Prahaar: The Final Attack

Prahaar (1991) : Brief Review -

A tight slap on Dusty Minded Society with right perception and Nana Patekar's stone-breaking characterization but with wrong objects. Prahaar is front loaded material if you're fan of 90s Nana Patekar films but somehow it tries to clean the dust of society which was too late by then. Mainly it comes with less action but solid characterization of almost every single artist present in the film. The film is about an Army officer who is outraged by the the muteness and deafness of the society against Evils. The officer takes law in hands to complete a revenge of his loving fella by giving it a name of his duty of cleaning enemies of country. The script seems bit offbeat and hard-hitting looking at it's period of early 90s when Bollywood was in relationship with mainstream action/romace films. Another offbeat or may i say new thing was to introduce Army training camp in Bollywood in strict manners. It was pleasing and interesting throughout the narrative and it was also shockingly acceptable in the climax when we realise the importance of Army Training. Now how much sense it made is a different topic to argue anyways because every brain has different definitions of Freedom and Independence that we have got. Nana Patekar as strict army officer is in sublime form and all his physical, endurance and training acts are real treat to watch. Rest of the cast don't get too much to show so i should say it's decent. Technically and cinematically there are few mistakes which are ignorable but some big falters in the writing must not be spared. This is the only thing which goes wrong with the film that it used the wrong objects to tell this overwhelming storyline. It should have came from a common man from the same dusty society rather than Decorated Army Officer. Overall, a Fantastic Social Drama.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest

What a movie!! Almost perfect on all the parameters. Non of the below reviewers noticed the fact that, Prahaar has been written, directed and acted by Nana himself. This shows his depth of thinking and intellectual qualities. Such quality is not even possessed by super-hit new comer writer directors.

What else can I say about Nana Patekar? Excellent actor. And the fact that he tried to make a realistic indian commando movie is commendable. But he takes it to one higher level and makes it into an indian "Death Wish". Coupled with the complexity of his character's backround, you can't help but admire what he's done with this film. Must watch.

Prahaar is simply one of the best or perhaps the best hindi film I have ever seen in my life . The pain , anger and frustration of an army officer when he faces the inner layers and reality of our society and criminal thugs . Nana Patekar gives the best acting performance of his lifetime . In terms of acting Nana Patekar is up there with Pacino and Deniro

CLASSIC

10/10

I would rate this as Nana Patekar's career best performance after his National award-winning performance in Krantiveer. Good acting by first-timer Gautam Joglekar(who was not to be seen after this movie) and the gorgeous Madhuri Dikshit. The film opens with Peter D'Souza(Gautam Joglekar) who joins the army and has to report for commando training, much against the wishes of his father and his fiancé Shirley (Madhuri). There he meets Major Chauhan(Nana Patekar) who is the instructor at the academy. Maj. Chauhan makes Peter and his fellow commandos go through various hellish training regimes which are indeed nearly brutal. Peter decides he has had enough and decides to quit. But when Maj Chauhan learns about his decision, he humiliates Peter in front of his fellow commandos. This makes Peter re-consider his decision and he tops the commando training. After the training is nearly complete Peter discovers Maj Chauhan's nice side too. The story also reveals Maj Chauhan's dark past. He is the son of a prostitute, who is sold to a couple of goons by her pimp. He is then raised in an orphanage and then goes on to become an army officer.

Soon after the commando training is over, Peter becomes an invalid due to injuring his legs in a mission against hijackers. Peter is discharged from duty and then he decides to marry Shirley, the invitation for which is received by Maj Chauhan. But when Maj Chauhan reaches Mumbai for Peter's wedding, he comes to know that Peter was killed by the neighborhood goons, when he refused to pay them extortion money.

What Maj Chauhan does after that to gain justice for Peter and his family forms the crux of the plot. This movie sends out the message that India's sovereignty has more threat from the corrupt politicians and policemen than from any kind of foreign aggression. It also sends out the message that Army officers, who risk their lives, sometimes sacrifice them for the benefit of the nation , are meted out treatment far worse than dogs after they are discharged due to injury or illness, and that their condition should be improved.