Shakti Movie Review: A Powerhouse Of Performances

Shakti Movie Review-In Short:

An upright cop is pitted against his own son, when the latter embraces a life of crime following unresolved issues with his father…

Shakti Movie Review-Verdict:

Any film that brings together Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan is sure to be a powerhouse of performances, which is what the film deserves to be called…

Shakti Movie Review-Story Plot:

Inspector Ashwini Kumar (Dilip Kumar) is an upright cop, who doesn’t deviate from his duty even when his young son Vijay is kidnapped by a crime lord JK (Amrish Puri). JK kidnaps Vijay in order to pressurize Ashwini into releasing a partner in crime, but the no-nonsense Kumar refuses to give in, even when his wife Sheetal (Rakhee) begs him to get their son back by any and all means possible.

Though the young Vijay manages to escape the clutches of the criminal gang, he grows up with a resentment towards his father for being a cop first and a father later. Now, years later, the adult Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) has started working for KD Narang (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), a former subordinate and present rival of JK. Needless to say, Ashwini and Sheetal are dismayed by this situation, but Vijay’s resentment towards his father pushes him away from his family and brings him closer to a path of crime.

Even after marrying Roma (Smita Patil), a woman he rescues from a pack of goons, Vijay is not eager to mend his ways and bury his demons, paving the path for a final and fatal conflict with his father.

Shakti Movie Review-Performances:

Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan are masters of their craft when it comes to performances and when the two come together, it is indeed a treat for cinema lovers. The scenes, where Ashwini and Vijay lock horns with each other, are the most watchable scenes of the film and one cannot help but be enthralled and watch these two gladiators of the silver screen slug it out with powerful dialogues and intense performances. Amitabh’s brooding, angst-ridden Vijay and Dilip Kumar’s dignified and duty-bound Ashwini end up being two of the most memorable characters in Bollywood.

On her part, Rakhee as the mother torn between her son and her husband, gives a great performance too whereas Smita Patil manages to hold her own, despite having a short role. Amrish Puri, the ultimate Bollywood baddie is flawless as ever with his baritone voice and his menacing smile.

Shakti Movie Review-Direction:

Ramesh Sippy, the man who gave us films like Sholay, Shaan, Seeta Aur Geetaand Saagar, brings forth another masterpiece with Shakti. Written by the famous writer duo Salim-Javed, Shakti is in a league of its own and the father-son conflict is sure to have a strong grip on your heart-strings.

Shakti Movie Review-Final Word:

If you are a fan of Dilip Kumar and/or Amitabh Bachchan, you simply cannot afford to miss this film.