Pratikar

Pratikaar review :

Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit was a always superhit pair starting from Tezaab (1988) right upto the recent Total Dhamaal (2019). However, Pratikaar, an Independence day weekend release of 1991, couldn't succeed at the box office despite the two stars in the lead. Remade from its namesake Bengali movie, the film revolves around Kapoor who avenges the humiliation of his mother Rakhee and gangrape of his sister Amita Nangia by three goons played by Mahesh Anand, Tej Sapru and Manek Irani (better known as Billa!!).

Surprisingly, the movie is memorable today for Mahesh Anand's oft repeated punchline "Hum Roop nagar ke cheeteh hain. Shikaar par hi jeete hain". This dialogue was a smash hit amongst the shaitaan type school kiddos of our time.

In one of his later interviews, Anil Kapoor admitted signing the film to fund his home production Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993). Madhuri too came on board for director T. Rama Rao whom she wanted to work with. Special mention of Mohsin Khan and Sonu Walia who were largely left out from the movie publicity and promotions and even their roles were slashed in the final edit.

Pratikaar took a decent opening at Badal Bijlee Cinema where I saw it but crashed from Monday onwards to emerge a massive flop at the box office. Today, not many people would remember the movie name but just say the dialogue "Hum Roop nagar ke cheeteh hai..." and it will be an instant connect!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.