Released in 1986, Janbaaz was one of the spectacular and stylish movies of that decade.
Feroz Khan had always had penchant for Hollywood type of movies and he designed this movie also on western lines with plenty of glamour and style. Although the movie is best remembered for it’s superb music track, it also had an engaging plot which kept the audience hooked till the end.
The movie dealt with the subject of drugs and Inspector Rajesh(Feroz Khan)’s battle against these drug dealers. He had lost his beloved Seema (Sridevi in a superb cameo) in his fight against them. However it only made him more determined to eradicate this poison which was misleading the youth of the country.
Janbaaz is also a love story about Amar (Anil Kapoor) and Reshma (Dimple Kapadia). Reshma had come to stay at their place after her father’s death. Amar is a playboy who believes that there are so many beautiful women around, how can he stay with one. Whereas Reshma, a modern girl believes in love and it’s power.
After initial dislike, Reshma falls to the charms of Amar, much to his elder brother Rajesh’s amusement. However, their father Rana Vikram Singh did not approve of his younger son’s liaison with a women from outside. But he can’t stop the sparks of love from flying and soon Amar and Reshma go beyond physical intimacy. Amar’s mother (Sushma Seth)is only too happy to know about Amar and Reshma’s love.
However, soon the reality dawns upon Reshma, that Amar was only playing the game of love and was not interested in marriage. She decides to provoke the jealous lover in him. She openly flirts with the Farm manager (Dalip Tahil) in front of Amar which results in Amar accidentally killing the manager.
Amar realises his love for Reshma and confesses it. Reshma too forgives him. But since he is now wanted by the police, he elopes with Reshma to an unknown destination. Rajesh is following close on their heels.
The villains (Raza Murad, Shakti Kapoor et al.) are only waiting intently for opportunity to remove Rajesh from their path and they use Amar as a pawn for this. The film races towards an exciting climax with Amar and Reshma running from the villains and Rajesh too chasing them.
The final battle between good and evil, the battle for love begins !
Janbaaz was a stylish, breezy movie which had hit songs. One can say that the style scored over the content of the film, as the overall look of the film was very glossy and spectacular.
Performances: Feroz Khan was ideal in the role of inspector out to demolish the drug peddlers. He has his conflicts with his father and his brother, but he never gives up his ideals.
For Anil Kapoor, it was a change from the kinds of roles he had done earlier. The casanova playboy image was very different from the simpleton of Woh 7 Din, the angry young man from Meri Jung and the tapori from Mashaal. Janbaaz offered Anil a role which made him popular amongst the female. It is one of the different kind of roles portrayed by a hero in Hindi movies and he played it with conviction.
Dimple Kapadia is simply gorgeous!. She took one’s breath away. As a modern woman of the 21st century, Dimple portrayed the character of Reshma with total conviction and imparts right amount of rawness and sensuality to her role. Feroz Khan has exploited her sexuality to the maximum. She appears ravishing and sexy throughout the film.
Amrish Puri also suited the role of the father who dotes on the younger son but has conflicts with the elder son.
Aarti Gupta, Raza Murad, Shakti Kapoor, Puneet Issar, Sushma Seth, Dalip Tahil, all play their part well Jagdeep provides the comic relief. Sridevi commands attention in a brief role.
Highlights:
The scene in the club when Anil plays the game of life and death, featuring the famous dialogue ’Ek goli daali paanch ghar khaali’.
The song Jaane jaana is considered one of the steamiest song of hindi cinema. Dimple looks gorgeous throughout this song. The famous kiss between Anil Kapoor-Dimple Kapadia also appears during this song.
The songs of the film were also major highlight. Pyaar do pyaar lo, picturised on Rekha was a chartbuster. The romantic Jaane jaana and Tera saath hai kitna pyaara are melodious and worth listening again and again.Har kisiko nahi milta pyaar was also romantic and feet tapping number.
The climax with chase, bullets and action in plenty was also one of the major highlight of the movie.
The farm house locations, settings, the noise of the horses hooves, the disco culture, the drug menace, the thrilling climax, dangerous romance, fast pace and stylish look all evoke nostalgia and make Janbaaz a must see movie.