Aakrosh(1980)
Aakrosh is a 1980 Indian Hindi-language legal drama film directed by Govind Nihalani in his directorial debut. It stars Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, and Amrish Puri. The story follows Bhiku Lahanya, a tribal peasant who is framed for the murder of his wife after she is raped by a foreman. The film is a scathing critique of the Indian judicial system and the oppression of the poor by the powerful. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and the Golden Peacock Award at the 8th International Film Festival of India. The film is listed among the 60 films that shaped the Indian film industry over six decades.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Amazon Prime Video, ShemarooMe, Airtel Xstream Play, YouTube
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1980
- Director
- Govind Nihalani
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 24m
- Rating
- 8.1/10
Storyline
A poor tribal peasant named Bhiku Lahanya is arrested for murdering his wife. But he is innocent. His wife was raped by a powerful foreman and killed herself. Bhiku is framed. A young lawyer, Bhaskar Kulkarni, tries to defend him. He discovers the truth. But the system is corrupt. Bhiku is pushed to a desperate act. He must choose between silence and a terrible scream.
“When silence becomes the only weapon.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Aakrosh
Cast reunions in this film: Naseeruddin Shah & Om Puri (21 films together), Amrish Puri & Om Puri (12 films together), Naseeruddin Shah & Smita Patil (12 films together), Amrish Puri & Naseeruddin Shah (11 films together), Amrish Puri & Smita Patil (10 films together), and Om Puri & Smita Patil (9 films together).
Trivia
- The film was based on a real-life case of tribal exploitation in the 1970s in Bihar, India.
- It marked the debut of actor Om Puri in a leading role, who later became a celebrated star.
- The movie was shot in actual villages to show the real living conditions of tribal people.
- Director Govind Nihalani also worked as the cinematographer, giving the film a gritty look.
- The film's title 'Aakrosh' means 'Anger' in Hindi, reflecting the theme of social outrage.
- It was part of a wave of realistic 'parallel cinema' films in the 1980s that tackled social issues.
- The script was co-written by famous playwright Vijay Tendulkar, known for his hard-hitting dramas.