Sunil Shetty started his career with hit action film Balwaan(1992) which was a hit despite being an average film. Sunil had a very successful follow up with hit Waqt Hamara Hai(1993) and superhit Anth(1993). However, Sunil couldn't end the year with a bang because his last 1993 release, Pehchaan, failed at the box office despite a good opening. The film should've fared better but the massive drop in the film's collections in the first week ensured that the film wouldn't even break even.
Pehchaan(1993) had all the successful ingredients(in the 90s) to woo the single screen audiences and it was hyped up after Anth's massive success. What exactly went wrong with Pehchaan? The script was flawed, some things were hard to digest, and some of the performances were terrible.
Pehchaan(1993) tells the story of a judge Verma who is living a happily married life with his two sons Kunal and Karan and his wife. His wife is pregnant and the couple are expecting a young baby girl. Beena is about to tell this to Verma but she gets kidnapped from a family dinner party and is held captive by a convict, Yogi Shankar. It is revealed from the start that Yogi Shankar is a criminal who was sentenced by judge Verma during an earlier time. Yogi had sworn to avenge his humiliation and he has planed to molest Verma's wife and return her to Verma(this would be humiliation for the entire Verma family). When Yogi learns that Verma's wife is pregnant, he doesn't molest her. After several days, Verma meets his wife in a temple and it is here that Verma disowns his wife. He thinks that Yogi made his wife pregnant and this was his form of revenge. He even thinks that his wife was responsible for such a dreadful act and he abandons her. Due to this event, Verma gets a heart attack and he is paralyzed. Yogi takes the young baby girl and turns her into a prostitute and she is only told that her father is responsible for her mother's death. As time passes, Kunal grows up and is a rich businessman and Karan is a good for nothing. When Kunal comes to know that his sister is alive, he tries to get back with her. However, Tina doesn't want to see Kuna's face as he doesn't like any of her father's children as well. Will Kunal be able to bring Tina back to his father like he promised? Will Yogi cause more trouble to Verma family? To find out, watch Pehchaan.
The biggest problem with Pehchaan is the script which is engaging in several parts of the first half but completely falters till the climax. The execution is somewhat good but there is a lot of melodrama and this drags the film for an additional 50 minutes. The misunderstanding between Verma and his wife is hard to digest. Just because his wife is pregnant and he comes to know late doesn't mean that Yogi is responsible for this mess. The misunderstanding ruins the entire foundation the film is built on. Another problem is the comedy which isn't funny and the kissing scenes of Karan and his love which is crude. There is also one song which contains partially nudity and this song wasn't required. Another problem is Sunil's sudden appearance to save Saif and Madhoo from the villains in the climax. He is supposed to be in the hospital after he gets badly beaten up by the villains. How does he suddenly appear in shape to fight the villains? The crude content and the violence is what ensures that the film is passed with an A certificate(18+).
Direction by Deepak Shivdasani is good but the script lets him down to a large extent. He directs all the good moments of the script effectively but his direction falters during the melodrama and romance.
Sunil Shetty steals the show as the businessman and he stands out, this is one of his rare performances in the early 90s where he doesn't shout or cry(even when he is getting beaten up). Saif Ali Khan shines in a role he can play in his sleep. Kiran Kumar is good as the villain and for once, he doesn't constantly overact as the typical villain. Raza Murad has a few scenes and he is good but his death is not well explained in the movie. Shilpa Shirodkar is alright as Saif's girlfriend in the first half and wife in the first and second half. Madhoo overacts terribly in several scenes when she has to shout and express her anger to her brother. Avtaar Gill and Deep Dhillion support the film well with their small roles.
On the whole, Pehchaan is a flop movie which could've been better in terms of script and direction. With such good performances and such great action, one excepts a well handled story for a good action film overall.
Pehchaan(1993) had all the successful ingredients(in the 90s) to woo the single screen audiences and it was hyped up after Anth's massive success. What exactly went wrong with Pehchaan? The script was flawed, some things were hard to digest, and some of the performances were terrible.
Pehchaan(1993) tells the story of a judge Verma who is living a happily married life with his two sons Kunal and Karan and his wife. His wife is pregnant and the couple are expecting a young baby girl. Beena is about to tell this to Verma but she gets kidnapped from a family dinner party and is held captive by a convict, Yogi Shankar. It is revealed from the start that Yogi Shankar is a criminal who was sentenced by judge Verma during an earlier time. Yogi had sworn to avenge his humiliation and he has planed to molest Verma's wife and return her to Verma(this would be humiliation for the entire Verma family). When Yogi learns that Verma's wife is pregnant, he doesn't molest her. After several days, Verma meets his wife in a temple and it is here that Verma disowns his wife. He thinks that Yogi made his wife pregnant and this was his form of revenge. He even thinks that his wife was responsible for such a dreadful act and he abandons her. Due to this event, Verma gets a heart attack and he is paralyzed. Yogi takes the young baby girl and turns her into a prostitute and she is only told that her father is responsible for her mother's death. As time passes, Kunal grows up and is a rich businessman and Karan is a good for nothing. When Kunal comes to know that his sister is alive, he tries to get back with her. However, Tina doesn't want to see Kuna's face as he doesn't like any of her father's children as well. Will Kunal be able to bring Tina back to his father like he promised? Will Yogi cause more trouble to Verma family? To find out, watch Pehchaan.
The biggest problem with Pehchaan is the script which is engaging in several parts of the first half but completely falters till the climax. The execution is somewhat good but there is a lot of melodrama and this drags the film for an additional 50 minutes. The misunderstanding between Verma and his wife is hard to digest. Just because his wife is pregnant and he comes to know late doesn't mean that Yogi is responsible for this mess. The misunderstanding ruins the entire foundation the film is built on. Another problem is the comedy which isn't funny and the kissing scenes of Karan and his love which is crude. There is also one song which contains partially nudity and this song wasn't required. Another problem is Sunil's sudden appearance to save Saif and Madhoo from the villains in the climax. He is supposed to be in the hospital after he gets badly beaten up by the villains. How does he suddenly appear in shape to fight the villains? The crude content and the violence is what ensures that the film is passed with an A certificate(18+).
Direction by Deepak Shivdasani is good but the script lets him down to a large extent. He directs all the good moments of the script effectively but his direction falters during the melodrama and romance.
Sunil Shetty steals the show as the businessman and he stands out, this is one of his rare performances in the early 90s where he doesn't shout or cry(even when he is getting beaten up). Saif Ali Khan shines in a role he can play in his sleep. Kiran Kumar is good as the villain and for once, he doesn't constantly overact as the typical villain. Raza Murad has a few scenes and he is good but his death is not well explained in the movie. Shilpa Shirodkar is alright as Saif's girlfriend in the first half and wife in the first and second half. Madhoo overacts terribly in several scenes when she has to shout and express her anger to her brother. Avtaar Gill and Deep Dhillion support the film well with their small roles.
On the whole, Pehchaan is a flop movie which could've been better in terms of script and direction. With such good performances and such great action, one excepts a well handled story for a good action film overall.
