Cop films–with cops as heroes or villains– are not new to cinema.

In Indian cinema, right from Amitabh’s ‘Zanjeer’ to the latest Tarak’s ‘Temper’, film makers have attempted some variations but essentially retained the fight-against-the-system theme intact. Filmmaker Puri Jagannath and script writer Vakkantham Vamsi, add an element of ‘redemption’. This theme though takes some time to kick in, breathes life into what otherwise would have been a routine film. Tarak’s screen presence and his inspired performance, gives something for the audience to latch on to, when the movie treads a predictable path and or gets mired into sub plots. Rest of the support cast, do their bit, with Posani dominating the pack.

The movie’s purpose would have been served better if the melodrama was toned down a bit.  For some strange reason, all the lead actors believe more in shouting than acting even when they are just a few meters from each other. Perhaps the only understated scene is where a teary eyed Tarak realizes his mistake and interestingly, that’s the most crucial scene in the film.

Here are a few Movies and TV Shows, I was reminded of and something on them.

1. “Gangaajal (2003)”,  “The Perfect Murder (1988)” and Udaan (1989) : Cops have tremendous power at their disposal, but they also need to adhere to a lot of procedure. Both these movie celebrate the procedure aspect.  Naseeruddin Shah attaches a studious-by-the-book layer to an investigative cop character, and goes about his job as a professional, while his Swedish counterpart marvels at it. Ajay Devgan, without hitting a high decibel, makes it look heroic, even when he asks his constable to give him a statement as to why he should not be suspended for the road-side corrupt acts. Udaan is a terrific portrayal of a woman police officer and her rise in the police force. Excerpt from Wikipedia on Udaan…”It was so refreshing to see a lady IPS (Indian Police Service) officer in Kavita Choudary’s role that was not only humble, but also wanted to perform her work in letter and spirit by going to the public and placing the public’s needs ahead of everything else, in the true spirit of a public servant”.
2. “Zanjeer (1973)”, “The Untouchables (1987)”, “Ankusham (1990)”, “Ardh Satya (1983)”,  “Rakshana (1993), “Drohkaal (1994)”, “Shool (1999)” and “Vikramarkudu (2006)”: These films play on the anger and angst in the honest-loner cops when they are pitted against a corrupt system, often with little support from the department they work in. In “The Untouchables” a motley bunch of cops take on the might of Al Capone with an ageing constable leading the way, brilliantly played by Sean Connery who turns in an Oscar worthy performance. While Amitabh and Om Puri are easily the best of the lot in the Indian films, other actors like Dr.Rajasekhar, Nagarjuna, Manoj Bajpai and Ravi Teja, deliver noteworthy performances. Ravi Teja deserves a special mention, with his nonchalant yet fiery performance as the honest cop.
3. “Jaitra Yatra (1991)”, “Abhilasha (1983)”, “Training Day (2001)”, “Pokiri (2006)” and “Avineethini Arikadadam (1987/88)”: Quite a few movies have dealt with Inspector/constable, Expert/Rookie kind of relationship. In Jaitra Yatra, an honest constable is driven to the point of action by his superior’s cruelty. Both “Pokiri” and “Training Day” explore the expert/rookie situations to take the story forward. In one of the episodes of  my father’s TV show ‘Avineethini Arikadam”, a new constable takes on a corrupt superior at the behest of his wife. In Yandamuri’s “Abilasha”, a constable in the jail becomes a close friend to the hero and rescues him.These threads in a varied form make way into ‘Temper’ as well 🙂

Related Video- ‘The Perfect Murder’- On Youtube

Several scenes from various movies appear as stock shots in the movie ‘Dorababu’.
But the most outrageous ones are from ‘Bullitt’ 🙂
 

ANR’s Dorababu (1974) (San Frisco’s shots crudely inserted :)) (Counter:1:29:25)

Steve McQueen’s Bullitt (1968) (The real one 🙂

Happy Republic Day!

Here is a list of my top 10 films that sparked the feeling of Indian in me at various stages of my life

1. Sikander (Hindi) (1941): Watched it when I was very young on the good old Doordarshan. The scenes where Porus stands up to Sikander, are still fresh in my mind, thanks to my neighbour’s adulation for Sohrab Modi poured into a running commentary 🙂
2. Alluri Seetharamaraju (Telugu) (1974): I saw this film for the first time when I was 6 or 8 years old, in its rerun in Venkatesa theatre, Hyderabad. Scenes where tribals attack police stations, the climax and super hit song ‘Telugu Veera Levara’ stayed with me over the time.
3. Gandhi (English) (1982): Saw it first time on Doordarshan and later many times on video. Got to know more about Gandhi and India’s freedom movement from this film, than from any other source. Heroism took a new meaning and so did the concept of being an Indian. Several scenes stay fresh in mind, the most notable is when a choking Martin Sheen relays his message to his office in London.
4. Peddamanushulu (Telugu) (1954): It touches upon a new angle of patriotism and gives another meaning to being an Indian. A great ensemble of artists (Gaurinadha Sastry, Relangi, Vangara, Lingamurthy, Sri ranjani, Ramachandra Kasyap, Chadalavada) under the direction of Legend K.V.Reddi, makes this a memorable movie. But it is the inimitable voice and music of Ghantasala that reverberates the neo Indianism, in the two songs–Nandamaya and Siva Siva Murthivi Gananadha.
5. Janani Janmabhumi (Telugu) (1984): One of K.Viswanath’s classics that does an interesting overlay of Indian culture and rural India to create a sense of purpose to young India. Scene where Balakrishna returns from USA in Indian clothes and his conversation with his father is one of the best on Indian screen. Sarada, who plays his mother, represents the fabled Mother India, but her character nicely integrated into the story, without making it allegorical or parallel (Eg.Shekhar Kammula’s ‘Dollar Dreams’)
6. Rudraveena (Telugu) (1988): An Indian classic. Chiranjeevi, K.Balachander and Ilayaraaja deliver a musical masterpiece that achieves so much in a single film. It touches on many aspects of Indianism, all its scenes  background tuned to perfection by Ilayaraaja. The web is replete with articles about the musical genius of Ilayaraaja in this film, but the one scene that stayed with me over the years is where Chiranjeevi speaks to a woman and daughter who share a single saree.
7. Main Azaad Hoon (Hindi) (1989): Amitabh Bacchan delivers one of his career best performances in this movie and it is his presence that lifts several scenes to greatness. It attempts to give a voice to the common Indian and who better to do it than the baritone Amitabh. Scenes where he interacts with the audience and bangs a glass of water on the minister’s table, are just two examples of the subtle and seething Amitabh.
8. Sarfarosh (Hindi) (1999): It came at a time when Pakistan was the common enemy of all Indians and it does a terrific job of crafting an intelligent film. It was one of the few films of India that explored the lesser known geographies (Kutch etc), and featured a brainy Aamir as the hero, making it easy for folks like me to identify with  🙂
9. Aparichitudu (Telugu) (2005): It takes a fairytalesque approach to mete out instant justice, but I was bowled over by the thought of it. Hold dear to the freedom we achievd after a great struggle, do your bit, take pride in your work and show empathy to fellow Indians…all these glorified through the characters of Rules Ramanujama and Aparichutudu. Interview with the crowd in a stadium, old man talking to his relative in abroad and the climax are some of my favorite scenes.
10. Guru (Hindi) (2007): It is a testimonial to the spirit of new Indian. My notes here.

In addition to the above, there are several other films that appeal to the Indian in me. Notable among them are Leader (1964), Shaheed (1965), Upkar (1967), Purab aur Paschim (1970), Parasakthi (Tamil)(1952), Vedam Pudhithu (1987), Karma (1986), Chak De (2007), A Wednesday (2008), Swades (2004), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1990), Kanya Sulkam (1955), Dollar Dreams (2000), Prahaar (1991), Ghulami (1985), Tamas (1987) (TV series).