I love campy, over the top, totally preposterous films with a cast of thousands that can only come out of Bollywood and Sheshnaag is near the top of the list in this category. Two magical snakes who can become human (a la Sridevi in Nagina) and grant wishes, a beautiful woman and a drunken husband, a maharaj who wants to become an immortal god, an evil real-estate developer with an innocent daughter and a wise fool whose flute playing summons animals and who also falls in love with the aforesaid daughter... what's not to love?? The story gets lost in its own intricacies, the costumes are cheesy and shoddy, the special effects are horrific, but it's still just such implausible fun, although I don't think it was meant to be humorous originally. It's one of those movies that is so bad that it's good. (You get the feeling that director K. Reddy must have said "Let's see if this works...it couldn't hurt!" every single day of shooting.) Part of what saves Sheshnaag is the cast. Jeetendra as the magical boy snake is his usual earnest, heroic self and paired with Madhavi as his girl snake partner. (Madhavi's got mad snake dancing skills, but truthfully Jeetendra does not-part of the hilarity of that scene.) Rekha is, of course, the beautiful, poor woman married to Anupam Kher's character. Both of these actors always give a thousand percent in any film they do, and this is no exception. Rekha is always pure joy with her dignity and grace, her dancing breath-taking. Anupam Kher is in the surprising role of bad guy and this was made when he had hair, so it's worth it just for those two things. Rishi Kapoor is the wise fool who in love with Mandakini's character. And Danny Denzongpa absolutely ROCKS as the power hungry maharaj. He's a well-known Bollywood villain who actually, I think, gives Om Prakash a run for his money in that category. Don't watch this film for any depth ot lessons or even good special effects-because you won't find that. But you will find a absolutely classic example of masala film gone crazy, and that makes it really fun.
3 Reviews
Of Snakes and ladders!!
nadkarnisumeet19 November 2020
Sheshnaag review :
After the success of Sridevi's Nagina (1986), quite a few Naag- Nagin films were made in late 80s but none worked at the box office. Nigahen (1989) - the sequel to Nagina - didnt get any audience ki nigahen while Nache Nagin Gali Gali (1989) became Dhoonde theatre sheher sheher in its second week itself. Sheshnaag, released in 1990, fared marginally better than these movies though it wasnt a universal box office hit.
Jeetendra and Madhavi played ichadhari naag- nagin couple who are targeted by an evil tantrik called Aghori (Danny Denzongpa). Hiding from Aghori, the naag nagin help out a village simpleton Rishi Kapoor whose sister Rekha is left to die by her husband Anupam Kher and his ayyash friends. Madhavi assumes identity of Rekha and helps Rishi win his lady love Mandakini.
The performances were okay and so was the direction. The focus was on Madame Rekha and Madhavi was sidelined in the film's second half though her character is pivotal to the script. Jeetu carried forward his icchadhari naag wala character from Raj Kumar Kohli's Nagin (1976) while Rishi Kapoor looked misfit as Bhola, the simpleton. Danny screamed and hammed as Aghori.
All in all, Sheshnaag is a timepass entertainer only if you love snake wala dramas patented by Bollywood. If not, a game of snakes and ladders might be more interesting!!
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.
After the success of Sridevi's Nagina (1986), quite a few Naag- Nagin films were made in late 80s but none worked at the box office. Nigahen (1989) - the sequel to Nagina - didnt get any audience ki nigahen while Nache Nagin Gali Gali (1989) became Dhoonde theatre sheher sheher in its second week itself. Sheshnaag, released in 1990, fared marginally better than these movies though it wasnt a universal box office hit.
Jeetendra and Madhavi played ichadhari naag- nagin couple who are targeted by an evil tantrik called Aghori (Danny Denzongpa). Hiding from Aghori, the naag nagin help out a village simpleton Rishi Kapoor whose sister Rekha is left to die by her husband Anupam Kher and his ayyash friends. Madhavi assumes identity of Rekha and helps Rishi win his lady love Mandakini.
The performances were okay and so was the direction. The focus was on Madame Rekha and Madhavi was sidelined in the film's second half though her character is pivotal to the script. Jeetu carried forward his icchadhari naag wala character from Raj Kumar Kohli's Nagin (1976) while Rishi Kapoor looked misfit as Bhola, the simpleton. Danny screamed and hammed as Aghori.
All in all, Sheshnaag is a timepass entertainer only if you love snake wala dramas patented by Bollywood. If not, a game of snakes and ladders might be more interesting!!
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.
Good film
basheer44725 July 2010
If you want to see a film on snake world, this is a very right movie to watch, The plus point of this movie is songs all the songs are very well composed one particular songs I like the most HAME ASMAN NE BHEJA IS ZAMEEN PAR, The entire cast Jeetendra, Rekha, Rishi Kapoor, Madhavi, Anupam Kher & Danny had done their job perfectly, Danny looks very violent & his dialog line ARE SHAMSHAAN GHAT KE MURDE suits to him very well, Fight between Snake & Mongoose very well composed, Madhavi & Jeetendra proved that they are best in particular snake dance, Rishi Kapoor role is limited but he is also O.K. Rekha also good, Danny damn good, No other actor was suited in Snake role as well as in the costume drama outfits, Only one name was there only & only Jeetendra, Jeetu has perfectly proved in movies like Naagin, Dharmveer, Qaidi,Jay Vijay, Paatal Bhairvi etc., Sheshnaag will be remembered for Jeetu & Danny,
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