Dharam Veer

Review By Kamal K

I can't tell you that you need to see this film because it's brilliant. It's frankly ridiculous. But you need to see this film to admire the unfettered imagination of one of Hindi cinema's greatest masala makers - Manmohan Desai.

Dharam Veer is set in an unidentified time, which means anything is possible. So there are kings, queens and evil ministers, gladiators and jousting contests, banjaras and a hawk who swoops in to save the day.

There's also Pran in a ponytail playing Jwala, the master swordsman who is hailed as a legendary Samurai. In one scene, Dharmendra, playing the local blacksmith's son Dharam, asks Jwala: Agar aap mujhe samurai sikha de toh... And of course Jwala obliges.

You might wonder, why is Dharmendra wearing a skirt?

Jeevan as the queen's evil brother. Zeenat Aman as the haughty princess who must be taught a lesson.

Her character is the hardest to digest. In one song, Dharam, kidnaps her and ties her up because he loves her.

But while the princess is quickly tamed, Desai also gives us a queen who hunts tigers and rules the kingdom. Early in the film, she meets Jwala, has a Gandharva marriage which means a secret wedding, gets pregnant and then separated from him.

And then enters, one of the most progressive male characters in the history of Hindi cinema - a king who willingly marries the pregnant queen and takes another man's child as his own.

The action moves at a breakneck speed and there is only one rule - you can't question anything. Babies are exchanged and re-exchanged. Despite grave misunderstandings and machinations by a plethora of villains, the bromance between Dharam and Veer stands strong.

My favorite character is the villain, played by Jeevan, who just keeps scheming. When it is prophesized that his sister's son will cause his death, he instantly plans her murder, saying jab behen hi nahin rahegi toh bhanja kahan se hoga.

It's too much fun. Dharam Veer has the innocence of a children's story. As the madcap plot unfolds, you can almost sense the director's glee at having so many different toys to play with - this includes a battle at sea in the climax.

Dharam Veer released in 1977 and was one of the four hits Manmohan Desai had that year. The others were Amar Akbar Anthony, Chacha Bhatija and Parvarish. Do you know any other director who can match that? Check out Dharam Veer on Youtube.

Dharam Veer is a period costume drama set in the midieval periods shot in grand colourful palaces and forts. While the storyline and screenplay are contemporary, its the special effects and poorly edited action sequences that make the film look a bit dated.

The film is based on the "lost and found" formula, a specialty of its director, Mr. Manmohan Desai. When the family astrologer predicts to the brother of the queen of a kingdom that his eldest nephew (sisters son) will be responsible for his untimely death, the uncle tries to eliminate him on the day he is born. While the scheming uncle believes that his nephew is dead, all that he has unknowingly managed to do is that he has separated the child from his family. The prince is brought up at a poor blacksmith's house in an environment of contrast with the life of a palace.

However, as luck would have it, the poor prince emerges to be the best friend of his younger brother from the palaces in a kingdom which believes that rich and poor are all alike. They eventually reunite as brothers to get rid of their scheming uncle who had designs for his son to be the crowned king. Various parallel well knit side tracks enhance the pace of the film.

All in all, thoroughly entertaining fare with nice music, beautiful backdrops, gorgeous stars (zeenat aman and dharmendra are just fab!), grand festivities, moderate emotions and hilarious comedy scenes make it a must watch!

I remember as a kid when promotion of movies use to happen on radio and how I enjoyed this movie promotion listening it on radio. The songs " Bund ho muthi to lakh.. " Hum banajaroo ki... " O meri mehbooba.. " Are still fresh in my mind, how this songs made me as a kid of seven wanting to see this movie. This movie is full entertainment the costumes, story, action of 70's, the drama, acting, songs everything is so Bollywood. Dharmendra, zeenat, jeetendra, Jeevan and all others did wonderful job. Yes even the eagle was so much fun for us kids to later discuss among ourselves. This is a must watch for BOLLYWOOD FANS.

Dharmendra , jitendra excellent fabulous movie dialogues and story songs every angle movie superhit at that time this masterpiece is mostly creditable to Dharmendra and songs made by laxmikant pyarelal every songs superhit till now remember and outstanding music i love this movie and watch many many times till now.

Upon learning of a prophecy that states he will be killed by his eldest nephew, Satpal separates his sister's twin sons. However, the boys become best friends after growing up, and fight against tyranny.

In the 1970's, where daku, romantic and lost and found action fare were the leading force, period-Talwar (sword fighting) pics were rare, but Dharm Veer is a first class example of period-action replete sword fights, ship battles and feisty princesses, yet it still retains its lost and found masala sheen, and the villainy is high-end with bad buy maestros Jeevan and Sujit Kumar giving the heroes, Dharm Veer played by Garam Dharam and Jeetendra (no brainier who plays Dharm!) a lot to fight for, and there's plenty of derringer-do, high-end dramatics, romance and epic theatrics - all these elements Manhoman Desai executes in his inimitable fashion.

Dharmendra is at the top of his game, flexing his muscles and singing with MOHd Rafi's voice to Zeenat Aman - the songs are melodious, and the cinematography is splendid - Dharm veer is wondrous entertainment for the one who want to escape in the world of palaces, forts, maharajas, queens, lost princes, talwar flashing and moustache twirling villainy.