Kachche Dhaage

Kachche Dhaage

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Milan Luthria
Produced by Ramesh Taurani
Kamal S. Taurani
Story by Anjum Rajabali (Story & Screenplay)
Sanjay Chhel
Ramesh S Taurani
Starring Ajay Devgn
Saif Ali Khan
Manisha Koirala
Namrata Shirodkar
Music by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Distributed by Tips Music Films
Release dates
  • 19 February 1999
Running time
 148 mins
Country India
Language Hindi

Kachche Dhaage is a 1999 Hindi action thriller film directed by Milan Luthria and starring Ajay Devgan, Saif Ali Khan and Manisha Koirala.[1] The film, which features Devgan as a smuggler, delivering goods across the Rajasthan-Pakistan border,[2] was filmed in the deserts of Rajasthan and in Switzerland. It premiered on February 10, 1999 in Mumbai.

A film under the same title, Kuchhe Dhaage (spelling variation) was originally released in 1973, directed by Raj Khosla and starred Vinod Khanna, Moushumi Chatterjee and Kabir Bedi. The film also has similarities with Jackie Chan's 1987 film Armour of God.

Plot

Aaftab (Ajay Devgan ) and Dhananjay (Saif Ali Khan) are two step brothers who meet for the first time. Each one has a selfish approach to life; Aaftab is a petty smuggler, specializing in smuggling goods across the Rajasthan border into Pakistan whilst Dhananjay is a corporate yuppy from the city, with a high-flying lifestyle. Aaftab is in love with Rukshana (Manisha Koirala), but is rejected by her family because he is illegitimate. Dhananjay is dating Ragini (Namrata Shirodkar) and has his father's death to contend with.

When the brothers meet for the first time, they instantly loathe each other, having nothing in common. One night, Aaftab blows up a loaded truck while trying to steal from it and attracts a mass of unwanted enforcers. Soon, Aaftab is forced to send Dhananjay into a trap, but ends up with them both being handcuffed and escaping from the Border Security Force, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and the border mafia who are attempting to incriminate the brothers for anti-national activities and a murder. They escape on foot, in motorbikes, cars, stolen trucks and Aaftab is tied to the undercarriage of a moving goods train. They run into difficult circumstances on the run, not in the least made better by their hatred for each other. Despite their initial differences, the two gradually learn to like and understand each other, eventually proving their innocence.

The climax of this film was shot around Jaisalmer, especially in Kuldhara, the deserted village of Paliwal Brahmins.

Cast

Reception

Critical response

The film received a mediocre reception. The film was described as having a weaker climax than some of the earlier action sequences although was praised for its scenery in Switzerland and northwestern India. Suparn Verma of Rediff.com described Devgan as "effective" but disapproved of Koirala's performance, believing it was wasted.[2] Verma noted a similarity with that of Soldier in that there is a troubled hero, a great many red herrings and a mysterious villain who pulls all the strings but believed that Kachche Dhaage was a weaker film because it lacked the pace and focus.[2]

Box office

The film was a "Hit" grossing Rupees 69,00,00,000 at the box office.[3]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack, which featured a number of Punjabi folk tunes, proved popular amongst non Hindi audiences of the film.[4][5] The music was composed by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Lyrics by Anand Bakshi [6]

References

  1. ↑ "India today international, Volume 1, Issues 1–8". Living Media International Ltd. 2002. p. 24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Verma, Suparn (February 19, 1999). "Brothers in arms". Rediff.com. Retrieved May 29, 2010.
  3. ↑ http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=205
  4. ↑ India today, Volume 25. Thomson Living Media India Ltd. 2000.
  5. ↑ Rashtriya sahara, Volume 7, Issues 7–12. Sahara India Mass Communication. 1999.
  6. ↑ India today international, Volume 23, Issues 1–8. Living Media India Ltd. 1998.

External links