Don (1978)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Chandra Barot

Writers:

Javed Akhtar (dialogue)
Javed Akhtar (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 April 1978 (India)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Musical | Thriller

Plot:

Vijay lives in India. One day he is questioned by the police, and finds out he is the exact look-alike of an underworld don...

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Police | Underworld | Look Alike | Diary

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Amitabh Bachchan	...	Don / Vijay
Zeenat Aman	...	Roma
Pran	...	Jasjit (J.J.)
Iftekhar	...	DSP D'Silva (as Iftikhar)
Om Shivpuri	...	Vardan - Fake Interpol Officer R.K. Malik
Satyendra Kapoor	...	Inspector S. Verma (as Satyen Kapoo)
P. Jairaj	...	Dayal (Judo Karate Instructor)
Kamal Kapoor	...	Narang
Arpana Choudhary	...	Anita (as Arpana Choudhry)
Helen	...	Kamini
M.B. Shetty	...	Shakaal (as Shetty)
Mac Mohan	...	Mac
Azad	...	Azad
Yashraj
Devaraj		(as Devraj)

Runtime:

USA:166 min

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

India:U

Filming Locations:

Chandivali Studio, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Company:

Nariman Films

Trivia:

Producer 'Nariman Irani' died in a mishap on the sets of this movie.

Quotes:

Jasjit: These kids are quite sweet... surely they can't be Mr. Vardhan's kids

Movie Connections:

Remade as Don (2006/I)

Soundtrack:

Main Hoon Don

Do(w)n memory lane -- the golden era of Hindi cinema

This movie is one of the earliest blockbusters of the 1970s that firmly launched Amitabh Bachchan in the superstar orbit.

In an oft-repeated cop-robber plot, director Chandra Barot makes a film about a gangster don (no particular reference to any Mumbai underworld figure nor any sneaky take on a Hollywood film) who has eluded cops for a long time. "Don ko pakadna itna aasan nahin", says DCP D'Silva in an ominous tone that still resonates among the current duels between crime bosses and superstar cops like Daya Nayak.

The essence of Don's charisma goes beyond the methodical framing of its central characters in what is a rather straightforward plot. Cleverly written dialogs that inspired an entire generation of moviegoers, shots and scenes that (at the time) defied the boundaries of all conventional wisdom, fabulous acting by the main and supporting cast, and a musical score by Kalyanji Anandji that is evergreen to this day -- those are of course what made Don such a memorable movie in the minds of many.

Best thing is to go see it even if its your first or fifth time. Great movies such as this are way beyond Bollywood now, and it is doubtful if the current crap -- oops sorry, crop! of directors can ever concoct a compelling story such as this one.