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Kaala Patthar

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Kaala Patthar (1979)

August. 09,1979
|
7.6
| Drama Action Thriller
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Branded a coward for abandoning his ship full of 300 passengers, Captain Vijay Pal Singh takes up work in a distant coal mine, poorly equipped, with no sufficient medical supplies or proper facilities. When the miners and their families face a catastrophe, as water has forced its way into one of the mining tunnels, endangering 400 lives, will Vijay be able to rise to the occasion or will he 'abandon ship' again?

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Linkshoch
1979/08/09

Wonderful Movie

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ShangLuda
1979/08/10

Admirable film.

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Jonah Abbott
1979/08/11

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

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Isbel
1979/08/12

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

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silvan-desouza
1979/08/13

Yash Chopra and Salim Javed gave great films in 1970s starting from DEEWAAR(1975), KABHIE KABHIE(1976), TRISHUL(1978) and KPKaala Patthar depicts a story about the people working in coal mines, the film starts off straight away in the mines. We are first introduced to Vijay(played by Bachchan, who else) who is a grim guy but very daredevilry, He saves the life of Satyen Kapuu and as all the people cheer for him, his face goes sad and he remembers his past wherein people want to stone him and call him a coward. This scene itself speaks brilliance of Yash Chopra, Big B and SJ. The film then introduces Shashi Kapoor a funloving guy who works in the mine for a high post of Engineer, His entry is with a Kishore classic song EK RAASTA HAI ZINDAGI on a bike. Then we are introduced to Shatrughan Sinha a thief/goon who runs from the jail and enters the mine. There are several interesting characters like Raakhee who comes as a women doctor, Sanjeev Kumar in a 1 scene role as the depressed doctor who resigns, Mcmohan who is fond of playing cards and cheats, Parikshit Sahini as the singing Jatt. Neetu Singh as Channo who sells women ornaments and many more. Parveen Babi the fierce journalist The villain played by Prem Chopra who doesn't care about the workers but only about profits. Amitabh's AYM persona too is used to the fullest and his scenes make a great impact The story moves gradually but picks up at a crescendo towards the climax. There are several subplots too and some few songs thrown in and some masala too The clash between Big B and Shatru(real life rivals of 70s) is superb especially their fight scene. The second half gets more absorbing, AB confronting Prem Chopra and his flashback is superb, while the entire climax is brilliantly filmed and is superb, The climax was actually based on a real coal mine tragedy Though it's depicted in a filmy manner with superificial sacrifices yet it's superb Direction by Yash Chopra is superb, after this film sadly he made mostly romantic films like SILSILA(1981) and his films never where like this anymore Writing by SJ is superb yet again Music is good, The best song is Ek Raasta, Dhoom Mache Dhoom and all songs, Again no song on Big B just one background love song sung by Parikshit Sahini showing Big B and Raakhee under an umbrella. Dialogues are awesome, esp those mouthed by Big B and Shatru Amitabh's dialogue PAIN IS MY DESTINY is superb while Shatru's teesre baadhshah hum hai aur The Onga Ponga waala dialogueAmitabh Bachchan is matchless as the angry, depressed Vijay yet again Yash chopra + SJ and Big B together work beautifully and his role is yet another memorable one His outbursts, his emotions are all simply outstanding. Shatrughan Sinha does well in his role in his own style. Shashi Kapoor is superb in his role though he does play second fiddle Sanjeev Kumar is wasted yet he does the most of it in just 1 scene Raakhee is superb, She starred in Yash Chopra's film before in Kabhie Kabhie and TRISHUL and here too does a great job Parveen Babi and Neetu Singh are superb in their roles, though PB does get sidelined towards the end Amongst rest Parikshit Sahini is superb, Sharat Saxena is superb, Prem Chopra is good as the villain, Macmohan is superb, Iftekar, Suresh Oberoi have guest roles Satyen Kapoo and rest lend good support

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gavin_coolhgr
1979/08/14

Kaala Pathar is the story of Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) an ex-naval officer who is court-martial ed and dismissed from the navy for his role in as captain of a ship that sank and many lives were lost. Vijay is looking for a place so dark that even the hideous demons inside him that taunt him so terribly will get scared and go away. He finds that darkness in the depths of the coal mines where he now works as a coal miner, where he welcomes every danger, every threatening rumble of disaster as a chance to pay for his past Ravi (Shashi Kapoor), the engineer in-charge of these doomed mines. Doomed because the greed and mindless exploitation by its owners have made the mines into potential death traps. Ravi, seeing the terrible danger looming ahead, tries to alert the management but with little use. He is paid for his alertness by being fired from his job which is when he joins forces with the workers and Vijay in order to save the lives of the minors and fight the establishment. Mangal (Shatrughan Sinha), an escaped convict who is also looking for a place to hide, but unlike Vijay, not from himself but from the eyes of the law. And discovers that under his boisterous and egoistic exterior is a compassionate human being for whom the law of justice is more important than the law of the jungle. He ends up joining Ravi and Vijay in their fight for right. As these three men set off on their crusade, each of them also find love. From the trusting, simple miners and their families who see these men as messiahs and from three women. Sudha (Raakhee), a doctor who is as kind and caring as she is beautiful and sees Vijay's bleeding, repenting heart behind his stone-hard exterior, Anita (Parveen Babi) a reporter who falls in love with Ravi's fearless, clear-eyed belief in justice and in himself and Shanno (Neetu Singh), a gypsy whose sparkling eyes and racy sales pitch snares even the hardened heart of Mangal. Kaala Patthar is inspired by a real-life mining disaster that happened in India in the history of mining industry. On 27th Dec'75, the 'Chasanala' charcoal mine got flooded with water in which 572 workers were caught. It is an intensely dramatic film about the human heart. That as long as it beats with love and with hope, there will always be a dawn waiting at end of the blackest of nights. With a multi-star cast, a lively musical score and a nail-biting climax, Yash Chopra has made Kaala Patthar a memorable exception to the exquisitely soft, glamorous love stories that have become his hallmark. The technical side of the movie was good. The sets & make-up helped the film to become more realistic. Amitabh Bachchan's withdrawal into solitude was impressive. With a flame of anger in his eyes & confidence in his actions, he delivers minimum words and still makes an impact. Shatrughna Sinha is also good with his own style. Shashi Kapoor with his smart look is charming. Remaining Rakhi, Neetu Singh etc. are okay. The tea-stall confrontation between Bachchan and Sinha is probably the most explosive encounter between two heroes ever in Indian cinema; and Bachchan comes out with a subdued, yet strong performance.

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mail_mujahid
1979/08/15

Vijay Pal Singh(Amitabh Bachchan) is a Merchant Navy officer,one who stands by his principles.A sea-storm one night has him and colleagues saving their own lives rather than those of the passengers.Later they come to know the ship survived the storm and all passengers were safe.Vijay was court-martialled and left to live a disgraced life.Even his parents left him.Vijay starts working as a coal-mine worker leaving his unpleasant past behind him.There he meets Ravi Malhotra(Shashi Kapoor),a young,dashing,romantic engineer. Both make good friends. There is Anita(Parveen Babi),a journalist who wants to write about the plight of the mine workers,who falls in love with Ravi.A very important character is that of Dr.Sudha(Rakhee)who awakens Vijay of his past and urges him to fight his inner self,to come to terms with reality.Vijay falls in love with Dr.Sudha but they cannot meet each other due to the difference in their social standing.Seth Dhanraj(Prem Chopra)wants to dig the mine deeper and deeper to make more profits,in the process risking the lives of numerous workers as water level is very close to the point of digging.Vijay,Ravi and Mangal rescue the workers from the mines in the end.Another significant character is that of Mangal(Shatrughan Sinha). His fight sequences with Vijay are beautifully shot and executed.Actually,at the time of shooting,AB and Shatrughan were not even on talking terms.Their real-life enmity passed on to the big screen,so to say.Prem Chopra does not convince as Seth Dhanraj.I think Amrish Puri would have done justice to the baddie's role.Parikshit Sahni as the Punjabi truck driver is fabulous.You can catch a glimpse of the two-film old and former Miss India Poonam Dhillon towards the end if you don't blink. The songs are quite good.One of my favourites is 'Ek Raasta Hai Zindagi Jo Tham Gaye To Kuch Nahin' by Kishore Kumar. The song by Mahendra Kapoor picturised on Parikshit Sahni in the rain is also good. All in all, a complete entertainer.I watched this movie in December 2003,24 years after its release.Pity,they don't make films like that anymore.

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MuzikJunky
1979/08/16

An ambitious film that suffers, unfortunately, from what might be the worst cinematography in the history of film. Even an American special effects team could not save the film from somtimes sloppy editing and shoddy camera work. However, the film is worth seeing for the issues it brings up regarding worker/management relations. A good story and great acting soften the blow of the weak cinematography. Yash Chopra is a very good director, but this film makes him seem like a hack.

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