Khal Nayak

Khalnayak is the movie that made Sunjay Dutt into the star he is today. His career is judged as the movies he made before Khalnayak and thereafter.

The film is a pop cultural phenomenon in India. All of the songs are still sung today by the children of Bombay. The role of the villian essayed by Dutt is one of the most memorable characters in Indian cinematic history. This is hard to beleive since Dutt is such a wooden actor.

The film was quite controversial due to one of its songs and the fact a hero was going to play a evil villian. But Ghai (a mediocre director) pulled off an amazing film with a worthy lesson for the vagrants of India.

This movie was one of the decades biggest hits, and will go down in Indian cinema as one of the best action thrillers of all time.

Khalnayak review :

A film which became mighty successful only for its controversies rather than content. Firstly, Madhuri Dixit cavorting to the double meaning 'Choli Ke Peeche Kya hai?!!" made some prudes call to ban the song. Thankfully, the court didnt agree!! Next, Sanjay Dutt who played the titular role, was arrested in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. Khalnayak got such tremendous hype and publicity from these events that producer- director Subhash Ghai didn't need to spend any substantial amount to promote it. Just a huge cutout of Sanju Baba staring at the audience from behind bars was enough to pull in the audience!!

Indeed, the movie worked only due to Madhuri Dixit's sensuous 'Choli' item number and Sanjay Dutt going to jail around that time. Content wise, Khalnayak was lacking the showman's midas touch visible from Karz (1980) till Saudagar (1991). The plot revolving around a terrorist (Sanju) who falls in love with an undercover cop (Madhuri) with her fellow colleague cum lover (Jackie Shroff) completing the triangle was as old as the hills!! The execution too, left a lot to be desired..

Actually, the film starts off well but loses its way completely after interval. Even the climax appears hurriedly compromised to cater to Dutt's fans. Showman Subhash Ghai's direction was shockingly weak in most places. I would say his Pardes (1997) and Taal (1999) were better products than Khalnayak.

Having said that, the craze for this movie was truly incredible and next only to Amitabh Bachchan's Shahenshah (1988) and Hum (1991). The advance booking was so humongous that I couldn't get tickets at Chitra Cinema, Dadar in its entire first week (The rates in black were simply unaffordable) and finally, caught the film there only on second tuesday when stalls were available in current booking. The initial euphoria for Khalnayak ensured it attained Super Hit status at the box office. Choli aur Controversy ki Jai!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

I watched this film because it got one vote for Sight and Sound's once-a-decade list of the best films ever made, probably the only mainstream Bollywood movie ever to have achieved that distinction (though Satyajit Ray's works receive a number of votes). I wouldn't put it on my top 10 list of all time, as that one critic did, but I do think the film is wonderful.

It's not sophisticated. I'm pretty new to Bollywood films, having only watched a few highly-regarded ones so far, but my impression of them is that they are primarily about basic emotions (family, love) deeply felt. Broadly drawn emotions, no subtlety here. But these films seem to get to me, and this one did more than any of the others I've watched.

The sound effects are bad, and there's a small amount of broad humor that I think detracts from the film. The musical parts are pretty good. I think the lead was wonderfully cast, and the women are beautiful, as they invariably are in Indian films.

Subhash Ghai is an overrated director, his films barring KARZ and some more were nothing out of the world and had the same themes But some were entertaining enough

KHALNAYAK is one of them

The film has a very old fashioned story and the plot too moves in a predictable manner The way Sanju's character is handled deserves kudos In fact it takes center stage throughout

The entire run away from the jail and scenes with Madhuri and his change of heart towards her is well handled The entire transformation is well handled

The film does get clichéd at many places and tries to be a potboiler of it's times plus something else and hence the mishmash kinda feeling

Many scenes are too formulaic and the scenes towards the end aren't captivating and too filmy there are many flaws too in the film The scenes between Sanju and Jackie are wonderful

Subhash Ghai handles the film well though there are some flaws Music is good enough, CHOLI KE PEECHE and all are good Cinematography is good, editing is okay, though the film is too lengthy

Sanjay Dutt enjoys himself in the role he has done many times but he adds novelty to it, the way he acts though will be called too over the top by others but he handles the role very well His transformation is well handled and he actually overshadows every other actor Jackie Shroff is as usual Madhuri is excellent in her role which is at times not well written Pramod Moutho is okay Rakhee is her irritating self Anupam Kher overacts but does add some funny moments

This movie is one of the best movies I've ever seen in my entire life. It's got everything and a bag of chips. I'm not kidding, if you like drama and music you should definitely not just see this but buy it as well.

It also has a really good message too. The acting is superb and the special effects are up to par with the most sophisticated in the world.

You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll never be the same!