Batwara(1989)
Batwara is a 1989 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed by J.P. Dutta. The ensemble cast includes Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Amrita Singh, Poonam Dhillon, and Mohsin Khan. The story is set in post-independence India and revolves around a land reform law that pits wealthy landlords against poor farmers. The central conflict follows the broken friendship between a low-caste police officer and a high-caste landlord's son. The film is noted for its intense emotional scenes and its portrayal of caste and class divisions. It was a commercial hit, ranking as the 9th highest-grossing Hindi film of 1989. Batwara was released worldwide on 14 July 1989.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1989
- Director
- J.P. Dutta
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 54m
- Rating
- 4.9/10
Storyline
A new government law limits how much land one person can own. This threatens the powerful Thakur family who own hundreds of acres. When a violent clash leads to the death of a Thakur son, his brother Vikram seeks bloody revenge. His best friend Sumer, an honest police officer, must stop him. Their friendship turns into a deadly war.
“Friendship divided by blood and land”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Batwara
Cast reunions in this film: Amrish Puri & Dharmendra (13 films together), Amrish Puri & Kulbhushan Kharbanda (9 films together), Dharmendra & Dimple Kapadia (7 films together), Dharmendra & Kulbhushan Kharbanda (7 films together), Amrish Puri & Amrita Singh (6 films together), and Amrish Puri & Dimple Kapadia (6 films together).
Trivia
- The film was shot in the harsh desert of Rajasthan, with extreme heat causing frequent camera and equipment failures.
- It was one of the first major films to depict the 'land ceiling' policy and its violent social conflicts in post-independence India.
- Actor Dharmendra performed many of his own dangerous stunts, including a scene where he is dragged by a horse.
- The movie's climax involved a large-scale battle sequence requiring hundreds of local extras and trained horses.
- Director J.P. Dutta later revisited the theme of divided loyalties and conflict in his more famous war film 'Border'.
- The soundtrack, composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, featured a hit qawwali sung by Mohammed Aziz and Sudesh Bhosle.
- Despite its ensemble star cast, the film underperformed at the box office upon its initial release.