First things first. Sanjay Dutt's role in Yalgaar is one of the best written roles in Hindi cinema. Amazon's web series Mirzapur's Munna Bhaiya takes inspiration from Dutt's Vishal.
Dutt does most of the heavy-lifting and puts in a bravura performance as the errant son, who in his many desperate attempts to impress a stubborn father unwittingly commits one error after another, eventually sacrificing his life in order to get his dad's approval, and save his life. Not to forget his ever present charisma, screen presence and swag. Yalgaar is without an iota of a doubt one of Dutt's best efforts. That Dutt wasn't even nominated yet again proves award functions in India are about anything but performance.
Unfortunately Feroz Khan killed a promising script with some pathetic casting decisions.
First he plays a much younger character, one in his early 30s. Mukesh Khanna, almost 20 years younger, played his father. There's even a dialogue that mentions Dutt and Khan being of the same age.
Second Feroz Khan casts some unknown chap opposite Manisha. Third, he makes Kabir Bedi prefer that unknown over Dutt. It was too preposterous an idea for the audience to digest. Aamir, SRK etc wouldn't have played second fiddle but imagine a Saif, Salman or even Aditya Pancholi in that younger brother's role. It was fireworks guaranteed.
If Feroz wanted a chap with a weak voice he could have gone for son Fardeen, who was around 20 then. Then again, when a director is hell-bent on pressing the self-destruct button - his next directorial was a classic named Prem Aggan - how can he see sense. Later on, Feroz couldn't even remember the chap's name.
Had the casting been right this movie would have been a super-hit. It was a cracker of a story and very stylishly shot. Even the music was good, especially the power-packed ditty by Udit Narayan - Aakhir tumhe aana hai...
Dutt was at the peak of his career then with monster hits like Thanedaar, Saajan and Sadak. Even some of his poor films of that time like Ilaaka, Fateh, Adharm, Khatarnaak and Tejaa had made money. However, Yalgaar was a major disappointment during the actor's prime. Not to forget the 'other' damages that it did to his personal life and career. All thanks to an obstinate actor/director who refused to either age well or understand the basic mistakes he was making.
Dutt does most of the heavy-lifting and puts in a bravura performance as the errant son, who in his many desperate attempts to impress a stubborn father unwittingly commits one error after another, eventually sacrificing his life in order to get his dad's approval, and save his life. Not to forget his ever present charisma, screen presence and swag. Yalgaar is without an iota of a doubt one of Dutt's best efforts. That Dutt wasn't even nominated yet again proves award functions in India are about anything but performance.
Unfortunately Feroz Khan killed a promising script with some pathetic casting decisions.
First he plays a much younger character, one in his early 30s. Mukesh Khanna, almost 20 years younger, played his father. There's even a dialogue that mentions Dutt and Khan being of the same age.
Second Feroz Khan casts some unknown chap opposite Manisha. Third, he makes Kabir Bedi prefer that unknown over Dutt. It was too preposterous an idea for the audience to digest. Aamir, SRK etc wouldn't have played second fiddle but imagine a Saif, Salman or even Aditya Pancholi in that younger brother's role. It was fireworks guaranteed.
If Feroz wanted a chap with a weak voice he could have gone for son Fardeen, who was around 20 then. Then again, when a director is hell-bent on pressing the self-destruct button - his next directorial was a classic named Prem Aggan - how can he see sense. Later on, Feroz couldn't even remember the chap's name.
Had the casting been right this movie would have been a super-hit. It was a cracker of a story and very stylishly shot. Even the music was good, especially the power-packed ditty by Udit Narayan - Aakhir tumhe aana hai...
Dutt was at the peak of his career then with monster hits like Thanedaar, Saajan and Sadak. Even some of his poor films of that time like Ilaaka, Fateh, Adharm, Khatarnaak and Tejaa had made money. However, Yalgaar was a major disappointment during the actor's prime. Not to forget the 'other' damages that it did to his personal life and career. All thanks to an obstinate actor/director who refused to either age well or understand the basic mistakes he was making.