Shankara(1991)
Shankara is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed by Sudarshan Nag. It stars Sunny Deol as the titular hero and Neelam Kothari as the female lead. The supporting cast includes Sushma Seth, Paresh Rawal in a dual role, Kiran Kumar, Shakti Kapoor, and Sulabha Deshpande. The story follows a wealthy matriarch who hires a stranger to protect her daughter by announcing a fake engagement. The plot thickens as internal conspirators and an external dacoit threaten the family. The film is loosely based on the Bengali film Badnam (1990). Its music was composed by the celebrated duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal. The film blends romance, family drama, and action sequences typical of early 1990s Bollywood. It was produced by D. Tann and released in 1991.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1991
- Director
- Sudarshan Nag
- Language
- Hindi
- Rating
- 5.5/10
Storyline
A wealthy widow hires a strong stranger named Shankar to protect her daughter Seema. To fool their enemies, she announces that Shankar is Seema's fiancé. But the fake engagement draws the attention of greedy household members and a violent dacoit. Shankar must fight to keep Seema safe and uncover the real threat hiding inside the mansion.
“A fake fiancé. A real hero.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Shankara' but was released as 'Shankra' in some regions, leading to minor title confusion.
- It was one of the few films directed by Sudarshan Nag, who was primarily known as a cinematographer for movies like 'Ghayal'.
- The movie's plot of a fake engagement to solve family conflicts was a popular trope in early 90s Bollywood potboilers.
- Actor Puneet Issar, known for playing Duryodhan in 'Mahabharat', played a supporting role as a villainous character.
- The soundtrack by Bappi Lahiri included a song picturized on lead actress Farha Naaz, who was then a rising star.
- Despite its dramatic plot, the film did not perform well commercially and faded into obscurity compared to other 1991 releases.
- The climax was shot in a palatial bungalow set, a common and cost-effective setting for revenge dramas of that era.