Mukul S. Anand, the man who directed blockbusters like Mard, Tri-Murti, Agneepath, Hum, Anand plus many more, is back and this time the film is, ‘Khuda Gawah.’
The Plot
The story is set on the deserts of Afghanistan’s Kabul where the Pathan Baadshah Khan (Amitabh Bachchan) lives. He meets the lovely Benazir (Sri-Devi) at a game of Buzkashi in Afghanistan and falls instantly in love with her but she says that if he wants to marry her he must go to India and bring back the dead body of the man who killed her father. Baadshah Khan accepts. He travels to the Hindustan where a little boy calls him, ‘Baadshah Khan, ’ which makes him impressed. Khan asks him, ’ how do you know my name?’ The young boy replies ‘my mother says that a visitor of this country is a Baadshah.’ Khan laughs and meets the mother of the child and to him she becomes his sister, ‘Salma Bhien.’ However, late at night when Salma’s drunken husband turns up to see his child she refuses to let him in the house. It is then Baadshah Khan comes to protect his sister and fights him. Yet, the man says that Khan is the boyfriend of his wife, which makes Khan angry.
Unfortunately, Khan falls in the wrong hands of the law of the foreign country as he kills the enemy of Benazir, ‘Habib-Ullah, ’ and the police stands in his way of going home to his dear love. He begs the Rajput officer and says that ‘this Pathan has given you his tongue, he will be back but he must return to Kabul.’ The inspector agrees and tells him he must return in 30 days.
The next scene Baadshah Khan returns with the enemy on a horse to Benazir and she is happy. They marry as the classical song, ‘Tu Mujhe Kabool, ’ is played, and after 30 days (seemed like 5 minute in the film) he says he must return to Hindustan. Benazir does not want him to, she says he may commit just one sin for her and her love but he replies by saying he can commit not one but hundreds but then Baadshah Khan will not be Baadshah Khan. He will fall beneath his own sight. Benazir eventually agrees and the song, ‘Na Ja Mere Baadshah, ’ is played to add more emotion in the separation of the two newlyweds. His signs of his love is a green flag he plants on the mountains of Kabul which will blew and touch his heart when she remembers him.
Things don’t go too well for Baadshah Khan as the brother (Kiran Kumar) of ‘Habib-Ullah’ is filled with plans of revenge. He plans to kill Baadshah on the very spot that his brother was murdered as he returns. Khan rides on a horse and meets with the enemy but ends up getting wounded. The scene moves to the police station where the Rajput inspector is waiting and is determined Khan will arrive. Behind him stands Salma’s drunken husband who makes fun of Khan. At that moment as the audience thinks that Baadshah Khan is dead, the horse appears with the wounded body of him. Rajput is happy, Baadshah Khan kept his promise. His wife turns up at the hospital where Khan is staying and tells him that Indian women try a Raakhi on the wrist of a man they call brother. Khan is impressed; he has found a new family.
The next scene begins with Khan giving sweets to the other jailors as the Rajput’s wife has had a baby girl, however, the joy is doubled as the inspector tells him that back in Kabul, Benazir has also given birth. Khan names Rajput’s daughter Heena, whilst Rajput names Khan’s daughter Mehndi.
Joy doesn’t last long as Heena grows up and is kidnapped by ‘Habib-Ullahs’ brother. He wants Baadshah Khan. Many deaths follow and the Khan is jailed for them, when he didn’t commit them, for 20 years. Poor Khan sacrifices his love and tells his best friend ‘Khuda-Baash’ (Danny) to raise his daughter and give Benazir the Taveez from his neck. He no longer exists…
The story sounds confusing both the performances are one of the finest. Amitabh Bachchan’s voice comes handy as he plays the strong Baadshah Khan. He performs so well that you think that in real life he is a Pathan. Even though he was around 40+ at that time Amitabh looks young and the on screen match of him and Sri Devi looks cute and natural.
Sri Devi has done many fantastic films; this emotional, classic is one of the films that Sri Devi has done her level best and come out on top. Her character is strong and thinking about it no one other than Sri Devi suited the character. She plays the mother and the daughter, giving a mix of moods.
Danny not mentioned much in my review, yet its nice to see that a man who has been a villain most of the time on the screen can also become a good guy. He plays his part with confidence and adds more emotion to the film.
Making music for a mixed religion film can sometimes be difficult, since you have to make sure that the music doesn’t be rocky and sound Western rather than the calm, peaceful Afghanistani. The music flows with the mood of the film, lifts the romantic mood and creates an emotional atmosphere. The music is one to remember.
Overall, Khuda Gawah is an action packed film with great performances by all and definitely worth watching!
Film Rating: 10/10