Shaan (1980 film)

Shaan (

The film was an average performer upon its initial release.[2] However, it did good business during re-runs. Burman's songs bagged a Best Music nomination at Filmfare Awards. Shaan was one of the last films to feature the vocals of playback singer Mohammed Rafi. The character of Shakaal was inspired from the Ernst Stavro Blofeld's character from the James Bond film series.^[3]

Plot

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After diffusing a hostage situation,

As Vijay, Ravi and Sheetal lament the tragic loss of Shiv, the mysterious man, who attempted to assassinate Shiv twice in the city, approaches them and introduces himself as Rakesh, a marksman and former circus performer who used to shoot targets blindfolded. Rakesh confesses that Shakaal had held his wife named Roma (Padmini Kapila) hostage and blackmailed him to shoot Shiv, but he had deliberately missed on the two previous occasions in hopes of buying time to save his wife. However, Shakaal had already deduced this and released Roma in a car with faulty brakes in retaliation, resulting in Roma's tragic death in a fiery car accident which Rakesh tried to prevent but failed to do so. On learning this, Vijay and Ravi team up with Rakesh with the intention to defeat Shakaal and pursue justice for both Shiv and Roma. To that end, the trio seeks the aid of Abdul, who provides them with information about Shakaal's contraband warehouse in Mumbai. Even though the trio manages to destroy the warehouse, Shakaal retaliates by having his henchmen target Sheetal and Guddi on a remote bridge, but Rakesh manages to save them with the help of some horses in the stable of a nearby farmhouse.

After this unsuccessful attempt in seeking revenge, Abdul is chased by Shakaal's henchmen in the middle of the night and his death occurs after being mercilessly thrown off a bridge. A furious Vijay breaks into a bar where Shakaal's henchmen spend time playing cards and beats them all up severely for Abdul's death. A frustrated Shakaal swears death on the trio and orders his henchmen to capture Sheetal and imprison her at his island. Meanwhile, the trio is approached by one of Shakaal's henchmen named Jagmohan (Mac Mohan), who offers them his help to gain entry in Shakaal's island as he was mercilessly beaten by Shakaal for his previous failure. Posing as a dance troupe, the trio, along with Sunita, Renu and Chacha, manages to enter the island and performs for Shakaal, who later shockingly captures them all and reveals that he had sent Jagmohan (who was faking his injuries) to trap them in reality.

However, Chacha creates a commotion that allows the trio to be freed and beat Jagmohan and Shakaal's remaining henchmen to death. Further, Vijay is able to kill the crocodile after being thrown into the pool, while Ravi and Rakesh also kill Shakaal's two henchmen having worn gas masks in a poisonous gas-filled chamber. Just as the trio finally succeeds in capturing Shakaal after avoiding all the booby traps and is about to kill him, Sheetal intervenes and refuses to let them do so, pointing out that their action will be disrespectful to the law that Shiv upholds. The arguing commotion allows Shakaal to free himself and attempt to shoot everyone, forcing the trio to shoot Shakaal fatally in self-defense. With his last breath, Shakaal pulls the lever and sets the island to self-destruct, however, the trio, Sunita, Renu, Sheetal and Chacha are all able to escape from the exploding island and fly off safely in a helicopter, satisfied that they have beaten Shakaal in his tracks for good.

Cast

• DCP
  Shiv Kumar
• Shashi Kapoor as Ravi Kumar
• Amitabh Bachchan as Vijay Kumar
• Shatrughan Sinha as Rakesh
• Raakhee Gulzar
  as Sheetal
• Parveen Babi as Sunita
• Bindiya Goswami as Renu
• Johnny Walker as Chacha
• Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Shakaal
• Mazhar Khan as Abdul (Vijay and Ravi's informer and a legless street beggar)
• Mac Mohan as Jagmohan (Shakaal's henchman)
• Sudhir
  as Ranjeet (Shakaal's henchman and Shiv's informer)
• Padmini Kapila as Roma (Rakesh's wife)
• Yunus Parvez as Hotel Manager
• Police Inspector
  who chases Vijay and Sunita's car
• Helen as item number in "Yamma Yamma" song
• Bindu as item number in "Pyaar Karne Wale" song

Shakaal's henchmen

• Sudhir Pandey as Tiwari
• Dalip Tahil as Kumar
• Sujit Kumar as Raghunath
• Manik Irani as Shyam
• Goga Kapoor as Kirti
• Sharat Saxena as Prakash

Production

Logistical issues relating to other projects in which the cast was involved meant that Shaan took three years to make.

A large golden eagle is prominent in Shakaal's island lair and in the Bollywood obligatory final song-and-dance. The eagle is reminiscent of the golden lamb in Cecile DeMille's Ten Commandments; construction on the golden eagle required outside experts to be flown in and cost, in Rupees, the equivalent of the chariot scene in Ben-Hur.^{[citation needed]}

Sippy wanted to repeat the cast of Sholay (1975) for this film, but due to date issues, Sunil Dutt played the role initially offered to Sanjeev Kumar, Bindiya Goswami played the role initially offered to Hema Malini, and Shashi Kapoor played the role initially offered to Dharmendra.

The film was set and partially filmed on the island of Steep Holm.^[5]

The music was composed by R. D. Burman and the lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi.

Vocals were supplied by the late

Mohammad Rafi recorded a rehearsal for the song "Yamma Yamma", with a final recording scheduled for later. Due to Rafi's untimely death before the final recording, Burman used the rehearsal.^[citation needed] This is the only song where Rafi and Burman sing a duet together.

Box Office

The film grossed

Awards

28th Filmfare Awards:

Won

• Best Cinematography – S. M. Anwar

Nominated

• Best Music Director – R. D. Burman

References