Naya Kadam review :
Himmatwala (1983) director K Raghavendra Rao's Naya Kadam had a socially relevant theme but its execution was like any typical South Indian actioner of the 80s.
Rajesh Khanna played the educated school teacher in a small village infested with class divide and chronic casteeism. He had not one, not two but three heroines - Sridevi, Padmini and Jaya Prada - vying for his love and yet, Naya Kadam didnt have a single chartbuster song to boast off. Khanna's chemistry with the girls was also ekdum pheeka.
Kader Khan, as the comic villain, called himself Gaon Ka Hitler while Om Shivpuri was happy playing his sidekick. Ranjeet looked dashing as the alcoholic goon who gets to marry Padmini Kolhapure.
Even with its noble intent of rural upliftment, Naya Kadam was a downer coming from K Raghavendra Rao. His Himmatwala partner Jeetendra was better suited for the lead role. Perhaps, that explains why the film turned out to be only an average grosser at the box office.
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni
Himmatwala (1983) director K Raghavendra Rao's Naya Kadam had a socially relevant theme but its execution was like any typical South Indian actioner of the 80s.
Rajesh Khanna played the educated school teacher in a small village infested with class divide and chronic casteeism. He had not one, not two but three heroines - Sridevi, Padmini and Jaya Prada - vying for his love and yet, Naya Kadam didnt have a single chartbuster song to boast off. Khanna's chemistry with the girls was also ekdum pheeka.
Kader Khan, as the comic villain, called himself Gaon Ka Hitler while Om Shivpuri was happy playing his sidekick. Ranjeet looked dashing as the alcoholic goon who gets to marry Padmini Kolhapure.
Even with its noble intent of rural upliftment, Naya Kadam was a downer coming from K Raghavendra Rao. His Himmatwala partner Jeetendra was better suited for the lead role. Perhaps, that explains why the film turned out to be only an average grosser at the box office.
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni
