Shatru Full Story Explained (1986)
Imagine a police officer who loses everything because he tried to do the right thing. That is the story of Shatru, a 1986 Hindi film starring Rajesh Khanna. He plays Inspector Ashok Sharma, an honest cop sent to a remote village called Haridaspur. There, he faces a powerful villain named Nishikant Shah and a corrupt MLA named Gopal Choudhary. Ashok tries to protect the poor villagers from these rich exploiters. But the bad guys frame him for murder, and he loses his job and his good name. This film is an Indo-Bangladeshi venture with music by the legendary R.D. Burman. It released on August 15, 1986, and was an average success at the box office. The story is about courage, sacrifice, and a little boy named Chotu who wants revenge for his father's death.
An Honest Cop Arrives
Inspector Ashok Sharma reaches the remote village of Haridaspur. He is a good man who believes in the law. On his first day, he rescues a blind man and a widow from trouble. He also gets into a fist fight with Nishikant Shah's men. Ashok does not know that Shah is the most powerful man in the village.
Full Plot
Inspector Ashok Sharma is an honest police officer. He is assigned to a remote village called Haridaspur. The village is beautiful but full of problems. Rich men like Nishikant Shah and MLA Gopal Choudhary control everything. They cheat poor farmers and steal their land. The villagers live in fear and have no one to help them.
On his first day, Ashok rescues a blind man and a widow from trouble. He also gets into a fist fight with Shah's men. Shah tries to make peace with Ashok, but Ashok refuses. He does not trust the rich villain. Ashok starts living as a paying guest at the house of a kind young woman named Asha. He also meets a little orphan boy named Chotu. Ashok grows very fond of Chotu.
Ashok learns about all the bad things Shah and Choudhary do. He sees how they exploit the poor villagers. He decides he must help the people of Haridaspur. Shah and Choudhary do not want Ashok to interfere. They try to bribe him, but he refuses. Then they plan to destroy his reputation. They create a clever plot. They make it look like Ashok killed a man who was in his custody. The villagers start to believe Ashok is a bad person. The police department also turns against him. Ashok loses his job as inspector.
Ashok discovers why Chotu is so special. Chotu's father was a loyal farmer. Shah's associates cheated him and killed him. Chotu witnessed the evil and promised to avenge his father. The little boy carries a heavy burden of anger and loss. Ashok now understands Chotu's pain. Ashok has no job, no respect, and no hope. The villagers who once trusted him now avoid him. Shah and Choudhary celebrate their victory. Ashok feels completely broken.
But Ashok decides he cannot give up. He gathers evidence against Shah and Choudhary. He uses his knowledge of the village and the law. With the help of Asha and a few loyal friends, he exposes the villains. Chotu also plays a brave role in the final confrontation. Nishikant Shah and Gopal Choudhary are arrested. Their crimes are exposed to everyone. Ashok's name is cleared, and he gets his job back. The villagers celebrate their freedom from exploitation. Chotu finds peace knowing his father's killers are punished. The film ends with hope and justice.
Act Breakdown
Arrival in Haridaspur
Inspector Ashok Sharma arrives in the remote village of Haridaspur. He rescues a blind man and a widow. He gets into a fist fight with Nishikant Shah's men. He meets Asha and the orphan boy Chotu. He learns about the exploitation by Shah and MLA Gopal Choudhary.
The Frame-Up
Shah and Choudhary plot against Ashok. They make it look like he killed a man in his custody. Ashok loses his job and his good reputation. The villagers turn against him. This is the turning point where Ashok's life falls apart.
Fighting Back
Ashok discovers Chotu's story about his father's murder. He decides to fight back despite losing everything. He gathers evidence against Shah and Choudhary. He gets help from Asha and Sub-Inspector Salim. The tension builds as the villains try to stop him.
Justice Prevails
Ashok confronts Shah and Choudhary with the evidence. Chotu helps him in the final battle. The villains are arrested and their crimes are exposed. Ashok's name is cleared and he gets his job back. The villagers celebrate their freedom.
Characters
Inspector Ashok Sharma
Played by Rajesh Khanna
Ashok is an honest and brave police officer. He is sent to the remote village of Haridaspur. He wants to bring justice to the exploited villagers. He loses his job after being framed by the villains. In the end, he clears his name and defeats the criminals.
Nishikant Shah
Played by Prem Chopra
Shah is the main villain of the film. He is a rich man who controls Haridaspur. He exploits poor farmers and steals their land. He frames Ashok for murder to protect his power. He is arrested in the end.
Gopal Choudhary
Played by Om Shivpuri
Choudhary is a corrupt MLA. He works with Nishikant Shah to exploit the villagers. He helps Shah create the plot against Ashok. He is also arrested in the final confrontation.
Asha
Played by Shabana Sidique
Asha is a kind young woman who lives in Haridaspur. Ashok stays as a paying guest at her house. She supports Ashok in his fight for justice. She is a source of emotional strength for him.
Chotu
Played by Subhodip Roy Chowdhury
Chotu is a little orphan boy in the village. His father was a loyal farmer killed by Shah's men. He promises to avenge his father's death. He becomes close to Ashok and helps in the final battle against the villains.
Sub-Inspector Salim
Played by Arun Govil
Salim is a fellow police officer who works with Ashok. He is loyal and helps Ashok when he is framed. He believes in Ashok's innocence and supports him.
Scene Highlights
The Fist Fight
On his first day in Haridaspur, Ashok gets into a fist fight with Nishikant Shah's men. He rescues a blind man and a widow from their harassment. This scene establishes Ashok as a brave and honest officer. It also shows the power of Shah's men in the village.
The Frame-Up
Shah and Choudhary create a plot to destroy Ashok. They make it look like Ashok killed a man in his custody. The villagers and police turn against him. This is a tense and heartbreaking scene where Ashok loses everything he worked for.
Chotu's Story
Ashok learns about Chotu's past. Chotu's father was a loyal farmer killed by Shah's men. Chotu promises to avenge his father's death. This scene adds emotional depth to the story. It shows the impact of the villains' crimes on innocent children.
The Final Confrontation
Ashok confronts Shah and Choudhary with the evidence. Chotu bravely helps him during the fight. The villains are arrested and their crimes are exposed. This is the climax where justice finally prevails. The scene is full of tension and emotional release.
Cast & Context
Rajesh Khanna was one of the biggest stars of Hindi cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. He was known as the 'first superstar' of Bollywood. In Shatru, he plays a police officer, a role he had done successfully in films like Haathi Mere Saathi. Prem Chopra was a legendary villain who often played negative roles opposite Khanna. Their pairing in Shatru brings back the classic hero-villain dynamic. Shabana Sidique was a popular Bangladeshi actress, and this film was part of an Indo-Bangladeshi collaboration. Ashok Kumar, a veteran actor, plays the Superintendent of Police, adding gravitas to the film.
Themes
Justice vs Power
The film shows the fight between an honest man and rich criminals. Ashok wants to bring justice to the poor villagers. But Shah and Choudhary use their money and influence to stop him. The story shows that truth and courage can defeat corruption.
Sacrifice and Loss
Ashok loses his job and reputation because he tries to do good. He sacrifices his comfortable life for the sake of others. Chotu also loses his father to the villains. The film shows that doing the right thing often comes with a heavy price.
Innocence and Revenge
Chotu is a innocent child who carries a burden of revenge. He promises to avenge his father's murder. The film explores how injustice can affect even the youngest hearts. It shows that children are not spared from the cruelty of the world.
Community and Solidarity
The villagers initially turn against Ashok after he is framed. But later, some loyal friends like Asha and Salim stand by him. The film shows that community support is crucial in fighting oppression. It also shows that fear can make people turn away from the truth.
Music & Soundtrack
ComposerR.D. Burman
The music of Shatru was composed by R.D. Burman with lyrics by Anand Bakshi. The song 'Iski Topi Uske Sar' sung by Kishore Kumar became popular. 'Tere Aanchal Mein' by Lata Mangeshkar is a soft romantic number. The music adds emotional depth to the story.
Similar Films
Both films star Rajesh Khanna as a hero who fights for justice and protects the innocent.
Both films deal with themes of corruption and a hero fighting against powerful villains.
Both films feature a police officer protagonist who faces personal and professional challenges.
Ending Explained
In the final scenes, Ashok gathers solid evidence against Nishikant Shah and Gopal Choudhary. He exposes their crimes to the entire village and the police department. Chotu bravely helps Ashok during the confrontation. The villains try to escape but are caught. Shah and Choudhary are arrested and taken away. Ashok's name is cleared completely. He gets his job back as inspector. The villagers celebrate their freedom from exploitation. Chotu finds peace knowing his father's killers are punished. The film ends with a message of hope. It shows that even when powerful enemies try to destroy a good man, the truth will eventually win. The director leaves the audience feeling that justice is possible if good people do not give up.
Shatru is a solid watch for fans of Rajesh Khanna and classic Hindi cinema. The film has a strong message about justice and standing up against corruption. Rajesh Khanna delivers a sincere performance as the honest inspector. Prem Chopra is effective as the villain. The music by R.D. Burman is a highlight. However, the film has a slow pace in parts and some dated elements. The plot is straightforward and predictable. If you enjoy 1980s action dramas with a social message, this is worth your time. It is not a masterpiece, but it is an honest film with heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Shatru is a remake of the 1984 Bengali film of the same name. The Bengali version was directed by Anjan Choudhury. The Hindi version was directed by Pramod Chakravorty.
The music for Shatru was composed by the legendary R.D. Burman. The lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi. The film has songs like 'Iski Topi Uske Sar' and 'Tere Aanchal Mein'.
Shatru means 'Enemy' in Hindi. The title reflects the central conflict of the film. Inspector Ashok Sharma becomes the enemy of the powerful villains who exploit the village.
The film stars Rajesh Khanna as Inspector Ashok Sharma. Other key actors include Prem Chopra as Nishikant Shah, Om Shivpuri as Gopal Choudhary, and Shabana Sidique as Asha. Ashok Kumar also appears as the Superintendent of Police.
Shatru was an average success at the box office. It was released without much publicity. Despite this, it is remembered for Rajesh Khanna's performance and R.D. Burman's music.