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Meri Jung
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| Meri Jung | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Subhash Ghai |
| Written by | Javed Akhtar |
| Produced by | N.N. Sippy |
| Starring | Anil Kapoor Meenakshi Sheshadri Nutan Javed Jaffrey Amrish Puri Parikshat Sahni |
| Music by | Laxmikant-Pyarelal |
Release date |
|
Running time | 164 mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Meri Jung (transl. My War) is a 1985 Indian Hindi movie produced by N N Sippy and directed by Subhash Ghai. The film stars Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Nutan, Amrish Puri, Javed Jaffrey (in his debut film), A. K. Hangal, Iftekhar, Kushboo and Parikshat Sahni. The films music is by Laxmikant Pyarelal.
Plot
[edit]The story begins with a happy lower-middle-class family – Arun Verma(Anil Kapoor) an 8-year-old boy, his sister Komal Verma (Khushboo) a 5-year-old girl, his mother, Aarti Verma (Nutan) and his father, Deepak Verma (Girish Karnad) – living a peaceful life. Arun's parents teach their children through the famous title song "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai, Jeet Jayenge Hum, Jeet Jayenge Hum Tu Agar Sang Hai" which means that life is full of problems at every step and still we will overcome all these if we are together.
Deepak Verma is trapped in a murder case. A famous criminal lawyer G.D. Thakral (Amrish Puri) proves him guilty, and he is sentenced to be hanged by the court. Pleas by Arun's mother fail to convince Thakral to be truthful and spare her husband. Thakral asks her to give evidence for his innocence, to which she sadly quotes "Jiske paas koi sabut, koi gavanh nahi hote kya we begunah nahin hote" ("one who does not have any proof or witness of innocence, are they not innocent?"). Thakral was adamant to let her husband be hanged. He was hanged as per court's decision. His mother becomes mentally unstable from shock and is sent to a mental institution. Later Advocate Gupta (A.K. Hangal), the lawyer who defended Arun's father, finds out that Thakral had known all along that he was innocent, but only wanted him to be hanged. Arun finds out that Thakral abused the law.
Arun's house and all his property is auctioned off by the court. Arun and his sister are not offered help. He grows up with the seeds of revenge in his heart. He becomes a successful defence lawyer and keenly follows every case of Thakral so that some day he can stand up in court against the unbeaten Thakral and beat him.
One day Geeta Srivatsav (Meenakshi) comes to him and asks him to fight the case of her sister, Dr. Asha Mathur (Beena Banerjee) who is accused of killing a patient on duty with her medicine, which she gave from her purse. Arun refuses saying that if she can produce even an iota of evidence of her sister being innocent he will fight for her. Geeta replies coincidentally the same sentence "Jiske paas koi sabut, koi gavanh nahi hote kya we begunah nahin hote." Arun is instantly reminded of his mother's pleadings before Thakral. Geeta storms out of his office, but Arun is convinced to take the case. He meets Asha Mathur in police custody. He learns from her that on that fateful night she got a call from her ward assistant that her patient is in the ICU and needs her. She stops on the way (due to a traffic jam), and she impatiently moves out of car her to ask the reason. Meanwhile, somebody replaces the medicine bottle with the look-alike bottle of poison from her purse. On arrival in the hospital, she gives the liquid from that bottle to stabilise the patient. This resulted in the patient's death.
It is shown that Asha Mathur's husband, Dr. Dinesh Mathur (Parikshat Sahni), had gone to meet Thakral and had asked him to fight his wife's case. Thakral says no claiming he is very busy at the moment but later tells his assistant that there is no way that this case could be won. Arun meets Dinesh Mathur and informs him that he will fight the case. He asked him about the nature of poison and for how long a person can sustain the poison; he learns that poison if might result in death within 2 to 15 minutes depending on the body resistance.
The case begins with the prosecution lawyer recounting the events of that fateful day and telling that the medicine given to the patient was actually poison. Arun defends the case says that the patient did not die of this medicine. To prove himself right he drinks the medicine in court and refutes the claim. The court declares Geeta's sister innocent. Just after the judgement Dr. Mathur rushes Arun to hospital. It is revealed that the medicine contained poison, and Arun is saved in the nick of time.
Dr. Mathur wants to appreciate and compensate Arun for the risky effort he took to save his wife. He calls him for a get-together in his mansion. Dr. Mathur gives Arun a blank cheque. Arun rejects the offers politely and says he did for his self-satisfaction. He then finds the same piano with the sticker of Bhagwat Geeta of Krishna which his father used to play and was auctioned. His memories are refreshed again and with the emotional request he tells Dr. Mathur that this piano is very significant to him and asks for it. Dr. Mathur very happily gives the piano and asks him the reason for accepting this small fees. He tells the Mathur family his tragic story. He says that his mother was never seen after his father's death, and he assumes that she is dead.
Geeta calls Arun on a beach to appreciate his efforts and kindness at the canteen. They both fall in love. Thakral's son Vikram Thakral (Javed Jaffrey), a spoilt brat, not knowing anything about Arun, teases Geeta, which irritates the couple. Soon things take an ugly turn and Arun beats up Vikram.
Dr. Mathur sees a photo of his mother hanging in the wall. She immediately recognises the face with the patient she is handling for mental disorders. Arun and his sister request them to take to her. In the mental hospital they see their mother. Her memories had stopped on the day of the incident; she feels that their children are eight and five, staying with father. Arun brings her mother to his house and tries to make her come back to normal; she resumes her memory on hearing the song "Zindagi Har Kadam..."
Vikram plans to trap Arun's sister Komal and learns she studies in the same college to exact revenge. He tries to impress her by his charms, dancing skills, and ways of flattering people. The plan works. Komal falls for him and he convinces her to run away with him (so that he can publicly defame Arun by leaving his sister). At the planned moment, when one of Vikram's ex-girlfriends, Indu Gupta, shows up and tells Komal of Vikram's evil intentions. In the ensuing argument, Vikram murders Indu which is witnessed by the Dr. Mathur's family.
Arun had been waiting for this moment to take revenge on Thakral. He steps in as the prosecutor against Thakral who is defending his son. The case moves to and fro and, in the end, Arun has the upper hand. Thakral kidnaps Arun's mother and attempts to blackmail him. Arun goes to save his mother and is beaten up by Thakral's goons. Even though injured, Arun fights back. In an attempt to shoot Arun, Thakral shoots his friend's son and is jailed. He is unsuccessful in saving his son, who is given the death penalty. Thakral becomes a mentally unstable person.
Arun and his family are happy again and sing the famous "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai" song.
Cast
[edit]| Actor/Actress | Character |
|---|---|
| Anil Kapoor | Arun Verma |
| Meenakshi Sheshadri | Geeta Srivatsav, Arun's love interest |
| Khushboo | Komal Verma, Arun's sister |
| Nutan | Aarti Verma, Arun and Komal's mother |
| Girish Karnad | Deepak Verma, Arun and Komal's father & Aarti's husband |
| Amrish Puri | G. D. Thakral |
| Beena Banerjee | Dr. Asha Mathur, Geeta's sister |
| Parikshat Sahni | Dr. Dinesh Mathur, Asha's husband and Geeta's brother-in-law |
| Javed Jaffrey | Vikram Thakral (Vicky) |
| A. K. Hangal | Advocate Vinay Gupta |
| Viju Khote | as Damodar Sharma , Arun Verma,s asistant |
| Pradeep Rawat | Government Advocate Balwant |
Soundtrack
[edit]| # | Title | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Zindagi Har Kadam" | Lata Mangeshkar, Nitin Mukesh |
| 2 | "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nai Jung Hai – 1" | Lata Mangeshkar, Shabbir Kumar |
| 3 | "Bol Baby Bol Rock-N-Roll" | Kishore Kumar, Javed Jaffrey, S. Janaki |
| 4 | "O Mere Khwabon Ke Shehzade" | Anuradha Paudwal |
| 5 | "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nai Jung Hai – 2" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 6 | "Jhoom Le Jhoom Le" | Laxmikant Kudalkar, Subhash Ghai |
Remakes
[edit]| Year | Title | Language | Cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Vijrimbhana | Telugu | Sobhan Babu |
| 1987 | Oru Thayin Sabhatham | Tamil | T.Rajendar |
| 1989 | Yuddha Kanda | Kannada | V Ravichandran |
Awards and nominations
[edit]Won
Nominationed
- Best Film – N. N. Sippy
- Best Actor – Anil Kapoor
- Best Music Director – Laxmikant–Pyarelal
- Best Lyricist – Anand Bakshi – "Zindagi Har Kadam"
Reception
[edit]The movie was critically acclaimed, with special praise heaped upon Amrish Puri and Anil Kapoor. The movie established Kapoor as a mature actor with a lot of talent, shedding his newcomer image.
External links
[edit]Meri Jung
View on GrokipediaProduction
Development
Meri Jung was produced by N. N. Sippy through N. N. Sippy Productions, marking a reunion with director Subhash Ghai over a decade after their collaboration on Kalicharan (1976).[5] Ghai, known for emphasizing strong narratives in his films, focused on crafting a legal drama that examined ethical dilemmas faced by lawyers amid corruption and the pursuit of justice in the Indian judicial system.[6] The screenplay and dialogues were written by Javed Akhtar, who was tasked with developing the dialogues before the full script was finalized—a creative decision by Ghai to prioritize impactful courtroom rhetoric and character-driven exchanges.[6] This approach underscored Ghai's method of building films around thematic depth rather than star-driven appeal, allowing ethical conflicts to drive the narrative without reliance on specific real-life legal precedents.[6] During casting deliberations, Anil Kapoor was initially considered for the antagonist role, but Akhtar recommended him for the protagonist, a shift that positioned Kapoor as the lead and propelled his career forward.[7][8] Ghai endorsed this change, valuing Kapoor's potential to embody the moral complexities central to the story's exploration of professional integrity versus personal vendettas.[7]Casting
Anil Kapoor was cast as the protagonist Arun Verma, a role that emerged from significant casting adjustments; originally, Kapoor had been slated to portray the film's villain before being elevated to the lead following the unavailability of Amitabh Bachchan, who was initially attached to the project under a different configuration.[9][10] This shift allowed Kapoor to deliver a nuanced performance as a vengeful lawyer, moving beyond the action-hero archetype established in his prior hit Hero (1983) and showcasing dramatic depth in courtroom confrontations.[5] Meenakshi Sheshadri was selected for the female lead of Geeta Mathur, Arun's love interest and a lawyer's daughter, providing romantic and supportive dynamics amid the legal thriller elements.[11] Nutan portrayed Aarti Verma, Arun's grief-stricken mother, bringing emotional gravitas to the familial tragedy driving the plot.[12] Girish Karnad played Deepak Verma, Arun's executed father and a principled advocate, whose wrongful conviction sets the narrative in motion. Amrish Puri embodied the antagonist G. D. Thakral, a corrupt and manipulative lawyer, leveraging his commanding presence to heighten the film's moral conflicts.[3] In a key supporting villainous turn, Javed Jaffrey debuted as Vikram Thakral (Vicky), Thakral's scheming son, stepping into the negative role vacated by the recast Kapoor and infusing it with youthful menace and dance sequences that contrasted the film's serious tone.[10] These selections, emphasizing experienced character actors alongside rising leads, fostered mature ensemble interplay that underscored themes of justice and retribution without relying on star power alone.[5]Filming
Principal photography for Meri Jung took place primarily in Mumbai, with outdoor sequences capturing the city's monsoon conditions, including a notable beach scene featuring Anil Kapoor and Meenakshi Seshadri during peak rainy season.[13] Courtroom sequences were filmed to evoke authenticity, utilizing sets or locations mimicking judicial environments to heighten dramatic tension in legal confrontations.[14] A key logistical element involved executing the film's climactic courtroom moment, where the protagonist consumes liquid from a bottle presented as poison to demonstrate its harmlessness, only for it to be revealed as toxic post-verdict, requiring immediate medical intervention via stomach pumping.[14] This sequence prioritized emotional intensity over procedural realism, as such an act would disrupt court proceedings and pose severe health risks in practice.[5] During shooting, director Subhash Ghai encountered interpersonal tensions, including a reported misunderstanding with Meenakshi Seshadri, stemming from differing visions for her career trajectory, though principal photography proceeded without significant delays.[15] Post-production emphasized tight editing to sustain pacing across the narrative's blend of family drama and legal intrigue.Synopsis
Plot Summary
The film opens with the Verma family, consisting of father Deepak Verma, mother Aarti Verma, young son Arun, and daughter Komal, living a modest but happy life until Deepak is falsely accused of murder by the corrupt advocate G.D. Thakral, who manipulates evidence to secure a conviction.[2] Deepak is executed by hanging despite his innocence, leading to the family's collapse: Aarti descends into insanity from grief, the family home and possessions are auctioned off, and the orphaned siblings Arun and Komal face destitution without support from society or authorities.[2][16] Years later, the adult Arun, driven by a vow of vengeance, trains rigorously to become a defense lawyer, honing his skills to dismantle Thakral's career in the courtroom.[3] He enters a romantic relationship with Neeta, the daughter of a principled judge, which provides emotional support amid his quest but also introduces personal stakes as he navigates ethical dilemmas in high-profile cases.[3] Arun's pursuit intensifies when his sister Komal elopes with Thakral's son Vikram, forcing Arun to defend the union while plotting to expose Thakral's corruption; the climax unfolds in intense legal confrontations where Arun represents clients wronged by Thakral, culminating in a direct courtroom battle that reveals Thakral's past manipulations and leads to the antagonist's downfall through self-inflicted consequences during an attempted shooting gone awry.[2][3]Personnel
Cast
- Anil Kapoor as Arun Verma, the protagonist seeking justice for his father's wrongful conviction.[12]
- Meenakshi Sheshadri as Geeta Mathur, Arun's love interest and a key figure in the legal battle.[12]
- Nutan as Aarti Verma, Arun's mother who suffers immense grief following her husband's execution.[12]
- Amrish Puri as G.D. Thakral, the powerful lawyer antagonist responsible for framing Deepak Verma.[12]
- Girish Karnad as Deepak Verma, Arun's father, a lawyer falsely accused of murder.[12]
- Javed Jaffrey as Vikram Thakral, G.D. Thakral's son, in his film debut.[17]
Crew
Subhash Ghai served as director, guiding the film's execution with a focus on heightened dramatic tension in its legal drama framework, particularly through courtroom sequences that portrayed justice as a visceral moral battlefield blending advocacy with personal sacrifice.[18][5] The production was led by N. N. Sippy, whose oversight ensured alignment with Ghai's vision following their prior collaboration.[19] The technical crew contributed to the film's visual and auditory coherence:| Role | Contributor(s) |
|---|---|
| Cinematographer | Kamal Bose |
| Editor | Waman B. Bhosle |
| Art Director | R. Verman Shetty |
| Music Directors | Laxmikant–Pyarelal |
Music
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by the music duo Laxmikant–Pyarelal, with all lyrics written by Anand Bakshi.[20][21] Released in 1985, it comprises five songs that integrate into key narrative moments, such as the recurring title track emphasizing themes of life's battles and perseverance, which underscores the protagonist's legal and personal struggles, while lighter numbers provide emotional relief and advance romantic subplots.[22][23]| No. | Title | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nai Jung Hai (Version 1) | Lata Mangeshkar, Nitin Mukesh[20][22] |
| 2 | Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nai Jung Hai (Version 2) | Lata Mangeshkar, Shabbir Kumar[21] |
| 3 | Bol Baby Bol Rock 'N' Roll | Kishore Kumar, S. Janaki[20][22] |
| 4 | O Mere Khwabon Ke Shehzade | Anuradha Paudwal[20][21] |
| 5 | Jhoom Le Jhoom Le | Laxmikant, Subhash Ghai[22][23] |
