Ghatak: Lethal

Ghatak review:

Planned in early '90s with Kamal Haasan in the lead, Ghatak finally made it as a 1996 Diwali release with Sunny Deol spearheading it. Inspite of the delay, Rajkumar Santoshi's stellar execution didn't make the film appear stale at all and the movie became a runaway hit trouncing the multistarrer Sapoot it clashed with and also held well against Aamir Khan- Karisma Kapoor's "smooch" hit Raja Hindustani which released shortly after it.

Sunny Deol was outstanding as the rustic brahmin Kashi who brings his ailing foster father (Amrish Puri, excellent) for treatment to the big bad Mumbai. The suburban 'basti' he lives with his brother is literally terrorized by the local goon Kathiya (Danny Denzongpa, menacing) and his six brothers. "Saat bhai hai hum, ek se ek sher'. Inspiration from Satte Pe Satta, perhaps!!

Kashi gets on the wrong side of Kathiya and bros and in a sordid scene, they literally leash his old father to become a dog in front of the entire neighborhood. "Kutta bana diya babuji ko", Kashi cries loudly in a highly emotional scene.

Unlike Santoshi's earlier hit Ghayal (1990) which was highly sophisticated in nature, Ghatak was ekdum raw and in-your-face kinda movie. The main villain Kathiya was so caricaturish that he keeps a leopoard as a pet and indulges in a bloodsporty wrestling matches to satisfy his hunger for violence. The music was restricted to one good item number- 'Koi jaaye toh le aaye'- picturised on Mamta Kulkarni who looked damn sweet in it.

Meenakshi Seshadri was repeated from Ghayal to play Sunny's heroine but her role wasn't as strong as Santoshi's earlier movies with her. Ghatak was a complete Sunny Deol show and he didn't disappoint the audience at all. The crowd at New Citylight, Matunga where I saw it clapped and cheered everytime he finished off one of Kathiya's brothers. Finally, this is a pure "mardon wali movie" with raw brawn and the dashing Sunny in full form. Chak de Deol!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

Ghatak is one of my all time favorite movies and easily my best Sunny Deol movie .The dialogues of Ghaatak are excellent because they are very very realistic.One can watch this movie only to hear brilliant dialogues.The songs are very good especially Nigahon Ne cheraa hai and Koi Jaaye to le aaye by Alka Yagnik.This movie is a must watch for every person who want to understand what is the true meaning of one's right in life.Only Sunny Deol could do full justification to the role of a macho,manly,honest and tough person like Kaashi's character in this movie.Amrish Puri has also acted brilliantly in this movie.Ghaatak is definitely a must watch movie for any Bollywood fan.You will never repent after watching this movie completely if you believe in meaningful cinema.

Superb outstanding movie by story and acting Sunny deol , dialogues and expression of Sunny deol made reality shown on camera , this movie only superhit basis of Sunny deol acting I think nobody comparable in the bollywood like Sunny deol action and dialogues.

This is one of the better action films to come out of Bollywood. After 'Ghayal' and 'Damini', the Santoshi-Sunny team has done it again. The idea for the movie came from a quote of Mahatma Gandhi in which he says that if he had to choose between cowardice and violence, he would have chosen violence.

Beginning with Om Puri's character getting killed by the henchmen of Katia(Danny Denzongpa) in Bombay, we go to Banaras, where Kashi(Sunny Deol) is a wrestler and dutiful son. His father(Amrish Puri) has a throat problem so they go to Bombay to treat it. Once in Bombay, the two face a culture shock. Kashi is amazed at the people's apathic attitude.

Due to circumstances, Kashi ignites the enmity of Katia and his six brothers.

The action in the movie is fast paced and relentless. You can feel the escalating tension on screen. Performances are superb, the direction is tight (although it took 5 years to complete this movie).

Sunny Deol has given one of the more powerful performances of his life in this movie. Amrish Puri has given a great performance, comedic for the first half-hour of the film. Danny is menacing, however his get-up could have been better(his hair is silly). Meenakshi gave a decent performance. The songs are good and are mercifully few in number.

All in all, it is a great action movie.

Enjoy!

After the grand success of Ghayal and Damini, This was another blockbuster entertainer from Raj Kumar Santoshi, Sunny Deol and Meenakshi. This is one of the best action movies and probably the best action movie of Sunny Deol. The movie begins with Om Puri raising his voice in favour of shopkeepers in his area against illegal occupancy of their land by Katia played by Danny. He gets killed by Katia. Sunny with his father travels to Bombay to his step brother for the treatment of his father. Sunny comes to know the problems of shopkeepers over there and stands with them in getting their land freed from Danny. Unable to get any help from police, he himself fights against Katia.

All the characters have done justice to their roles. Nobody can match charisma of Sunny Deol when it comes to action scenes. He is one of the best action actors ever in the history of Indian cinema. The fighting scenes of Sunny Deol are excellent in the movie. Only Sunny Deol can do justice to such kind of roles.Amrish Puri has played positive role, father of Sunny Deol, in this movie. The chemistry between Sunny and Amrish is the best. There are few emotional scenes between both. When doctor tells Sunny that his father is having cancer, Sunny comes to his father, pretends that his father will be alright and starts weeping in his father's arms. I believe this is the best emotional scene in the movie. Danny is always best when it comes to negative roles.

Meenakshi is as good as usual. Songs are also good though few. "Nigaho Ne Cheda Hai Dil Ka Tarana" is very sweet and melodious song. Item song "Koi Jaye To Le Jaaye" is also very good dance number. There could be room to accommodate one more song.This movie is the must watch for action movie buffs specially Sunny Deol fans.