Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1990) User Reviews

Struggle of a Doctor

[gaur-abhi · 9/10 · 24 November 2005]

I guess when a director (that too as acclaimed as Tapan Sinha) starts off with a script as strong as this one, the expectations are bound to be high. And to our very good fortune, the end product lives up to its expectations. The story is that of a doctor(Pankaj Kapur....FYI...Ek Doctor Ki Maut means 'Death of a Doctor') who is trying to find a cure for leprosy.

The trouble is he works for a Government Hospital, and all the research is being done at his home laboratory. With no one to support him except his wife(Shabana Azmi), he has to fight his way out of the system to get his work noticed.

Ultimately when he actually finds out the cure, due to lack of proper facilities, he publishes the paper a bit too late. Some other researcher from another nation had already presented the cure.

All through the movie the doctor(played as convincingly as possible by Pankaj Kapur) has to fight the press(who think he is playing a con), his fellow doctors(to try to suppress him and later try to steal his invention) and the bureaucracy and red tap-ism of the system.

By the end of the movie one becomes hopelessly frustrated with the system and begins to feel the pain and anguish of the doctor. As the movie ends on a tragic note, one is left to wonder how many other doctors, scientists, inventors of India(or other such corrupt developing nations) have missed out on their chance to fame and glory.

Its a movie made from the heart. Don't miss it !!.

Brilliant acting and excellent handling of the subject.

[bakulmatiyani · 8/10 · 21 August 2005]

an amazing film. i remember seeing it when i was in class 7 i think and this film has just stuck with me ever since. powerful performances by Pankaj Kapoor and Shabana Azmi. the film tells the story of a doctor and what he faces while he tries find a cure for leprosy. and his struggle which begins after he has successfully invented such a vaccine. a very true to life account of an ordinary doctor who achieved something extra ordinary but failed to get his due credit. the film leaves the viewer sympathizing and wondering as to how many people and how many brilliant works have just passed us by unnoticed and unappreciated. an absolute must watch for the acting talent on display. the subject has been handled very well. all in all an excellent film.

wonderful acting in a heart touching drama

[rodin_indi · 9/10 · 11 July 2003]

A wonderful movie. No one other than Pankaj Kapoor could have played a better leading role Shabana Aazmi is great too in her supporting role. Direction is superb too though it couldnt get much support from the technical departments like all other indian movies. This movie reminds me of Guru Datt's Pyasa which was the story of a struggling poet in corrupt Indian society and this is the story of a struggling doctor.

Excellent movie

[harineem · 10/10 · 7 April 2007]

This is a truly outstanding movie based on a real life story.Pankaj Kapur adds such passion to the character of the Doctor who spends 10 years of his life coming out with a vaccine against leprosy.In the process he totally ignores his wife Shabana azmi(again a great performance) and she is close to abandoning him.When finally he achieves the breakthrough he finds he has a bigger fight on his hands against the corrupt and lazy govt and scientific community.He gets no support from even his best friend a successful doctor(Vijayendra ghatge) due to jealousy.Though Vijayendra's wife played by deepa sahi sympathizes with Pankaj.Again a very subtle and good performance by Deepa Sahi. The climax forms the remaining story.Pankaj Kapur is definitely a great actor who somehow has not achieved by recognition he deserves.And this movie I think his best performance.

Don't quit this movie too early

[aishwarya-raghavan-785 · 9/10 · 19 May 2012]

This is a movie of science and the science talks can come off as boring for the first 30-40 minutes of it but at the heart this movie is story of a man's struggle to stand up for what he has dedicated his life to and what he believes in.

The characters - right from the supportive but helpless wife, jealous but guilty friend to the twisted chief doctor - are extremely compelling. Pankaj Kapoor does great justice to the role of the Dr.Dipankar Roy. Irfan Kapoor (a lesser-known actor then) and Shabana Azmi look hand-picked for their roles.

On the whole this movie is greatly moving and movie opens your eyes to the struggles of a researcher and makes you want to respect every one of them.

one of the best

[sliddar121 · 10/10 · 27 January 2013]

I think the other reviewers have said what I wanted to say already.

I just have to say this films is a top 10 best movies made in India. Too bad these films are largely ignored by Indian masses and most NRI's, who like to watch the no brain entertainers like KKKH, KKKG, DDLJ, Ready, Bodyguard etc..

This is a truly a film India can be proud of and show at international film festivals to western audiences and critics alike.

I wish Indians started to support films like these more and films made by Govind Nihlani, Shyam Benegal etc.. and this this would encourage more production of such movies.

One of the finest movie ever seen

[sam_rocksatnet · 9/10 · 20 May 2012]

The movie which was made in 1991 has the same impact even today as it was earlier.. Dr. Roy who tried inventing the vaccine for leprosy, but due to poor response from the officials and the jealousy that delayed the man to submit the paper of his research and some one else bagged the credit..The movie very nicely placed the system and their corruption.. It portrayed how an individual who have the potential to make his mark on world's best invention, but due to some negligence and jealousy. Great acting by Mr. Kapur, one of the finest actors... Great directions and great story..

Best movie

A great film, depressing tale of apathy and indomitable spirit

[sankara-narayanan · 8/10 · 13 April 2014]

A great film. It is a depressing tale of how the Indian govt, bureaucracy and jealousy kill a spirited, maverick medical scientist's original work which leaves him shattered and devastated. The delicate relationship between the doctor, who totally ignores domestic and family life immersing himself into research and his wife is portrayed so nicely.

It is a NFDC production and certainly belongs to the art house genre. The direction and screenplay are realistic and natural. The brilliant performances by Shabana Azmi and Pankaj Kapur in lead roles are so full of life and emotion. The background music with the full flair of Bengal is touching and throbbing in many frames of the film.

The movie was inspired a real life personality Subhash Mukhopadhyay, who was the first scientist in the world to create IVF baby, but was denied that honor and eventually committed suicide.

The film brought alive the overall cynicism and social mores around 70s and 80s. There is lot of public anger over state apathy and corruption in today's India too. The non recognition of true talent by the state and the society, humiliation (instead of recognition) for hard work - this still exists in some quarters. But, I think, things have improved and become better to a far greater extent compared to the times that this film portrays. After watching the film, I was overcome also with a sense of relief, along with depression and despondency, perhaps out of this reason.

One of the few movies, i desperately wanted to be a "happy ending"

[newton2304 · 8/10 · 5 April 2013]

The movie tells story about a doctor(Pankaj Kapur), who after a long year of painful research, successful in developing a Vaccine for Leprosy. What follows after that is his struggle and fight to the bureaucracy and disapproval happening in medical society.

Nothing much to say about Pankaj Kapur,Shabana Azmi and Irrfan Khan, as it is a well established fact that they are marvelous actors. Other performances are also good.

The thing about movie that makes it wonderful that it makes u sympathize with the character(the doctor) and attach yourself to the problem he faces in this bureaucratic system.

Based on India's first test tube doctor

[chitra-badri · 7/10 · 22 February 2019]

Starring Pankaj Kapoor, Shabana Azmi and a young Irfan Khan, this movie is loosely based on Dr. Subhash Mukhopadhyay who created the world's second and India's first child using in-vitro fertilisation.

Dr. Mukhopadhyay was harassed by the state government, and not allowed to share his achievements with the international scientific community. Dejected, he committed suicide on 19 June 1981. (From wikipedia)

It was a terrible case of "wrong place, wrong time" for Dr. Mukhopadhyay. The country wanted a solution for population control, and here he was with a solution for fertility. The movie, however, ends on a slightly optimistic note. Wish they had not sugar coated it.

Movie for the filmmakers to learn filmmaking

[shashankadas-35158 · 9/10 · 27 August 2021]

I watched the movie in the 90's when I was in school. I loved it then and I love the movie now. Greatest movie ever made in Indian film industry. ( Film industry doesn't include bollywood but all the regional film industries in India).

Average - Good, not great.

[Amyth47 · 6/10 · 13 March 2019]

My Rating : 6/10

This is easily 30 minutes too long. It starts off engaging but then lingers on with way too much talk and unnecessarily drags on with the repetitive drama.

I don't understand the high rating to be honest. Yes, I loved the message of how the Indian society is jealous of a normal man's success and achievements. The performance of Pankaj Kapur is convincing and spotting a young Irrfan Khan is nostalgic too. But the movie itself isn't all that if you know what I mean?

Average at best. I'm not saying it's bad but it is certainly not going to stick out in my movie-watching journey.

Boring movie

[mujtabasaif786 · 5/10 · 23 January 2020]

It is a boring movie, it is an average movie. Irfan Khan looking good in that movie.

A fine, fine movie.

[jagmeet-r9 · 9/10 · 14 August 2017]

Spoiler alert

I believe any movie with Pankaj Kapoor should be watched at least once by all movie- lovers. And this one is a treat. Mr. Kapoor is simply phenomenal in his portrayal of Dr. Dipankar Roy, a brilliant/eccentric scientist/doctor. He is more than ably accompanied by stalwarts like Shabana Azmi and Irfan Khan, who are both flawless in their respective roles. The story touches upon the harsh realities of the world of science and in general.

Watch it for the peerless performance by Mr. Kapoor, who in my opinion is one of the finest artists we have around in this country.

"Pankaj Kapoor and Shabana Azmi.. to fill up the room with their acting"

[smkbsws · 9/10 · 16 September 2020]

I heard this movie's name from the doctors who chose a different career in life; and hardcore film buffs from all around keeps this in their favourite movies; list :o. The life and work of a scientist who pioneered about the researches of test tube baby, about whom his country forgot, is an inspiration of this story. Pankaj Kapoor and Shabana Azmi were at their prime then to fill up the room with their acting - literally, as this being almost shot indoor. And how we can overlook Irfan Khan and Anil Chatterjee's supporting role, which they really overdid the leads whenever they were in the screen. One more memory of this film is actually unrelated about how good or bad this film is - I found a valid link of this film on the 17th page of google in 2010.

A moving and beautifully made film that captures the corruption in the Indian System

[parthpant19 · 12 June 2018]

"Ek Doctor Ki Maut" is an extremely engaging and well made film by Tapan Sinha that showcases how the jealousy and negligence on the part of some people can really lead to a real setback for mankind.

Pankaj Kapoor masterfully portrays Dr. Roy- a doctor/researcher working on the cure of leprosy. As soon as his research is publicized by the newspaper, Dr.Roy begins to be ridiculed and mocked at by fellow doctors. What follows next is Dr.Roy's oppression by the government and authorities and the corruption that prevails in this system.

Apart from this, the film also beautifully explores the relationship between a husband and a wife (again a touching performance by Shabana Azmi) and also that between friends .

Overall, an important film that deserves more recognition than it has got!