Raakh
Encyclopedia
Raakh is a 1989 Hindi film starring Aamir Khan
, Pankaj Kapoor
and Supriya Pathak
Gajanan Bangera Jagdeep
in lead roles . The revenge thriller film was directed by Aditya Bhattacharya
, son of director, Basu Bhattacharya
.
The film was Aamir Khan's first movie after blockbuster QSQT and wasn't accepted well by the audience at the time, however it received much critical acclaim and subsequently three National Film Awards
in 1989 and developed considerable following over the years . The film also marked the debut of ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan
, and film editor A. Sreekar Prasad
.
Aamir (Aamir Khan) had just turned 21. He is from a rich family. The only colour in his otherwise mundane life was his obsession for Neeta, an older, more pragmatic woman, who did not quite feel the same about Aamir.
One night, on their way back from a party, Neeta is gang raped by a local boss, Hassan Karmali and his friends, and Aamir watching helplessly, can do nothing. Unknown to Aamir, an off-duty police officer is a silent witness to the incident. Frustrated, possessed by impotent rage and a sense of injustice, Aamir has to find release. He leaves home... Ironically, he turns to Sub-Inspector Kapoor – The silent witness.
Kapoor, pretending to be unaware of the incident agrees to help Aamir…. (years ago Kapoor had taken on the Karmali clan, an unwise move that nearly destroyed his career.)
Aamir now feels he has a friend. Till one day, realizing the truth he is shattered. Soon after, S.I. Kapoor is suspended. His life begins to spiral downwards. Now alone, frightened, without a job and with nothing to lose… he sees in Aamir the means to fulfill his dark, unresolved dreams.
Together they set about eliminating their common enemy – members of the dreaded Karmali family. Kapoor the embittered cop becomes a dark mentor to the innocent but fearless Aamir. Neeta, unaware of the changes in Aamir’s life, has decided to put her past behind her. She begins, slowly but painfully, to reconstruct her life.
Meanwhile, Aamir slips into vortex of terrifying violence – a road to certain doom. Theirs is a war with no victors, a battle that has no glory.
Amidst the lies of a logical life, sometimes the only truth is in madness, in losing control….
Fire purifies as it consumes.
. It was to be followed by DVD release in August 2009. The scheduled re-release eventually did not happen due to certain undisclosed reasons, ostensibly because it fell during producer-multiplex owner standoff during the period..
Aamir Khan
Aamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
, Pankaj Kapoor
Pankaj Kapoor
Pankaj Kapur is an Indian theatre, television and film actor from Ludhiana, Punjab, India. He has appeared in several television serials and films. His most acclaimed film roles to date have been that of Dr...
and Supriya Pathak
Supriya Pathak
Supriya Pathak Kapur is an Indian actress hailing from a long line of performers. She is famous for her role in the Indian sitcoms Khichdi and Idhar Udhar.-Family:...
Gajanan Bangera Jagdeep
Jagdeep
Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jaffry, better known as Jagdeep, is an Indian film actor known for his comic roles. He played Soorma Bhopali in Sholay , Gabbar in Purana Mandir , Chief Zabardast in Tehkhana , Hotel Receptionist in Veerana , Salman Khan's father In Andaaz Apna Apna and later directed a movie...
in lead roles . The revenge thriller film was directed by Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is an Indian film director and screenwriter, most known for his feature film, Raakh starring Aamir Khan, and which garnered three National Film Awards.He is the son of film director Basu Bhattacharya.-Early life:...
, son of director, Basu Bhattacharya
Basu Bhattacharya
Basu Bhattacharya was a Hindi film director , most famous for his 1966 film Teesri Kasam, starring Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman , which won the National Film Award for Best Film in 1967; he also produced Sparsh in 1985 starring Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, which won the Filmfare Best Movie...
.
The film was Aamir Khan's first movie after blockbuster QSQT and wasn't accepted well by the audience at the time, however it received much critical acclaim and subsequently three National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
in 1989 and developed considerable following over the years . The film also marked the debut of ace cinematographer Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan
Santosh Sivan is an Indian cinematographer, film director, and producer who has worked in Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Hindi cinema....
, and film editor A. Sreekar Prasad
A. Sreekar Prasad
Akkineni Sreekar Prasad better known as Sreekar Prasad is an National Award winning Indian film editor.-Brief lifesketch:He was born to editor A. Sanjivi. Veteran L. V. Prasad was his maternal uncle. He was a graduate in Literature and started his film editing career in Telugu films...
.
Plot
A big city. After the police riots of 1990, the State Forces were disbanded and replaced by a central one. The police now had more powers. The crime rate continued to escalate. In the wealthier quarters of the city though, life went on… but it was an uneasy calm.Aamir (Aamir Khan) had just turned 21. He is from a rich family. The only colour in his otherwise mundane life was his obsession for Neeta, an older, more pragmatic woman, who did not quite feel the same about Aamir.
One night, on their way back from a party, Neeta is gang raped by a local boss, Hassan Karmali and his friends, and Aamir watching helplessly, can do nothing. Unknown to Aamir, an off-duty police officer is a silent witness to the incident. Frustrated, possessed by impotent rage and a sense of injustice, Aamir has to find release. He leaves home... Ironically, he turns to Sub-Inspector Kapoor – The silent witness.
Kapoor, pretending to be unaware of the incident agrees to help Aamir…. (years ago Kapoor had taken on the Karmali clan, an unwise move that nearly destroyed his career.)
Aamir now feels he has a friend. Till one day, realizing the truth he is shattered. Soon after, S.I. Kapoor is suspended. His life begins to spiral downwards. Now alone, frightened, without a job and with nothing to lose… he sees in Aamir the means to fulfill his dark, unresolved dreams.
Together they set about eliminating their common enemy – members of the dreaded Karmali family. Kapoor the embittered cop becomes a dark mentor to the innocent but fearless Aamir. Neeta, unaware of the changes in Aamir’s life, has decided to put her past behind her. She begins, slowly but painfully, to reconstruct her life.
Meanwhile, Aamir slips into vortex of terrifying violence – a road to certain doom. Theirs is a war with no victors, a battle that has no glory.
Amidst the lies of a logical life, sometimes the only truth is in madness, in losing control….
Fire purifies as it consumes.
Cast
- Aamir KhanAamir KhanAamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
- Amir Hussein - Supriya PathakSupriya PathakSupriya Pathak Kapur is an Indian actress hailing from a long line of performers. She is famous for her role in the Indian sitcoms Khichdi and Idhar Udhar.-Family:...
- Nita - Pankaj Kapur - Inspector P.K
- JagdeepJagdeepSyed Ishtiaq Ahmed Jaffry, better known as Jagdeep, is an Indian film actor known for his comic roles. He played Soorma Bhopali in Sholay , Gabbar in Purana Mandir , Chief Zabardast in Tehkhana , Hotel Receptionist in Veerana , Salman Khan's father In Andaaz Apna Apna and later directed a movie...
- Ustad - Gajanan Bangera- Inspector
- Naina Balsaver - Naina
- Homi Wadia - Hassan Karmali
- Madhukar Toradmal - Karmali Seth
Re-release
This film was to be re-released in theaters in India on 12 June 2009 after 20 years with digitally re-mastered prints, film producers together with Palador PicturesPalador Pictures
Palador Pictures is a content production, programming and publishing company operating from Mumbai, India, dealing mainly with the acquisition and distribution of foreign language films, also known as World cinema in the Indian subcontinent through DVD, television and theatre.Palador Pictures was...
. It was to be followed by DVD release in August 2009. The scheduled re-release eventually did not happen due to certain undisclosed reasons, ostensibly because it fell during producer-multiplex owner standoff during the period..
Awards
- 1989: National Film Award
- Best Supporting ActorNational Film Award for Best Supporting ActorThe National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor is an annual award that was first given in 1968. The actors to have won the most awards in this category include Nana Patekar, Atul Kulkarni, and Pankaj Kapoor, each have received two....
: Pankaj Kapur - Special Jury AwardNational Film Award - Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film)The National Film Award of India - Special Jury Award / Special Mention - Feature Film winners are:...
: Aamir KhanAamir KhanAamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema.... - Best EditingNational Film Award for Best EditingThe National Film Award for Best Editing winners:-References:...
: A. Sreekar PrasadA. Sreekar PrasadAkkineni Sreekar Prasad better known as Sreekar Prasad is an National Award winning Indian film editor.-Brief lifesketch:He was born to editor A. Sanjivi. Veteran L. V. Prasad was his maternal uncle. He was a graduate in Literature and started his film editing career in Telugu films...
- Best Supporting Actor
- 1990: Filmfare Award
- Best ActorFilmfare Best Actor AwardThe Filmfare Award for Best Actor is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954....
: Aamir KhanAamir KhanAamir Hussain Khan is an Indian film actor, director and producer who has established himself as one of the leading actors of Hindi cinema....
: Nominated - Best Supporting Actor: Pankaj Kapur: Nominated
- Best Actor
External links
- Raakh at Yahoo! MoviesYahoo! MoviesYahoo! Movies , provided by the Yahoo! network, is home to a large collection of information on movies, past and new releases, trailers and clips, box office information, and showtimes and movie theater information. Yahoo! Movies also includes red carpet photos, actor galleries, and production...