Damul (1985) User Reviews

a tale of feudal oppression, the plight of bonded labours, and the last option available before them

[rajan-liberation · 8/10 · 21 January 2008]

Prakash Jha could never make a film better than this. This film is a masterpiece, not only from the point of view of direction, performances and cinematography, but also because of the wideness of its plot and its capacity to capture and present the reality, in its natural wholeness. From the pitiable condition of a young widow to that of the agrarian workers, from the process of making of bonded labours to the theft of animals, and from the dynamics of caste politics in villages to the genocide of poor dalits,the film speaks on everything and captures the true nature of feudal oppression, which is responsible for all this. Its power lies in the simplicity with which it addresses all such issues and conveys a dissenting voice against these. In the end, it tries to provide and answer when the wife of a bonded labour of local landlord resorts to the last alternative left to her.

For those interested in socially committed cinema( and not for those believing in art gracia art, or the lovers of entertainment), Damul(meaning hanging)will always remain an all time favourite.

Finest work of Cinema based on Caste Violence in North India

[tripurari_rai · 8/10 · 1 August 2020]

Though movie is based on 1984 but the story lines is relevant for today's issues as well. I can relate to this movies exactly same and most of the issues shown in this movies is very much same what happening in northern part of India.

Acting of all the characters are very realistic and storyline of movies seems very true. A great work by Prakash Jha.

One of the finest movie made on story of bonded labours

[cseabhi · 8/10 · 26 May 2021]

Prakash Jha's this movie Damul is a classic and can easily be categorized into one of the finest movie made on caste driscrimination, oppression from higher caste and landlords and addressing the issue of bonded labours.

Thing that impressed me greatly was the execution of story and the conviction. Completely amazing.

The set up, the characters and the environment were completely real. I can tell you, while watching this it was like I am watching and vissiting my village. The language, the tone and the dialect, all of them spot on.

This one is masterpiece by Prakash Jha, not only on the part of direction but in performance also. Annu Kapoor was just brilliant and so was Deepti Naval.

Damul may not serve your entertainment needs, but is surely an important cinema in the history of Indian films and hats off to Prakash Jha, for this beauty.

OUTSTANDING ! Hands down to Prakash Jha for this Revolutionary and deserving National Award Winner flick..

[SAMTHEBESTEST · 8/10 · 26 June 2020]

Damul (1984) : Brief Review -

OUTSTANDING ! Hands down to Prakash Jha for this Revolutionary and deserving National Award Winner flick. Those were the days, when National film Award juries had correct sense of choosing socially important flicks as winner irrespective of budget and commercial value (with exceptions). After a promising debut Damul was 2nd Directorial of Prakash Jha and it turned out to be One Of His Best Film Ever. I can surely see this film in his Top 3 Films. Damul is about dictatorship of politician and their deliberate attempts to keep lower class people under thier cruel rules in backward rural area. How the revolution begins against this mighty kingdom is all you get to see in the film. The story is absolutely hard-hitting and heart wrenching. Such an important topic needed to be told in early 80s because democratic waves were flowing across the nation then. Prakash Jha wrote and directed this sensitive yet realistically brutal topic with his amazing skills and sent a message to bollywood folks that the change has arrived in typical masala oriented and money making industry. Hats off to his conviction and hats off to the presentation he put on screen. Every scene has details and completeness keeping the realistic touch intact. Every actor portrays the charcter with immense dedication and passion. The hard-hitting world of Prakash Jha didn't need any songs to spoil the realism therefore film doesn't have any song and it helps to keep the grip tight. The climax of the film is truly revolutionary, i could feel the pain and outburst in those screams. It is still vibrating in my mind, such Impact ! Damul is very well balanced art cinema and mainstream cinema so skipping this film is out of the question. Mostly Art lovers skip Mainstream cinema and Mainstream cinema lovers skip Art cinema, but Damul is a Must Watch for both.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestestt

Too slow.

[riddhimaakaritu · 5/10 · 9 May 2020]

The issues, the problems, the unfairness of this world - all shown nicely.

But the all actors take forever to speak. I have never seen people speak with so much pause between words.