Kaash
Encyclopedia
Kaash is an Indian
Bollywood
domestic drama
film directed by Mahesh Bhatt
, released on 4 September 1987
. The film stars Jackie Shroff
and Dimple Kapadia
as a married couple, Ritesh and Pooja, who face a serious crisis after bankruptcy and marriage breakdown. The film follows their separation and reunion when their child, Romi, is diagnosed with a brain tumor
, and how they learn to cope with this cruel reality.
Like several other 1980s films by Mahesh Bhatt, Kaash, containing serious and realistic content, belongs to the arthouse cinematic genre, known in India as parallel cinema
. On its release, it received critical acclaim.
) and his wife Pooja (Dimple Kapadia
) live a wealthy lifestyle with their seven-year-old child Romi. However, after a series of unexpected box office failures and huge losses, he is hounded by creditors and consequently, the couple sell all their personal property and belongings. Frustrated and embittered by his career dive, Ritesh becomes an alcoholic. Pooja, who takes it upon herself to look after the family, works several jobs. This leads to continuous differences between the two, and Romi, their child, becomes a silent spectator to their constant fights and disputes at home.
One day, in a hotel where Pooja works as a chambermaid, she is molested by a hoodlum. A stranger called Alok (Anupam Kher
) saves Pooja from him and offers her a job in his firm, much to the annoyance of Ritesh, who would prefer that she stay at home. Ritesh feels it is the last straw for him. He asks Pooja to choose between her job and her family and house. She leaves. Ritesh wins Romi's custody, but soon discovers that Romi is going to die from brain cancer.
To sustain their child's happiness and to overlook his condition, Ritesh and Pooja agree to reunite and spend time together, fulfilling all his wishes before he passes away. Thrown together under the shadow of their child's upcoming death, Ritesh and Pooja, in experiencing the traumatic ordeal, rediscover themselves and each other.
, with lyrics authored by Faruq Qaiser. The film was one of Kishore Kumar
's last playback singing
appearances, and the last to be released before his death.
Shah wrote of Jackie Shroff
and Dimple Kapadia
's performances that, "Jackie as the alcoholic, frustrated and angry husband and father in the first half is perfect and in the second half as the kind and caring father is even better. His performance here is heart rending and it rates alongside Gardish
and Parinda
as one of his best performances... Dimple Kapadia has always been an actress of substance and she pulls of this role with élan and ease... It is Jackie and Dimple which make this film such a classic."
Mahesh Bhatt's directing was also received positively: "He is a master at emotional scenes as he has proven time and time again and extracts the best performances from his leading stars. Emotion ultimately is what makes Kaash a delight for viewing and a must see film."
In a 2000 article reviewing the last two decades in Hindi cinema, Bhawana Somaaya from The Hindu
wrote, "Kaash... consolidates Mahesh Bhatt's position in the industry as a director to reckon with... The film recognises Dimple Kapadia and Jackie Shroff as performing artistes." M.L. Dhawan from The Tribune
, while documenting the famous Hindi films of 1987, described the film as "a sensitive and sentimental melodrama", further noting that "Jackie and Dimple gave intense performances that were straight from the heart."
Cinema of India
The cinema of India consists of films produced across India, which includes the cinematic culture of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Indian films came to be followed throughout South Asia and...
Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
domestic drama
Domestic drama
Domestic drama expresses and focuses on the realistic everyday lives of middle or lower classes in a certain society, generally referring to the post-Renaissance eras...
film directed by Mahesh Bhatt
Mahesh Bhatt
Mahesh Bhatt , is a prominent Indian film director, producer and screenwriter.Bhatt's early directional career consisted of acclaimed films, such as Arth, Saaransh, Janam, Naam and Zakhm....
, released on 4 September 1987
Bollywood films of 1987
-Highest grossing:The top twenty grossing films at the Indian Box Office in 1987:From the above list, the last four films were box office flops.A list of films produced by the Bollywood film industry based in Mumbai in 1987:-External links:...
. The film stars Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff is an Indian actor. He has been in the industry for more than 28 years and has appeared in over 150 films.-Personal life:...
and Dimple Kapadia
Dimple Kapadia
Dimple Chunnibhai Kapadia is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut at the age of 16, playing the title role in Raj Kapoor's teen romance Bobby . In that same year she married Indian actor Rajesh Khanna, and retired from acting. Kapadia returned to films in 1984 after her separation...
as a married couple, Ritesh and Pooja, who face a serious crisis after bankruptcy and marriage breakdown. The film follows their separation and reunion when their child, Romi, is diagnosed with a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
, and how they learn to cope with this cruel reality.
Like several other 1980s films by Mahesh Bhatt, Kaash, containing serious and realistic content, belongs to the arthouse cinematic genre, known in India as parallel cinema
Parallel Cinema
The Indian New Wave, commonly known in India as Art Cinema or Parallel Cinema as an alternative to the mainstream commercial cinema, is a specific movement in Indian cinema, known for its serious content, realism and naturalism, with a keen eye on the sociopolitical climate of the times...
. On its release, it received critical acclaim.
Plot
Ritesh, a popular film star (Jackie ShroffJackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff is an Indian actor. He has been in the industry for more than 28 years and has appeared in over 150 films.-Personal life:...
) and his wife Pooja (Dimple Kapadia
Dimple Kapadia
Dimple Chunnibhai Kapadia is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut at the age of 16, playing the title role in Raj Kapoor's teen romance Bobby . In that same year she married Indian actor Rajesh Khanna, and retired from acting. Kapadia returned to films in 1984 after her separation...
) live a wealthy lifestyle with their seven-year-old child Romi. However, after a series of unexpected box office failures and huge losses, he is hounded by creditors and consequently, the couple sell all their personal property and belongings. Frustrated and embittered by his career dive, Ritesh becomes an alcoholic. Pooja, who takes it upon herself to look after the family, works several jobs. This leads to continuous differences between the two, and Romi, their child, becomes a silent spectator to their constant fights and disputes at home.
One day, in a hotel where Pooja works as a chambermaid, she is molested by a hoodlum. A stranger called Alok (Anupam Kher
Anupam Kher
Anupam Kher is an Indian actor who has appeared in nearly 400 films and 100 plays. Though mainly appearing in Bollywood films, he has had roles in some films from other nations as well...
) saves Pooja from him and offers her a job in his firm, much to the annoyance of Ritesh, who would prefer that she stay at home. Ritesh feels it is the last straw for him. He asks Pooja to choose between her job and her family and house. She leaves. Ritesh wins Romi's custody, but soon discovers that Romi is going to die from brain cancer.
To sustain their child's happiness and to overlook his condition, Ritesh and Pooja agree to reunite and spend time together, fulfilling all his wishes before he passes away. Thrown together under the shadow of their child's upcoming death, Ritesh and Pooja, in experiencing the traumatic ordeal, rediscover themselves and each other.
Cast
- Jackie ShroffJackie ShroffJackie Shroff is an Indian actor. He has been in the industry for more than 28 years and has appeared in over 150 films.-Personal life:...
... Ritesh - Dimple KapadiaDimple KapadiaDimple Chunnibhai Kapadia is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut at the age of 16, playing the title role in Raj Kapoor's teen romance Bobby . In that same year she married Indian actor Rajesh Khanna, and retired from acting. Kapadia returned to films in 1984 after her separation...
... Puja - Satish KaushikSatish KaushikSatish Kaushik is an Indian film director and actor in Hindi films and theatre.As a film actor his most remembered for his role as 'Calendar' in Mr. India, and as 'Chanu Ahmed' in Sarah Gavron's English film Brick Lane...
... Jagan (Guest Appearance) - Anupam KherAnupam KherAnupam Kher is an Indian actor who has appeared in nearly 400 films and 100 plays. Though mainly appearing in Bollywood films, he has had roles in some films from other nations as well...
... Alok - Master Makrand ... Romi
- Mehmood ... Special Appearance
- Dilip Tahil ... Vijay
- Pradeep RawatPradeep RawatPradeep Singh Rawat is an Indian actor. He is a Rajput and notable for playing villainous roles in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil films.Rawat's first appearance was in Mahabharat as 'Ashwathama', Dronacharya's son...
... Man in hotel
Crew
- Producer: Anwar AliAnwar AliAnwar Ali is a Pakistani cricketer who played in the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka and international T20 match against Canada. He represents Karachi Zebras and Sindh Dolphins in domestic circuit...
, F.K. Rattonsey - Director: Mahesh BhattMahesh BhattMahesh Bhatt , is a prominent Indian film director, producer and screenwriter.Bhatt's early directional career consisted of acclaimed films, such as Arth, Saaransh, Janam, Naam and Zakhm....
- Story: Mahesh Bhatt
- Screenplay: Suraj Sanim
- Dialogues: Suraj Sanim
- Lyrics: Faruq Qaiser
- Music: Rajesh RoshanRajesh RoshanRajesh Roshan is a Hindi cinema music composer.-Personal life:Rajesh Roshan is the son of Hindi film composer Roshan and younger brother of film director and actor Rakesh Roshan...
- Choreography: Saroj KhanSaroj KhanNirmala Kishanchand Sadhu Singh Nagpal popularly known as Saroj Khan is one of the most prominent Indian dance choreographers in Hindi cinema...
- Editing: Waman Bhonsle
- Costume Design: Bhanu AthaiyaBhanu AthaiyaBhanu Athaiya née Rajopadhye is Indian cinema's most well-regarded costume designer, having worked in over 100 films, since 1950s, with noted filmmakers like Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Ashutosh Gowariker, and international directors like Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough.She made her...
Music
The soundtrack of the film contains 6 songs. The music is composed by Rajesh RoshanRajesh Roshan
Rajesh Roshan is a Hindi cinema music composer.-Personal life:Rajesh Roshan is the son of Hindi film composer Roshan and younger brother of film director and actor Rakesh Roshan...
, with lyrics authored by Faruq Qaiser. The film was one of Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
's last playback singing
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
appearances, and the last to be released before his death.
| Song | Singer(s) |
|---|---|
| Baad Muddat Ke | Kishore Kumar Kishore Kumar Kishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century... |
| Chhoti Si Baat | Mohammad Aziz, Asha Bhosle Asha Bhosle Asha Bhosle is an Indian singer. She is one of the best-known and most highly-regarded Hindi playback singers in India, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle's career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over a thousand Bollywood movies... |
| Kya Hai Tumhara Naam | Mohammad Aziz, Sonali Bajpai, Talat Mahmood Talat Mahmood Talat Mahmood was a popular Indian playback singer and film actor. A recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 1992, he was famous for singing ghazals. For this quality he was known as the King of ghazals.... |
| O Yaara | Kishore Kumar |
| Phool Yeh Kahan Se | Kishore Kumar |
Reception
The film received positive reviews from critics. The direction, storyline and performances were lavishly praised. Film critic Akshay Shah from Planet Bollywood wrote,Shah wrote of Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff
Jackie Shroff is an Indian actor. He has been in the industry for more than 28 years and has appeared in over 150 films.-Personal life:...
and Dimple Kapadia
Dimple Kapadia
Dimple Chunnibhai Kapadia is an Indian film actress. She made her acting debut at the age of 16, playing the title role in Raj Kapoor's teen romance Bobby . In that same year she married Indian actor Rajesh Khanna, and retired from acting. Kapadia returned to films in 1984 after her separation...
's performances that, "Jackie as the alcoholic, frustrated and angry husband and father in the first half is perfect and in the second half as the kind and caring father is even better. His performance here is heart rending and it rates alongside Gardish
Gardish
Gardish is a 1993 Hindi film directed by Priyadarshan which included an all-star cast such as Jackie Shroff and Dimple Kapadia. Jackie Shroff was nominated for Best Actor Filmfare awards, and Dimpla Kapadia for the Best supporting Actress award....
and Parinda
Parinda
Parinda is an award-winning 1989 Indian film directed and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Parinda is considered by many to be the turning point in reality in Hindi cinema, as the theme of the film discusses the real life of Indian underworld gangsters and the general life of residents in the city...
as one of his best performances... Dimple Kapadia has always been an actress of substance and she pulls of this role with élan and ease... It is Jackie and Dimple which make this film such a classic."
Mahesh Bhatt's directing was also received positively: "He is a master at emotional scenes as he has proven time and time again and extracts the best performances from his leading stars. Emotion ultimately is what makes Kaash a delight for viewing and a must see film."
In a 2000 article reviewing the last two decades in Hindi cinema, Bhawana Somaaya from The Hindu
The Hindu
The Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
wrote, "Kaash... consolidates Mahesh Bhatt's position in the industry as a director to reckon with... The film recognises Dimple Kapadia and Jackie Shroff as performing artistes." M.L. Dhawan from The Tribune
The Tribune
The Tribune is an Indian English-language daily newspaper published from Chandigarh, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Dehradun and Bathinda. It was founded on 2 February 1881, in Lahore , by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising five eminent persons as...
, while documenting the famous Hindi films of 1987, described the film as "a sensitive and sentimental melodrama", further noting that "Jackie and Dimple gave intense performances that were straight from the heart."