Shakti (1982) User Reviews

A rare Hindi mainstream film with unusual subtlety

[Peter_Young · 7/10 · 4 March 2021]

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.

Ramesh Sippy's Powerful film!!

[nadkarnisumeet · 9/10 · 27 October 2020]

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.

A power-packed father-son saga

[jmathur_swayamprabha · 8/10 · 4 November 2012]

Though Shakti (power) is the story of a father and a son who get distanced because of a misunderstanding that took place in the childhood of the son and that distance gets bridged only when the life of the son comes to an end, let me make it pretty clear that this movie is made on the lines of the most memorable movie of Amitabh Bachchan's career which labelled him as the Angry Young Man forever, i.e., Deewaar (1975). The writers of Deewaar, Salim-Jaaved revisited that classic movie seven years later by using the similar storyline which was originally for a mother and two sons, this time for a father, a mother and a son. In Deewaar, the mother was torn between one righteous son and one criminal son of hers whereas in Shakti, the mother gets torn between the law-protecting husband and the law-breaking son.

Supercop Ashwini Kumar (Dilip Kumar) is dead honest and highly dutiful who considers his duty above everything including his family. And when the question comes whether to do his duty or to save the life of his little son who has been kidnapped by the baddies, he prefers performing his duty as a committed cop over performing his duty as a loving father. Besides, one member of the kidnapping gang, saves the life of the little boy who could be killed by the baddies. Both these incidents leave a very negative imprint on the tender heart of the kid (Master Ravi) who starts sympathizing with the criminal and fostering a grudge against his father in his heart. Years later, when the son, Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) is a grown-up man, the unresolved issues of childhood still trouble him. He feels that his father does not love him. He himself becomes a criminal and gets added to the wanted criminals list of his father. The most hit by this father-son conflict which is more subtle, less loud is the mother (Raakhee). Falling in love with Roma (Smita Patil) and then marrying her also does not bring any positive change in Vijay's life and finally he reaches what is the destiny of a criminal in the hands of his father only, realizing before his death how much his father loves him.

The biggest strength of Shakti is neither the screenplay nor the characters but the power-packed performances of the lead actors performing the father-son duo. Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan have delivered towering performances and so this movie has called a Clash of the Titans by many spectators as well as critics. They have risen above the script and made the movie a memorable one. Action star Amitabh Bachchan has delivered another highly emotional performance in a role which contains the shadows of Deewaar. Dilip Kumar, in this second innings of his career, is again highly impressive. And the one who surpasses these two is Raakhee who has been quite surprisingly cast as AB's mother (she has played as his heroine in several movies). In perhaps the first mature role of her career, she has performed superbly. One of the pillars of parallel cinema movement, (Late) Smita Patil joined the commercial cinema and her pair with Amitabh Bachchan appears quite cute on the screen. The song - Arre Jaane Kaise Kab Kahaan Ikraar Ho Gaya is an example of the lovable romance and amazing on-screen chemistry of Amitabh and Smita.

The movie starts with Anil Kapoor who plays the grandson of Dilip Kumar (and the son of Amitabh Bachchan who is no more) and his grandfather tells him the whole saga, explaining how difficult it is to do your duty as an honest and committed policeman. The whole film runs in flashback and there is no boredom at any place. While watching, you remain engrossed though the script is formula-based only which can be easily seen, understood and felt. Ramesh Sipply who happens to be the director of the epic movie, Sholay has ably directed this movie according to the demand of the script and the stature of the cast.

R.D. Burman's music is good. Maangi Thi Ek Dua Jo Kabool Ho Gayi (Mahendra Kapoor), Aye Aasmaan Bata (Mahendra Kapoor), Hamne Sanam Ko Khat Likha (Lata) are good both lyric wise and composition wise. I have already mentioned my favourite song of this album - Arre Jaane Kaise Kab Kahaan Ikraar Ho Gaya (Kishore-Lata). Anand Bakshi has written admirable lyrics for the tunes of Pancham Da.

The great lesson that is rendered by this movie is the same that I repeat every now and then. Be communicative and never allow any communication gap or any distorted understanding of certain facts to play havoc with delicate relationships. Father-son relationship is a very special one and the father has to be expressive of his love towards the son so that the son never misunderstands him and no outsider gets a chance to bring about any rift between them. He should not expect the kid to understand the subtle language and make him vividly see and feel his fatherly love. The ending dialog of Dilip and Amitabh underscores it perfectly when Dilip says to Amitabh, 'Main Bhi Tumse Bahut Pyar Karta Hoon Bete (Me too loves you very much, son) and then Amitabh asks, 'To Aapne Kaha Kyon Nahin Daddy ?' (Then why did you not express it, father ?).

I rest my case.

Clash of the Titans

[msunando · 10/10 · 8 December 2020]

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", to my opinion, is one of the best Indian movies.

[fatima-kubanova · 10/10 · 28 May 2006]

The film "Shakti" is one of my favorite movies. It's a deep psychological story, touching a problem of choice before a human: love to your child or duty before the society, which you chose to defend. I know that this story is close to many people's hearts, as such a choice in life often stands up before us. Wonderful, accurate play of the actors Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar. One sympathizes to their heroes and asks a question to himself: how would I act if I were in such situation? And one understands that he could act in both ways: like the hero of Amitabh Bachchan and like the hero of Dilip Kumar. Love, honor, pure conscience, these are important values without which you cannot feel yourself happy. And if any of these values is under a threat, then a question appears: what to sacrifice with? It's sad that such a choice stands up before people... Amazing music of gifted Rahul Dev Burman strengthens all the feelings which you experience during watching this drama. I love to watch this film again and again, and every time I do it, this movie touches my heart like at the first time when I saw it 20 years ago... To my opinion, "Shakti" is one of the best pictures of the world's cinematography.

A psychological clash between two mega stars.... Worth Watching....

[SumanShakya · 6/10 · 12 April 2016]

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

Excellent film. Excellent Performances.

[diligentdrool_14 · 10/10 · 30 December 2006]

Shakti is a wonder of a film. The highlight of the film is the powerhouse performances by both the legends-Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar. Amitabh able displays all emotions with such talents(His character is more or less similar to that of Deewaar) and he gives and equally stunning performance. Dilip Kumar too gives a superb performance that won him the Best Actor award. But well, Amitabh was the more deserving contender for the award because actually he is the one who ends up stealing the show. But, Shakti is somewhat similar to Deewaar. Deewaar is a brilliant classic. Shakti follows suit. See it for the stunning performances and powerful plot.

Stunning performance by indian superstars.

[asatsi · 15 February 2001]

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.

Two Titans

[IPyaarCinema · 6/10 · 25 August 2021]

Review By Kamal K

Certainly this was not the movie worth bringing two legends together, any two actors could have done the roles. To my opinion Amitabh outperformed and out shown dilip kumar although the script was beneficial to dilip kumar due to the father and honest police officer character. But yet Amitabh's fiery performance was superb and surpassed dilip kumar. The movie did not do well due to its slowness and dryness. Sometimes it gives a feel of an art film. Had the director concentrated more on the script the movie would have even outshown the milestone film Sholay due to the superb acting by all the actors, especially by abhinay samrat dilip kumar and superstar of the millennium Mr. Amitabh bachchan. None the less definitely a must watch.

War of actors

[roopamkhare · 10/10 · 19 December 2003]

The movie was one of the most awaited movie of the year as it was seen as the war of two of the greates actors of indian cinema Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan. Dilip Kumar got filmfare award and Amitabh all the accolades. Infact AB's fan got so frenzy that they tore out seats in cinema hall where movie was running. The plot is that Dilip kumar is an honest cop who declines to pay the ransom to free his child who gets away free any way. The child grows up to be Amithabh Bachchan who has this love-hate relationship with his father.The intensity of their hatred was so intensely presented that nobody even notices the performances of Rakhi and Smita Patil. If not the greatest movie it is definitely one of the greatest movies of all time with two memorable performances The last scene of the movie where amitabh dies is best and very emotional. amitabh is know as angry man but I think his best comes out when he does an emotional scene like this one.

A superb film

[silvan-desouza · 6/10 · 23 February 2014]

After Sholay and the not successful Shaan, Ramesh Sippy came together again with Big B this time in a more serious Shakti(1982) which brought Amitabh and Dilip Kumar for the first and only time together. The film was panned by Amitabh fans due to the feeling that DK overshadowed him or was given a better role but thats all foolhardy. The film is more of a psychological drama where Dilip Kumar who plays a cop and Amitabh who plays his son are on 2 sides of a coin. In the start the young Amitabh is kidnapped by Amrish Puri, Dalip Tahil and then DK refuses to accept their options and says do what they want with his son which he says in rage but it creates bitterness in AB's character. Amitabh grows up to be a bad guy who supports the gangsters and this creates a Deewaar like situation but there's lot of difference. The film also has a subtle romance between AB and Smita Patil(who starred with him in Namak Halaal too in the same year) and there also live in which was rare in Bollywood in 80s. The film also has Raakhee who is younger to Big B and his lead pair in many films play his mother. Back to the film, There are superb confrontation scenes between AB and DK which are really superb, while the climax though predictable is well handled.

Direction by Ramesh Sippy is good Music by RD Burman is fab yet again though the songs are less in the film and not much demand of the songs, Jaane Kaisi Kab Kahaan is a superb song by Kishore, Lata. while Lata's Humne Sanam ko Khat Likha is good, Maangi ThI Dhua on DK and Raakhee is a good song by Mahendra Kapoor

Dilip Kumar is simply fantastic in his role as usual, in the same year he had Vidhaata too. Amitabh too is equally superb in his anti hero role, he conveys the frustration and trauma and all perfectly, there's also a drunk scene. Many critics panned him in the film but as per me he was very good. Raakhee is good in her role, while Smita Patil is great Amrish Puri, Dalip Tahil, Khulbushan Kharbanda are all good We also have young Anil Kapoor in a cameo before he debutted as a lead. he is good.

A bollywood legend

[Curious-from south · 8/10 · 12 April 2002]

Dilip kumar is an honest cop who declines to pay the ransom to free his child who gets away free any way. The child grows up to be Amithabh Bachchan who has this love-hate relationship with his father. Actually advertised as an action movie at the time of release, this is a very intense and well executed emotional drama. One of the finest performance by the bollywood superstar of all time, Amitabh where he is able to display all colors of emotion, yet appears to be very restrained. Dilip Kumar gives a matching performance too. A visual delight! Simply one of the best bollywood movie of all time.

Another great performance from Amitabh Bachchan

[simon_booth · 7/10 · 9 November 2002]

Amitabh Bachchan plays Vijay Kumar, son of a righteous police officer, who comes to resent the law because he feels his dad's job causes him to neglect his family. When he takes a job working with a known smuggler he finally has a place in life where he's wanted - and as he rises to the top the smuggler begins to treat him more and more like a son. But Vijay's new career creates a rift with his dad that inevitably leads to conflict... but of course it's poor mum that suffers the most.

Sound familiar? Yes, it's basically a retread of DEEWAR with different family members. My bad luck to watch both this and DEEWAR back to back! (well, a week apart). Even though I could watch Amitabh Bachchan all day (lucky given the length of Bollywood movies ), I did get kind of bored watching basically the same things happen again. The details are different, but the broad strokes paint pretty much the same picture.

Ramesh Sippy (producer behind SHAAN and SHOLAY, both directed by his brother G.P.) adds a little bit less melodrama into the mix though, and a little bit more action (which is quite exciting... in a bad 70's kind of way). Amitabh gets to smoulder intensely a lot more, and again exudes the levels of cool and charisma that make him India's number one superstar.

There's quite a lot to like in SHAKTI, and it's perhaps unfair that I judge it after so recently seeing DEEWAR. In reality there was 7 years between the movies, so audiences were probably ready for a retread. Perhaps the one week gap just wasn't enough for me, which is why I ended up kind of bored

SHAKTI is probably more fun than DEEWAR, but still nowhere near the inspired lunacy of DON or SHAAN, or the meticulously crafted suspense of SHOLAY. 7/10.

Disappointing storyline

[paula1980 · 3/10 · 31 March 2012]

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.

Powerhouse performance from both Actors.

[Li_85 · 10/10 · 10 June 2006]

Shakti starred two of the biggest Actors in Bollywood. Amitabh was becoming the Superstar of Bollywood. Dilip Kumar was the ex King of Bollywood. Imagine Marlon Brando and Al Pacino together delivering the Blockbuster Godfather. That's what you get with the 1982 Classic Shakti. its a simple story of a Father son relationship, where the Son Hates his father to bits, following a incident that happened when he was young. When Amitabh was young he was kidnapped by terrorist in return his father (Police Jailer) has to free the convicts. Dilip Kumar in a sarcastic way tells the Terrorist that he wont release their men and that he doesn't care about his son. Its only that this was recorded and heard by Bachchan JR. This causes a hatred for Bachchan towards his Father. Amitabh in a spectacular performance, but he was beaten in the awards against nominee Dilip Kumar playing his father in the same film. This is yet another Classic must see.

Deewar and Shakti - So similar yet so different

[toro1 · 9/10 · 12 July 2007]

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.

Bachchan and Kumar lose to Rakhee

[Chrysanthepop · 9 May 2010]

Ramesh Sippy's 'Shakti' follows the tried and tested clichéd formula of a cop drama. In a way it's like Yash Chopra's 'Deewar' except that this time it is between father and son instead of two brothers. The execution is quite poor but not as bad as most of the 80's mainstream cinema. The cinematography is flat and the editing is terrible. 'Shakti' is one of those films that REALLY needed strong editing. The movie drags on and on for hours when it could have easily been tightened.

Amitabh Bachchan is stiff and downright bad in many scenes, especially in the final sequence which is unintentionally hilarious. His best scenes are those with Rakhee and Smita Patil (minus the drunken sequence - which was another example of bad acting). For the most part, Dilip Kumar does the best with what he's given but he too has his moments of bad acting. In all fairness to him, his role itself was terribly written. Amrish Puri and Kulbushan Kharbanda are quite. Smita Patil's Roma isn't much of a challenge for a good actress but Patil plays her with grace, poise and sincerity.

Rakhee is a revelation. She was known in the 80s for playing the typical mother roles but in 'Shakti' she is the only actor who manages to draw sympathy from the viewer. A mother and wife so torn between her husband and son that it takes a serious toll on her health but even that doesn't resolve the conflict between Ashwini and Vijay. The actress downplays her part with élan and this is perhaps one of her best and most underrated performance.

To sum it up, 'Shakti' is a poorly made movie. The story is filled with plot holes. It has two beautiful songs, namely 'Huumne Sanam Ko Khat Likha' and 'Jaane Kaisa Kab', that are well visualized. However, it leaves a lot to be desired.

Father son duel

[hds-24055 · 7/10 · 20 September 2020]

Strained father son relation ship depiction is a very difficult task and the work demands imaginative and sensitive writing. Sadly tthe writing in his film does not rise to the demand. Salim Javed could have done a lot better in the sketching of the father son characters. Dilipkumar impresses more than Amitabh in terms of character depiction. Ramesh Sippy is one hell of a director who in this film, and later too in his career, has been let down by his writers.

One of Amitabh's most underrated movies

[Ibuk · 10/10 · 22 April 2009]

I don't normally give out a 10/10 for a movie but in the case of Shakti it is very much deserved. When released in 1982 it was a financial failure but over the years it has gained a cult status. Shakti was famous for the fact that the two titans of Bollywood, Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachan starred in this movie for the first and only time. It also starred a pre fame Anil Kapoor(though he had starred in a couple of movies before Shakti). The story revolves around Policeman (Dilip Kumar),his wife(Rakhee Gulzar)and their son(Amitabh). One day Dilip Kumar arrests a man and his employers kidnap Dilip Kumar's son and tell him to let their man go or else they will kill his son. Dilip Kumar tells the kidnappers that they can do whatever they want with his son. Dilip Kumar was trying to fool the kidnappers but his plan goes awry when his son, who is still being held captive overhears him. From that point onwards he has no respect for the law, much to the disappointment of Dilip Kumar. Amitabh even gets involved with gangsters who Dilip Kumar is trying to bring to justice. The scene is set for some impactful scenes and loads of melodrama(which is what I want from a Bollywood movie). I really felt for Rakhee Gulzar who is torn between husband and son. Shakti was directed by Ramesh Sippy, the director of the massive blockbuster Sholay. The opening sequence, in which Anil Kapoor steps off the train to be greeted by his grandfather Dilip Kumar is similar to that of Sholay. Amitabh was good but it was Dilip Kumar in my opinion that stole the entire show as loyal policeman Ashwini Kumar. He steals every single scene and I consider it to be one of his best movies. The end scene is a real tearjerker and is testament to not only Dilip Kumar talents but also Amitabh Bachan's. Now onto the music, the music is simply excellent. My favourite is Mangi thi dua. I consider Shakti to be not only one of Amitabh's best movie of the 80's but I consider it to be one of the top 10 most underrated Bollywood movies ever.

Amitabh drubs Dilip Kumar.

[kichdi · 8/10 · 15 June 2012]

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.

A Compelling Story and Majestic Acting Performance by Both Stars....

[Umar Mansoor Bajwa · 10/10 · 20 February 2010]

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.

A movie through its plot depicting immense professional loyalty despite various opposing forces

[rahulrkale · 9/10 · 12 July 2013]

The movie starts and ends with strong emotions, where a mother though over-whelmed with the decision of her son is still proud of the high- morality and high-dignity path which her son decided to take, despite listening to a story associated with his very close & dear ones, and which tests the moral principles of a man who compromised just too much in his personal life so that he could hold his head high and contribute towards a large cause by abiding to his professional duties.

high commendations to great Dilip Kumar who played in an impacting manner the character of a duty and principle-bound police cop who in situations of dilemma between profession and personal life, always consistently is loyal to his profession and who advocates equality of treatment to any criminal, be it a stranger or a direct relation, but at the same time does not bear undue grudge against his son for not following a correct path and who always makes an attempt to remind and persuade his son to leave the world that he has got into.

a respect to his character, who expresses a tremendous degree of happiness after his daughter-in-law informs him of her marriage with his son, it just reflects the open-mindedness of the character, who welcomes her so graciously even though there are ongoing clashes between the father and the son. really admire the writer for creating such a character who is loyal to profession, but also caring, thoughtful, and who always wishes for the well-being of his son. in fact admire the writer for elegantly creating characters with starkingly varying traits, such as an highly emotional and sensitive mother, who constantly is battling out to resolve the differences between the father-son and who manages to exhibit a feeling of respect & awe towards her husband and concurrently exhibiting a feeling of love and affection towards her son, despite knowing the weaknesses and drawbacks of both these people. and of the character of Smita Patil, who does not discourage her son from becoming a police officer. Though she loves her husband, she is appreciative and cognizant of the dilemmas of her father-in-law and very well understands the reasons of her father-in-law's behaviour and outlook towards her husband.

The character of Amrish Puri though having a smaller role comparatively, is important in the script for indirectly straining the relations between the father and son. But more indirectly responsible is Dilip Kumar's decision to remain excessively loyal and disciplined to his profession, which with hugely meritorious on one hand, triggers the abduction. The degree of unethical consistency in Amrish Puri's character is remarkable, who at all points of his professional journey, always seeks to eliminate the obstacles and even does not hesitate to cross the line and impact personal lives of people who come in his way, be those any rivals or be those any law-enforcers.

The lyrics of the song 'Are Jane Kaise Kab Kahan Iqrar' is powerful and the background music of this song is effective enough for it to become a part of one's collection of regular humming. Smita Patil's role in this movie is relatively small, but still the actress' command and effect never falls short, and with every additional movie that one watches her in, the respect always increases. Though the character of Amitabh Bacchan is shown to compromise on morality, and possess a feeling of animosity towards his father's principles, the acting is worth applause. The winning of filmfare best actor award of Dilip Kumar says everything about his performance. A truly deserved one considering his talent of acting in various departments, dialogue delivery, being happy, being a pedantic father, being a loving and entertaining husband, and many other facets.

would have liked to see artist like Satish Shah been given more of the villain role by somehow linking with Amrish Puri, besides the train episode. the movie at times gives nostalgia of movie Deewar, in aspects such as strained relations between two protagonists and similarly, Nirupa Roy just like Rakhi is forced to support one of the two, with both the women in both the cases deciding to support the morally correct police officer. Though in this case, the cast opposite Amitabh is shown to be more controlled, with the counter in Deewar being very expressive and involved in the chores of Amitabh. Also the name Vijay used for Amitabh typifies the personality of angry young man who is bitter of childhood experiences and opposes the conventional right practices of the society. both the movies stress more on the clashes between two directly related people, and in both the cases Amitabh shown to tilt on the con side of things.

it is skeptical at times as to why Amitabh keeps referring to himself as Yateem, when in fact he is shown to be very fond of his mother, but the term Yateem perhaps was just used in a tautological sense to emphasize the seriousness of the clashes between him and his father, typical to bollywood movies.

A great watch which would take you to the old days of stardom of young angry maverick Amitabh Bacchan

One of the best - ever

[CoolSalster · 10/10 · 30 January 2021]

Watched this again and it's such a masterpiece. Masterful script and dialog, powerhouse performances, and crisp direction all add up to one of India's finest movies. Ramesh Sippy proved - again - that Sholay was not an accident, and Dilip Kumar's performance reminds us why Amitabh makes the claim that when the history of Indian cinema is written, there will the two eras: Before Dilip Kumar, and After Dilip Kumar.

Engrossing film

[narayan_l_k · 10/10 · 11 March 2005]

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.

MOVIE that makes you numb

[coolshobhitgoel · 10/10 · 2 December 2023]

This is one of the best films of the early mid era of Bollywood which depicts the clashes of situations faced by a police officer when he has to walk over the bunch of burning gravels to justify honesty with whatever is on stake even if the conflict is with his son who later is shown to become a gangster because of repercussion of his police officer father.

My father suggested me to watch this where the heroes of their generation Respected Dilip Ji, Amitabh Bacchan has portrayed the characters in most charismatic way.

In summary a movie with emotions of roller coaster where it's left over audience to judge whether the decisions were right or wrong and it's very tough to decide the angle of protagonist and antagonist #20/10 review.