Awaargi

"Awaargi" is a 1990 Hindi film starring Anil Kapoor.

And it is his role that makes the film stand above the rest.

In the beginning he's shown as someone with a vacuum in his heart and life, looking to leave the gangster life and move on. Life gives him the opportunity but he realises first that society won't let him forget his past. And later that his violent past will not leave his character.

Hats off to the director Mahesh Bhatt and Anil Kapoor who despite being a star wasn't shy to take up such a grey character: beating the heroine, threatening to burn her.. I've seen film heroes only playing the part upto being shown as jealous.

Govinda, Meenakshi, Anupam and Paresh have performed equally convincingly their respective roles.

I rated it 8/10 in IMDB and am surprised to see its relatively low rating there.

This movie is a masterpiece, i don't know why people don't like it. Mahesh bhatt has directed this beautifully every actor has been so perfect. Anil kapoor is a great legendary actor, anupam kher was so good in his act. This movie is actually a great treat try tp watch it with all emotions.

Tthis is one underrated gem from Mahesh Bhatt. No Swiss Alps and no designer wear as seen in recent Hindi cinema, just pure classic Mahesh Bhatt entertainment getting you to the edge of the seat. If you want to see the "real" Anil Kapoor, watch this movie. As Anil Kapoor says, this movie got him his best reviews. Meenakshi is also very good and Govinda does well in a different role. Anupam Kher and Paresh Rawal, as in all Mahesh Bhatt movies, are ACE. Both have been given some of the best lines in the movie and boy do they deliver. Their confrontation scenes make you realise their importance in a Mahesh Bhatt movie. The story and the dialogues from Suraj-Sanim are applause worthy.

Awaargi review :

Caught this film today after its unheralded release in 1990. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, Awaargi was a box office failure maybe, cos the audience then wasn't prepared for an art-house movie with hard core commercial stars like Anil Kapoor and Govinda.

An intense love triangle; Awaargi is about a street rogue (Anil Kapoor) who rescues a wannabe singer (Meenakshi Seshadri) from a brothel and gives her a new lease of life by introducing her to a successful singer (Govinda). Love strikes between the two singers and the good hearted goon is torn between the two.

Surprisingly, quite a few of this film's sub plots and characterisation were borrowed in to blockbusters later :

1) A common man rescuing a girl from a brothel and falling in love with her formed the crux of Mahesh Bhatt's own 'Sadak' (1991).

2) A small time rogue seeing his pet love turn in to a star and winning the affection of the reigning super star was what Ram Gopal Varma's 'Rangeela' (1995) was all about...albeit, in a humorous vein.

3) Last but not the least, Paresh Rawal playing Bhau repeated his Marathi accent to perfection in 'Hera Pheri' (2000) which fetched him accolades and awards.

Awaargi has the intense touch of Mahesh Bhatt - some scenes coming close to his evergreen classic 'Arth' (1982). The ghazal sung by Ghulam Ali stays in your mind. Overall, I found this largely forgotten film worth recommending. Not the best of Bhatt but nevertheless, makes it to the watch list.

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.