Dhaal: The Battle of Law Against Law(1997)
Dhaal: The Battle of Law Against Law is a 1997 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Sameer Malkan. The film stars Vinod Khanna as Inspector Varun Saxena, Suniel Shetty as Suraj, Gautami as Sneha Saxena, and Anjali Jathar as Anjali Diwan. The story follows two best friends torn apart when one is forced to arrest the other for a crime he did not commit. The central conflict involves a ruthless gang leader named Pilot Baba, played by Amrish Puri, and a cunning lawyer, Advocate Vishwaraj Diwan, played by Danny Denzongpa, who manipulate the legal system. The film is notable for Amrish Puri's over-the-top performance as Pilot Baba, whose catchphrases became popular. It was produced by JVG Group and Rohitashha Movies and released in November 1997.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1997
- Director
- Sameer Malkan
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 28m
- Rating
- 4.6/10
Storyline
Inspector Varun Saxena is an honest cop. His best friend Suraj is a mechanic. When a gang frames Suraj for murder, Varun must arrest him. This breaks their friendship. Soon, Varun is also framed and sent to jail. The two friends must escape prison and fight the evil Pilot Baba to clear their names and save their families.
“When the law fails, friends fight back.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Dhaal: The Battle of Law Against Law
Cast reunions in this film: Danny Denzongpa & Amrish Puri (7 films together), Amrish Puri & Anu Malik (7 films together), Amrish Puri & Vinod Khanna (5 films together), Sunil Shetty & Danny Denzongpa (4 films together), Sunil Shetty & Vinod Khanna (3 films together), and Sunil Shetty & Anu Malik (3 films together).
Trivia
- The film was shot in Mauritius, which was an unusual location for a Hindi action movie in the 1990s.
- Actor Sanjay Dutt performed many of his own stunts in the film, including several fight sequences.
- The movie's title 'Dhaal' means 'shield' in Hindi, symbolizing the broken trust between the two main friends.
- Director Sameer Malkan was primarily known as an editor; this was one of his few directorial projects.
- The soundtrack, composed by Anand-Milind, included a song filmed at the famous Trou aux Cerfs volcano in Mauritius.
- Despite starring popular actors, the film had a very limited theatrical run and is not widely remembered today.
- A key action scene involving a helicopter was considered a major technical effort for the film's budget at the time.