Ghulami (1985) Online

Ghulami is one of my most favorite Hindi movies.The movie scores heavily on many points.Firstly,it has some soul stirring music and lilting lyrics by gulzaar. Interestingly,this debut movie of JP Dutta is based on true life incidents. The land tillers -'jats' have traditionally been marginalized in Rajasthan.They were oppressed severely and discriminated against by the rajputs-the landholders in old times. In British India,there comes a reference of a dacoit in rajasthan who was supposedly inspired by the book 'mother' by maxim gorky. This fact has been depicted in this movie.The movie is a forerunner of present day movies like 'lagaan'.

The film marked the debut of one the greatest film directors in Bollywood, JP Dutta.

It deals with the inequality of land ceilings in rural India. It focuses on a young boy who grows up to rebel against the cruel land owners, who have been ripping of poor farmers. Dharmendra delivers his greatest performance, aided fabulous performances by the supporting cast.

Technically, the movie is great like all JP Dutta films. The score is haunting. The dialogues by OP Dutta is brilliant. The screenplay is as detailed as you can get.

A movie that should not be missed by any movie fan.

Ghulami was the maiden venture of now well-known filmmaker, J.P. Dutta. It's a thought-provoking movie, baring the bitter truth of the slavery of the downtrodden Indian poor peasant to the heartless Indian caste system as well as poverty. The poor peasant (mainly belonging to a lower caste in the discriminatory caste system) takes birth in a loan which had been taken by his ancestors and dies in loan, leaving it for his next generation; his land and belongings are always under the threat of confiscation due to non-payment of the loan and worstly the honour of the ladies of his family is under constant threat from the lusty landlords, still enjoying the undesirable benefits of the feudalistic landownership system continuing for centuries in the rural India. On 15th August, 1947, our country got independence but the poor peasants are still accurst to bear the brunt of the slavery of the mighty.

Ghulami (1985) was the maiden directorial venture of J.P. Dutta whose story was written by his father, O.P. Dutta. He has presented the story of a well-educated and but full of self-respect peasant (Dharmendra) who unfortunately finds himself on the lower rung of the ladder of the social structure because of his birth. The daughter of the supercilious landlord, though, possesses a different nature and outlook and she (Smita Patil) is a close friend of him. The police of the village, as usual, is sold in the hands of the landlord (Om Shivpuri) and join hands with him and his arrogant and lustful sons (Bharat Kapoor and Mazhar Khan) to oppress and humiliate the already victimized by misusing the power of the uniform. A like-minded ex-serviceman (Mithun Chakraborty) join hands with him and a lower-caste kind-hearted Hawaldar (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) also comes to his side after losing his son in an confrontation with the upper caste and rich mighties who don't allow the lower caste grooms to ride a horse. The main protagonist has to become a bandit in the eyes of the law to save the land and the honour of the hundreds of peasants, leaving his pregnant wife (Reena Roy) behind. The husband of his friend (the landlord's daughter) is a senior police officer (Nasiruddin Shah) who also becomes his enemy on personal level after knowing about his friendship with his wife. The violence-ridden climax underscores this harsh reality only that the rebels die, the cruel and unjust system doesn't.

I am a Rajasthani, well-acquainted with the deserts there and therefore I acknowledge with high appreciation, the skill of J.P. Dutta in capturing the area in with finesse. The complete background and the milieu is highly realistic and impressive - the sand dunes, the Hawelis, the village lanes, the tattered houses of the poor and even the Police Chowki. The narrative is in complete synchronization with the milieu nowhere the movie renders an air of being an imaginary story. Almost everything looks real.

The narrative is spellbinding. Right from the very first frame to the very last frame, the movie is able to keep the viewer tied to his seat with his eyes glued to the screen. The screenplay swiftly moves from scene to scene and J.P. Dutta has demonstrated his better sense by keeping the movie completely free from meaningless comedy and unrealistic romance. The love-angles are touching, not titillating.

The music of Laxmikant Pyarelal the meaningful songs (only three) having been penned by Gulzar. The best one is definitely Jeehaal-e-Muskin Mukon Ba-Ranjish Bahaal-e-Hijra Bechaara Dil Hai (picturized on Mithun and his love-interest Anita Raj). Mere Pee Ko Pawan is an underrated excellent song. The third one is Pee Le Pee Le which is also good to listen and better to watch.

The impressive, meaningful and touching dialogues are another highlight of this movie. The production value is quite high and the cinematographer has marvelled in not only capturing the beauty of rural Rajasthan but also creating impact through the shadows in certain scenes.

J.P. Dutta possess the knack to extract the best from his caste. All the main characters - Dharmendra, Mithun Chakraborty, Nasiruddin Shah, Kulbhushan Kharbanda etc. have delivered their best. Leading ladies- Smita Patil, Reena Roy and Anita Raj also have done pretty well in their low-profile roles in this male-dominated movies. Supporting caste (Sulochana, Om Shivpuri, Bharat Kapoor, Mazhar Khan, Raza Murad etc.) has also done justice to the respective roles assigned. Except the over-the-top Anjan Shrvastav (the accountant of the landlord), all look flesh and blood human-beings.

Ghulami is an outstanding movie which was a box-office hit also. To understand the caste-ridden class-conflicts and related dynamics in India, this movie can be used just like a textbook.

Its one of the eye opener movies that shows the ground realities in most of the rural india. It shows the caste system and differences between poor and rich. Most of the peasants in rural region are poor and in order to fullfill their requirements they need to lend money from the money lender. These money lenders take their farm land as guarantee and after some time they capture these lands. Dharemendra, a low caste person, represents the feeling of the young generation whose ansector land has been taken away from them unjustly. He is a teacher who transfroms into a bandit for causes of the mass. In the last he is hit by several bullets but still is able to burn all the documents of money lenders using which they captured the land of masses. Songs of this movie is written by Gulzar and is worth of listening for hours. All the actors have done justice to their character. This movie is worth watching,

Excellent direction by J.P. Dutta (Border). Music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal was beautiful n soul stirring. Cinematography by Ishwar Bidri was top notch. Those sand dunes, havelis, isolated school in the desert, empty railway stations. The film has an ensemble cast comprising Dharmendra, Mithunda, Mazhar Khan, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Raza Murad, Smita Patil, Reena Roy, Anita Raj, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Shivpuri. Magnificent dialogues by magnificent actor Dharmendra. But above all the character Jhabhar pratap aka Mithunda was an icing on the cake. The rebels always die, the cruel caste system does not. Its about class war and revolution. The violent climax underscores the harsh reality that the rebels always die, the cruel and unjust system does not. Koi shak? Any doubts?

Ranjeet Singh Choudhry is a kid who doesn't like to be in shackles of slavery.He is not even allowed to sit in same aisle as zamindar's nephews sit (in class).Besides that, he is not even allowed to drink water from a water pot as he is of lower-caste.Being rebellious kid he beats zamindar's nephews serverely. When zamindar learns of this he beats ranjit with stick s and when his mother interferes she is asked to put her shoes on her head as she has spoiled zamindar's mansion. Being beaten by his father also Ranjeet leaves village ,and returns back as adult only to learn that his father has just expired and he has to repay all the loans (with interest ) to zamindar. He vows to break shackles of this slavery so that his kids don't have to follow this tradition of Ghulami.He becomes a teacher in same school where he used to study as a kid.Zamindar and his nephews are wary of Ranjeet and implicate him on false charges.He is freed on request of zamindar's daughter who has a soft corner for ranjeet. Matters still not settled and lot of lower-caste people die of drinking stale water .when ranjeet tries to get water from well of thankur's then they start firing rounds on him.He gets wounded and is salvaged by army sepoy Jaabar (Mithun Chakravorty). Ranjeet is again implicated in a crime and sent to prison. Deenu Kaka (Kulbhushan kharbanda) son is also killed in lower-upper caste (feud). Now Ranjeet,Deenu and Jaabar become bandits to fight for cause of lower-caste people.Though they meet martyrdom but they are able to accomplish their oaths

With the presence of actors like Naseer, Smita Patil, Omshiv Puri, and 1980s, looks like an art movie. It is a tale beautifully told by debut director Dutta. Dialogues are amazing. Combination of stalwarts like Laxmikant Pyarelal and Gulzar to make songs has made the songs immortal. Not just the songs, even the background music of Laxmikant Pyarelal is evidence enough why the duo is best after Shankar Jaikishan. Although all actors have given phenomenal performances but Dharmendra is at his best. The way he has delivered the OP Dutta dialogues puts him ahead of even Naseer. Mithun is a very good addition to the main story line. Most outstanding is Dharmendra. There is something in the movie for everybody...plut it is a clean movie that you can see with your whole extended family.

This movie is grand, an epic, that attempted the social inequalities Indian class and caste system. Set apart from 80's mindless movies, it connects, bring forth emotions, loaded with a couple of timeless songs and a super delivery.

One of the finest Dharmendra movies from 80s, coupled with a inspiring music, that will keep you enchanted.

You never feel you are watching first film made by somebody ,where everything is just consummate.

Best part is visuals of the film , the place Fatehpur , the landscape which is huge covered awesomely by cinematographer .

The score of the film is haunting and energetic.

Screenplay is detailed as said in previous reviews.

Dharmendra is extra ordinary, his dialogues delivery so wonderful that the viewer feels the urge of listening to them again and again , apart from him Nasiruddin Shah is refreshing, Smita Patil had limited scope but she shined as always. Mithun Da ,Reena Roy and Kulbhushan Kharbanda also performed very well .

By reading previous reviews i doubt that many people misunderstood the SP-wife-rebel triangle in the film , the police officer does not follow the rebel out of jealousy that his wife loved him , he follows him as he believes in law , although he is clearly biased towards his own clan and its people as he does not know the wrong doings done by them , he does not have any ill thoughts towards his wife and her past , even he asks her to help him to trace the rebel.

Overall one of the best films produced by Bollywood , Go for it !!