Producer: Ramesh Sharma
Director : Rajesh Kumar Singh
*ing: Sanjay Dutt, Aditya Pancholi, Manisha Koirala, Inder Kumar, and Tina
Music: Sajid Wajid

Released on : April 7, 2000

Reviewed by: Alok Kumar
alok@indolink.com

out of 
What do you get when you have Sanjay Dutt and Manisha Koirala paired together in a film? A feeling of deja vu. After Kartoos and Khauff, Dutt and Koirala pair up again along with Aditya Pancholi, Inder Kumar, and Tina Senn, who gets a shot at being a heroine in a non-Mithun movie. Baaghi, yet another film with Sanjay Dutt in a semi-negative role, could have been a lot better, but ends up being a decent time-pass movie. Definitely not worth seeing in the theater, but worth watching once, if you have nothing better to do.

Baaghi, described by its trailors as an "Emotional Saga of Rebels", is an ordinary action flick with nothing different or unique from others in its genre about it, except, perhaps, Sanjay Dutt's performance, Manisha Koirala's small, but memorable role, and Sajid Wajid's hummable tunes. The film revolves around Vikram (Aditya Pancholi), who plays dangerous underworld don with Raja (Sanjay Dutt) as his right hand assassin. Raja would do anything for Vikram, even die for him, and proves his loyalty time and time again. A boy, Surya, from Raja's neighborhood thinks highly of Raja and is very impressed with his macho image, much to his parents' dismay. One day, the boy witnesses Raja committing a murder, and when intercepted by the police to identify the killer, refuses to betray his role model, which impresses Raja. Raja, as a result, makes the lad his brother. Surya, now grown up and played by Inder Kumar, falls in love with Vikram's sister, Kiran (Tina Senn). Raja approves of the relationship, and encourages the two lovers to stay together, much to the dismay of Vikram, who strongly disapproves of the relationship, and sends Raja to kill Surya. The crux of the film is whether or not Raja will kill Surya, or help him. Manisha Koirala appears in flashbacks as Raja's lover Rani, a club dancer who supports her alcoholic father and dies unexpectedly, much to the dismay of Raja.

Sanjay Dutt and Manisha Koirala perform well in their roles. Sanjay Dutt has done the same role many times throughout his carreer, in films like Khalnayak, Kartoos, Aatish, Khauff, Sanjay Gupta's forthcoming Jung, and now Baaghi. Manisha Koirala has a small role, with some scenes, but has performed pretty well. She has a lot more scope in a smaller role than the film's other heroine Tina Senn, who makes no impact. Koirala looks gorgeous in this film, and does a good job. Her forthcoming films with Sanjay Dutt are Raj Kumar Santoshi's Lajja and Mehbooba. Of the supporting cast, Aditya Pancholi performs well, Inder Kumar is average, and Tina Senn, who looks average at best, is barely acceptable. After small roles in Aakrosh, Kartoos, and Aaag Hi Aag, Tina Senn has been given a shot as a heroine, but can't hack it as one. She should stick to her small roles or improve in both the acting and looks department.

Music by Sajid Wajid is pretty good. The album contains good songs like Chaha Tha Tujhe, Tumhi Ko Chahta Hai, Piya Tu Kahan Hai, and Sapnay Mein Kudi, which is already a hit. Even the caberet number Ek Kabhi, which I disliked before, grew on me, making me enjoy it. The direction is average and the screenplay is routine, though Sanjay, Manisha, and Aditya do manage to rise above the mediocre script. All in all, Baaghi is worth watching only for Manisha, Sanjay, and the songs. This action film has some entertainment value to it, and should do at least average at the box office.