Agneepath

I have not seen the original Agneepath and I am glad about it. I think it would have led to a parallel comparison in my mind, which would have dist... read more

I have not seen the original Agneepath and I am glad about it. I think it would have led to a parallel comparison in my mind, which would have distracted me.

Or maybe not. Agneepath is an extremely intense film and I who pride myself on the cynical curve of my mouth found myself almost crying in places. There is no underlying vein of sadness or anger in the film. It overflows the banks of the storyline and is all over the dark grey landscape that the director has created.

The story is focused on Vijay, whose lifes mission is to avenge his fathers unjust and horrible death by hanging, at the hands of the utterly evil Kancha. He will resort to any means, fair or foul, to reach this man and finish him off.


Hrithiks Vijay is not an angry young man but a very sad young man. He never smiles, his eyes are perpetually brimming with unshed tears and when he goes back to his hometown of Mandwa to meet Kancha he looks like he is about to have a mental meltdown. But this sensitive portrayal adds to the movie. Maybe he should have been able to channelize the sorrow into a violent anger. We see it in him as a child, but there is only melancholy later expect in the ending when it all erupts with volcanic fury. The only bugging thing in his acting was the senile bobbing of his head in moments of extreme emotion. It looked really strange.

Sanjay Dutt as Kancha is ugly and malevolent. Rishi Kapoor as Lala is wonderful. You will forget that he has never played a villain ever before, he is that natural. Priyanka as Kali, the love interest does well in a few emotional scenes but the Marathi mulgi act is a bit grating. Zarina Wahab is Nirupama Roy reincarnated. Just the blindness is missing. Kanika Tiwari who plays the sister reminded me of Manjiri Joshi. She is a sweet and natural presence. Om Puri as Inspector Gaitonde is the only sane person in this ensemble of OTT characters.

There is a huge lot of violence in the movie. It made me cringe but it is integral to the story. I was concerned about the kids watching it. We need more categories to rate our films so that kids dont see this kind of stuff.

The film reminded me of the 70s Manmohan Desai movies. It has the same epic style of telling with big dances thrown in and melodramatic dialogue and actions at the most crucial moments. The melodrama can grate at modern sensibilities but I guess tributes have to doff their hats at the genre of their times.

The sets are epic Roman tragedy types with bare trees, grey skies and a weeping wailing handwringing chorus of villagers. To top it, each song and even the background score has thumping dhols that up you heart beat to match the mayhem on screen.

Chikni Chameli is horrible to watch. All hip thrusting gyrations and no grace.

I recommend Agneepath. For a person like me who has no interest in such movies, I was sucked in, spun about on high rpm and thrown out gut wrenched. I like that feeling.
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An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind the Mahatma is quoted by Chetan Pandits Dinanath Chauhan Vijays ideological father, in an attemp... read more

An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind the Mahatma is quoted by Chetan Pandits Dinanath Chauhan Vijays ideological father, in an attempt to instill his son with what according to him is the right way of going about life. Little prepares him for young Vijays reaction, as it stuns both - the viewer and Dinanath.

It means the Mahatma never lived in Mandwa.

More than two decades later, Karan Johar revisits his fathers beloved production, Agneepath which released in 1990 to a dismal box-office reception. His director Karan Malhotra armed with screenwriting partner Illa Dutta Bedi sticks to the vendetta theme of the film but adds layers of complexities to their characters, both old and new.

Too small to do anything to protect his father getting brutally hanged for a false accusation, Vijay stares at Mandwas sociopath goon Kancha Cheena with a stabbing gaze. The village and its people do not only witness the unjust murder, but also encourage it. Vijay and his mother move to Mumbai, but the gruesome killing with his fathers body suspended over a Bargat tree an element used repeatedly by the director as a metaphor has left an undetached scar on Vijay right during his most impressionable years. He craves for revenge, in fact he chooses, at a painfully young age the path of crime with the sole agenda to avenge his fathers murder.

Probably something which Dinanath Chauan wouldnt have wanted himself.

But in wonderful use of irony, Vijay is shown applying his fathers principle, of retaining the right information for the right time; and using it at a criminally wrong life-altering stage. This is where Vijay forges a liaison with Mumbais notorious gangster-pimp Rauf Lalla and in a set of thoroughly calculative moves, uses him to reach his ultimate stop the bald-headed and brow-pierced Kancha.

The grown-up Vijay is a muscular man with the same stabbing gaze. Hrithik Roshan plays the part and in a film where most men are exaggerated in their appearance and traits, he perhaps is the subtlest of them all. He is indifferent with his disguised loyalty toward Lalla, being an unapologetic henchman who has been hardened by his haunting past; but the same man when reunited with his sister breaks down showing a sort of vulnerability, largely left untouched in Bollywood movies where mainstream heroes are concerned shedding copious tears. He runs an ambulance service on his sisters name, also has fallen for the localitys lively girl Kali. But he would rather be reticent with his feelings, almost as much forthcoming as she is.

Which is what makes this hero a character that isnt just a rough sketch, but well-conceived. On the other hand Sanjay Dutts Kancha Cheena hasnt been left redundant, but has converted Mandwa into his drug-trafficking fortress. Secure of his foothold in the grainy land, Kancha wants Mumbai. Aware of his ambition, Vijay has emerged as Rauf Lallas throne-bearer, keeping the city not in his pockets, but fists; readying him and viewers for a bloody gore of a climax.

Review Continued: http://www.desimartini.com/reviews/ankur-pathak-agneepath/rd14285md1205.htm
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After the box office debacle of the original Agneepath in 1990 Karan Johar locked himself in his room, looked into the mirror and said "meri zindag... read more

After the box office debacle of the original Agneepath in 1990 Karan Johar locked himself in his room, looked into the mirror and said "meri zindagi ka sirf ek hi maqsad hai badla badla badla". Baarah saal baad he is back to take your money and his revenge, with Karan Johar's Agneepath,Agneepath,Agneepath.

What's the story? - Karan Malhotra takes the basic premise of a son seeking revenge against the person who killed his father and adds his spin to it keeping certain scenes from the original but reconstructing it in his way.

How is it? - Good(in parts)

Why? - Disclaimer : I am a huge fan of the original but even after trying hard not to I was comparing it with the earlier version.It's a bit long clocking 2hr:57min but is a true blue adaptation and should not be compared with the original. I shudder to think what Abhishek Bachchan would have done to this role which Hrithik Roshan bravely makes his own. The only characteristic I didn't like about his character was the 'crying at the drop of a hat'. The highlight of the film was the use of the 'iconic' line Vijay Dinanath Chauhan. There are lot of high moments in the film that works. In fact the first half after Hrithik Roshan's entry reminded me of Parinda. The addition of Rauf Lala's character fits in perfectly and Rishi Kapoor has played it to the gallery. What didn't work was Sanjay Dutt. His portrayal of Kancha was a pale shadow of Ballu Balram from Khalnayak. If he would have nailed his character right this adaptation would have scaled new heights. He works with his mouth shut.These days every time I see Om Puri as a police officer I feel like laughing. He looks like a caricature cum spoof of Anant Velankar. Except Chikni Chameli the songs don't work at all in the film. Pyiyanka Chopra is also an unnecessary add on. Her track with Hrithik constantly breaks the flow of the screenplay. Two people who added a lot of value to the film were Ajay - Atul. Their background score was like a strong supporting actor in the film. I don't know if this film has repeat value but in today's age if a 3hr film engages you it's a huge battle won.

Final Few words : Karan Johar's Agneepath is his revenge saga against the box office. Looks like he will get his revenge.

Rating : ***(Good in parts)

Ticket Meter : Worth going to the theatre if you have 3 hrs to spare for a few good moments.
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Every one had their inhibitions to watch Hrithik playing the immortal Vijay Dinanth Chauhan. There was plenty of scope to make a mess out a classic... read more

Every one had their inhibitions to watch Hrithik playing the immortal Vijay Dinanth Chauhan. There was plenty of scope to make a mess out a classic and ruin our memories. But all said and done, the promos created enough interest to take that gamble and go watch the movie. I am happy that I decided to watch it on the big screen and did not miss one of the finer remakes made in hindi cinema.

The story is the same as the previous installment but with a totally fresh outlook, newer characters and doing away with some of the old characters. The revenge saga begins when Master Chauhan, a respectable man, is killed by Kancha to fulfill his needs of starting a drug racket in Mandwa. Vijay Chauhan leaves for Mumbai and gains training under Rauf Lala(Rishi Kapoor), a gang leader in Mumbai. Vijay takes on Kancha only when he has learnt everything that is needed to uproot Kancha from Mandwa.

There are shades of an RGV type underworld scenario mid way through the movie when Vijay decides to dethrone Rauf Lala by stabbing him in the back. Agneepath runs at a decent pace where at no time it seems like the movie is being dragged. That being said, the climax is a little bit of a let down. After building up the movie so brilliantly for the first 2 hours, the movie fails to reach the crescendo that it should have reached. It appears really forced. But the goods outnumber the bads in a really big way and that is the reason why Agneepath worked for me. The dialogs in the movie are one of the better ones that I have heard in a very long time. While Sanjay Dutt gets a meatier chunk of the best dialogs, Hrithik's character has a handful but as much power packed.

Apart from Hrithik, everyone gets minimal but decent screen space. Priyanka is brilliant as always in whatever little she gets to play. Rishi Kapoor in his second ever bad guy role is convincing. Om Puri as the good cop is likeable. The two people who blow you away in this movie are unarguably the two lead characters of this movie. Sanjay DUtt reached new heights in playing a bad guy in the movie. He looks as menacing as Lord Voldomort and plays mean with a capital M. Hrithik outshines his performance in Guzaarish and emotes very well through his eyes. This has to be one of his finest performances ever.

The music by Ajay Atul is easy on the ears. The songs in the movie flow with the narrative and are not just for the sake of bathroom or popcorn breaks. The background score is more impressive than the actual songs though. One scene where it stood out for me was when young Vijay shoots a cop. It just gave me goosebumps.

This has to be one of the finer remakes made in hindi cinema. At no point does it live in the shadow of its super cult status predecessor. All the credit for this being so goes to Karan Malhotra. A brilliant screenplay and awesome direction to bring this vision to life. A grade dialogs by Piyush Mishra only help the cause. Karan Malhotra take a bow, for it was your vision and application that made this possible.

Overall, Agneepath is a fine watch. You should avoid it though if you are not in favor of dark themes.

Rating : 7.8 / 10.0

Reasons to watch:
1) Awesome adaptation of the old classic
2) Hrithik and Sanjay's acting

Reasons to skip:
1) Can get very dark view less

Agneepath is less of a remake of the cult classic 1990 original and more a tribute to the film. Retaining its essence and spirit, director Karan Ma... read more

Agneepath is less of a remake of the cult classic 1990 original and more a tribute to the film. Retaining its essence and spirit, director Karan Malhotra writes and delivers a restructured version that stands alone as a fresh new film and works well.

Vijay (Hrithik) is out to avenge his father's death from Kaancha Cheena (Sanjay Dutt) and uses Rauf Lala (Rishi Kapoor) as a means to his ends. A simple straightforward revenge drama, Agneepath starts off with a short flashback and jumps right into the present with energy. A watertight script does not let audience attention divert even for a second as Vijay establishes his seething rage and thrist for revenge.

Rauf Lala, a new character in this edition of the film, replaces the much popular Krishnan Iyer, a replacement so beautifully written and performed that one dos not miss Mithun in the story. Rishi Kapoor as the slaughter house smuggler Rauf is deliciously evil and delivers one of the best performances in recent times.

Kaancha Cheena too is rewritten by Karan in a manner that heralds the return of iconic screen villains in Hindi Cinema. Sanjay as Kaancha is menacing both in his looks as well as the psychotic performance. He towers high in the film and has the audience in his grip from the word go.

Hrithik, as the Vijay, gives the other memorable performance in the film. Vijay in this edition is seething with rage indeed, yet is silent, subdued and has none of the style or flair of Amitabh's Vijay. Hrithik never once imitates the original, giving a whole new definition to the character. Priyanka as Kali is impressive in a very small role, and perhaps the only weak link in the storyline.

If the earlier Agneepath was remembered for the iconic turn by Amitabh, it is the evil personified Sanjay and conniving Rishi who stay with you long after the film is over. A tad long climax and excessive blood can put a few off, yet Agneepath in it's new avataar is one of the very few terrific remakes in Hindi cinema. view less