Viruddh... Family Comes First

A gaze that can penetrate steel and the clothing of a corrupt Police Officer-the ensuing scene and dialog is a snippet of a good Film. Very few actors are blessed with this talent-like Rod Steiger in the "In the Heat of the Night", Robert De'Nero in "Good Fellas", Al Pacino in "God Father". Bachchan, the indisputable Icon, has managed to give another impeccable role probably the best in his career.This scene coupled with few other memorable scenes puts Mahesh Manjrekar as the top in his Profession. Khedekar as the Police Officer is another fine actor. After"Swades", I enjoyed this movie. The imbeciles who selected "Paheli" as the entry for the Oscars are a National disgrace.This SRK idiot,not just walk the Red carpet but take a walk, period.

A movie that is full with power packed performances from Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, Sanjay Dutt and John Abraham. It shows how the political power in India can ruin the life of a simple "common man". It shows how the entire system is inside a corrupted vicious cycle. It shows how the police, witnesses, and even law succumbs to political pressure.

And Mahesh Manjrekar (as usual) gives an excellent output. Another good thing about the movie is that it contains no unnecessary songs/dance. Its kept to the point. The first half seemed a bit too long, and could have been shortened. However, it was compensated by a fast-paced second half.

The film basically revolves around Amitabh and Sharmila Tagore, and all other characters including Sanjay Dutt, John Abraham, and Anusha Dandekar seemed to be doing a side role.

All said and done, it is one of the best movies I have seen in 2005. Great performances, great story, and an overall good movie!!!

Rating: 10/10

I am coming from Tamilnadu. In Tamil picture circuit rarely two post retirement/post menopausal couple are the chief protagonists. The last such film, I remember was "Vietnam Veedu". The Tamil filmdom thinks that old people can only be character actors. In our films even old male actors with fading faces have to act as lovers of heroines of their daughters' age. It is sometimes pathetic to see the old heavy actors making some dance sequences. So it is refreshing to see the old couple both in their mild and mature flirting with care for each other and the poignancy of their tragedy of the murder of their son and subsequent legal shenanigans. It is the younger men are the character actors in this film.

Amitab Bachan and Sharmila Tagore act brilliantly bringing the gamut of emotions. The final meeting with the murderer was excellent. Of course the story line is linear and some excellent pieces of dialogue crop up.

Yet there are a few rather typical cinematic scenes which are rather incongruous The old lady who is a retired teacher goes out with her teacher's cane and beats up the roguish Ali and others to bring some sense of decency in them which is rather too dramatic. Similarly the last verdict of NOT GUILTY on the old man is rather surprising. I am not a lawyer and am not aware of judicial nuances. But after all the old man is a murderer however justifiable his actions are and some token punishment (at least the time spent in the prison so far) would have been more judicial. Besides during the first trial the Home Minister and the Police went far out of the way in harassing Patwrdhan and his family but after his son's death the Home Minister seem to have been paralyzed. Nobody even tried to confiscate the tape recorder which ultimately reaches the presiding Judge of the second trial -"a shocking piece of evidence". The police officer who foisted the Drugs in the son's bedroom seemed to have gone scot-free.

But for these loose ends, deliberately left for dramatic purposes, Viruddh is a very good and interesting film.

Impressive performances by Big B and Sharmila Tagore are enough to make the movie worth a watch. The first half is good with quite a few light moments thrown in. The second half kinda spins the mood on it's head and become serious. A few characters in the movie have been wasted (like sharat saxena and prem chopra). Sharmila Tagore's on screen chemistry with Mr.Bachchan is excellent. John Abraham has done justice to his role. And newcomer Anusha Dandekar does a decent job with her screen time. Sanjay Dutt turns in a good performance with the limited role he had (with flashes of munna bhai appearing!!) Mahesh Manjerakar is at home with plots revolving around family and sentiments. If any flaws are to be pointed out...it can only be sed of the marginally illogical end. But anything else would have made the movie less acceptable to the movie going public.

This movie once agen proves that Big B is indeed BIG.

Viruddh is a film that has interest for the star power in it. Big B, Sanjay Dutt, and John Abraham make out to be a perfect cast. That's why I got it and was not let down

The first 45 minutes or so of this film is quite slow to the point you wonder if there will be a plot. It reminded me a LOT of another Amitabh/Abraham film Babuul which was really bad... but it turned out this slow beginning was just to get you hooked to the main characters. The husband/wife relationship played by Amitabh and Sharmila is at the heart of this film and without this intro film wouldn't have been as good

but hold on through the dragging beginning because Viruddh surely picks up and becomes an incredible tale. I won't say much because I don't want to give away the plot (which would ruin the film). But I will say that this film is truly unforgettable. Acting is superb, story keeps you going, characters are excellent.

One problem with Viruddh, not really a problem with the film but more of an annoyance was the RIDICULOUS product placement!!! Motor oil shot to the bottle an Sanjay pours it in a car but most hilarious was the WESTERN UNION scene that played no consequence to the film and was a scene added in where John Abraham essentially tells Amitabh just like in the commercials "hey Dad am sending you money, you can go to any location, etc. etc" wih a shot of Amitabh happily going to Western Union. I was cracking up!!! It distracts you from how real the film is... shameless!!! But forgivable because this film is great

And if you like this film you should check out Big B's Family with Akshay Kumar. SImilar like plot and Amitabh's acting is far better.

Both films are great. Enjoy!