Shool(1999)
Shool is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed by Eeshwar Nivas. It stars Manoj Bajpayee as Inspector Samar Pratap Singh, Raveena Tandon as his wife Manjari, and Sayaji Shinde as the criminal-politician Bachhu Yadav. The story follows an honest police officer who is transferred to a small town in Bihar where the police force is completely controlled by a local MLA. When he refuses to participate in the corruption, the politician destroys his career and his family. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and was screened at the International Film Festival of India and the Toronto International Film Festival. It has since gained a cult following for its intense performances and hard-hitting narrative.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Disney+ Hotstar, Prime Video, ShemarooMe, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1999
- Director
- Eeshwar Nivas
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 18m
- Rating
- 6.2/10
Storyline
Inspector Samar Pratap Singh is an honest cop transferred to a lawless town in Bihar. He refuses to take bribes or follow the orders of the local criminal-politician Bachhu Yadav. This decision sets off a chain of violence that destroys his family. Pushed to the edge, Samar decides to take justice into his own hands.
“When the system fails, the law becomes a weapon.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Shool
Cast reunions in this film: Manoj Bajpai & Manoj Bajpayee (29 films together), Ram Gopal Varma & Rajpal Yadav (12 films together), Yashpal Sharma & Rajpal Yadav (7 films together), Ram Gopal Varma & Manoj Bajpai (5 films together), Ram Gopal Varma & Manoj Bajpayee (5 films together), and Ram Gopal Varma & Ganesh Yadav (4 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Shool' means 'thorn' in Hindi, symbolizing the constant trouble faced by the honest protagonist.
- Director Eeshwar Nivas is the brother of acclaimed filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, who produced the movie.
- Actor Sayaji Shinde made his Hindi film debut with this movie, playing a corrupt politician.
- The film is loosely inspired by the real-life challenges faced by honest police officers in Bihar during the 1990s.
- It features a cameo by actor Manoj Bajpayee, who was already famous for 'Satya' and worked frequently with the director.
- The movie was shot extensively in Bihar to capture the authentic local atmosphere and dialect.
- Despite critical acclaim, it had a modest box office performance but later gained a cult following.