Prahaar: The Final Attack

What a movie!! Almost perfect on all the parameters. Non of the below reviewers noticed the fact that, Prahaar has been written, directed and acted by Nana himself. This shows his depth of thinking and intellectual qualities. Such quality is not even possessed by super-hit new comer writer directors.

What else can I say about Nana Patekar? Excellent actor. And the fact that he tried to make a realistic indian commando movie is commendable. But he takes it to one higher level and makes it into an indian "Death Wish". Coupled with the complexity of his character's backround, you can't help but admire what he's done with this film. Must watch.

Prahaar (1991) : Brief Review -

A tight slap on Dusty Minded Society with right perception and Nana Patekar's stone-breaking characterization but with wrong objects. Prahaar is front loaded material if you're fan of 90s Nana Patekar films but somehow it tries to clean the dust of society which was too late by then. Mainly it comes with less action but solid characterization of almost every single artist present in the film. The film is about an Army officer who is outraged by the the muteness and deafness of the society against Evils. The officer takes law in hands to complete a revenge of his loving fella by giving it a name of his duty of cleaning enemies of country. The script seems bit offbeat and hard-hitting looking at it's period of early 90s when Bollywood was in relationship with mainstream action/romace films. Another offbeat or may i say new thing was to introduce Army training camp in Bollywood in strict manners. It was pleasing and interesting throughout the narrative and it was also shockingly acceptable in the climax when we realise the importance of Army Training. Now how much sense it made is a different topic to argue anyways because every brain has different definitions of Freedom and Independence that we have got. Nana Patekar as strict army officer is in sublime form and all his physical, endurance and training acts are real treat to watch. Rest of the cast don't get too much to show so i should say it's decent. Technically and cinematically there are few mistakes which are ignorable but some big falters in the writing must not be spared. This is the only thing which goes wrong with the film that it used the wrong objects to tell this overwhelming storyline. It should have came from a common man from the same dusty society rather than Decorated Army Officer. Overall, a Fantastic Social Drama.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest

To date, I have never seen a film like it. There will never a film like this be made now, as India is becoming increasingly westernized day by day.

To prove this point we already have a reality show Bigg Boss copied from Big Brother which was first developed by Endemol in the Netherlands. In this show people can openly express their sexuality and sexual preference.

Back to the film. It deals with many topics and in order to appreciate the message of the film, you will need a second viewing. I myself have seen this film at least ten times and each time I have discovered something new that I had missed earlier.

The topics dealt with are: national and internal security, prostitution in India, the life of orphans in India, crime and extortion and the influence of the media.

It also deals with madness. Major Chauhan who as a child watched his mother abducted was deeply affected mentally and to this day still has visions of that terrible day. Left untreated this madness built in him throughout the years, and when it finally erupted in the climax of the film it was devastating.

Also we see in the film that Major Chauhan has a vision for his country - people of all caste and creed freed from all shame, hatred and suspicion and united in mutual love. This is the final scene of the film which is I think removed by the India Censor Board in the TV screening of the film.

Major Chauhan is committed to a mental asylum after which we notice a change in his character. He is finally at peace with himself and is waiting with eager anticipation at the final fulfillment of his dream.

Plot: Peter D'Souza goes for commando training and is trained by Major Chauhan who takes a liking to him. He completes his training with honors receiving the prized Commando Dagger.

During a mission to rescue some schoolchildren taken hostage by terrorists, he is fatally shot in the legs and crippled for life. He is discharged with honors.

Major Chauhan gets an wedding invitation from Peter some time later. When he arrives and inquire of Peter's whereabouts, he is told bluntly by a woman that Peter is no more.

What happens next has to be seen.

I sincerely request you to see this film or better still buy it on DVD or VCD. It will be money well spent.

This is the only film directed by Nana Patekar. Why he hasn't directed more films after Prahaar is a mystery.

GOD BLESS India.

I would rate this as Nana Patekar's career best performance after his National award-winning performance in Krantiveer. Good acting by first-timer Gautam Joglekar(who was not to be seen after this movie) and the gorgeous Madhuri Dikshit. The film opens with Peter D'Souza(Gautam Joglekar) who joins the army and has to report for commando training, much against the wishes of his father and his fiancé Shirley (Madhuri). There he meets Major Chauhan(Nana Patekar) who is the instructor at the academy. Maj. Chauhan makes Peter and his fellow commandos go through various hellish training regimes which are indeed nearly brutal. Peter decides he has had enough and decides to quit. But when Maj Chauhan learns about his decision, he humiliates Peter in front of his fellow commandos. This makes Peter re-consider his decision and he tops the commando training. After the training is nearly complete Peter discovers Maj Chauhan's nice side too. The story also reveals Maj Chauhan's dark past. He is the son of a prostitute, who is sold to a couple of goons by her pimp. He is then raised in an orphanage and then goes on to become an army officer.

Soon after the commando training is over, Peter becomes an invalid due to injuring his legs in a mission against hijackers. Peter is discharged from duty and then he decides to marry Shirley, the invitation for which is received by Maj Chauhan. But when Maj Chauhan reaches Mumbai for Peter's wedding, he comes to know that Peter was killed by the neighborhood goons, when he refused to pay them extortion money.

What Maj Chauhan does after that to gain justice for Peter and his family forms the crux of the plot. This movie sends out the message that India's sovereignty has more threat from the corrupt politicians and policemen than from any kind of foreign aggression. It also sends out the message that Army officers, who risk their lives, sometimes sacrifice them for the benefit of the nation , are meted out treatment far worse than dogs after they are discharged due to injury or illness, and that their condition should be improved.