Producer: Vijay Mehta
Director: Parto Ghosh
*ing: Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Ashwini Bhave
Music: Rajesh Roshan

Released on : March 27, 1998

Reviewed by: Tanmeet Kumar
tanmeet@indolink.com

out of 

Yugpurush is, by all means, an excellent film. The film stands apart from Bollywood masala ventures like Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya and Dil To Pagal Hai. This film is for those of you out there who feel the Indian films lack intelligence. The plot is very well handled and the acting is absolutely excellent.

In Yugpurush, Nana Patekar plays a mentally disturbed public offender named Anirudh, who has suffered from a traumatic childhood experience. After being released from an asylum, Anirudh finds himself lost in a sea of vice. In the world he enters after being released, corruption rules. The first person he encounters after being released is Sunita (Manisha Koirala), the unhappy mistress of a corrupt politician. The two are tied together by an invisible chord. The root of Anirudh's attraction to Sunita is the unhappiness he senses in her. Sunita's attraction to Anirudh is because of his uncomplicated and simple life. Meanwhile, Seema (Ashwini Bhave), is madly in love with Anirudh and is heartbroken when she finds he loves someone else. Another major player in this story is Jackie Shroff, who plays the arrogant son of a corrupt politician. Jackie's character lusts after Sunita and is completely oblivious to the fact that Sunita and Anirudh love each other. Jackie's character refuses to accept defeat and marries Sunita. The story takes a few twists and turns (for which you must go to the cinema and see!) and ends up in an rather sad way..

The characters in Yugpurush are very well developed. Nana Patekar's Anirudh is enacted with a bit of ingenious. It is as if Anirudh is like a baby, coming out of the asylum oblivious to the world of vice and corruption around him. Mannish Corolla's Sinuate is very well portrayed also. Sinuate is very much like Elizabeth She's character Sera in Hollywood's Leaving Las Vegas. Jackie Shroff's character is like a villain who does not want to be a villain. All that he does is because of the inner conflict within him. He is not really evil in the film, just disturbed. Ashwini Bhave is, perhaps, on par with leading lady Manisha Koirala in this film. Her role of a woman who is in love with a mental patient is not realistic, but quite convincing. Manisha looks very beautiful, as does Ashwini Bhave. It is a wonder why Bhave is not among the top bracket of actresses. She can turn even a small role into a quite a complex and memorable one. Kudos to Ashwini for her brilliant job in Yugpurush. Jackie has finally chosen a decent film to act in. He was on his way to being co-ruler of C - grade cinema with Mithun Chakrovarti but has redeemed himself with this film. He does an excellent job. The film is Nana's film, though. His on-screen presence is felt whenever he is in a movie. As for his acting, his talent is on display in this movie. He has done a brilliant job. He outshines everyone. Direction by Parto Ghosh is great. He has come a long way from making films like Teesra Kaun? and Jeevan Yudh. Music is the only mediocre thing about the film. The only song that really delivers from the album is "Bandhan Khula". Yugpurush may flop because of it's depressing story line and unhappy ending, but it is sure to pick up some awards this year.

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