Antha

Re-watched on the big screen as it re-releases in the remastered version though the print was simply not good. The controversial film which went through loads of hurdles thrown by the Censor board and the authorities back then has a solid story and introduces a classic character Kanwar Lal which instantly became iconic. Based on a story published in Sudha magazine, it deals with an honest cop Susheel Kumar going undercover to nab notorious criminals only to lose heavily at their hands. How he overcomes everything to get the justice he deserves forms the story.

With a solid premise, even for the 80's irrespective of the excessive violence in the second half, the direction by S V Rajendra Singh Babu is spot on. Ambareesh owning the role of both Susheel Kumar and Kanwar Lal, makes them tailor made roles for him. The runtime of just over 2 hours, the narrative doesn't drag anywhere and there is never a dull moment throughout. The shocker ending for 80's standards still has the same impact now, making for a worthy re-watch.

However, the remastered print left a lot to desire and the blurry portions, much to do with the theater projection as well, needs to be addressed on priority.