SARFAROSH (1999) - ORIGINAL AND AWESOME
SARFAROSH (1999) - ORIGINAL AND AWESOME
Perhaps all of PFC guys have shown this superb film but I want to discuss this film as this film has impressed me lot with respect to story telling, griping script, dialogues, characters, performances and music.
Sarfarosh was John Mathew Mathan’s first film after making ads and in his first film he seems to be prominent director of hindi cinema. Let’s discuss this film by its qualities
Story: The first rule of cinema is it should be entertaining. The good message attached with it is secondary thing. Sarfarosh is entertaining as well it conveys the message of patriotism which writer and director want to say. The story has superb balance of qualities of commercial cinema as well as off beat cinema.
Story deals with exposure of weapons racket supported by ISI and our in-house terrorists. Film starts with mass killing and loot of passengers by some south Indian terrorist called ‘Viran’. Infact in titles you can see whole transportation of weapons from Rajasthan border to various part of India. Then comes search of police for reponsibles for this incident. Then gradually the details of this racket unfolds and we confronts with various characters. The search is led by ACP Ajay Rathod. Film also gives glimpses of personal and love life of ACP.
Minor details are taken care in this film. Method of police to search unidentified criminals, egos between police officers, the whole network or terrorists and police informers etc. superbly described.
Some details like –
when Naseeruddin Shah remembers his guru touches his ears.
The dialogues like - when Aamir asks for salim the constable says”sahab to field me gaye hai, aaj nahi aayenge”
One character introduces AK 47 “do saal ke baad bhi paani se nikaloge to bhi chalegi” etc. connect you to characters and the film.
-Aamir Khan is on Hero Puch in song “hosh waalon ko khabar kya”
-In titles you can see whole transportation of weapons from Rajasthan border to various part of India and get overall idea of racket.
Performance-
Aamir Khan as intelligent and honest ACP Ajay is in the skin of the character. His body language, dialogue delivery and restricted smile as police officer suit personality of an IPS officer. Sonali Bendre’s beauty gives freshness to the film. Mukesh Rishi as inspector Salim got best role of his career. Surprise package (actually not surprise)of the film is Naseeruddin Shah. He is fabulous! Akhilendra Mishra as Mirchi Sheth, Rajesh Joshi as Bala Thakur, Pradeep Sigh Rawat as Sultan, Manoj Joshi as Bajju etc. performed so well in their roles that they are living in my memory today also. Even small characters like Fatka as informer of Insp. Salim, Surekha Sikri as mother of Sultan, Upasana singh, Govind Namdeo, Shri Vallabh Vyas and Akash Khurana were given enough importance and very well attached to the film. Fatka’s catch lines “Aasman me laakho taare” is remembered after finishing the film.
Dialogues: Hriday Lani
The language of all the characters suits film’s subject. Some of the memorable dialogues are
- ACP Ajay to Thakur “Kyaa thakur tere ko kitni baar bulaya tu aata nahi?”
- The whole sequence where the police team goes to Bala thakur’s house and Manoj Joshi gives warning to Thakur’s folder man” Mumbai me ACP Rathod ke saamne Haazri warna…”
- Aamir gives warning to Mirchi Sheth” Aapki kundli huum likhenge.”
- The whole conversation between Mukesh Rishi and Aamir Khan when Mukesh Rishi tells Aamir that he would not join the search. and Aamir says“me aapse hamdardi ke nahi keh raha par aap suniye. yeh mere mulk kaa mamla hai”.
The climax is very well picturised and conversation between Aamir Khan and Naseeruddin Shan is somewhat nonconventional for hindi films but suits the film.
The scene before interval where Aamir tries to catch a man who comes to give him warning and mysterious smile on Aamir’s face – excellent!.
When Aamir beats a local corporator, the whole sequence at “Kheda Naka” to catch Bala Thakur, the search for unidentified criminal through bars- make you so thrilled and involved into the film.
Gradual development of Naseerbhai’s character is great. You can see different shades of his character as the film gradually progresses.
Film’s pace is not too high or not too slow. At moderate speed it tells the story. Even personal and love life of Aamir Khan do not make you uncomfortable but makes foundation of story more strong believable.
Sleek cinematogrpahy(vikas shivramanan) and editing (jeethu) suit mood of the film (believable action sequence when salim is in jeep and sultan is in car).
Music: Melodious music by Jatin Lalit and simple lyrics by Sameer. “Hosh Waalon Ko Khabra Kya” is picturised in a manner that it reminds the feelings of first love and the era of Hrishida. Baal poonchti hui Sonali Bendre is one of the best, simple and sober beauties of hindia cinema. “Jo Haal dil ka” is a little bit seductive song. “Is deewane ladke ko” is naughty song. But best of the album is quawali “Zindagi maut na ban jaaye sambhalo yaaro” sunke khoon khaul na the to kehna! Even the song “yeh jawani had karde” is picturised according to mood of the film. All the songs (Except “Jo haal dilka”) film ko aage badhaate hai koi bhi film ki speed ya story me rukaavat nahi banta hai.
Sarfarosh has elements of both commercial and artistic cinema. Films does not make you bore at any time and gradually unfolds the characters and secrets in a believable manner takes you to in the mood”what will happen next”? Sarfarosh does not have any faltoo claims like mera desh aisa hai ya waisa hai but straightly pours into your heart and makes you feel more love about your country and tells you to do something about your country.
And most good thing about this semi patriotic film is it has originality in script. Thanks John Mathan for original and awesome -Sarfarosh!
I am looking for John Mathan ‘s next film (not Shikhar)
Filed Under
Movies, Review , aamir khan, Acting, Cinematography, Dialogues, Direction, Editing, john mathan, manoj joshi, mukesh rishi, naseeruddin shah, sarfarosh, sonali bendre
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23 Responses to “SARFAROSH (1999) - ORIGINAL AND AWESOME”
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Dear oz,
sorry for the previous untitled post. please delete previous untitled post on sarfarosh.
pls. don’t delete this titled post.
Shailesh u can go to the manage section and delete the post ur self.
tried,
but wordpress does not allow me to delete.
Wow, Sarfarosh. I watched the movie 4 times. I was so much in love with Sonali Bendre (still am)
Shailesh: Thanks for reminding abt Sarfarsoh.
Aamir was very good and played his role with great attachment. At times it looks he took it personally.
Naseeruddin Shah was so good in the role of ghazal Singh Menhdi Hasan. This was his finest performance in many years otherwise he was just lost in the disillsuionment he had got from commercial as well as art films.
Sarfarosh revived actors inside both, Aamir Khan and Naseeruddin Shah.
Then and now also I think film could have been better if few aspects of Aamir and Sonali Bendre were edited out. Little bit more detached editing could have made film a very tight film.
It will be very interesting to see analyse of Sarfarosh and Black Friday, together by someone who liked and understood both the films to depth.
One of me favorite movie as well. ACP Ajay Rathore has to be one of the most memorable character. Another decent scenes were the MLA scene and the one with Traffic constable.
Don’t mind, lekin poore review mein Sonali madam par sirf ek line???
[don't mind, but only one line for Sonali madam in your entire review?].. she was such a breath of fresh air… not to mention GORRRGEOUS in this film 
abay striker, get out of Fox club at Phoenix airport and catch your flight to OC… plane choot jayegi
When I first saw “Sarfarosh” I was amazed. Remember this was 1999 and hindi cinema was just entering a “maturing” stage. I was in wonder of John Mathew Mathan, what an amazing first feature. I was amongst many I’m sure who became instant fans of this mans work. Originality, attention to detail, thrilling yet real suspense, brilliantly etched out characterizations…
Its sad to know that since then he’s only released one other film, which unfortunately was quite forgettable. I had wished JMM could maintain the quality and give us equally good cinema at least once every couple of years…
Good Review and Flashback of one of the best movie of Aamir Khan!
shailesh, thanks got to see it once more
I think its the most original film of Indian Film Industry
Sarfarosh is definitely one of my favourite film…original, intelligent, gr8 story, gr8 acting, nice music….
RK UR RIGHT. it would be really very to compare black friday n sarfarosh.
Some scenes inspired from the real encounters done by mumbai police.. like ACP Ajay first meet Thakur . then Viran as good as veerapan .Some part of the film is very common like trading of weapons from Border , pakistan role , fight against terrorism etc alradey picturised in many hindi films , nothing new. In fact some picturised better than sarfarosh. Its only because of new different role performed by Aamir and villaneous role of Nasir , critics appraise the film. In nut cell, its an old wine in a new bottle and old wine always tastier than new one.
GUYS TODAY IS BOSS R D BURMAN’S BDAY AND I AM LISTENING OUR GENERATION’S TRIBUTE SONG TO HIM
” ZANKAAR..” FROM ZANKAAR BEATS ON RADIO MIRCHI.
PLS. WRITE SOMETHING ABT. HIM
Btw, Shikhar came out last year. It was really quite terrible, not very watchable.
I think the whole performance of Upasana Singh as the Tattle Tale/Informer was pivotal and should have been expanded on even more. You can tell what she is up to early one when she listens in on conversations while accompanying the smugglers and Thakur (who she so obviously hates). She did a superb job. I developed chills down my back when I saw her dance and finally give information that would finally cause Thakur’s demise and top it off by bouncing away laughing out loud at what she had just done. Definitely a mean streak!
Shailesh, lovely review of one of my favorite movies. This is a movie i can see even now, and its not the wee bit dated. What i loved about this movie was that it does not show the hero as a one man army ala Sunny Deol, who goes around killing off dozens of bad guys. It shows the cops operating as a team, coordinating with each other, and then achieving success.
The dialogues are really hard hitting. When i hear some of the lame dialogues in today’s movies, it makes me really cringe. I think 1999 was one of the few years when Aamir had multiple releases in a single year.
Sarfarosh- Excellent
Mann- Terrible, One of Aamir’s worst movies for sure.
1947, Earth- Brilliant again, especially the last scene so chilling.
Only other year i remember Aamir having so many releases was in 1995 with Baazi, Rangeela and Akele Hum Akele Tum. And oh yeah in 1992 apart from JJWS, he had a host of forgetable movies too.
Shailesh also i felt Sonali was the biggest negative in this movie. She was just plain irritating, and most of her scenes could have been edited out.
I also love the part when Aamir retorts to Naseer, saying “Batwara ke din, hamare liye koi utsav nahin tha”.
ah Sarfarosh and 1999!!
by the way it is Vikas Sivaraman and not Shivaramanan; he is probably one of the few cinematographers who specialize in underwater cinematography in India. good work on Sarfarosh considering it was ‘99.
The depiction of college/university/library/campus was among few real ones we have had in a long long time not to forget the costumes which add so much character to the movie!
and DELHI was Delhi… it was first film in so many years to capture the spirit of Delhi beautifully.. later Khosla Ka Ghosla did it again…
Wonderful review Shailesh…indeed one of my most fav films. Hosh Waalon Ko Khabar - one of the best picturized songs in Hindi films. I was married that year and you can imagine my Bekhudi
RK I dont think BF can be compared to Sarfarosh. Sarfarosh was ( IMHO ) miles ahead than BF as a general movie goer
kcp
Hi,
I have a got great confussion after watching that movie.
bcoz in this movie there was a border wagha in rajsthan
by which the weapons was transpoted.But in the geographical
map there is none of the wagah border in rajsthan although
that border is in the amritsar punjab.please sombody tell
what is the right thing,
thanx
vipin
hi,
sarfarosh is one of the best original movie in bollywood.the charector played by aamir is just ossam.
characters in the movie are just real.