Laadla

Don't really know how to explain or analyse the Sridevi factor. Sometimes I think she is intense and powerful, sometimes I think she overacts. Here I don't really know what to think or how to describe her. She was always angry, offensive, aggressive, and I still enjoyed her performance. It was a fresh change from what she was used to doing. No-one else existed in this film. The film itself is a cheap comic strip. It is terribly melodramatic, badly overdone, and is further worsened by laughably silly dialogues and poor production values (pretty much like every film of its sort at that time, particularly films made by directors like Raj Kanwar). But there is one good thing about it, and it is Sridevi as the vicious and damn beautiful career woman Sheetal Jetley. And I think that was quite the film's main purpose. Some people say Sridevi introduced the first anti-heroine in a leading role to Hindi cinema. Now that is complete nonsense as there were many other actresses who played negative leading roles before, and even if it was, it would not matter that much as this film is bad enough to be forgotten. It is one of many films filmmakers make for their favourite leading actress and only for her. In this case it's Sridevi. Many filmmakers who worship her made films for their ultimate goddess. This movie is one of them. It is a pathetic movie, but Sridevi makes it worth a watch.

Laadla only belongs to just one of its principal casts--Sridevi. Sridevi is in this film from the very first frame and she steals the show under everyone's nose. If Sridevi was not in this film, the film would have fallen flat on its face. I guess even the late Divya Bharati (who was the original choice for the role of Sheetal Jetley)wouldn't have pulled off the character with such ease and élan like Sri did.

The way she mouths her dialogues and her signature line "Understand? You better understand!" is just awesome. I guess no other actress would've conveyed the multiple range of emotions with an exaggerated sense. Sridevi turns in a powerhouse performance and the scene where she attacks Farida Jalal (who plays Anil Kapoor's mom) is brilliant. For the first time, I was really scared by a female vampish character in a Hindi film whose piercing eyes spew venom. At this point of her career, Sridevi has risen above all the other actresses of the industry. She hasn't spared a single role that she hasn't experimented with yet.

Well talking about the technical aspects of the film and the film itself , Laadla is not without its share of flaws. A theme like this has been experienced several times in Bollywood. What else can you expect from a director like Raj Kanwar? The cinematography, editing, music and lighting are below par. Anil Kapoor fulfills the role of a typical Bollywood hero. Raveena Tandon does what she is supposed to do. Anupam Kher and Aruna Irani are okay. Prem Chopra and Mohnish Behl ham their asses off throughout the movie. Shakti Kapoor somewhat leaves a mark with his catch line "Tunna tunna." The rest of the cast is not even worth talking about.

If you are a strict Sridevi fan, than Laadla is for you to watch!

Laadla review :

After the colossal failure of his ambitious home production Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993), Anil Kapoor got the much needed hit in form of Laadla. However, the film belonged to Sridevi who walked away with all the accolades for her grey shaded character. Her punchline "You understand. You better understand!!" is still memorable.

Originally planned with Divya Bharti, Laadla was reshot with Sridevi after Divya's untimely death in 1993. Raveena Tandon played second fiddle to Sridevi while Anupam Kher was the comic pappa. Shakti Kapoor had his own catchphrase "Tuna Tuna" even as Prem Chopra- Paresh Rawal - Mohnish Bahl formed the villainous trio.

Anil Kapoor played the dashing mazdoor who ends up marrying his ziddi employer Sridevi and then the drama unfolds..

Anand Milind's compositions - particularly 'Ladki hai kya re baba' and the seductive number 'Dhik Tana na' in which a ravishing Sridevi seduces Anil Kapoor - gained popularity.

Quite massy in approach, Laadla struck the right chord with the audience and emerged a box office hit. In one scene, we see Anil Kapoor and his colleague Ravi Baswani going to watch Khalnayak (1993) at Mumbai's Metro theatre but unable to get in due to massive crowds. Wishful thinking! Unfortunately, Laadla couldnt achieve that kind of success..

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni

Sridevi probably first introduced anti-heroine roles in Bollywood as a proud and arrogant businesswoman

The film starts off nicely with Sridevi's intro But raises a question? Anil Kapoor is poor and middle-classed but still manages to arrange to go on an airplane? Also how does he lift a heavy Farida Jalal who is bigger than him?

Direction is good Music is OK especially the Main Raju Deewana song

Anil Kapoor excels in his brilliant role as a hardworking union leader Sridevi rocks all the way Raveena Tandon is OK Anupam Kher is funny Aruna Irani makes good support Farida Jalal does well Prem Chopra is sinister Paresh Rawal is passable Mohnish Behl is alright Shakti Kapoor is passable

I can not mention the number of mistakes that has happened in this movie or even the performance of the cast. Let start with the actors who played the negative role, these are not actors they are disasters. For God sake they can't make a person believe they are evil. Anil kapoor role in the movie was repeated as always he is the hero who save the day. The action of the movie is over-exaggerated(the hero appear from nowhere to save the lady. Sridevi was the only member of the cast who did her role perfectly, she is one of the best Indian actress who played the anti-heroine role. the direction and technical effects are bad, as well as the story plot. the music and songs are below average. The rest of the crew are not even worth talking about. overall I give this movie a rating of 4 just because sridevi performance.