Hathkadi(1995)
Hathkadi is a 1995 Hindi-language action comedy film directed by T. Rama Rao. The film stars Govinda in a dual role as ACP Suraj Chauhan and Rajnikant, alongside Shilpa Shetty, Madhoo, and Shakti Kapoor. The story follows an honest police officer who is framed for murder after his brother is killed by a corrupt politician. He meets his lookalike in prison and they switch identities to bring the villain to justice. The film was a commercial success in small towns and villages of North India, driven by its popular soundtrack. It was released in 1995 and is available on various streaming platforms.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Zee5, Amazon Prime Video, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1995
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 30m
- Rating
- 3.9/10
Storyline
ACP Suraj Chauhan is an honest cop. His brother is murdered by a powerful politician. Suraj is framed and sent to jail. There, he meets Rajnikant, his exact lookalike. They switch places. Now free, Suraj must take down the corrupt minister and clear his name.
“Two faces, one fight for justice.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Hathkadi
Cast reunions in this film: Shilpa Shetty & Govinda (4 films together).
Trivia
- The film was originally planned as a launch vehicle for a new actor, but eventually starred established action hero Mithun Chakraborty.
- Director Rama Rao Tatineni was primarily known for Telugu cinema, making this one of his few Hindi directorial ventures.
- The movie's title 'Haathkadi' translates to 'handcuffs,' symbolizing the central theme of crime and punishment.
- It features a rare comic role for actor Shakti Kapoor, who was more famous for playing villains in the 1990s.
- The film's soundtrack, composed by Bappi Lahiri, included a popular qawwali number that became a moderate hit.
- Parts of the movie were shot in Film City, Mumbai, using sets that were also employed for other action films of the era.
- Despite its action-comedy genre, the film performed poorly at the box office and is not widely remembered today.