Prahaar: The Final Attack

Granted my copy of the VCD print was horrible - but the movie in itself it phenomenal. The credible footage of commando training is awesome - and seeing Nana himself do some of the scenes seems unbelievable.

The final 15 minutes of the movie are to die for. His dialogue delivery is superb - as one might come to expect from a stalwart like Nana.

It was nice to see my old Regiment (Maratha Light Infantry) on film - we boys do kick a**! :-) I could find myself nodding with Nan's take on society... for it's the sad truth! A bitter pill we all need to realise.

I also found my self drawing parallels with this film and the major theme of Tom Clancy's excellent book "Without Remorse".

In any case, a deserving film to see. The print isn't great and there are some glaring editing gaffes - but it's a 1991 film, and the gaffes aren't so horrible that they stick out like sore thumbs. The flow is non-stop. The story solid.

Budgetary constraints are readily apparent - and as are certain scenes which seem contrived rather than believable (some scenes with the terrorists makes it seem like it is easier than it is). But one can write this off to keeping the theme simple to sell to the masses.

Watch this film - you won't regret it.

"And that's a soldier's word" :-)

To date, I have never seen a film like it. There will never a film like this be made now, as India is becoming increasingly westernized day by day.

To prove this point we already have a reality show Bigg Boss copied from Big Brother which was first developed by Endemol in the Netherlands. In this show people can openly express their sexuality and sexual preference.

Back to the film. It deals with many topics and in order to appreciate the message of the film, you will need a second viewing. I myself have seen this film at least ten times and each time I have discovered something new that I had missed earlier.

The topics dealt with are: national and internal security, prostitution in India, the life of orphans in India, crime and extortion and the influence of the media.

It also deals with madness. Major Chauhan who as a child watched his mother abducted was deeply affected mentally and to this day still has visions of that terrible day. Left untreated this madness built in him throughout the years, and when it finally erupted in the climax of the film it was devastating.

Also we see in the film that Major Chauhan has a vision for his country - people of all caste and creed freed from all shame, hatred and suspicion and united in mutual love. This is the final scene of the film which is I think removed by the India Censor Board in the TV screening of the film.

Major Chauhan is committed to a mental asylum after which we notice a change in his character. He is finally at peace with himself and is waiting with eager anticipation at the final fulfillment of his dream.

Plot: Peter D'Souza goes for commando training and is trained by Major Chauhan who takes a liking to him. He completes his training with honors receiving the prized Commando Dagger.

During a mission to rescue some schoolchildren taken hostage by terrorists, he is fatally shot in the legs and crippled for life. He is discharged with honors.

Major Chauhan gets an wedding invitation from Peter some time later. When he arrives and inquire of Peter's whereabouts, he is told bluntly by a woman that Peter is no more.

What happens next has to be seen.

I sincerely request you to see this film or better still buy it on DVD or VCD. It will be money well spent.

This is the only film directed by Nana Patekar. Why he hasn't directed more films after Prahaar is a mystery.

GOD BLESS India.

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.

Prahaar review :

Nana Patekar chose an unconventional subject for his directorial debut; Prahaar revolved around an army man whose favourite cadet is murdered in broad daylight by street goons who were extorting 'hafta' from his shop. The unfortunate incident makes him realise that the enemy within the country is as dangerous as the one across the border...

Being a perfectionist that he is, Nana actually took commando training before the filming started. Infact the film's first half is dedicated to the tough training his character imparts to the new recruits. "Mushkil waqt, commando saqt!!"; the training sequences are the highlight of Prahaar and I really enjoyed the way Patekar finds out which of his student had whistled at a passerby lady!!

Coming to the ladies, Patekar hired two divine beauties Dimple Kapadia and Madhuri Dixit and presented them without any makeup throughout the film. Dimple played a widow who is troubled by the neighborhood goons. She looked simply mesmerizing even in a white saree. Madhuri played the murdered cadet's fiancée who tries to cope over her personal loss. Ankush Mohite showed promise as the goonda extortionist whom Nana bumps off brutally in the end.

Prahaar was quite offbeat in approach though it was within the realms of commercial cinema. The movie wasn't a box office success appealing more to the younger urban generation. I still remember as school kids, we used to fight with each other reciting Nana's punchline "COME ON, KILL ME!!". Epic stuff, I tell ya.

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

This Movie Will Change Your Thoughts About Your Country. Because Nanaji Can Do This Great Job. Nice Movie For Every Youth Of India Should Watch This Masterpiece Love For Nanaji Because Of This Cult Classic. Here Nanaji Not Were Act But Live This Character. This Movie Shows How Our Soldiers Fight With Outside Enemies But Loss In Inside Our Country Reason Is Bhrashtaachaar, Bad Politics, Corrupt Society, Less Thinking Of People And So All. Prahaar: The Final Attack" stands out as a thought-provoking film that challenges societal norms and highlights the importance of individual responsibility. Its strong performances, especially by Nana Patekar, and its unflinching portrayal of justice make it a significant work in Indian cinema.