Directed by the creator of the rags to riches story "raju ban gaya gentleman" and the excellent tongue-in-cheek comedy "Yes Boss" this is a superlative movie about the life of the Indian lower middle class of the late 70s. The angst, the issues are portrayed in a poignant manner. The acting is memorable with Naseerudin Shah as the titular character overshadowing everybody else. There are also other great actors like Om Puri in a two bit role, Satish Shah in a small but effective role as a local ruffian, Smita Patil as the handicapped sister of Albert(absolutely intense performance) and above them, Shabana Azmi as the girlfriend of Albert who has to bear his tantrums and face his insecurities regarding her. The movie plays on the backdrop of the Mumbai Cloth Mill strike. It perfectly captures the zeitgeist of the 70s like Dev D. did for the the first decade of the millennium. A must watch for every lover of good cinema. This is one movie which Indians should be proud of. The technical details could have been better but it has its heart in the right place. 4 out of 5 for this. A shame that no channel carries such socially relevant movies any more.
11 Reviews
Good concept, poor execution
rtoac125 October 2020
This is a Hindi language film starring Naseeruddin Shah with the title role.
The film has a good premise, trying to pick up a man on the street and portray the conditions around him that frusThis is a Hindi language film starring Naseeruddin Shah with the title role.\n \nThe film has a good premise, trying to pick up a man on the street and portray the conditions around him that frustrate and anger him. Such a film can be made as applicable for a given time and place, as in this case done for Mumbai in 1980. No wonder, the film has been remade recently, and it can and should be, globally by film makers everywhere, as a reflection of society at that slice of time and place.\n \nThe star cast is brilliant and talented and all have shone in whatever scenes they got. It is also clear that the story writer did have some messages to give. How the anger of the protagonist was towards more trivial issues earlier, and more impulsive. To how it grew into well moulded and towards bigger issues, in a sense more liberating.\n \nBut the way it has been executed is really very poor. The movie moves at a very boring pace.. And even at less than 2 hours, which is far shorter than an average film length in those times, could still have been either better executed via creativity or better screenplay. Or better edited..\n \nMany of the scenes had nothing to do with the theme of the film. Nor has a good flow been maintained to keep it entertaining. I wouldn\'t be surprised if many couldn\'t just lost interest in the film and stopped watching it half way..\n \nI rated it 6/10 in IMDB.\n \ntrate and anger him. Such a film can be made as applicable for a given time and place, as in this case done for Mumbai in 1980. No wonder, the film has been remade recently, and it can and should be, globally by film makers everywhere, as a reflection of society at that slice of time and place.
The star cast is brilliant and talented and all have shone in whatever scenes they got. It is also clear that the story writer did have some messages to give. How the anger of the protagonist was towards more trivial issues earlier, and more impulsive. To how it grew into well moulded and towards bigger issues, in a sense more liberating.
But the way it has been executed is really very poor. The movie moves at a very boring pace.. And even at less than 2 hours, which is far shorter than an average film length in those times, could still have been either better executed via creativity or better screenplay. Or better edited..
Many of the scenes had nothing to do with the theme of the film. Nor has a good flow been maintained to keep it entertaining. I wouldn't be surprised if many couldn't just lost interest in the film and stopped watching it half way..
The film has a good premise, trying to pick up a man on the street and portray the conditions around him that frusThis is a Hindi language film starring Naseeruddin Shah with the title role.\n \nThe film has a good premise, trying to pick up a man on the street and portray the conditions around him that frustrate and anger him. Such a film can be made as applicable for a given time and place, as in this case done for Mumbai in 1980. No wonder, the film has been remade recently, and it can and should be, globally by film makers everywhere, as a reflection of society at that slice of time and place.\n \nThe star cast is brilliant and talented and all have shone in whatever scenes they got. It is also clear that the story writer did have some messages to give. How the anger of the protagonist was towards more trivial issues earlier, and more impulsive. To how it grew into well moulded and towards bigger issues, in a sense more liberating.\n \nBut the way it has been executed is really very poor. The movie moves at a very boring pace.. And even at less than 2 hours, which is far shorter than an average film length in those times, could still have been either better executed via creativity or better screenplay. Or better edited..\n \nMany of the scenes had nothing to do with the theme of the film. Nor has a good flow been maintained to keep it entertaining. I wouldn\'t be surprised if many couldn\'t just lost interest in the film and stopped watching it half way..\n \nI rated it 6/10 in IMDB.\n \ntrate and anger him. Such a film can be made as applicable for a given time and place, as in this case done for Mumbai in 1980. No wonder, the film has been remade recently, and it can and should be, globally by film makers everywhere, as a reflection of society at that slice of time and place.
The star cast is brilliant and talented and all have shone in whatever scenes they got. It is also clear that the story writer did have some messages to give. How the anger of the protagonist was towards more trivial issues earlier, and more impulsive. To how it grew into well moulded and towards bigger issues, in a sense more liberating.
But the way it has been executed is really very poor. The movie moves at a very boring pace.. And even at less than 2 hours, which is far shorter than an average film length in those times, could still have been either better executed via creativity or better screenplay. Or better edited..
Many of the scenes had nothing to do with the theme of the film. Nor has a good flow been maintained to keep it entertaining. I wouldn't be surprised if many couldn't just lost interest in the film and stopped watching it half way..
A great satire on Bombay in 1980s
silvan-desouza15 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
In 70s and 80s when Bollywood was busy doing commercial films, there were some filmmakers who made offbeat films, which were called Parallel cinema. Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Hota Hai is a satire on 80s, it depicts all the societal issues like Strikes, Christians lifestyle and issues in 80s. Its protagonist is Albert Pinto A Mechanic who always cribs around the society problems and stuff. The film does have some things left unresolved like Satish Shah's gang and stuff like that and also it's slow paced which our Indians have no patience for, but yet it suits it's theme
Direction is amazing Music is mostly in background is good
Naseeruddin Shah is superb, he plays his part with natural ease Shabana Azmi is great as Stella, Om Puri sparkles in a short role Naseer and Shabana did several films together Even Om Puri and Naseer acted in several films those days Smita Patil is effective, Dilip Dhawan is good Satish Shah, Avtar Gill are okay rest are okay
Direction is amazing Music is mostly in background is good
Naseeruddin Shah is superb, he plays his part with natural ease Shabana Azmi is great as Stella, Om Puri sparkles in a short role Naseer and Shabana did several films together Even Om Puri and Naseer acted in several films those days Smita Patil is effective, Dilip Dhawan is good Satish Shah, Avtar Gill are okay rest are okay
Its about the Society, not Albert Pinto
lyrxsf2 May 2008
If you watch this movie with the hope that it will unravel some secret aspect of Albert's life to you which will explain all his anger, then you're setting yourself up for disappointment. This movie is not about the person Albert Pinto, but rather its a socio-political statement on middle-class life in Mumbai during the 70s. In some ways, there is no plot. Its a sketch of family ups and downs, mostly downs. But its a very honest and terse sketch. Lots of good actors and realistic acting in the movie give it a very non-filmy feel. I specially liked the characterization of the women - played by Shabana and Smita. Very strong and opinionated and hardy. I suppose that the broad message of the movie is that the average man in those days was generally speaking angry because society holed him into only that slot.
A gem, a classic!
cseabhi22 May 2021
Albert Pinto(Naseeruddin Shah) is a man with anger issues. He gets angry on almost every other issue. Reason for albert's anger is not shown exactly but we can easily guess why he is so angry at every other issue. It's because of the social issue, hardship from which a middle class man's family has to go through. The economic inequalities, the fight for survival, the difference between privileged and underprivileged. The film is basically a portyal of a man who is just angry from everything happening around him.
This movie does not aim for the reason or the solution or raises any question with its narrative, its rather the sketch of a person named Albert Pinto and his family which seems so real and you really get an sketch of middle class life in Mumbai around the 80's.
This movie is like showcase of talents. You see Nasseruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Om Puri, Dilip Dhawan, Smita Patil, Satish Shah, all the actors in their early days and its so good to see how natural were they even back then.
Naseruddin Shah was no where in the movie, all we can see was Albert Pinto. He was so much convincing. Other than him, I really liked Dilip Dhawan, altough in a limited role. His earlier movies were so much promising and he delivered strong performances in almost every movie.
The movie points out many social, economic and moral issues in the story line up. Somewhere it will make you think.
You can list this movie as one of the important movie in Indian cinema. A rare gem.
This movie does not aim for the reason or the solution or raises any question with its narrative, its rather the sketch of a person named Albert Pinto and his family which seems so real and you really get an sketch of middle class life in Mumbai around the 80's.
This movie is like showcase of talents. You see Nasseruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Om Puri, Dilip Dhawan, Smita Patil, Satish Shah, all the actors in their early days and its so good to see how natural were they even back then.
Naseruddin Shah was no where in the movie, all we can see was Albert Pinto. He was so much convincing. Other than him, I really liked Dilip Dhawan, altough in a limited role. His earlier movies were so much promising and he delivered strong performances in almost every movie.
The movie points out many social, economic and moral issues in the story line up. Somewhere it will make you think.
You can list this movie as one of the important movie in Indian cinema. A rare gem.
Albert Ko Gussa isliye Aata hai
IPyaarCinema12 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Review By Kamal K
This movie is not about giving solutions, it's a reflection of how youth in the country are misinformed and uneducated about the issues around them.
Albert Pinto thinks he can become successful by working hard and wooing and emulating the rich. He is angry on everything around him and tries to find fault in others. His father for going on a strike. Biasness against Christan people. His girlfriend for not wearing proper clothes or talking to other men even though she is faithful to him.
He also thinks he is superior to his co-workers because he is doing special service to his rich customers and riding in their costly cars. However, he is completely oblivious to things around him (as is the case with most youth in our country) and even with his limited knowledge he thinks he is correct and believes that it's the truth.
Also, when there is need to take knowledge on any subject he makes his opinion on advices given to him by rich people and not by doing his self research or knowing the actual reality.
In last he realises how he has been ignorant all the time and he then goes to meet the factory workers and comes to know the actual reality and people's sufferings. In the end he then sees the movie where the mill owner (rich) lies and brainwashes people pretending that they actually care about the poor and country when all they care is about their profits and self interset. Albert Pinto is still angry but now his anger is directed against the capitalists, not the striking workers because he is now more informed.
This movie is not about giving solutions, it's a reflection of how youth in the country are misinformed and uneducated about the issues around them.
Albert Pinto thinks he can become successful by working hard and wooing and emulating the rich. He is angry on everything around him and tries to find fault in others. His father for going on a strike. Biasness against Christan people. His girlfriend for not wearing proper clothes or talking to other men even though she is faithful to him.
He also thinks he is superior to his co-workers because he is doing special service to his rich customers and riding in their costly cars. However, he is completely oblivious to things around him (as is the case with most youth in our country) and even with his limited knowledge he thinks he is correct and believes that it's the truth.
Also, when there is need to take knowledge on any subject he makes his opinion on advices given to him by rich people and not by doing his self research or knowing the actual reality.
In last he realises how he has been ignorant all the time and he then goes to meet the factory workers and comes to know the actual reality and people's sufferings. In the end he then sees the movie where the mill owner (rich) lies and brainwashes people pretending that they actually care about the poor and country when all they care is about their profits and self interset. Albert Pinto is still angry but now his anger is directed against the capitalists, not the striking workers because he is now more informed.
Film surrounds around Albert Pinto and his anger, but also a social issue.
itsmeleviosa30 March 2022
Its a simple film, but takes a turn after the first half where they mention the seious issue regarding Millworkers. I dont wanna give away the film entirely in this review, but I'd say that every character's story was incomplete in a way, which is not bad but unique especially in 1980s I believe, as during that period many movies were of Romance OR Action genre, and this seems to be a bit different, which is why I used the word Unique. I really enjoyed Naseeruddin's acting, his persona in the film was fun to watch. There is basic humour in dialogues (without bgm laughters/claps), which some might find off, but I liked it. For example Joan's response to the guy who says 'Aap meri behen jaise dikhti ho', Albert's dialgoue which follows Mr. Braganza's words after their conversation, 'Ye sab strike wike sab gunda logon ka kaam hai'. If you get it, you get it. Wrapping it shortly, one beautiful film this was portraying a life of a Mechanic who has anger issues but is funny by nature as well with a social issue entering in his and the city's life.
Mockumentary on 80's Mumbai
the_weirdo21 April 2012
Probably, the biggest contribution of this movie is the name "Albert Pinto". You would find references of this name in many other occasions, most of the times mockingly, often targeted towards a short-tempered man.
In my venture of discovering the gems of yesteryear and also, in this particular case, to find the legend behind the legacy, I watched this movie with great anticipation. And as one of the other reviewers has said in this forum, I was disappointed because of my wrong expectations. The movie is more of a mockumentary on the socio-economy situation of 70s/80s Bombay especially the life and strives of working class people, than a full-fledged movie with a plot exploring the idiosyncrasies of the hotheaded Abert Pinto. It's not that the movie didn't have any characters. Rather, it had many parts enacted by the legends of parallel cinema in India, the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Om Puri, et al. But, most of the characters are underdeveloped, solely because the intent of the movie has never been to tell a story, rather to depict life in its rawest form, in the slums, in the garages, in the mills of Bombay. Be it economic exploitation of the under-privileged by the capitalists, or the sexual abuse faced by the working women by the unscrupulous bosses, or the rise of mafia and paid-goondas in order to curb the rising rebellions, or the constant striving of the young men chasing dollar dreams, or amidst all these chaos how existence holds on to equanimity – the movie chooses carefully not portray any biased picture, but to present to the spectators the true sense of life and struggle. The movie doesn't show anything that we don't see in our everyday life – and that's simultaneously the plus and the minus of the movie.
Unfortunately, the movie doesn't fulfill the huge expectations I had. If you really love it, probably you belong to the intellectual class who appreciate movies on various other aspects than mere story or performances. If you are looking for only entertainment, stay away.
In my venture of discovering the gems of yesteryear and also, in this particular case, to find the legend behind the legacy, I watched this movie with great anticipation. And as one of the other reviewers has said in this forum, I was disappointed because of my wrong expectations. The movie is more of a mockumentary on the socio-economy situation of 70s/80s Bombay especially the life and strives of working class people, than a full-fledged movie with a plot exploring the idiosyncrasies of the hotheaded Abert Pinto. It's not that the movie didn't have any characters. Rather, it had many parts enacted by the legends of parallel cinema in India, the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Om Puri, et al. But, most of the characters are underdeveloped, solely because the intent of the movie has never been to tell a story, rather to depict life in its rawest form, in the slums, in the garages, in the mills of Bombay. Be it economic exploitation of the under-privileged by the capitalists, or the sexual abuse faced by the working women by the unscrupulous bosses, or the rise of mafia and paid-goondas in order to curb the rising rebellions, or the constant striving of the young men chasing dollar dreams, or amidst all these chaos how existence holds on to equanimity – the movie chooses carefully not portray any biased picture, but to present to the spectators the true sense of life and struggle. The movie doesn't show anything that we don't see in our everyday life – and that's simultaneously the plus and the minus of the movie.
Unfortunately, the movie doesn't fulfill the huge expectations I had. If you really love it, probably you belong to the intellectual class who appreciate movies on various other aspects than mere story or performances. If you are looking for only entertainment, stay away.
Why Does Albert Get Angry?
Chrysanthepop20 February 2011
'Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai' revolves around the Pintos and the people connected to them. There's Albert who's pretty much angry at everybody. His brother Dominic who thinks it's better to be jobless than to work an underpaid job, his patient sister Joan who works at a sarishop, his independent girlfriend Stella who feels under-appreciated by her boyfriend, his father and his colleagues, client and Stella's family. The film is very much a social commentary about Middle-class life in Bombay during the late 70s and the conflicts arising in the labour force because workers were getting severely underpaid. Saeed Akhtar Mirza and Kundan Shah don't follow a story with a distinct resolution. It's more of a collage with the Pinto family at the center and how the conflict in labour force affects them and the people around them. The writers give it a touch of comedy satire but they're also serious about making a relevant point. Akhtar Mirza succeeds in his approach to bringing the story to screen. Naserrudin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Arvind Deshpande, Sulabha Deshpande and Om Puri deliver outstanding performances. I particularly liked Smita's straight to the point Joan who has to live with a physical handicap and yet she manages to keep her head high and go to work. While everyone around her is either worried or in chaos, she remains calm and patient and has the answer to all questions.
A view into daily life of a typical christian in Indian society
msmys17 June 2000
This is a slow movie depicting life style of average christian in commercial Indian society of early 80s. The time set of the movie is that of the great strike in the city of Bombay. Apart from an insight into the life style and the nature of the city itself, there is very little for a viewer to find out of the exact life of the christians in India.
Capturing the 70s Indian Society with Perfection
sreejanrm14 March 2023
"Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai" is a critically acclaimed Hindi film released in 1980, directed by Saeed Akhtar Mirza and starring Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Smita Patil in lead roles. The film is a socio-political drama that revolves around the life of Albert Pinto, a middle-class man who is frustrated with the corruption and inequality prevalent in the society.
The film showcases the struggles of a common man who is unable to cope up with the challenges and frustrations of his life. Albert Pinto, the protagonist of the film, is a young man who works as a mechanic in a garage. He is deeply affected by the social and economic inequalities prevailing in the society, which lead him to question the very foundations of the system.
The film's strong point lies in its excellent screenplay and direction, which manage to capture the essence of the socio-political realities of India in the 1980s. The film also boasts of exceptional performances by the lead actors, especially Naseeruddin Shah, who delivers a power-packed performance as Albert Pinto.
The film's relevance has not diminished even after more than four decades since its release. Its themes of social inequality, corruption, and the plight of the common man continue to resonate with audiences across generations.
"Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai" is a must-watch for those interested in socially relevant cinema. It is a thought-provoking and powerful film that raises important questions about the state of our society and the struggles of its people.
The film showcases the struggles of a common man who is unable to cope up with the challenges and frustrations of his life. Albert Pinto, the protagonist of the film, is a young man who works as a mechanic in a garage. He is deeply affected by the social and economic inequalities prevailing in the society, which lead him to question the very foundations of the system.
The film's strong point lies in its excellent screenplay and direction, which manage to capture the essence of the socio-political realities of India in the 1980s. The film also boasts of exceptional performances by the lead actors, especially Naseeruddin Shah, who delivers a power-packed performance as Albert Pinto.
The film's relevance has not diminished even after more than four decades since its release. Its themes of social inequality, corruption, and the plight of the common man continue to resonate with audiences across generations.
"Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai" is a must-watch for those interested in socially relevant cinema. It is a thought-provoking and powerful film that raises important questions about the state of our society and the struggles of its people.
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