Aakrosh

As they say that the emotions cannot be completely described in words so is this movie, which is a string of well directed and engrossly acted cinematic shots, describing the atrocities poor and weak faced/s in an illiterate feudalistic society such as ours.

Govind Nihalani and Vijay Tendulkar sirs..hats off to both of you!! Not just for marvelous direction but also for courage that you had shown for writing and showcasing the truth.

Om Puri...what an actor he was. One of the few well deserved filmfare award for a supporting role, ever. He didn't need to say even a word throughout the movie and still his dilemma and pain reaches the viewer effectively.

Naseer sir looks his part and very graciously played his role in the movie, which I otherwise will like to remember for its realistic depiction of rural India and perfect exposure of various characters.

Heartbroken but cherished every moment of Govind sir's filmmaking.

Must watch for truth seekers..not for idiots.

Now, that summary above would seem like a hyperbole, but in the case of Aakrosh, it isn't. Simply telling the story of an untouchable family whose sole breadwinner gets entangled into a legal case after his wife is murdered and the police say he has done it.

What follows is a series of depiction of human nature on how evil meets good & tries to suppress the truth. With a climax so scintillating and adverse, the whole film revolves around how Naseeruddin Shah tries to save Om Puri's back from the gallows. Both are equally phenomenal diving into their characters just like Amrish Puri is strict in his air. What a terrific way of conveying a message with a screenplay so fine, dialogs so sharp & writing so bold, Aakrosh is definitely Indian cinema's pride. Smitha Patil, Reema Lagoo & others have a short roles, but marvelous portrayals.

BOTTOM LINE: Recommended to people who care for Indian cinema. Maybe the best film of 1980.

Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO

Sex/Foreplay: Mild <> Violence/Gore: Strong <> Drugs/Alcohol: Very Mild <> Smoking: Strong <> Nudity: No <> Porn/Mouth-Kiss: No

Extremely powerful, intense with almost unbearable realism, this is a true classic that speaks truth to the power of the caste system, even four decades after its release.

Naseeruddin Shah is brilliant. He gives the performance of his life as the lawyer who wants to break social norms and to go to every length to help the defendant. Om Puri has fewer than 10 lines in this 2 hour long film. He still manages to outshine a truly brilliant Shah by projecting the range of suppressed emotions through his facial expressions and is the show stopper.

Vijay Tendulkar's script has hints of Marxism and class conflict. It is hard hitting, gritty and climaxes in a stunner.

Highly recommended for the socially aware. You would be stunned into silence. Streaming on Prime.

This is one of the greatest movies ever made in the world. Not just in India. The movie direction , the story line , the actors , the music and everything else about this movie is just superb. The story is very powerful and the depth of characters is great. I fall short of any adjectives for this movie. The young lawyer's ( Naseeruddin Shah ) frustrations and attempts to free himself from the legal shackles of the court room and his thirst for something sane outside of this oppressive system is brilliantly portrayed. On the other hand his mentor cum opponent's ( Amrish Puri )total submission to this mindless system and his slavery to seek proof and evidence for everything human is well portrayed. The background score elevates the effect.

In a nut shell any attempt to describe this movie will always fall short of it's greatness. The best way to appreciate this movie is to watch it and you are sure to be struck dumb. I don't have any means to give infinite stars for this movie otherwise I would have done so. Unfortunately for this movie, it was made in the wrong time and place and it's predominantly leftist leanings gave it away. Furthermore it was mainly anti-establishment. It did not have the backing of a powerful media and advertisement paraphernalia. Hence this movie was a box office flop. Interestingly , though this movie was the forerunner to a number of box office hits attacking the political system in India.

You can write a thesis on this movie but less said is more. What I liked the most is the story, screenplay and characterization because Smita Patil, being in only one scene of a 2+ hours long movie, overshadowed stellar performances by Late Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah. I am speechless about Om Puri as he was in this movie. The movie left me wondering why today's film makers and STARS, shout so much so, about their products?