# Pukar (2000 film)

Pukar (lit. 'The Call') is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film co-written and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi with cinematography by Ashok Mehta, Santosh Sivan, Baba Azmi and Chota K. Naidu. It stars Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Namrata Shirodkar, Danny Denzongpa, Shivaji Satam and Om Puri. The score and soundtrack were composed by A. R. Rahman.
Pukar was released on 4 February 2000 and received critical acclaim, but did average business at the box office.
At the 48th National Film Awards, Pukar won 2 National Film Awards – the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration and Best Actor (Kapoor). At the 46th Filmfare Awards, Pukar received 2 nominations – Best Actor (Kapoor) and Best Actress (Dixit).

## Plot

Para (Special Forces) officer Major Jaidev "Jai" Rajvansh and his fellow officer manage to rescue a leading politician as well as capture his kidnapper, Pakistani terrorist Abhrush. The terrorist has been wanted for years, and he is finally captured by the two officers. Jai returns to a joyous welcome and is declared a national hero. His senior offers him to take leave for a week, Jai accepts it and returns to his hometown. There he meets his childhood friend Anjali who has always harboured love for Jai. Anjali wants to make most of Jai's holiday and tries to get close to him and spend time with him as much as she can.
At a party, he meets Miss India, Pooja Mallapa. As they spend time together, they begin to fall in love. As Jai's parents are arranging his marriage to Anjali, Jai admits his love for Pooja and that he always thought of Anjali as a close friend. Heartbroken and jealous, Anjali wants revenge for Jai's rejection. Realizing her frustration with Jai, Abhrush takes advantage (via the said "kidnapped" politician who is hand in glove with Abhrush) and together they plot to destroy Jai's reputation and life.
Anjali manages to steal confidential documents detailing plans for Abhrush's movement from prison to prison. The following events lead to Jai being court-martialed and declared a traitor to the country. Pooja leaves him due to family pressure. Jai, determined to prove his innocence and redeem himself, decides to pursue Abhrush alone. Ultimately Anjali comes to her senses and realizes her mistake. To atone for it, she single-handedly tries to thwart Abhrush's plans and help Jai prove his innocence. Jai overpowers Abhrush. Finally, Jai expresses his love for Anjali and forgives her and both unite to live happily.

## Cast

* Anil Kapoor as Major Jaidev Rajvansh (Jai)
* Madhuri Dixit as Anjali
* Sudhir Joshi as Anjali's Father
* Namrata Shirodkar as Pooja Mallapa
* Om Puri as Colonel Iqbal Hussain (Commanding Officer of the Unit)
* Danny Denzongpa as Abhrush (Ruthless Terrorist)
* Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Major General of the Regiment (Colonel Commandant)
* Shivaji Satam as Lieutenant Colonel Suraj Dev Rana (2IC of the Unit)
* Farida Jalal as Gayetri Rajvansh
* Rohini Hattangadi as Mrs. Mallapa (Pooja's Mother)
* Girish Karnad as Mr. Rajvansh
* Govind Namdeo as Mr. Mishra
* Anjan Srivastav as Tiwari (Mishra's Assistant)
* Mukesh Rishi as Bakshi (Abhrush's Assistant)
* Yashpal Sharma as Major Kartar Singh
* K.D Chandran as General Mallapa (Pooja's Father)
* Major Ravi
* Viju Khote as Dayanand Awasthi
* Neeraj Vora
* Prabhu Deva as himself in song, "Kay Sera Sera"
* Lata Mangeshkar as herself in song, "Ek Tu Hi Bharosa"

## Soundtrack

The music is given by A. R. Rahman, while the lyrics were written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and Javed Akhtar. The song Kay Sera Sera is based on "Kadhal Niagara" from En Swasa Kaatre. Rahman reused the song "Oh Bosnia" as "Ek Tu Hi Bharosa". The song was composed and performed by Rahman in his Malaysian concert in 1996 that was in aid of Bosnian victims. The piano was played by Rahman himself. "Hai Jaana" has two parts within the film version and soundtrack version. The song "Sunta Hai Mera Khuda" was shot at Arches National Park in Utah, United States. The song " Kismat Se Tum Humko Mile Ho" was shot at Mount Marcus Baker in Alaska, United States.

### Track list

| No | Song | Artist(s) | Lyrics | Length |
| 1 | "Kay Sera Sera" | Shankar Mahadevan, Kavita Krishnamurthy | Javed Akhtar | 06:51 |
| 2 | "Sunta Hai Mera Khuda" | Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Swarnalatha | Majrooh Sultanpuri | 06:36 |
| 3 | "Humrahi Jab Ho Mastana" | Udit Narayan, Hema Sardesai | Majrooh Sultanpuri | 04:26 |
| 4 | "Hai Jaana" (Soundtrack Version) | Sujatha Mohan | Majrooh Sultanpuri | 04:18 |
| 5 | "Kismat Se Tum" | Sonu Nigam, Anuradha Paudwal | Majrooh Sultanpuri | 06:20 |
| 6 | "Ek Tu Hi Bharosa" | Lata Mangeshkar | Majrooh Sultanpuri | 06:29 |
| 7 | "Hai Jaana"(Film Version) | Sujatha Mohan | Majrooh Sultanpuri | |

## Reception

Sify gave the film three out of five, writing, "Its ultimately the actors who carry the film through. Not that the plot does not work, in fact its engrossing, but it simply fails to carry you through." V Gangadhar of Rediff.com praised the first half but criticed the second half, writing, "The film falls to pieces in the second half. The action scenes are highly contrived. Abrush tries to project a larger-than-life presence by constantly rolling his huge eyes and grunting with vigour. And Santoshi's handling of the military scenes is rather amateurish. Does the army strip a court-martialled officer even of his clothes?"

## Awards

| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result |
| 46th Filmfare Awards | Best Actor | Anil Kapoor | Nominated |
| 46th Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Madhuri Dixit | Nominated |
| 2nd IIFA Awards | Best Actor | Anil Kapoor | Nominated |
| 2nd IIFA Awards | Best Actress | Madhuri Dixit | Nominated |
| 2nd IIFA Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Namrata Shirodkar | Nominated |
| 48th National Film Awards | Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration | Rajkumar Santoshi | Won |
| 48th National Film Awards | Best Actor | Anil Kapoor | Won |
| 7th Screen Awards | Best Actor | Anil Kapoor | Nominated |
| 7th Screen Awards | Best Actress | Madhuri Dixit | Nominated |
| 7th Screen Awards | Best Comedian | Rohini Hattangadi | Nominated |
| 7th Screen Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | Kavita Krishnamurthy for "Kay Sera Sera" | Nominated |
| 7th Screen Awards | Best Choreography | Prabhu Deva for "Kay Sera Sera" | Nominated |
| 7th Screen Awards | Best Publicity Design | Himanshu Nanda and Rahul Nanda | Won |