Shandar

'Shandar' is a typical early 90's action masala flick. I had seen a rainy song featuring Mithun Chakraborty with Meenakshi Sheshadri and Juhi Chawla and though of giving the movie a chance. Now as is the case with most action movies of the 90s and 80s, it is imperative that one uses the fast forward button in order to save time. In this case, there are plenty of dishum dishums, silly explosions and lousy dialogues that warrant fast forward. What works are most of the comedic sequences that feature the combined comic talents of Kader Khan, Meenakshi Sheshadri and Juhi Chawla. It's a pity that the two talented beautiful ladies have little screen time because they provide some of the best laugh out loud scenes (while the rest is just unintentionally funny). My favourite sequence is the swimming pool scene where the inhabitants of the slum including Juhi and Meenakshi's characters invade millionaire Kader Khan's swimming pool. Mithun Chokroborty is the formulaic hero but he does add well to the comedy. Mandakini is cute but her costumes and hairstyle and her death scene are unintentionally hilarious. Overall, 'Shandar' is for those who are up for something of Bollywood B-grade style fun (with some additional great comedy performed by some of the funniest actors).

Shandar review :

Clashing with Pyar Ka Karz was Shandar - an out and out masala actioner also starring Mithun Chakraborty and Meenakshi Seshadri. So it was two Mithunda releases on same day which led to the audience getting split between the two and both the films couldnt get the hit tag though Shandar fared marginally better than Pyar Ka Karz.

Mithunda played a gareebon ka maseeha Shankar who has two heroines - Meenu Mausi and Mandakini to woo. Juhi Chawla had a small role opposite Sumeet Saigal who played Mithun's bro. Danny was menacing as the villain whose catchphrase was "Ab aaya na baat mein namak!!". Kader Khan was cast as the corrupt politician yet again. He was effective as always.

Shandar is memorable for two reasons - One is of course, Mithunda's sincere performance as Shankar - his fave name in most 80s and 90s films. What Vijay was to Amitabh, Shankar was to Mithunda. And secondly for the superb song "Ek Main Hoon. Ek Tu Hai.." picturised on Mithun and Manda. That itself was worth the ticket price. Had seen it at Paradise Cinema, Mahim and loved it.

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.