Shatru

I am writing this in 2014, where rapes and other violence is in the press each day. I did never watch vernacular films, when I lived in India, during part of my youth. I am more than making up for it now.

This is a clean movie about an honest and upright officer, who comes across departmental corruption, power of landed aristocracy and the role of politicians in the decay of the moral and social fabric of India.

As other reviewers have said, this is a film with a difference:

1. No rape scenes 2. No overt violence 3. No mushy love songs

The social aspect of the lovely movie is the role of an orphaned boy and and a widowed woman. Further masala (spice) is added through the role of money and power in rural India.

Even 30 years later, in my travels, I find that nothing much has changed. People have cell phones and TV, but they are crippled through corruption of bureaucrats and other authorities.

Rajesh Khanna has mostly been branded in the press & media as a romantic star. But the fact is he has experimented in various kinds of roles even in his earlier days. His very first film - "Aakhri Khat" - had him playing a father on the lookout for his on.

He played a double role in his 2nd film raaz. His film - Baharon Ke Sapne - championed the cause of labor. His Ittefaq was a song less film - a rarity even today.

He played a hero without a heroine in Anand & Baawrachi, something which other actors never dared to do.

He played a man caught between 2 wives in Daag, a psychopath killer in Red Rose.

No other star took this kind of risk in Hindi cinema.

In Shatru, also, this trend continues. This film has no heroine, something which is unthinkable. It primarily portrays the relationship between a man & a boy.

Rajesh Khanna's performance is excellent. On one hand he shows his toughness as a police officer & on the other, his scenes with the little boy will bring tears.

He has been well supported by Prem Chopra. Their combination has clicked mostly & this is no exception.

The director deserves special mention for making such an offbeat film.

It did fairly well at the box office.

This film is one of the high standard films based on the life of Police officer. But this film is completely different in comparison with other formula Hindi films, which mostly contain unnecessary sex, violence, action, etc. It is a pure social film which highlights the clean image of a police officer in true sense. To characterize the character of a honest and duitiful Police Officer with high moral, Super Star Rajesh Khanna was the most deserving choice of the Director of the Film. Mr. Khanna characterize this character with great depth as usual according to his extra-ordinary acting calibre, which makes any character life like and natural. No other actor would have been able to establish the personality of Mr. Ashok Sharma, a great Police Officer on the silver screen, with such high quality performance.

Shatru review :

A rare Indo-Bangladeshi production; Shatru had Kaka as a honest cop fighting Prem Chopra and his goons. The pretty Bangladeshi actor Shabana was the heroine but surprisingly, there was zero interaction forget chemistry between her and the lover boy Rajesh Khanna who was totally miscast as action hero. They didnt even have a song together. A sure shot recipe for disaster!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

Shatru is a movie which is a remake of a hit Bengali movie with the same name. This Bengali movie was made in 1984. Shatru made in 1986 was made in Hindi and Bengali. The movie revolves around an honest Police Officer who is trying to bring the culprits in a village to task. He faces a lot of resistance and ultimately brings the culprits to the book. Super Star Rajesh Khanna is without a heroine and does not sing songs in the movie and puts up a stellar performance which should have got him an award. But awards always are not given to genuine performers. This is the first time Pramod Chakraborty directs Rajesh Khanna. The movie was an average success. Strangely the great R D Burman has given a very average music in the movie. It is a must see for all movie watchers.