Tthis is one underrated gem from Mahesh Bhatt. No Swiss Alps and no designer wear as seen in recent Hindi cinema, just pure classic Mahesh Bhatt entertainment getting you to the edge of the seat. If you want to see the "real" Anil Kapoor, watch this movie. As Anil Kapoor says, this movie got him his best reviews. Meenakshi is also very good and Govinda does well in a different role. Anupam Kher and Paresh Rawal, as in all Mahesh Bhatt movies, are ACE. Both have been given some of the best lines in the movie and boy do they deliver. Their confrontation scenes make you realise their importance in a Mahesh Bhatt movie. The story and the dialogues from Suraj-Sanim are applause worthy.
5 Reviews
An underrated gem by Mahesh Bhatt
nadkarnisumeet28 September 2020
Awaargi review :
Caught this film today after its unheralded release in 1990. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, Awaargi was a box office failure maybe, cos the audience then wasn't prepared for an art-house movie with hard core commercial stars like Anil Kapoor and Govinda.
An intense love triangle; Awaargi is about a street rogue (Anil Kapoor) who rescues a wannabe singer (Meenakshi Seshadri) from a brothel and gives her a new lease of life by introducing her to a successful singer (Govinda). Love strikes between the two singers and the good hearted goon is torn between the two.
Surprisingly, quite a few of this film's sub plots and characterisation were borrowed in to blockbusters later :
1) A common man rescuing a girl from a brothel and falling in love with her formed the crux of Mahesh Bhatt's own 'Sadak' (1991).
2) A small time rogue seeing his pet love turn in to a star and winning the affection of the reigning super star was what Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rangeela' (1995) was all about...albeit, in a humorous vein.
3) Last but not the least, Paresh Rawal playing Bhau repeated his Marathi accent to perfection in 'Hera Pheri' (2000) which fetched him accolades and awards.
Awaargi has the intense touch of Mahesh Bhatt - some scenes coming close to his evergreen classic 'Arth' (1982). The ghazal sung by Ghulam Ali stays in your mind. Overall, I found this largely forgotten film worth recommending. Not the best of Bhatt but nevertheless, makes it to the watch list.
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.
Caught this film today after its unheralded release in 1990. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, Awaargi was a box office failure maybe, cos the audience then wasn't prepared for an art-house movie with hard core commercial stars like Anil Kapoor and Govinda.
An intense love triangle; Awaargi is about a street rogue (Anil Kapoor) who rescues a wannabe singer (Meenakshi Seshadri) from a brothel and gives her a new lease of life by introducing her to a successful singer (Govinda). Love strikes between the two singers and the good hearted goon is torn between the two.
Surprisingly, quite a few of this film's sub plots and characterisation were borrowed in to blockbusters later :
1) A common man rescuing a girl from a brothel and falling in love with her formed the crux of Mahesh Bhatt's own 'Sadak' (1991).
2) A small time rogue seeing his pet love turn in to a star and winning the affection of the reigning super star was what Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rangeela' (1995) was all about...albeit, in a humorous vein.
3) Last but not the least, Paresh Rawal playing Bhau repeated his Marathi accent to perfection in 'Hera Pheri' (2000) which fetched him accolades and awards.
Awaargi has the intense touch of Mahesh Bhatt - some scenes coming close to his evergreen classic 'Arth' (1982). The ghazal sung by Ghulam Ali stays in your mind. Overall, I found this largely forgotten film worth recommending. Not the best of Bhatt but nevertheless, makes it to the watch list.
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.
Mahesh Bhatt's underrated superb film
silvan-desouza17 August 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Mahesh Bhatt a name people now days associate with a producer who makes sex related films but few know that this filmmaker made several great films in the past and still does. Sometimes people are very biased. YRF is considered a pioneered clean family entertainer's production house and they go and make disgusting Neal n Nikki type cheap films while Bhatt films make sensible KALYUG, Gangster.etc
Mahesh Bhatt's name in the 80s was synonymous with quality films like NAAM, SARAANSH, KABZAA, THIKANA, DADDY to name a few. He is often accused for lifting stories but which filmmaker hasn't? Back to AWAARGI(1990) The film came in the beginning of 90s when films had started becoming more commercial, colorful and mostly depended on jhatka matkas and hit songs to pull the crowds. AWAARGI is one rare film in that respect as it has a strong plot and it's well handled by Bhatt Saab. The film has a simple story which has been done to death before and after but yet the handling, writing are all superb. The Bhatt's treatment is evident and his trademark scenes too are there like the pigeons, a vagabond hero.etc
The film starts with introduction of Anil Kapoor who is a vagabond tapori on the streets who is searching for a meaning in life, Anupam Kher is his guru and a gang lord. He is sent by him to extract dates from a busy hero Rajesh Kumar(perhaps a jig on Rajesh Khanna) played by Pradeep Singh Rawat, such a scene is similarly shown in GHULAM 8 years later written by Bhatt again. Back to the movie Anil Kapoor eyes on a tawaif Meenaxi while dancing who conveys pathos in the song and Anil Kapoor rescues her from the den after a fight with Avtar Gill(Bhatt's regular). This theme was often seen in those days films, be it in BAAGHI(1990) or in Mahesh Bhatt's own SADAK(1991).What follows is a superb love triangle which is treated superbly. As usual in Bhatt movies they are terrific dramatic scenes, Anupam Kher confronting Anil Kapoor about a saudagar is superb while Paresh Rawal's scene with Anupam Kher before interval is awesome too. Many scenes are superb like the scene where the Golden disk is being launched and Anil is asked to leave the place, the following scene is simply brilliant where Anil first tells that he is very happy about her success and then breaks down suddenly. The engagement scene too is superb and also the Anil bashing Meenaxi and the showdown between Anil and Govinda is superb The pre-climax is brilliant too and the climax though filmy is again fantastic Direction by Mahesh Bhatt is brilliant as usual Music by Anu Malik is good too, Baali Umar ne is superb, while Chamakte Chand Ko which stays throughout the film is superb again All songs are fabulously picturised Camera-work is decent, the film is shot in the 35mm format which was normally used in 70s, 80s and went extinct by 1990s. Dialogues a trademark of Bhatt films are fab
Anil Kapoor excels in his role which won him great reviews that time,the tapori image he played in Mashaal, Yudh, Andar Bahar, Tezaab was like second skin for him those days, he plays his character brilliantly conveying a lot through his expressions. Anil Kapoor worked with Bhatt earlier in Thikana(1987) and their collaboration is superb here too Govinda for the first time worked with Bhatt and he gives a surprisingly restrained performance. Govinda started off as an actor who only danced which was changed in HATYA(1988) where he gave a great perf and did several social dramas in films mostly directed by brother Kirti Kumar. In this film he plays a singer who falls for Meenaxi and gives a superb performance. Meenaxi too is excellent, this is one of her best performances followed by DAMINI(1993). Amongst rest Mostly Bhatt regulars, Anupam Kher and Paresh Rawal get superb lines and both deliver flawless performances as usual Avtar Gill is alright, Satish Kaushik is excellent in his typecast role
Mahesh Bhatt's name in the 80s was synonymous with quality films like NAAM, SARAANSH, KABZAA, THIKANA, DADDY to name a few. He is often accused for lifting stories but which filmmaker hasn't? Back to AWAARGI(1990) The film came in the beginning of 90s when films had started becoming more commercial, colorful and mostly depended on jhatka matkas and hit songs to pull the crowds. AWAARGI is one rare film in that respect as it has a strong plot and it's well handled by Bhatt Saab. The film has a simple story which has been done to death before and after but yet the handling, writing are all superb. The Bhatt's treatment is evident and his trademark scenes too are there like the pigeons, a vagabond hero.etc
The film starts with introduction of Anil Kapoor who is a vagabond tapori on the streets who is searching for a meaning in life, Anupam Kher is his guru and a gang lord. He is sent by him to extract dates from a busy hero Rajesh Kumar(perhaps a jig on Rajesh Khanna) played by Pradeep Singh Rawat, such a scene is similarly shown in GHULAM 8 years later written by Bhatt again. Back to the movie Anil Kapoor eyes on a tawaif Meenaxi while dancing who conveys pathos in the song and Anil Kapoor rescues her from the den after a fight with Avtar Gill(Bhatt's regular). This theme was often seen in those days films, be it in BAAGHI(1990) or in Mahesh Bhatt's own SADAK(1991).What follows is a superb love triangle which is treated superbly. As usual in Bhatt movies they are terrific dramatic scenes, Anupam Kher confronting Anil Kapoor about a saudagar is superb while Paresh Rawal's scene with Anupam Kher before interval is awesome too. Many scenes are superb like the scene where the Golden disk is being launched and Anil is asked to leave the place, the following scene is simply brilliant where Anil first tells that he is very happy about her success and then breaks down suddenly. The engagement scene too is superb and also the Anil bashing Meenaxi and the showdown between Anil and Govinda is superb The pre-climax is brilliant too and the climax though filmy is again fantastic Direction by Mahesh Bhatt is brilliant as usual Music by Anu Malik is good too, Baali Umar ne is superb, while Chamakte Chand Ko which stays throughout the film is superb again All songs are fabulously picturised Camera-work is decent, the film is shot in the 35mm format which was normally used in 70s, 80s and went extinct by 1990s. Dialogues a trademark of Bhatt films are fab
Anil Kapoor excels in his role which won him great reviews that time,the tapori image he played in Mashaal, Yudh, Andar Bahar, Tezaab was like second skin for him those days, he plays his character brilliantly conveying a lot through his expressions. Anil Kapoor worked with Bhatt earlier in Thikana(1987) and their collaboration is superb here too Govinda for the first time worked with Bhatt and he gives a surprisingly restrained performance. Govinda started off as an actor who only danced which was changed in HATYA(1988) where he gave a great perf and did several social dramas in films mostly directed by brother Kirti Kumar. In this film he plays a singer who falls for Meenaxi and gives a superb performance. Meenaxi too is excellent, this is one of her best performances followed by DAMINI(1993). Amongst rest Mostly Bhatt regulars, Anupam Kher and Paresh Rawal get superb lines and both deliver flawless performances as usual Avtar Gill is alright, Satish Kaushik is excellent in his typecast role
Bold grey character played by Anil makes it a must watch
rtoac12 May 2019
"Awaargi" is a 1990 Hindi film starring Anil Kapoor.
And it is his role that makes the film stand above the rest.
In the beginning he's shown as someone with a vacuum in his heart and life, looking to leave the gangster life and move on. Life gives him the opportunity but he realises first that society won't let him forget his past. And later that his violent past will not leave his character.
Hats off to the director Mahesh Bhatt and Anil Kapoor who despite being a star wasn't shy to take up such a grey character: beating the heroine, threatening to burn her.. I've seen film heroes only playing the part upto being shown as jealous.
Govinda, Meenakshi, Anupam and Paresh have performed equally convincingly their respective roles.
I rated it 8/10 in IMDB and am surprised to see its relatively low rating there.
And it is his role that makes the film stand above the rest.
In the beginning he's shown as someone with a vacuum in his heart and life, looking to leave the gangster life and move on. Life gives him the opportunity but he realises first that society won't let him forget his past. And later that his violent past will not leave his character.
Hats off to the director Mahesh Bhatt and Anil Kapoor who despite being a star wasn't shy to take up such a grey character: beating the heroine, threatening to burn her.. I've seen film heroes only playing the part upto being shown as jealous.
Govinda, Meenakshi, Anupam and Paresh have performed equally convincingly their respective roles.
I rated it 8/10 in IMDB and am surprised to see its relatively low rating there.
Anil kapoor is unbattlable
manaskhanduri20 June 2021
This movie is a masterpiece, i don't know why people don't like it. Mahesh bhatt has directed this beautifully every actor has been so perfect. Anil kapoor is a great legendary actor, anupam kher was so good in his act. This movie is actually a great treat try tp watch it with all emotions.
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