made in 80's, much before The Post, Spotlight, Nightcrawler and many more of Hollywood's spectaculars which dealt with a very important subject of freedom of the press and how politicians and other influential group of people try to influence on what a common citizen gets to know.