Tezaab (1988)

Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Tezaab, with the tag line a Violent Love Story. Tells the story of Anil Kapoor and his life. He goes through a series of serious incidents which causes him Tezaab. As the title suggests, Tezaab means Acid, as in the burning acid in Anils heart. Anil Kapoor in a award winning role gives a Brilliant performance. Madhuri Dixit looks sexier then ever in a great performance. Chunkey Pandey provides plenty of humour with sidekicks like Johnny Lever in a younger role. Chunkey gives his best performance I've seen till the 2005 release D. Mandakini is there for 10 minutes and looks sexy as usual. The supporting Cast give good performances including Anupom Kher and Kiran Kumar. Tezaab has the famous dance song Ek Do Teen, that made Madhuri more popular in her sexy dance. Madhuri looks stunning in the song, but looks more sexier in Khal Nayak - Choli ke peeche. Tezaab is a great movie that is worth the watch.

I had heard a lot about this movie. Its songs became the most popular, especially " One ,two, three..". "This world has slept" gave a break to legendary singer Mukesh's son -Nitin Mukesh. Laxmikant-Pyarelal's music was inspired by some tune they had heard a marriage band playing, so it is said. But the movie itself is a disappointment, for I expected cinema. It is a typical Hindi film with songs and dances. A rare thought provoking moment is when Suresh Oberoi's character questions Munna, about escaping responsibility. Having said this , Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit have given their best performances. Their performances lift the movie, give life to some exaggerated scenes. It is probably Chunky Pandey's only well acted movie.Suresh Oberoi also plays his cameo well. But the film didn't deserve all the accolades it got.

When N.Chandra's Tezaab was released in 1988, it had all the ingredients of a flop: a story as old as the hills, unknown leading lady, modest budget, and Anil Kapoor. But due to its breakneck storytelling and smoldering lead performances, Tezaab emerged as one of the biggest hits of the 80s and, at the same time, unleashed the Madhu juggernaut that would dominate the industry for almost a decade. The premise is simple: Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit meet in college, have a fight, fall in love...you get the picture. But in a matter of seconds (minor spoiler here) everything, and I mean everything, goes haywire as Anil is banished, Madhuri becomes a dancer, a gang war ensues, Johnny Lever shows up, police corruption raises its ugly head, and 2 scenes are ripped out of The Untouchables. In other words, you know you're watching an Indian movie! Before this film, Anil Kapoor was useless. He was good in supporting roles but, apart from Mr. India the previous year, wasn't having much luck as a leading man. That all changed here as Anil commanded the screen in his portrayal of Munna, an ex-patriot who now finds himself on the other side of the law. The raw edge that he brought to the character was a revelation and one wishes he'd done more of these roles instead of the "nice guy everyman types" that he plays now. As the long-suffering yet loyal Mohini, a psychology student forced into dancing by her alcoholic father - played well by Anupham Kher- Madhuri, who was only 21 at the time, gave the type of no holds barred performance that most actresses don't give in their life. Her desire to succeed is so evident in this film and she is never overshadowed nor overacts. The infamous "Ek Do Teen" number is here, complete with all the "Jhataks Mathaks" that accompanied her star turn. The film lost the Boscar (i.e. the Indian Oscar) to Qayamat se Qayamat Tak although Anil did take home the Best Actor trophy over Aamir Khan. Madhuri, in a close call, lost out to Rekha (if you care). The flashback technique that Chandra incorporated into the film saved it from being a bore without confusing the viewer. The story may not have been original, but it's the execution that made it a winner.

Teezab - means AcidStory of how an ideal college school student's life turns towards acid path of crime.This is the movie which ripened Madhuri's performance, especially with the popular number Ek, Do, Teen, and the rest is history.The story starts with that song followed by her kidnapping, by Kiran Kumar's extraordinary portrayal of Lotiya Pathan. So Anil Kapoor, who is banned from the city limits, is informed and he is coaxed by his friends to go and rescue her.And so we go in the past of how Anil & Madhuri fell in love in their school days. How their college life is progressing and what makes the hell break loose on them.The other numbers in the movie So Gaya Yeh Jahen ., and Kahe Do Ke Tum Ho Meri Varna . are good.Chunkey Pandey, playing Anil's sidekick and Anupam Kher playing Madhuri's father also bring out and outstanding performance.Again being a N. Chandra movie, it is pretty violent at times. Highly recommended for very less nonsense and sticking to the story plot.