Hathyar(1989)
Hathyar (transl. Weapon) is a 1989 Indian Hindi-language action crime film written and directed by J. P. Dutta. The ensemble cast includes Dharmendra, Sanjay Dutt, Rishi Kapoor, Amrita Singh, Sangeeta Bijlani, Asha Parekh, Paresh Rawal, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. The story follows a poor young man who turns to crime after his father's suicide, eventually joining the city's most powerful don. The film is noted for its gritty portrayal of Bombay's underworld and gun culture. It was the first Bollywood film to feature real AK-47 guns, though with rubber bullets. Hathyar was a critical and moderate commercial success upon its release on 10 March 1989. Over time, it has been regarded as one of Sanjay Dutt's finest performances and J. P. Dutta's best-known film.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video, MX Player, Plex, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1989
- Director
- J.P. Dutta
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 3h
- Rating
- 3.8/10
Storyline
Avinash moves to Bombay with his family, hoping for a better life. After his father's suicide, he is forced to support his mother. Unable to find honest work, he turns to crime. He becomes a ruthless killer for the don Khushal Khan. But his new life costs him everyone he loves.
“The weapon always destroys its owner.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Hathyar
Cast reunions in this film: Paresh Rawal & Sanjay Dutt (15 films together), Paresh Rawal & Kulbhushan Kharbanda (8 films together), Amrita Singh & Sanjay Dutt (7 films together), Dharmendra & Kulbhushan Kharbanda (7 films together), Rishi Kapoor & Kulbhushan Kharbanda (6 films together), and Amrita Singh & Dharmendra (6 films together).
Trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Avinash' after Sanjay Dutt's character, but was changed to 'Hathyar' (meaning weapon) before release.
- This was the first film where Sanjay Dutt and his real-life sister, Priya Dutt, acted together, as she played his on-screen sister.
- Director J.P. Dutta shot the film's climax at the same mill location in Mumbai used in his later, more famous film 'Refugee' (2000).
- The movie's soundtrack, composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, includes a popular qawwali, 'Allah Meherbaan', sung by Mohammed Aziz and Sudesh Bhosle.
- Despite being an action drama, the film performed poorly at the box office, unlike many other Sanjay Dutt films from that era.
- Actress Asha Parekh, who played Sanjay Dutt's mother, was only about 12 years older than him in real life at the time of filming.
- The story draws loose inspiration from the real-life challenges faced by many migrant families in Mumbai during the 1980s.