Laawaris

Laawaris (1981) : Brief Review -

Amitabh Bachchan goes bonkers in Prakash Mehra's emotional rollercoaster that has come a long way amidst the mass cinema wave. Just imagine this is 1981; you enter the cinema hall to watch Laawaris with the mindset that Amitabh Bachchan is a big superstar and Prakash Mehra is one of the best directors in mainstream commercial cinema, and Manoj Kumar's Kranti has already taken the nation by storm, and you are seated for a mainstream Indian drama expecting all masala elements. You start with an evergreen song with evergreen lyrics, and Rakhee is dancing to it in a black saree. Amzad Khan, the Gabbar, is a bad light in the first 15 minutes and then is seen helpless throughout the film. Amitabh Bachchan enters in style, saying, "Yeh apna style hai." He is frustrated after knowing that he is an orphan, but he is speaking on behalf of every orphan who has been a victim of some rich people's sexual desires. Laawaris actually tries to speak a lot on this issue instead of trying to be a typical Indian masala flick. Bachchan can speak multiple languages in the film, and he also dons 5 fancy dress types in "Mere angne mein," including female ornaments and sarees, frocks, etc. In one action scene, he fights with 5-6 people who belong to different casts, and he speaks with them in their mother tongue. He takes Zeenat Aman to his hut and introduces himself as her childhood friend. The next they are in a hug, and "Kab Ke Bichde Hue" begins in Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle's voice. I was like, I want to freeze this moment. Believe me, a similar moment in today's films, and I'd use the fast forward button and skip the next 5-6 minutes to save my worthy time. I couldn't do that here despite having seen the same song and same scene multiple times on TV. That's magic. Mehra's commercial blockbuster refers to multiple serious issues and solutions that most 80s people wouldn't understand. They might, today, I guess.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Prakash Mehra and Amitabh Bachchan were a hit combo and made some of Amitabh's memorable hits like ZANJEER (1973), HERA PHERI (1976) and MUQADDAR KA SIKANDAR (1978)

In this film Amitabh is an orphan but the son of a very rich man (Amjad Khan) who dumped Amitabh's mother Raakhee A unique story well handled

Amitabh's emotions are well-handled during the film Amjad Khan is given a positive role for once after Gabbar Singh in SHOLAY (1975)

Amitabh makes the best of his role Zeenat Aman is good Shreeman Lagoo is funny Ranjeet is OK Suresh Oberoi does well in his mini role Amjad Khan excels

Review By Kamal K

The acting of Amitabh ji was amazing and it was very powerful acting it is really hard to express a life of a unclaimed/orphan child (lawaaris) through a movie but he did it perfectly and to make it more happy ending there was a love story bewteen AB and Zeenat which was shown in such a manner which made the story more interesting and I would specially talk about the dialogues which were mind blowing.

It's one of best movie of Amitabh. His pain and anguish at being abandoned is depicted so well. He never came to terms with injustice meted to him. He longed for acceptance on the same time. This duality csn drive any viewer to tears. Masterpiece.

Years on after watching movie, I have yet to watch a movie which shows what an orphan feels.

Lawaaris is a classic Hindi film released in 1981, directed by Prakash Mehra. It features, Rakhee Gulzar,Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman and Amjad Khan. The movie tells the story of a young boy, Heera, who is abandoned by his mother and left to grow up in a slum. As he matures, Heera seeks to discover the identity of his real father.

"Lawaaris" received critical acclaim upon its release and became a commercial success. Here is a review of the film:

The film's biggest strength lies in its powerful performances, particularly by Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. Bachchan delivers a stellar performance as Heera, portraying his character's emotional journey with depth and intensity. He effortlessly portrays the struggles and conflicts faced by Heera as he navigates through life, torn between his loyalty to the people who raised him and his search for his biological father. His on-screen presence and charisma elevate the film to another level.

The screenplay is well-written, capturing the essence of the socio-economic disparities prevalent in society. It addresses the themes of identity, belonging, and the importance of family bonds. The film's narrative takes several twists and turns, keeping the audience engaged throughout. The dialogues are impactful and memorable, with some iconic lines that have become part of Bollywood's lexicon.

The music of "Lawaaris" is another highlight. The film boasts a fantastic soundtrack composed by Kalyanji-Anandji, with lyrics penned by Anjaan. The songs like "Mere Angne Mein," "Kab Ke Bichhde Hue," and the title track "Apni Toh Jaise Taise" have become evergreen hits, and they continue to be loved by audiences even today. The music adds depth to the storytelling and enhances the overall cinematic experience.

The direction by Prakash Mehra is commendable, as he skillfully combines drama, emotions, and action to create an engaging narrative. The film's pacing is well-maintained, and the climax delivers a satisfying resolution to the central conflict. Mehra's direction, combined with strong performances and an impactful storyline, makes "Lawaaris" a compelling watch.

One minor drawback of the film is that some of the subplots could have been better developed. While the primary storyline involving Heera is engaging, a few secondary characters and their arcs feel underexplored. Nevertheless, this does not detract significantly from the overall impact of the film.

Overall, "Lawaaris" is a timeless Hindi film that showcases the prowess of Amitabh Bachchan and the storytelling abilities of director Prakash Mehra. It combines powerful performances, memorable music, and a compelling narrative to create an entertaining and thought-provoking cinematic experience. If you appreciate classic Bollywood films, "Lawaaris" is certainly worth watching.