Desh Premee (1982) Poster

(1982)

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3/10
A rare dud...
planktonrules19 March 2014
I have seen a lot of Indian films--particularly the films of Bollywood's biggest stat, Amitabh Bachchan. However, despite me enjoying his films, I am no blind fan--and I really, really disliked "Desh Premee".

The film has a LOT of plot shoved into the film--perhaps too much. When the film begins, Dinanth (Bachchan) is a freedom fighter battling the British for Indian independence. Oddly, only seconds later, India is independent! Now, inexplicably, this well-respected man is ruined by local mobsters--and his wife and daughter are taken from him. He is left with his young son--and no place to live. So, they pack up and move. They settle into a town where mobsters also rule. Oddly, however, as time passes, Dinath's young son, Raju (ALSO played by Bachchan!!) turns out to be a bit of a bandit himself--and extorts money out of the local mobsters! He's a real jerk--and he later meets up with a young lady who, inexplicably, gets married to him...of sorts. To see what I mean, see the film...or not!

The film has too many divergent plots and should have been trimmed a bit. Additionally, although Indians might have accepted Bachchan in dual roles, the idea of someone playing BOTH father and IDENTICAL son is just too stupid for me. I especially loved when Raju dressed up EXACTLY like his father and yet the mobsters didn't think he was the dad or vice-versa!! Additionally, I just thought Raju was too much of a jerk to care about him or his story. Overall, a pretty dumb film--and a rare misfire for Bachchan.
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One of MDK's not too good films
silvan-desouza26 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Manmohan Desai-Amitabh gave several blockbusters since AAA, SUHAAG, NASEEB DESH PREMEE released in 1982 however didn't fare too well and got a lot of flak especially On paper, the story sounds very promising, mostly MDK films never boasted of a good story but were handled brilliantly by him This time however he doesn't really succeed as he uses several gimmicks which spoil the show also the film fails because there are several overdone scenes

The film starts off well with the Independence era shown well, Amitabh's torture scenes are well handled and slowly the story keeps you involved The scenes depicting the war between the 2 communities is well handled Alls well till a point There is one action scene involving the younger Bachchan saving Hema from the gang and the background music of AAA(when Bachchan and Vinod Khanna fight) is used The film does loosen in pace but still one has faith the film will be a riveting one

However things get ruined due to several sub plots and several scenes overdone Sample this: Amitabh comes dressed as an inspector and arrests the real inspector Navin Nischol and they suddenly break into a song JAA JALDI BAAG JAA(by Kishore/Amit Kumar)which looks so flimsy and fake

Plus Amitabh dressing up in a disguise in the song TAN TANDANA is stupid Then towards the end when Older Bachchan and Young Bachchan swap places it becomes all the more stupid

Though some scenes are handled well, yet the drama and storytelling fall short several times

Direction by MDK is not at his best yet he does a good job in some scenes, the master touch is missing Music by LP is good, Kishore returns as Big B's voice in a MDK film after not singing for Big B in SUHAAG/NASEEB which is good, even Rafi gave his voice last time for Big B as he did 2 years before the releas

Amongst actors Amitabh Bachchan does well in both the roles and shows a distinct identity whch is his hallmark and he played a dual role several times In the older role he does a good job while in the younger role too he does a good job but the role is an extension of his roles in Mr.Natwarlal and other films Hema Malini paired again after NASEEB with Big B does a decent job but her role is not too important as it was in NASEEB Parveen Babi playing Amitabh's lost sister/daughter is alright Navin Nischol is okay though he looks overweight, this role was supposed to be done by Shatru who perhaps didn't accept as he had problems with Bachchan those days and he would play second fiddle to Big B again after NASEEB Sharmila has a shorter role and does well Amongst rest Amjad Khan is as usual, Kader Khan doesn't get much scope Jeevan is as usual Shammi Kapoor does a good job, Parikshit Sahini and Prem Nath are adequate while the late Uttam Kumar who died while filming and his scenes were carried out by AB's hairdresser is good too
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1/10
What a waste of time
ani21812210 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It takes supreme confidence in one's intrinsic idiocy to make a film like Desh Premee. I tried seeing this utterly senseless jamboree party multiple times. And failed. Wonder how one could tolerate such unadulterated trash. Manmohan Desai was a bad director, but this was the pits.

Oh, I forget his 'classics' like Mard and Coolie. These were worse. What did Desai take the audience to be? Asinine? Illiterate? Apart from Aa Gale Lag Ja and Rampur Ka Lakshman, he did not make a single film that was worth a watch. And the two films mentioned were watchable courtesy of the fabulous music by R D Burman and the voice of Kishore Kumar. That's about it.
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9/10
Chat with full Indian Massala
ArvindVyas17 March 2004
Manmohan Desai, who in his earlier movies "Amar Akbar Anthony" and "Naseeb" introduced formula of "Hindu-Muslim-Christian unity", has gone beyond the formula. Here he has the formula for "east-west-north-south unity of India". Of course, he has his usual spice.

Dinanath (Amitabh) is a freedom fighter - married to Bharati (Sharmila Taigore). During the freedom struggle, though freedom is won but, he looses Bharati - who leaves as she is affected by leprosy. He is given shelter in Bharat Nagar - as four underworld dons of Bharat Nagar (representing east - great bengali actor Uttam Kumar - who died during filiming the movie and the rest of his role was played by hair dresser to Amitabh Bachchan), west (Parikshit Sahani), north (Shammi Kapoor) and south (Prem Nath)). However, his son (again played by Amitabh) right from childhood realizes that the dons are using his father's stay in Bharat Nagar to cover up their wrong doings. So he starts "hafta-wasooli" and grows up just opposite of his father. He is mistakenly married to Hema Malini while trying to run away from police hides behind "sehra" in a mass marriage ceremony organized by his "Father".

How the son and the Bharat Nagar is reformed that is rest of the story.

Lot of massala is there and that include Amitabh Bachchan mimicking his idol "Mehmood"!

Overall load of fun!
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