Nagin

Nagin (1976) : Brief Review -

Didn't know my childhood fascination was actually the best fantasy horror film of Bollywood in the last 5 decades. Nagin is about to turn 50, and in these 5 decades, I don't really think any film has come close to it when it comes to a proper commercial mythological fantasy horror saga in Bollywood. We were very late to pick the mythological and fantasy elements into the horror genre than Hollywood, who did it way back in the 20s with silent movies and then in the 30s with talkies. Rajkumar Kohli's filmography has been forgotten, deservingly, but two of his works in the fantasy horror genre, Nagin and Jaani Dushman, will forever be the best in this category. We hardly have horror classics with ghosts or revenge theories. Today, we have Tumbbad and some of those classics like Mahal and some 60s stuff to argue, and Ramsay's works were not on that level, even though they are very popular to date. Kohli's Nagin may be that one film that I wouldn't call a classic but would definitely call a film to be remembered and certainly the best commercial horror film since ages. It was a super hit in the initial run and then re-release. I can imagine the fear, the fascination, and the mystical nostalgia people must have felt back in the 70s, when Bollywood was heavily riding on masala movies. Reena Roy looks so freaking hot in her first appearance only, and then throughout the film with those grey eyes, lipstick, and dark eyelids. Besides being a fascinating fantasy flick, Nagin is such a stimulating and sexy film. There is so much spice and glamor in it. There are flaws too that one can easily notice today, but they are forgivable. It comes out as such a frightening entertainer, just like Jaws was in Hollywood around the same time. People used to pay to get scared back then. Imagine the fun of doing so for yourself. Thank you, Kohli Saab, for this evergreen horror fantasy that has come a long way through 5 decades and almost 3 generations.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

I lived in French speaking West Africa, and I had seen Kabir Bedi in Sandokan on TV. The story was some folklore from rural India about a creature similar to "Cat People", but instead of turning into panthers after making love, these mythological beings shape-shift into cobras (or was it pythons?). Anyway a hunting party shoots what they believe is a dangerous snake; however the female mate swears vengence and like some incredibly beautiful and exotic Charles Bronson, has a three step plan to eliminate each of the hunters. Step one; romance them, step two; make them suffer; then step three; kill them. This film had problems of logic and pacing, but, oh my shape-shifting demi-Goddess, she brings the most beautiful woman to life. Rekha, Reena Roy were among the most fascinating stars in Bollywood heaven. Too many scenes were shot with jumpy cameras, in the dark, feebly adding suspence and scariness; as the vixen reveals her plan to kill each hunter, on their own turf. Poor quality filmwork, but terrific and engaging songs. I saw the flim three times.

This movie is Bollywood to the n-th degree. Those not acclimated to Indian films, with their 2 1/2 hour-plus running times and obligatory musical numbers need not fear. NAGIN is all about keeping the audience entertained at any cost! For a '70's film, the color is deeply saturated, the story is action-packed and involving, and the cheesy special effects are somehow funny AND scary. The plot involves a snake woman who sets out to kill the group responsible for the death of her lover. She can change appearance at will and assumes the guise of various Hindustani hotties to lure the men to their assorted dooms. You'd have to be pretty uptight to not enjoy this film and find yourself, perhaps to your surprise, getting caught up in the meandering story.

Review By Kamal K

Hello guys yesterday saw this movies however preposterous this movie night look it succeeds in keeping you glued for it's entire run time. This is largely bcoz of its excellent direction, good screenplay, fantastic acting by it's entire cast, great music, nice song picturization, good comedy, edge of the seat action thriller. All-in-all delightful watch and thoroughly entertaining!

Nagin review:

A trendsetter for Bollywood in terms of naagin revenge movies which pretty much dominated the '80s and '90s as well as flagging off a plethora of multicast actioners; Nagin is an important movie in history of Hindi cinema. It also holds the distinction of being the only film after Kismet (1943) and Sholay (1975) to celebrate a silver jubilee (25 weeks) in its re-run. No other blockbuster till date has achieved this feat except these three.

A snake shifting couple are making love when the male snake is hunted down by a group of friends (Sunil Dutt, Feroz and Sanjay Khan, Anil Dhawan, Kabir Bedi, Vinod Mehra). The female snake sees them in her dead partner's eyes and then kills them one by one assuming a human form. The plot was novel for 1976 and director Rajkumar Kohli had cast almost half the industry in key roles. Reena Roy was sizzling hot as the snake-woman who avenges the death of her lover Jeetendra. This is her career best performance no doubt!! Not many know that Saira Banu was approached earlier but she refused the offer and Reena got lucky.

Rajkumar Kohli got his formula of multistarrer actioners with Nagin and almost all movies he made after this right till his last Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahaani (2002) had a huge star cast with revenge and action as its main theme. Infact, the 2002 Jaani Dushman was a remake of Nagin where Manisha Koirala played Reena Roy's character. That film turned out to be the biggest disaster ever and Kohli didn't make a movie again.

I saw Nagin on VHS first in mid '80s and then at Kohinoor Cinema, Dadar in one of its multiple '90s re-runs. The film's massy appeal still hasn't become obsolete. It is the premier naagin themed movie which paved the way for hundreds to follow..

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.