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Viruddh
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| Viruddh | |
|---|---|
![]() Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Mahesh Manjrekar |
| Written by | Screenplay: Mahesh Manjrekar Yash-Vinay Dialogues: Sanjay Pawar |
| Story by | Mahesh Manjrekar |
| Produced by | Amitabh Bachchan |
| Starring | Amitabh Bachchan Sharmila Tagore John Abraham Sanjay Dutt Anusha Dhandekar |
| Narrated by | John Abraham |
| Cinematography | Vijay Kumar Arora |
| Edited by | Rahul Bhatawkar |
| Music by | Background Score and Guest Composition: Ajay-Atul Songs: Anand Raj Anand Roop Kumar Rathod Bhavdeep Jaipurwale Ashit Desai Violin Brothers |
Production companies | Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Satyajeet Movies |
| Distributed by | UTV Motion Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 132 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹90 million[1] |
| Box office | ₹185.1 million[1] |
Virruddh... Family Comes First (transl. Against) is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Mahesh Manjrekar. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, John Abraham and Sanjay Dutt .Viruddh is not a musical, instead the soundtrack is primarily used as background scoring. Marathi movie 'Kokanastha' also written and directed by Mahesh Manjrekar has a similar plot.[2][3][4]
Plot
[edit]The film begins with Amar (John Abraham) narrating the story of his family and himself. Amar is the son of Vidyadhar (Amitabh Bachchan) and Sumitra Patwardhan (Sharmila Tagore), a middle-class couple in India. Amar lives and works in London, and he sends some of his salary back home. One day Amar returns home with Jenny Mayer (Anusha Dandekar), his girlfriend, and announces his intention to marry her. Initially reluctant, his parents are pleased and happy for the two. One day, Amar goes out celebrating with his friends, while his parents and Jenny organise a surprise birthday party for him.
Outside a pub, Amar witnesses a murder, and, while trying to apprehend the killer, he gets mortally wounded in the fight. Amar succumbs in the hospital. The assailant is identified as Harshwardhan Kadam (Amitabh Dayal), son of minister Mr. Kadam. Soon, the police start covering the case up. Amar is implicated in false charges of drug peddling. Witnesses and close friends of Amar too give false statements. The torture doesn't end there, as police try to implicate Jenny as his accomplice and threaten to rape her.
Vidyadhar decides that it is not good for Jenny to live there, especially since she is expecting Amar's child. Vidyadhar bails her out and implores her to return to London before she is locked up for good. Meanwhile, Harshwardhan goes scot-free, and Vidyadhar decides to seek justice on his own after he fails to get any sort of justice from the law. Ali Asgar (Sanjay Dutt), a reformed goon and mechanic, also an acquaintance of the Patwardhans, decides to help them. Soon, Ali succeeds in procuring a gun for Vidyadhar, after all efforts to prove Amar's innocence go in vain.
Vidyadhar decides to confront Harshwardhan in his own office. Harshwardhan cockily lets him enter in and starts taunting him. Vidyadhar accuses him, and Harshwardhan arrogantly confesses his crimes, telling Vidyadhar that he cannot prove a thing. Vidyadhar points the gun at him, upon which Harshwardhan calls one of his guards. Vidyadhar guns down Harshwardhan, and the guard enters; moments later, Harshwardhan's cadaver collapses down. Harshwardhan's head guard lets Vidyadhar go, claiming that he won't be able to face his family if he kills Vidyadhar.
After a case is filed against Vidyadhar, he reveals a pocket tape recorder on which the whole confession of Harshwardhan is recorded. Based on this proof, Amar and Vidyadhar are exonerated and set free. In an interview, Vidyadhar makes it clear that he doesn't intend to sue Mr. Kadam or the police since Harshwardhan was killed and Vidyadhar knows the pain.
In the end, it is shown that Vidyadhar is living a happy life with Sumitra, Jenny, and his grandchild. Amar now explains that his father has always been a hero to him since childhood, and he is feeling a little jealous of his daughter, who is being treated with the same affection with which Vidyadhar treated Amar in his childhood. The film ends with Amar disappearing in light, claiming he can now rest peacefully.
Cast
[edit]- Amitabh Bachchan as Vidhyadhar Patwardhan
- Sharmila Tagore as Sumitra Patwardhan
- John Abraham as Amar Patwardhan
- Sanjay Dutt as Ali Asgar
- Anusha Dandekar as Jenny
- Prem Chopra as Mr. Sumit Arora
- Sharat Saxena as Mr. Raju Shetty
- Beena as Mrs. Chitnis
- Bipasha Basu as Herself (Cameo)
- Shivaji Satam as Mr. Sunil Bharucha
- Sachin Khedekar as Inspector Desai
- Amitabh Dayal as Harshwardhan Kadam
- Viju Khote as Minister Kadam
- Tom Alter as Mr. Jack Anderson (British Consulate)
- Dimple Inamdar as Sandhya
Awards
[edit]Soundtrack
[edit]The soundtrack of the film was scored by Ajay–Atul.
| Track # | Song | Singer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Bhooli Bisri Yaadon Mein" | Ajit Parab | 6:07 |
| 2 | "Faqeerana Aaye (Bazm-E-Meer)" | Roop Kumar Rathod | 5:55 |
| 3 | "Mann Lago Yaar" | Abida Parveen | 8:50 |
| 4 | "Hey Jag Trata (Ishwar Allah Tere Naam)" | Jagjit Singh | 6:42 |
| 5 | "Shree Ganeshay Dheemahi (Vishwavinayaka)" By AJAY-ATUL | Shankar Mahadevan | 6:47 |
| 6 | "Gham Raha (Bazm-E-Meer)" | Sonali Rathod | 5:58 |
| 7 | "Bhala Hua Meri Matki" | Abida Parveen | 7:52 |
| 8 | "Saahib Mera Ek Hai" | Abida Parveen | 7:15 |
| 9 | "Melancholy" | Instrumental | 7:50 |
References
[edit]External links
[edit]Viruddh
View on GrokipediaProduction
Development
Mahesh Manjrekar conceived Viruddh as a drama rooted in the realities of middle-class Indian family life, where ordinary citizens confront institutional failures and abuse of power by influential figures. The screenplay, penned by Manjrekar himself, draws from observable societal dynamics of the era, including instances where police and authorities shielded perpetrators due to political connections, reflecting broader patterns of delayed or denied justice in high-profile cases during the early 2000s. This approach critiques the causal mechanisms enabling such impunity—namely, hierarchical pressures overriding legal accountability—without fabricating events, grounding the narrative in empirically evident disparities between the powerful and the vulnerable.[6] ABCL, Amitabh Bachchan's production company, which had endured bankruptcy and operational halts following heavy losses from events and prior films in the late 1990s, partnered with Manjrekar's outfit to finance and develop the project. Bachchan's decision to produce stemmed from the script's resonance with themes of elderly resilience against systemic opposition, echoing personal convictions about familial defiance of injustice. Pre-production in early 2005 prioritized a restrained script focusing on core family loyalties as a rational bulwark against grief and corruption, eschewing melodramatic flourishes to maintain narrative authenticity and commercial viability.[6][7]Casting
Mahesh Manjrekar cast Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role of Vidyadhar Patwardhan, the grieving father, selecting him for his proven ability to portray restrained paternal emotion in dramatic contexts. This choice was highlighted in pre-release promotions around mid-2005, emphasizing Bachchan's suitability for the character's quiet intensity over flamboyant gestures.[8][2] Sharmila Tagore was chosen as Sumitra Patwardhan, Vidyadhar's wife, for her capacity to convey subtle emotional nuance, aligning with the role's demand for dignified sorrow. The casting reunited her with Bachchan after a 23-year gap since their collaboration in Desh Premee (1982).[9][2] John Abraham portrayed Amar Patwardhan, the son, to embody youthful idealism through flashback sequences, leveraging Abraham's emerging image as a vibrant, relatable young lead in early 2000s Bollywood.[2] Sanjay Dutt was selected for the supporting role of Ali Asghar, a loyal family friend, drawing on Dutt's established presence in intense dramatic narratives without emphasizing exaggeration.[2]Filming and technical aspects
Principal photography for Viruddh occurred between August 7 and August 21, 2004.[10] The production utilized locations across Maharashtra, including Pune, alongside sequences shot in the United Kingdom to depict the protagonists' ordinary circumstances.[11][12] Cinematography was led by Vijay Kumar Arora, whose work supported the film's grounded aesthetic in line with director Mahesh Manjrekar's emphasis on emotional realism and everyday domestic settings.[13] Editing by Rahul Bhatankar followed principal shooting, resulting in a final runtime of 132 minutes.[13][14] As a mid-2000s Hindi drama, the production relied predominantly on practical on-location filming rather than extensive digital effects, aligning with the narrative's focus on authentic human conflicts.[14]Narrative Structure
Plot summary
Vidyadhar Patwardhan, a retired bank clerk, resides in Pune with his wife Sumitra, leading a modest and contented life centered around their only son, Amar, who frequently visits from his job in London.[15] During a night out with friends, Amar witnesses the shooting of a woman by the son of the state home minister and attempts to intervene, resulting in his death during a subsequent police operation on July 22, 2005, which authorities classify as an encounter with a terrorist.[16] The couple, skeptical of the terrorism label, begins probing the incident, discovering evidence that the encounter was fabricated to shield the minister's son from accountability for the murder Amar observed.[1][15] As they publicize their findings and pursue legal action, Vidyadhar and Sumitra encounter rejection from former associates, societal prejudice branding their son a criminal, and resistance from officials, yet they continue their campaign through protests and court proceedings.[1][15] Their determination culminates in the exposure of the corruption, the conviction of the perpetrators, and vindication of Amar's innocence, restoring some measure of justice to the family.[1][16]Characters and portrayal
Vidyadhar Patwardhan is constructed as a principled everyman, an ordinary middle-class retiree whose character emerges through routine actions like maintaining a modest, self-built bungalow lifestyle and his subsequent unyielding pursuit of justice following his son's death in a disputed police encounter.[17] His portrayal relies on dialogues asserting personal conviction over institutional authority, such as declaring intent to act on what feels right regardless of opposition from law, system, or higher powers, underscoring internal doubt resolved into firm resolve amid procedural injustices. [18] Amar Patwardhan's backstory establishes him as a dutiful son who supports his aging parents financially from his job abroad, returning to India for personal milestones like meeting his fiancée, which heightens family stakes without romanticizing his character as flawless—his involvement in a minor altercation leads to fatal consequences, grounding his role in realistic vulnerabilities rather than heroism.[17] [14] Antagonists, representing systemic elements like police and bureaucracy, are depicted through causal procedural flaws such as hasty encounters and institutional reluctance to investigate, shown via their actions in dismissing evidence and pressuring the family, avoiding caricature by tying conflicts to believable lapses in accountability rather than overt villainy.[19] [14]Cast
Lead roles
Amitabh Bachchan portrayed Vidyadhar Ramkrishna Patwardhan, a retired middle-class employee whose character is depicted as adamant and passionate in confronting systemic challenges.[20][15] His performance draws on the role's inherent stoicism, refusing compromise even under duress, as seen in scenes of principled defiance.[14] Sharmila Tagore played Sumitra Patwardhan, Vidyadhar's wife and the emotional anchor of the household, emphasizing a deep familial bond forged over decades.[18][21] The role highlights her as a nurturing maternal presence, providing quiet strength amid turmoil.[4] John Abraham enacted Amar Patwardhan, the couple's son whose appearances are concentrated in flashback sequences that precipitate the narrative's core tensions.[14][17] Originally offered to Saif Ali Khan, the part required Abraham to convey a good-hearted expatriate returning home, with filming adjusted around his availability.[9]Supporting roles
Sanjay Dutt plays Ali Asghar, a boisterous mechanic and neighbor who initially disrupts the Patwardhan family's peace through noisy workshop activities adjacent to their home but evolves into a steadfast supporter during their legal battle against systemic injustice.[14] [4] His character's transformation underscores themes of unlikely alliances forged in adversity, providing comic relief early on while contributing to the ensemble's emotional pivot toward collective resistance.[5] Anusha Dandekar portrays Shalini Amar Patwardhan, the young widow of the deceased son Amar, whose grief-stricken presence amplifies the family's unraveling dynamics and motivates their pursuit of accountability.[13] Her role, though limited in screen time, highlights the ripple effects of loss on extended kin, with Dandekar's performance noted for effectively conveying subdued vulnerability amid the leads' dominant arcs.[4] Prem Chopra appears as Barkat, a local influential figure embodying corrupt authority, whose antagonism propels the central conflict by obstructing the Patwardhans' quest for justice.[22] Sharat Saxena plays a police inspector involved in the investigation, representing institutional inertia that the protagonists must navigate.[22] These portrayals, drawn from seasoned character actors, reinforce the film's critique of power imbalances without overshadowing the core familial narrative.Soundtrack and Music
Composition
The soundtrack's composition emphasized a curated selection of pre-existing songs from non-film albums to align with the film's themes of familial loss and quiet defiance, rather than commissioning entirely new material. This approach, spearheaded by director Mahesh Manjrekar, prioritized emotional authenticity through ghazals, bhajans, and devotional pieces by artists such as Abida Parveen and Roop Kumar Rathod, with arrangements by Bhavdeep Jaipurwale to maintain narrative restraint.[23] One original track, "Bhooli Bisri Yaadon Mein," was composed by Anand Raj Anand to evoke reflective melancholy.[23] The background score, handled by the duo Ajay-Atul (Ajay Gogavale and Atul Gogavale), incorporated subtle folk-inspired instrumentation reflective of Marathi musical traditions, mirroring Manjrekar's cultural heritage and avoiding orchestral excess to underscore the story's grounded realism.[24] Their contributions focused on minimalist cues that supported character-driven tension without melodrama, recorded in Mumbai studios during early 2005 production. This stylistic choice favored acoustic simplicity—employing elements like strings and percussion—for thematic depth over sentimentality.[23]Track listing and reception
The soundtrack of Viruddh... Family Comes First consists of nine tracks selected from non-film albums, primarily functioning as background score rather than picturized songs, aligning with the film's non-musical dramatic structure.[23] These include contributions from composers such as Ajay-Atul, Anand Raaj Anand, and Roop Kumar Rathod, with vocals by artists like Ajit Parab and Abida Parveen.[25]| No. | Title | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhooli Bisri Yaadon Mein | Ajit Parab |
| 2 | Faqeerana Aaye | Roop Kumar Rathod |
| 3 | Mann Lago Yaar | Abida Parveen |
| 4 | Hey Jag Trata | Jagjit Singh |
| 5 | Shree Ganeshay Dheemahi | Shankar Mahadevan, Chorus |
| 6 | Saahib Mera Ek Hai | Abida Parveen |
| 7 | Gham Raha | Sonali Rathod |
| 8 | Bhala Hua Meri Matki Phooti | Unknown (folk rendition) |
| 9 | Melancholy (Instrumental) | Violin Brothers |

