Police Public

Police Public review :

The legendary Raj Kumar Saahab is known for his hard hitting dialogue delivery and enigmatic screen presence, particularly in films like 'Waqt' (1965), 'Saudagar' (1991) and 'Tirangaa' (1993). Not many people are aware of this 1990 movie called Police Public where the veteran star shone in the role of a CBI officer out to solve a seemingly difficult murder mystery...Oh yeah!

Police Public was a decent box office earner in its time completing a 10 week run at the Minerva cinema, Mumbai where it premiered but is largely forgotten today.

Supposedly inspired from a Malayalam film I haven't seen, the film revolved around the murder of Karuna (the pretty Poonam Dhillon mostly posing as a corpse) whose affluent in- laws (Prem Chopra and co) are trying to pass off as a depression induced suicide.

Corrupt cop Mahaad Singh Gadhwal (Naseeruddin Shah, efficient as ever) helps the crooks till the case is handed over to CBI officer Jagmohan Azad (Raj Kumar).

Reema Lagoo had a small but an interesting role of a sexy seductive maid servant Dulaari whom Mahaad Singh takes a fancy for. This is a film she signed before Maine Pyaar Kiya (1989) after which she got typecast as the new age mom.

The confrontation scene between Raj Kumar and Naseer is superbly executed (the one upmanship shaayari, specially) and the build-up to the climax is interesting as well as intriguing. As for the whodunit part, it turns out to be someone least expected though a better actor was needed for that role. Seriously, man!!

Still, Police Public is worth a watch in these times when the whodunit genre is fast disappearing in Bollywood.

Just one sincere advice : Fast forward all those speed breaker songs (Ram Laxman at his atrocious worst) which appear at regular intervals.

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

Average... does not do full justice to the original where Mammu kaaka is brilliant

As I reviewed and recommended, Knives Out a 2019 Murder Mystery Movie earlier this week. It came a crossed my mind another old classic 1990 Murder Mystery movie from Bollywood, Police Public. The film possess the ability to indulge its audience through its story telling which is investigative in nature. A CBI officer Jagmohan Azaad played by Raj Kumar Sahb has his own style to play this kind of roles supported well by Naseeruddin Shah as Senior Inspector Maha Singh Garhwal

The plot of Police Public is the mysterious death of Mrs. Karuna Sharma (Poonam Dhillon) who is the young daughter-in-law of a business family headed by Kishan Sharma whose son - Arun (Raj Kiran) is the husband of the victim. Apparently Karuna has committed suicide by jumping from height but there are certain clues signalling that she has been murdered. The investigating police officer - Shahnawaaz Khan (Kabir Bedi) comes to know that Kishan Sharma had not taken any dowry from Karuna's father - Ram Swaroop (A.K. Hangal) but later on, very cleverly, he usurped the land worth millions of rupees of Ram Swaroop. He also comes to know that Arun lives an extravagant and licentious life and Karuna was very unhappy in her marital life. As Shahnawaaz Khan goes deep into the facts of the case and is determined to solve the case, Kishan Sharma gets him transferred through his friend - Tiwari (Ajit Vachchhani) who is a petty politician. The new police officer of the area is a highly corrupt and licentious cop - Mahasingh Garhwaal (Nasiruddin Shah) who closes the file of the case after taking bribe from Sharma and threatens Ram Swaroop.

Aggrieved Ram Swaroop approaches the home minister (Vinod Naagpaal) of the state but finds that the home minister is also a part of the corrupt system only and in no mood to help him in getting justice. Now his second daughter (the younger sister of the victim) - Usha (Shikha Swaroop) and her beau - Shyam (Arbaaz Ali Khan) decide to make a last, desperate attempt at getting justice. They write letters to the chief justice of India, the prime minister of India and the president of India in this regard. The CJ considers their letter a writ and consequentially a CBI enquiry of this case is ordered. CBI officer Jagmohan Aazaad (Raaj Kumar) is assigned the job. How he reaches the bottom of the case, unmasks the murderer and ensures that the victim's family gets justice forms the remaining part of the movie. In this exercise of his, he has to match wits with the corrupt cop - Mahasingh Garwaal and his accomplices too. A change of heart takes place with Mahasingh and he also comes to the side of justice, leaving his corrupt avatar behind.

The USP of this movie is the stylish performance of Raaj Kumar None could match his theatrical dialog delivery and that's why special kind of dialogs used to be written for him to produce clapping in the cinema hall. Police Public is a movie in this line only. This regular murder mystery has become special due to Raaj Kumar only and it gained average success on the box office perhaps due to the immense popularity enjoyed by him in a section of audience. Else there's nothing great about the movie as far as the murder mystery is concerned. The real murderer is brought before the audience in the fashion of drawing a rabbit out of a hat by a magician which does not make a satisfactory solution to the mystery.

More than the mystery, the movie scores on the front of exposing the corrupt character of the Indian police and underscoring the fact that the police should not think that it enjoys unrestrained authority. It is answerable. Answerable to the public which is considered as supreme in the constitution of the nation. Police is the servant of the masses and not their master. Just because the corrupt politicians are backing them, the corrupt cops should not feel that they are never going to nailed for the defiance of their duty and their wrongdoings. Mahasingh Garwaal (Nasiruddin Shah) comes to understand it and mend his ways. The movie declares it loud and clear that the public should recognize its strength and should not bow before corruption and wicked powers. The message is clear - don't lose heart by initial failure in getting justice, keep on raising your voice, it will definitely reach some appropriate ear if you persist.

Raaj Kumar as Jagmohan Aazaad is the heart and soul of this movie. Though his acting is not natural, it's theatrical and over the top but this is what his admirers expect from him. Special dialogs have been written for him and he has poured life into various scenes through them. The second best performer is undoubtedly Nasiruddin Shah, the corrupt cop who finally reforms himself. The joint scenes of these two stalwarts of Hindi cinema in the movie have lighted up the screen, adding value to the narrative and increasing the entertainment quotient of the movie. All others are perfectly placed in their respective roles. If you are able to identify Reema Laagoo in this movie, you will be surprised to see her in an utterly different (negative) role than she has generally done in her career.

This is the debut movie of Shikha Swaroop who had won the Miss India title in 1988 and who later gained popularity by playing the title role in the TV serial Chandrakaanta which was made by Neeraja Guleri and aired on Doordarshan. She looks quite beautiful and done well too.

Music composed by Raamlaxman is overall average. Only one song of the album can be considered as good - Main Jis Din Bhula Doon Tera Pyar Dil Se, Woh Din Aakhiri Ho Meri Zindagi Ka which has been penned by Asad Bhopali and sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Amit Kumar.

Technically the movie is up to the mark. The murder takes place in a rainy night and the movie opens with the same on one hand and an item song on the other. The momentum of the story has been maintained very well and there is no boredom. The movie is not unduly long.

I recommend Police Public as a nice one time watch to the regular movie buffs in general and the fans of Raaj Kumar in particular.

Police Public is an excellent suspense thriller with excellent star casts to its credit. But I must say, Raaj Kumar stole this show. Every scene with him in it was worth watching. Amazing dialogue delivery coupled with extraordinary body language and expressive eyes makes Raaj Kumar one of the loved stars in Bollywood. The movie made me miss him and his hey days. Wish he was still alive. The rest of the casts are also equally supportive. Prem Chopra and Ajit Vachani are their usual self. Naseeruddin Shah and Kabir Bedi are competitive enough. Poonam Dhillon is good too. The plot moves in a fast pace but too many songs and unwanted comedy scenes slow the proceedings towards the post-interval portions. The movie keeps the viewer guessing till the end. Esmayeel Shroff does an excellent job of keeping the viewer engrossed with a murder mystery. Police Public is a change from the usual masala movies of 1990 and is definitely worth a watch. Don't miss it or you will regret!!!! I give it 9/10.