Mard

"Mard" (1985) Although the late 70s early 80s produced some cinema masterpieces, this was also the decade of what in Spain we called "pelis de mamporros" (lit. "blows films"). There, fistfights, silliness and impossible plots were mixed in equal measure. United States had Chuck Norris, Europe had Bud Spencer and Terence Hill…and Bollywood had Amitab Bachchan. While this silliness was absolutely enjoyable in films like "Don" (also with the Big B as leading man), "Mard" actually provokes embarrassment. Any attempt to describe the plot would defy belief: animals that behave like humans, humans that behave like animals, gladiator fights, flamenco dancing, villains dressed as cowboys with the Union Jack as a cape... Moreover, nobody seems to have decided if the film is set in the 19th century or the present (some characters wear Victorian dresses, some walk around in bikinis and trainers). Special mention deserves the cheeky heroine (Amrita Singh), who is lethal with the whip and does not think twice about asking the protagonist for sex: in a reversal of the traditional love song, it is her who chases the hero, while he tries to reject her advances.

So, laugh out loud, enjoy and be thankful that the Big B prefers to do movies like "Black" these days.

The British soldiers would normally come over to India and loot all its wealth and carry it over to there country. But once in a time they were all challenge by a king called Azad Singh, and caught and carry to Lady Elena but they all attack King Azad behind his back and he was wounded and treated by Dr. Harry (Prem Chopra) but Dr. Harry turn out to be a British employer despite being an Indian and decided to attack King Azad and his family which consist of his wife and baby son. And so the son was separated from mother and father at a very young age. He was grown up by a horse and dog and was named Raju Singh/Mard (Amitabh Batchchan) which took him one day to the enemy's/British house and daughter named Ruby (Amrita Singh) Dr. Harry's house where he will have to challenge and fight with his father to impress the British and also made a plan which will help him and his father outwit the British.

This movie is really great. It is a picture where Amitabh can show that he is very good in Action Movies , too. The performance he shows is great (which one isn't it?). The theme of this film is good, as well. A movie for Amitabh Fans who also loves his Action movies. Just watch it and make your own picture of the film.

I love this movie. Get me some of whatever the director was on. I don't want to spoil the insanity for anyone who's never seen this, but ... tanks, gladiator fights, Sherlock Holmes outfits, a dog who's smarter than anyone in the movie, black leather bondage gear, and villains with Union Jacks on their evil capes. Get some friends and some beer and I guarantee this movie will be a good time.

All hail Moti the Wonder Dog (as he is actually credited in the movie).

Bollywood fans pretty much hold Amitabh Bachan's Mard in high regard but I think it is very overrated. Manmohan Desai collaborated before on movies like Suhaag,Parvarish,Amar Akbar Anthony,Naseeb,Desh Premee and Coolie and I have seen all of them I liked so I had very high expectations before I watched Mard and was bitterly disappointed. My main gripe about Mard is that it feels like Amar Akbar Anthony part 2,maybe Mr Desai ran out of ideas, after all he had been using that formula for years and years. 1. First of all some members of the cast is repeated from AAA, for instance the police inspector who brings up Amar, the Muslim who brings up Akbar, Nirupa Roy and a few more. 2. In AAA Nirupa Roy loses her eyesight, in Mard she loses her voice 3. In AAA there is the famous song (Shirdi wale sai baba)well in Mard we have Amitabh singing Maa Sherawali. Having seen AAA for over 1000 times I noticed that straight away.

My other gripes are that some of the situations just seem ridiculous, true Manmohan Desai made leave your brain at the door kind of movies but with Mard I thought he went too far. My last gripe is that compared to songs in previous Manmohan Desai movies I found the songs rather disappointing. I know it has many fans that swear by it but I didn't like it one bit. It actually pains me to write this review because I am such a huge fan and have loved his movies since I was a child.