Kalyug

Kalyug, an excellent film, is Shyam Benegal's (along with his writers Pt Satyadev Dubey and Girish Karnad) effort to extrapolate the Mahabharata phenomenon in modern context. Kalyug is a thorough and deeply analytical cinematic work. Kalyug is humanization of characters, deified in the mythological epic. Traits of Mahabharat's mythological characters are adopted and imposed on the characters of the film but hardly any character represents one single character included in the Mahabharata and one character may be an amalgam of many characters. Film doesn't let audience fall for easy conclusions that this character is this and thus so well defined as per the mythology, no it is not about fixed characterization. It is more about basic characterization of human being. Here in Kalyug, every character is doing mistakes and they can not be defined in a black and white manner. Kalyug has commercial actors like Shashi Kapoor and Rekha but camera does not stick to one character only.

Kalyug is rich in everything. Good story, good screen play and dialogs, fascinating cinematography,wonderful performances and a super class direction.

It's one of the finest films, ever made in Hindi cinema.

Kalyug review:

Besides working in mainstream blockbusters like 'Deewaar' (1975), 'Trishul' (1978) and 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' (1978), Shashi Kapoor also spearheaded the parallel cinema movement in the 80's. Some of the acclaimed off -beat films he produced were 'Junoon' (1978), '36 Chowringhee Lane' (1981) and 'Kalyug' (1981). Of these, I consider Kalyug directed by the legendary Shyam Benegal to be his best.

A contemporary take on the timeless epic 'Mahabharata', Kalyug transformed the Kaurava and Pandava princes in to warring business houses. Every character of Mahabharata finds a place in the contemporary setting and even episodes like the slaying of mighty Abhimanyu and Karna losing his life at the wheel is given a fantastic modern day twist.

Shashi Kapoor himself, plays Karna, the illegitimate brother on the wrong side of dharma only to fulfill his unflinching friendship towards Duryodhana (named Dhanraj here and played wonderfully by the ever reliable Victor Banerjee). As Karna, Kapoor is a class apart - sophisticated, suave with a tough exterior yet inertly vulnerable within. It's one of his career best performance.

Rekha was interestingly cast as the modern day Draupadi who hates her real husband Dharam Raj (Raj Babbar) but has an obvious attraction towards his younger brother Bharat (or Arjun). A young Reema Lagoo had a bed scene with her onscreen husband Balraj (Kulbhushan Kharbanda). Thankfully, there was no Draupadi 'vastraharan' in the new world and Benegal rightfully resisted the temptation.

I watched Kalyug on Doordarshan in the late '80s and was blown away with Benegal's interpretation of Mahabharat. The epic was playing as a tv serial at the same time on Doordarshan and so it was much easier to compare and appreciate the two...Good olè days those!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

I had watched this movies 20 years ago and wanted to see it again. Still potent and impacting. For those who don't watch Bollywood due its loud and cheesy products, there is a parallel line of movies which will blow your mind. Especially if you don't know storylines of Mahabharat this may seem new. Presentation of the movie is at par with its subject. The only downside: print on Youtube is less than acceptable and I don't know if there are other options. No subs either :( Some relationships in the movie were left open-ended, which I like very much, but make be a reason for t Love Shashi Kapoor in this one. Rekha could have had more. Anant Nag was awesome!

Movie ahead of its time probably one of the finest and underrated movies of Shashi Kapoor. It is produced by his Company Filmvalas and directed by Shyam Benegal. All Characters in this movie have done justice to there roles background music is superb it doesn't make the make look tht old movie has a lot of twist it shows how important it is to compete and have competition. Raj Babbar doesn't have much role Anant nag and Rehka stills the show one of there serious roles Kulbhushan karbanda and Reema lagoo are Okay Ak Hangal was his usual Urmila play the young boy. Sushma seth was the same like all her movies. Amrish puri doesnt have much in the movie same for Om puri. Supriya Pathak first movie. over All I rate this movie 8.5 a good watch if you like a ram gopal varma kinda movies this is a must watch movie doesn't have songs only 1 (what's your problem)

This is a good art film. Referenced from mythology, even names of the characters refer to the ancient times. Set in modern times its a conflict of personalities & emotions between two industrialist families.

The director is well know for his narrative style this ones no exception.

No song and dance here as well as no bollywood style gunfights. A nice intellectual film overall. If you like dance , music & action , this ones not for you.If you'd like to see the hero Karan (Shashi Kapoor) in fun loving films, check out "Do aur do paanch or Namak Halaal"