Yeshwant(1997)
Yeshwant is a 1997 Indian Hindi-language action crime film directed by Anil Mattoo. It stars Nana Patekar as Inspector Yeshwant Lohar and Madhoo as his wife Ragini. The supporting cast includes Atul Agnihotri, Mohan Joshi, and Shafi Inamdar in his final film role. The story follows an honest police officer who is framed for murder by a corrupt superior and a drug lord. While in prison, his wife becomes an IAS officer and fights to clear his name. The film explores themes of love, betrayal, and vigilante justice. It was a commercial success and is remembered for Nana Patekar's intense performance and the iconic dialogue 'Ek machhar aadmi ko hijda bana deta hai.' The film was released on 7 February 1997 and has a runtime of 144 minutes.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1997
- Director
- Anil Mattoo
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 24m
- Rating
- 5.5/10
Storyline
Inspector Yeshwant Lohar is a dedicated cop who wants his wife to become an IAS officer. He arrests a drug lord, but a corrupt boss frames him for murder. His wife becomes an IAS officer and tries to prove his innocence. The drug lord creates fake evidence to destroy their marriage. Yeshwant must fight his way back to the truth.
“A mosquito can break a man.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Yeshwant
Cast reunions in this film: Madhoo & Mohan Joshi (2 films together), Nana Patekar & Mohan Joshi (2 films together), and Nana Patekar & Shafi Inamdar (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film's director Anil Mattoo was primarily known as a cinematographer, having shot films like 'Khamosh' and 'Drohkaal' before making his directorial debut with this movie.
- Actor Nana Patekar, who played the corrupt cop Salim Shaikh, was reportedly a last-minute replacement for another actor who dropped out of the project.
- The movie's climax was shot in the then-newly opened Mumbai-Pune Expressway, one of the earliest films to use the location.
- Yeshwant's prison scenes were filmed at a real, functioning jail to add authenticity, with special permission from authorities.
- The film's soundtrack, composed by Anand-Milind, included a song sung by playback singer Kumar Sanu that did not feature in the final theatrical cut.
- Despite its crime drama plot, the film underperformed at the box office, overshadowed by bigger releases like 'Border' the same year.
- A subplot involving a key witness was trimmed during editing to shorten the runtime, which some critics felt made the narrative confusing.