Skip to content
K

Kanhaiyaa(1981)

6.5/10
Hindi143 minstheatrical

Kanhaiyaa is a 1981 Hindi action crime drama film directed by Khalid Sami. The film stars Master Amit, Farida Jalal, Amjad Khan, and Naseeruddin Shah in pivotal roles. The story follows Kanhaiyaa, a boy born after his father's death, who loses his mother at age nine and must survive alone on the streets of Bombay. As he grows up, he confronts the evil criminal Madhav Singh and discovers his wealthy grandfather is still alive. The film is notable for featuring veteran character actor Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi in one of his final roles. It blends family drama with crime and action, focusing on themes of loss, survival, and forgiveness. The movie was released on January 9, 1981, in India.

Director:Khalid Sami
Mood:
emotionalupliftingfunny

Kanhaiyaa is streaming on ShemarooMe and Airtel Xstream Play.

Where to watch:

Quick Facts

Streaming on
ShemarooMe, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
Theatrical Release
9 January 1981
Director
Khalid Sami
Language
Hindi
Runtime
2h 23m
Rating
6.5/10

Storyline

A boy named Kanhaiyaa loses his mother when he is nine years old. He is left alone on the streets of Bombay. He must fight to survive every day. Years later, he discovers his wealthy grandfather is still alive. But an evil criminal named Madhav Singh stands in his way. Kanhaiyaa must choose between revenge and forgiveness.

A son's fight for family and justice.

Film Details

6.5Rating
143Minutes
HindiLanguage
Release Date9 January 1981
Release Typetheatrical

Parental Guide

Violence
Mild
Language
Low
Sex / Nudity
Mild
Drugs
Mild
Intensity
Mild

Where to Watch

Vibe & Tags

Mood
emotionalupliftingfunny
Themes
familylovefriendshipidentity
Toneserious
Pacingepisodic
Complexitylight
Audiencefamily
Best Withfamily
Violence1
Emotion4
Humor3
Rewatchability3

Cast & Crew

Trivia

  • The film's title 'Kanhaiyaa' is a popular nickname for Lord Krishna, linking to the child-centric theme.
  • It was directed by K. Bapaiah, known for mass entertainers, but this was a rare child-focused film in his career.
  • Master Amit, the lead child actor, was a popular star in the 1980s for films centered on children.
  • The music was composed by Bappi Lahari, but the soundtrack did not achieve the same fame as his adult hero films.
  • The film's synopsis suggests it might have been inspired by the success of other child-star hits like 'Betaab' (1983).
  • Asha Chandra, a supporting actress, often played motherly roles in films of this era.
  • Child actor Master Chaitanya also appeared in the notable film 'Hukumat' (1987) alongside Dharmendra.

Frequently Asked Questions