Hawalaat(1987)
Hawalaat is a 1987 Indian Hindi-language action crime film directed and produced by Surendra Mohan. The ensemble cast includes Shatrughan Sinha, Mithun Chakraborty, Rishi Kapoor, Padmini Kolhapure, Mandakini, and Anita Raj. The story follows Geeta, a newspaper reporter who exposes the drug-running operations of the powerful crime lord Dharamdas. As a result, she is kidnapped, imprisoned, and repeatedly gang-raped by corrupt police officer Inspector Sharma and Dr. Prem Pal. The film depicts her transformation from a victim into a vengeful fighter who, with the help of a reformed gangster Mangal Dada and her brother Shyam, takes down the entire drug syndicate. The film was a silver jubilee hit at the box office and is noted for its raw depiction of violence and corruption. It was released on June 17, 1987.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 31 December 1987
- Director
- Surendra Mohan
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 20m
- Rating
- 4.2/10
Storyline
A brave reporter named Geeta writes articles that expose a powerful drug lord. The drug lord orders her kidnapping. She is brutally assaulted by corrupt police and a twisted doctor. Now, she must find the strength to fight back and destroy the men who broke her.
“Courage has a price. Pay it.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Hawalaat
Cast reunions in this film: Gulshan Grover & Prem Chopra (20 films together), Amrish Puri & Mithun Chakraborty (19 films together), Gulshan Grover & Mithun Chakraborty (18 films together), Prem Chopra & Mithun Chakraborty (18 films together), Gulshan Grover & Amrish Puri (16 films together), and Prem Chopra & Shatrughan Sinha (14 films together).
Trivia
- The film was inspired by real-life drug scandals in Mumbai during the 1980s.
- It was one of the few mainstream films of its time to directly depict police corruption and sexual violence.
- The title 'Hawalaat' translates to 'custody' or 'police lock-up' in Urdu.
- Director Surendra Mohan was known for action and crime films but this was among his most hard-hitting.
- The film's promotional material highlighted its investigative journalism angle to attract audiences.
- It featured character actor Shakti Kapoor in a negative role, which was common for him in that era.
- Despite its serious theme, the film included typical commercial elements like songs and fight scenes.