Shahenshah (film)
Encyclopedia
Shahenshah is a 1988 Bollywood
superhero film
directed by Tinnu Anand and starring Amitabh Bachchan
in the title role. The film was produced and directed by Tinnu Anand
. The story of the film was written by Amitabh Bachchan's wife Jaya Bachan and the screenplay was written by veteran screenwriter Inder Raj Anand
who died before the film was released. The film marked Bachchan's comeback after a three year hiatus during which he had entered politics. Due to the hype of Amitabh Bachchan's comeback Shahenshah went onto do well at the box office.http://www.boxofficeindia.com/topactors.htm
) and crime baron JK (Amrish Puri
). Mathur is in a financial dilemma, and JK orchestrates a bank robbery to bail him out. Inspector Shrivastav (Kader Khan
) gets wind of this plot and is about to crack the case when JK enlists an exotic dancer, Julie (Aruna Irani
), to use the robbery as a backdrop and frame the honest inspector for corruption. Inspector Shrivastav, unable to bear the false charges, hangs himself at home after being released on bail. This creates a lasting and powerful impression on his young son, Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan
). Vijay retains the noose his father used to hang himself.
Years later, Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan
) grows up in the care of Inspector Aslam Khan (Pran), and becomes a cop himself. Aslam Khan is an honest cop much like Vijay's father. Vijay is an obsequious and cowardly inspector, prone to bribery and generally scared of powerful criminals. It doesn't take JK long to find Vijay, get him on payroll, and run his underworld crime empire (drugs, guns, racketeering) past the cops.
A new apparition bursts upon this scene who calls himself "Shahenshah", a costumed crime fighter (see movie poster). He has a left iron hand which is used to attack enemies and smash objects, and Shahenshah's other weapon is a noose. Shahenshah describes himself as "one who doesn't hold a cop's job but does the same work; one who apprehends criminals himself, conducts the trials himself, and, pronounces and executes the sentences himself". It is revealed a bit later that Shahenshah is actually Vijay. Frustrated and helpless at the corruption in the police force, Vijay has employed this new tack to get to the criminals. Vijay/Shahenshah's outward mission is to take out crime, but his real goal is to get to the guys who framed his father.
Shahenshah quietly breaks up several of JK's gambling dens and illicit liquor distilleries. He also halts the demolition of a slum. This catches the eye of small-time trickster Shalu (Meenakshi Seshadri
) who lives there with her aging and ailing mother Julie. JK had ordered her assassination after she helped frame Vijay's father; she has been on the run from him ever since; this becomes Shalu's motivation for seeking out and eliminating JK. Shalu decides to infiltrate JK's coterie by becoming an exotic dancer.
The fun begins when JK murders an honest news reporter Salim (Vijayendra Ghatge
) who was about to expose JK's crime ring. Salim was married to Shaheena (Supriya Pathak
), the daughter of Aslam Khan. Vijay now decides to turn around his image as a cowardly cop. He openly defies JK. Julie agrees to testify against JK. Shalu provides ancillary evidence. And JK prepares for an all out war against Shahenshah, Vijay, Shalu and the lot of his enemies.
There is a veritable bloodbath on the streets as Inspector Vijay tries to get Julie into the courthouse. And there is a final showdown where Shahenshah reveals his secret identity and becomes the nemesis for all the culprits. The showdown leads Shahenshah chasing J.K. to the roof of the courthouse where J.K. is pleading his case, because his cover is blown. J.K. falls through a hole in the roof and is clinging on for dear life, with the whole court, judge sahab, audience and all looks on in astonishment. Shahenshah throws the noose down to J.K., and he gratefully accepts it. J.K., being the ruthless man that he is, attempts to attack Shahenshah. Shahenshah lets go of the noose, which slips around J.K.'s neck, and before the whole court, J.K. Verma is hanged, avenging Inspector Shrivastav and Salim the reporter, Shaheena's husband.
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...
superhero film
Superhero film
A superhero film, superhero movie, or superhero motion picture is: action, fantasy and science fiction film; that is focused on the actions of one or more superheroes, individuals who usually possess superhuman abilities relative to a normal person and are dedicated to protecting the public...
directed by Tinnu Anand and starring Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
in the title role. The film was produced and directed by Tinnu Anand
Tinnu Anand
Tinnu Anand is an Indian actor and director from Bollywood, who is most known as the director of Amitabh Bachchan's movies including, Kaalia , Shahenshah , Main Azaad Hoon and Major Saab .He is the son of veteran writer Inder Raj Anand and uncle of director Siddharth Anand.Anand recently...
. The story of the film was written by Amitabh Bachchan's wife Jaya Bachan and the screenplay was written by veteran screenwriter Inder Raj Anand
Inder Raj Anand
Inder Raj Anand was an Indian film writer. He was father to actor and director Tinnu Anand and producer Bittu Anand. Inder's grandson is noted film director Siddharth Anand. Famous director Mukul Anand is Inder's nephew. Shahenshah, starring Amitabh Bachchan was Inder's last film as a writer. It...
who died before the film was released. The film marked Bachchan's comeback after a three year hiatus during which he had entered politics. Due to the hype of Amitabh Bachchan's comeback Shahenshah went onto do well at the box office.http://www.boxofficeindia.com/topactors.htm
Storyline
The movie opens with a corrupt and sniveling bank manager Mathur (Prem ChopraPrem Chopra
Prem Chopra is an actor in Hindi and Punjabi films. He has acted in over 400 films. He is famous for his soft spoken diction despite being a villain in most films.-Personal life and education:...
) and crime baron JK (Amrish Puri
Amrish Puri
Amrish Singh Puri , ; 22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005 was an iconic theater and film actor from India, who was a key player in the Indian theater movement that picked up steam in the 1960s. He worked with notable playwrights of the time, such as Satyadev Dubey and Girish Karnad...
). Mathur is in a financial dilemma, and JK orchestrates a bank robbery to bail him out. Inspector Shrivastav (Kader Khan
Kader Khan
Kader Khan is an Indian film actor, comedian, script and dialogue writer. He graduated from Ismail Yusuf College affiliated to Mumbai University .-Early life:...
) gets wind of this plot and is about to crack the case when JK enlists an exotic dancer, Julie (Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani is an Indian actress. An accomplished actress and dancer of her time, Aruna Irani has acted in about 300 movies, with many memorable acting performances to her credit...
), to use the robbery as a backdrop and frame the honest inspector for corruption. Inspector Shrivastav, unable to bear the false charges, hangs himself at home after being released on bail. This creates a lasting and powerful impression on his young son, Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
). Vijay retains the noose his father used to hang himself.
Years later, Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
) grows up in the care of Inspector Aslam Khan (Pran), and becomes a cop himself. Aslam Khan is an honest cop much like Vijay's father. Vijay is an obsequious and cowardly inspector, prone to bribery and generally scared of powerful criminals. It doesn't take JK long to find Vijay, get him on payroll, and run his underworld crime empire (drugs, guns, racketeering) past the cops.
A new apparition bursts upon this scene who calls himself "Shahenshah", a costumed crime fighter (see movie poster). He has a left iron hand which is used to attack enemies and smash objects, and Shahenshah's other weapon is a noose. Shahenshah describes himself as "one who doesn't hold a cop's job but does the same work; one who apprehends criminals himself, conducts the trials himself, and, pronounces and executes the sentences himself". It is revealed a bit later that Shahenshah is actually Vijay. Frustrated and helpless at the corruption in the police force, Vijay has employed this new tack to get to the criminals. Vijay/Shahenshah's outward mission is to take out crime, but his real goal is to get to the guys who framed his father.
Shahenshah quietly breaks up several of JK's gambling dens and illicit liquor distilleries. He also halts the demolition of a slum. This catches the eye of small-time trickster Shalu (Meenakshi Seshadri
Meenakshi Seshadri
Meenakshi Seshadri is an Indian film actress. She won the Miss India contest in 1981 at age 17. She is the youngest woman to be crowned Miss India-Career:...
) who lives there with her aging and ailing mother Julie. JK had ordered her assassination after she helped frame Vijay's father; she has been on the run from him ever since; this becomes Shalu's motivation for seeking out and eliminating JK. Shalu decides to infiltrate JK's coterie by becoming an exotic dancer.
The fun begins when JK murders an honest news reporter Salim (Vijayendra Ghatge
Vijayendra Ghatge
Vijayendra Ghatge is an actor from Indian TV and movie industry. He has acted in Buniyaad among other serials and several of movies such as Prem Rog and Devdas. He is descendant of Holkars family,the ex-royal family of Indore thru his mother Sita Raje Ghatge. He is the father of Chak De India...
) who was about to expose JK's crime ring. Salim was married to Shaheena (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:...
), the daughter of Aslam Khan. Vijay now decides to turn around his image as a cowardly cop. He openly defies JK. Julie agrees to testify against JK. Shalu provides ancillary evidence. And JK prepares for an all out war against Shahenshah, Vijay, Shalu and the lot of his enemies.
There is a veritable bloodbath on the streets as Inspector Vijay tries to get Julie into the courthouse. And there is a final showdown where Shahenshah reveals his secret identity and becomes the nemesis for all the culprits. The showdown leads Shahenshah chasing J.K. to the roof of the courthouse where J.K. is pleading his case, because his cover is blown. J.K. falls through a hole in the roof and is clinging on for dear life, with the whole court, judge sahab, audience and all looks on in astonishment. Shahenshah throws the noose down to J.K., and he gratefully accepts it. J.K., being the ruthless man that he is, attempts to attack Shahenshah. Shahenshah lets go of the noose, which slips around J.K.'s neck, and before the whole court, J.K. Verma is hanged, avenging Inspector Shrivastav and Salim the reporter, Shaheena's husband.
Cast
- Amitabh BachchanAmitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
..... Vijay Shrivastav/Shahenshah - Meenakshi SeshadriMeenakshi SeshadriMeenakshi Seshadri is an Indian film actress. She won the Miss India contest in 1981 at age 17. She is the youngest woman to be crowned Miss India-Career:...
.... Shalu - Amrish PuriAmrish PuriAmrish Singh Puri , ; 22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005 was an iconic theater and film actor from India, who was a key player in the Indian theater movement that picked up steam in the 1960s. He worked with notable playwrights of the time, such as Satyadev Dubey and Girish Karnad...
.... J.K Verma - Pran .... Inspector Aslam Khan
- 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:...
.... Sheena (Aslam's daughter) - Rohini HattangadiRohini HattangadiRohini Hattangadi is an Indian actress of film, theatre and television. She has won two Filmfare Awards, one National Film Award, and is the only Indian actress to win the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Kasturba Gandhi in Gandhi...
.... Vijay's mother - Prem ChopraPrem ChopraPrem Chopra is an actor in Hindi and Punjabi films. He has acted in over 400 films. He is famous for his soft spoken diction despite being a villain in most films.-Personal life and education:...
.... Mathur - Vijayendra GhatgeVijayendra GhatgeVijayendra Ghatge is an actor from Indian TV and movie industry. He has acted in Buniyaad among other serials and several of movies such as Prem Rog and Devdas. He is descendant of Holkars family,the ex-royal family of Indore thru his mother Sita Raje Ghatge. He is the father of Chak De India...
.... Salim (Sheena's husband) - 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...
.... Tarachand Baadlani - Yunus ParvezYunus ParvezYunus Parvez was a Bollywood character actor who played supporting roles in over 200 films from the late 1960s to the 2000s. He appeared in the 1996 film Chhote Sarkar.He died on 11 February 2007 at the age of 75...
.... Man shot dead at Salim's funeral - Kader KhanKader KhanKader Khan is an Indian film actor, comedian, script and dialogue writer. He graduated from Ismail Yusuf College affiliated to Mumbai University .-Early life:...
.... Inspector Shrivastav (special appearance) (Vijay's father) - MuradMurad (actor)Murad was an Indian character actor who appeared more than 100 Bollywood films from the early 1940s through to the end of the 1980s playing character roles ranging from a father, uncle, police officer, courtroom judge or an emperor. His son Raza Murad is also an actor in the Bollywood industry who...
.... Judge - Aftab ShivdasaniAftab ShivdasaniAftab Shivadasani is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films. He started as a child actor in commercials and has performed in over 40 films. He also co-wrote and helped produce the film Aao Wish Karein. He started his career as a child artist in the movie Mr. India. Shivdasani is currently...
.... Young Vijay (child artist) - Aruna IraniAruna IraniAruna Irani is an Indian actress. An accomplished actress and dancer of her time, Aruna Irani has acted in about 300 movies, with many memorable acting performances to her credit...
.... Shalu's Mother, J.K.'s Keep