I wonder why nobody has yet reviewed this amazing actor who ruled the roost in the 80s and was considered the next Amithab in those times...? I guess that is because Mithun Chakraborthy does not appeal to the web browsing ’sophisticated’ class of people...or maybe we are ashamed at having to talk about him?
First of all, we have to remember that not many Bollywood Actors have won the National Award for Best Actor THRICE in their career...yes, thrice...like Mithun has done...(IMO, the only other ’popular’ actor who has accomplished this feat is Kamalhassan, the darling of the ’classy’ movie-goers).
Mithun made his mark by winning the national award for one of his earliest films MRIGAYA in the 70s and then in the 90s, he was awarded the same for sublime performances in GUDIA and SWAMI VIVEKANANDA. In the later film, he rocked as Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa. Throughout the 80s and 90s, he won various popular awards in India and abroad for numerous films. His last popular award was the Filmfare award for ’Best Villain’ in JALLAD (1995). He commanded an enviable fan following not only in India, but also abroad in countries like Russia, china, Gulf countries and Africa.
After Amithab’s, it is Mithun’s name that STILL evokes awe in lots of third world countries of Asia and Africa. Thats no mean feat. These days Mithun is the God of the B-Movies and is the ONLY true raw action hero in Bollywood. He does not try some lame sentimental romance anymore and stays true to his genre. The stunts in his films are actually entertaining in a bizarre, brainless, physics defying sort of way, much like hollywood B-graders like XXX, the 80s’ Americn Ninja series, Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal films, not to forget the innumerable nickel-dime Hong Kong flicks!
I personally find Mithun movies far more entertaining than the sort of utter sentimental crap, directors like the Barjatyas, the Johars and the Chopras dish out regularly with full support of the media and the so-called ’class’ audience. And his films can generate far better humor than a tired Johnny Lever or Laxmikant Berde comic routine. The secret of Mithun’s longevity, which the ’class’ may not be aware of is his fan following in the interiors and the so-called ’mass’ audience. Mithun needs no one to look for recognition but his fans.
Also, Mithun never lets his producers down. Investing in a Mithun movie is a very good decision for people looking to make a quick buck. The whole budget would be around 10-15 lakhs and the producers easily make about 40-50 lakhs or above...what with the movies doin so well in the interiors. So, u see what may seem like inane s hit to us city folk is actually great business. People derisively credit Mithun with the maximum number of successive flops, but forget that the media’s definition of a flop is based on how many weeks a film runs in the nearest multiplex, not how much profit it collects at the end of the day.
His films do not run long in cities and in cities too, no plush cinema would screen his flicks. It’s another story in the suburban or rural ramshackle halls where masses of labourers and the so-called ’’low-class’’ people crowd the hall, whistling and cheering their hero! If Mithun were an American, he would have been a favourite of mavericks like Quentin Tarantino, who worship B-Movies of Hollywood and Hong Kong. Now the good news is that Mithun would be seen in an upcoming mainstream bollywood flick ’’ELAAN’’, where he plays the villian. I am sure he would steal the show from the four heroes and also steal a few popular awards again! I am also waiting for Ramgopal Varma to sign him for a movie....that would be a real treat! Mithun-da Rocks!!!!!