J P Dutta is a well known director who gave us great films like GHULAMI, BATWARA in the late 80s and in 1990s the superhit BORDER and many more films. Hathyar is a gangster cum human drama which is superbly handled by JP Dutta. The film is treated very well. The story may have been done to death by now, but what holds the film is it's strong handling, good screenplay and superb writing. The film starts off well and holds you throughout, Rishi Kapoor's scenes with Sanjay's family, Sanjay Dutt's slowly gradual transformation, Dharmendra's character is all treated well. The film does have age old clichés which is forgiven as it's a 80's film, though the child marriage aspect though exists still in several places does look a bit shaky perhaps today. The film does remind you of other films but is handled brilliantly by J P Dutta. The twists and turns are superbly handled in the second half, the climax though does flash memories of SCARFACE(1983) is handled superbly
Direction by JP Dutta is superb Music by Laxmikant Pyarelal suits the mood of the film.
JP Dutta has made several movies repeated certain actors and bringing the best from them. Dharmendra who worked with him earlier in Ghulami and Batwara gives a superb performance as a common man who turns into a kindhearted DON. Rishi Kapoor is superb in his role and proves he is much more then a chocolate hero. Sanjay Dutt who was still raw those days but was slowly and steadily growing as an actor, gives a superb performance, no doubt it became second skin to him later-on Amrita Singh is superb, Sangita Bhijlani who debutted with this film is good in her role Paresh Rawal as the South Indian carricatured villain does a good job Khulbushan Kharbanda who worked mostly with JP Dutta gives another memorable performance. Asha Parekh is as usual, Satyajeet as Pakya leaves a mark
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