Dayavan

Vinod Khanna was once considered as a top star in Hindi cinema. Infact, he was the media's blue-eyed man against the superstar Bachchan in late 70's. A shocking decision by Khanna to leave the filmdom and join Osho's ashram left the dream unfulfilled. However, after a 5-6 year gap when Khanna made a comeback with 2 back to back hits Insaaf and Satyamev Jayate, both released in 1987 he did prove his point. Following, these 2 movies came this movie with his friend Feroz Khan. Despite not being a hit for me Davayan has Vinod Khanaa in his best ever performance alongwith Gulzars Achanak and Raj Khosla's Mera Gaon Mera Desh and is brilliantly directed by Feroz Khan.

After making crime thrillers like Apradh ,Dharmatama and the biggest of them all Qurbaani, Feroz hit a slight low patch as Jaanbaaz despite having an excellent music track failed to match the success of his earlier movies. In order to recreate the magic Feroz made the most intense movie of his carrier-Dayavan. The movie was a remake of Tamil classic Nayakan directed by Mani Rathnam and had Kamal Hassan in the lead. Though its impossible to match Mani Ratnam and Kamal Hassan of Nayakan , I must say that Feroz Khan made a great remake of a classic movie. It is very difficult to make a good remake of a good movie and Khan deserves full credit for handling a subject which was so different from his style of cinema.

However, the highlight of the movie is Vinod Khanna. Kamal Hassan's Nayakan act CANNOT be matched BUT I must say that Vinod lived the role of Shakti to perfection and gave one of the best performances of a man caught in the web of crime. His diction, accent and typical Tamilian behaviour and look deserves a pat on the back of both Vinod himself and Feroz Khan.

Despite the fact that the film didn't do well and lot of critics didn't like it as the original masterpiece NAYAKAN was so fresh, I still feel Dayavan was very well remade and enacted!

I saw Nagayan Hindi dubbed version, and now I can make a comparison between the two. I also recommend that you see this excellent Hindi dubbed version of Nayagan before you watch Dayavan.

The main comparsion between the two films is that Nagayan is a more-to the-point film, whereas Dayavan like all Bollywood films has masala (spices) added to it to make it more appealing.

If you ask me frankly, I would say that Nayagan is a better film in all respects and brilliantly acted and directed as well. I should advise you to see and own both Nagayan and Dayavan.(Everyone is entitled to his/hers own opinion.)

Changes: the role which Kamal Hassan played as the main figure is now replaced by the excellent veteran actor Vinod Khana. This is one of his most famous roles. The film also stars the actor and director of the film, the late Bollywood Legend Feroz Khan whose loss is still deeply felt to me.

Feroz Khan's career in Bollywood is legendary and his movies are all blockbusters. I like his style of direction and the way he introduces characters in the film. This film is also one of his biggest contributions to Bollywood.

Maduri Dixit is stunning as always. And her acting is on a different level altogether. She still is the best actress in Bollywood and the pace-setter.

The songs in the film are the highlight. "Aaj phir tum pe pyar aaya hai..." is my personal favorite. This song is sung by the Legendary Pankaj Udhas.

Plot: After having witnessed the tragic death of his father by the local South Indian police, and being orphaned and homeless, Shakti Velhu develops a hate, and distrust of the police in India. He is befriended by another homeless boy named Shanker, who asks him to accompany him to Bombay's slumlands, where they live with a kind-hearted Muslim named Karim Baba, and his daughter, Shama. This is where Shakti and Shankar spend their childhood. When they mature, they take to petty crime. Here too, Shakti witnesses police brutality and atrocities, especially at the hands of Police Inspector Ratan Singh. When Karim Baba is arrested, jailed, and found dead in police custody, Shakti hunts down Ratan Singh.

An investigation is launched, but no one comes forward as a witness. Thus Shakti gets his reputation as a Don with a good heart viz. Dayavan.

Shakti marries Neelu, and has two children, Suraj and Sarita. He becomes even more powerful and influential all over Bombay, and his working partners are powerful criminal dons who have ruled over Bombay for eons. Shakti eventually replaces these dons, and becomes Bombay's only Don. This creates enemies for him and his family, but he believes since he has not really done any harm to anyone, he and his family will be safe. It is this belief that will take a heavy toll on his life and that of his family.

Full 10/10: a must have film for all Hindi film lovers, and Feroz Khan and Vinod Khanna fans.

It's a great saga . The story of a hero among the poor and the exploited. It keeps you engrossed throughout. A fast paced movie, Superb screen play ,real depiction of life.

The fight scenes are superb

The songs are just situational and not inserted just like that like in some movies.there are hardly 2 songs. It's nice that the director hasn't wasted time on songs and focused on the content. It's a complete story.It's not just a love story;it includes a love story as a part of the main plot.All other sub plots are equally interesting.

You will find almost all situations in life here It shows all kinds of people.

It is said to be based on Kamal Hassan's movie in Tamil. Kudos to Feroz Khan and Vinod Khanna for making this movie for Hindi audiences.

Dayavan review :

After making stylised entertainers like Qurbani (1980) and Janbaaz (1986), Feroz Khan decided to adapt Mani Ratnam's critically acclaimed Tamil film Nayakan (1987) for the Hindi audience. He collaborated with his bestie and Qurbani co-star Vinod Khanna who played the titular role.

Dayavan narrates the life of a South Indian lad Shakti Velu who as a kid, flees to aamchi Mumbai after killing an evil cop who murders his innocent dad for money. With a natural hatred for police, Shakti grows up to get embroiled with yet another police brutality and that event turns him in to Dayavan - a benevolent Don with a heart of gold.

Vinod Khanna was outstanding as Dayavan and it is one of the best performances of his career. Feroz Khan chose the supporting role of his accomplice Shekhar Waghmare and his forced Marathi accent is still mimicked by many. "Ae Shakti, Kay gammat zhali re!!". Aditya Panscholi appeared in second half and played the ruthless honest cop who hates Dayavan and is incidentally, the husband of Dayavan's separated daughter Amala.

The film became controversial for a love making scene between Vinod Khanna and his reel wifey Madhuri Dixit during the lovely song "Aaj phir tumpe pyaar aaya hai". The close to two minutes of passionate kiss raised many eyebrows and some film magazines wrote about then newbie Madhuri being coerced to give the shot and that she regretted it later.

But then, Dayavan was much more than that kiss and it is easily one of the best films from the late 80s, performance wise as well as from technical point of view.

Released with 70MM print at Minerva cinema, Mumbai, the film took an excellent start but finally settled in to the average grosser category at the box office. As a kid, I saw the film on VHS and loved it. One scene has a 'mandh-buddhi' child saying "Namaste; Mera Baba Marr gaya" in a unique manner which became a big rage with school kids of that era and we used to tease each other with it. Ever lasting memories those!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

It is perhaps Vinod's best movie. Vinod was a talented and original actor but it was pity that he left the film industry for a long interval. This interruption caused much damage to his career otherwise he might be among great heroes. Dayavan is a good movie telling the crude realities of criminal and poor life. Perhaps it is a remake of Kamal Hassan's movie and Vinod is successful in recreating the character of Shakti. Film runs on pace and plot twists grip the movie-goer but the last part of the movies seems a bit weak. Perhaps discredit goes to Adita Pancholi's weak acting. Overall, movies is worthy to be collectd and a must see for those who want real life action and story.