Akayla (1991)

Director:

Ramesh Sippy

Writer:

Salim Khan (written by)

Release Date:

1 November 1991 (India)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Family

Plot:

Inspector Vijay Verma is a very lonely cop whose only family is a younger brother Ajay Verma who is studying abroad...

Plot Keywords:

Dual Role

Cast

Amitabh Bachchan	...	Insp. Vijay Verma
Jackie Shroff	...	Shekhar
Amrita Singh	...	Sapna
Meenakshi Sheshadri	...	Seema
Aditya Pancholi	...	Ajay (Vijay's Brother) (as Aditya Panscholi)
Kiran Juneja	...	Neetu (as Kiran Joneja)
Keith Stevenson	...	Anthony "Tony" Braganza / Jojo Braganza
Shashi Kapoor	...	Police Commisioner
Helen	...	Seema's Mother
Mahesh Anand	...	Ranjeet
Kanwaljit Singh	...	Insp. Ahmed
Mangal Dhillon	...	Anthony's & Jojo's lawyer
Asif
Nafisa
S.M. Zaheer

Also Known As:

Akela

Runtime:

UK:180 min

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

UK:15 | India:U

Filming Locations:

Art Bunglow, India

Company:

M.R. Productions

Quotes:

Police Commisioner: Do I appear to you, from the face or from the brains a type of person who would believe in your story.
Insp. Vijay Verma: Yes Sir.

Movie Connections:

Features Seeta Aur Geeta (1972)

Soundtrack:

Chal Chal Meri

AB does Dirty Harry!

During these days when Amitabh was almost on his way out and Ramesh Sippy wasn't in the comfort zone either. The 90's had to be the worst decade for Amitabh as it marked the fall of a legend. After Ganga Jamuna Saraswati, Toofan and Jaadugar, it was Akayla's turn to take the beat by the public. And did they public beat it? Of course. The film was something we had been seeing since the 80's, AB's act towards injustice and being a responsible cop to take the villain but this time, Clint Eastwood style! Obvoiously AB had done his homework to mimic Clint because I cannot imagine anyone else that could have done it down Bollywood! The story itself is too hallow. More hallow then Ramesh Sippy's last nightmare Bhrastachar. So no way this film could have survived at the box office. The villain, Keith Stevenson, hammers badly. A miscast. The only thing that could have helped this film was AB's performance which didn't find any takers at all.

The supporting cast wasn't too bad. Jackie Shroff was good. Aditya Pancholi was better. Meenakshi Sheshadri does okay in a small role. Amrita Singh is average. Shashi Kapoor, well, cant say much about him.

Overall, a bad experiment and comes too late in its day. Story too hallow. Music below average. But some of the action scene are good to look forward to.

2 out 5

P.S If your not too sure about a Ramesh Sippy film just remember, a his films that begin with 'S' are the better lot. Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Shaan, Shakti and Saagar :)