Indian

Plot synopsis:
Chandra Bose a.k.a. Chandru (Kamal Haasan) is a small-time middle man stationed outside Regional Transport Office, who aids people in greasing the right officials inside the RTO for getting permits and licenses. His assistant Subbaiah (Goundamani), and Paneerselvam (Senthil), a RTO official, are engaged regular tiffs while Aishwarya (Manisha Koirala), Chandru's love interest and an avid animal rights activist also battle it out with Sapna (Urmila Matondkar), the daughter of a RTO official Chandru is trying to hobnob to secure a job for himself at the RTO. Aishwarya is irked by the fact that Sapna (as well her mom) is exploiting Chandru's situation and gets him to do grocery shopping, laundry, and almost every household chors.
Meanwhile, Krishnaswamy, a Beaurau officer, manages to trace his way to Senapathy's house, who is an ex-freedom fighter, also chandru's father. Archived newspaper reports say that Senapathy was a soldier in the Indian National Army, who was an extremist. Senapathi's wife Amirthavalli (Sukanya) details the story on their struggles during pre-independence India, the discrimination by British officials and the Indian Freedom Movement Rebellions against the British atrocities, etc. leading Senapathy marrying Amirthavalli but leaving for Singapore to join Subhas Chandra Bose to be part of the INA. He returns after independence and unites with his wife.
In the present day, when Krishnaswamy tries to arrest Senapathy, he escapes with his expertise in Varma kalai. Senapathy then goes on to commit a murder in front of television audiences by killing a corrupt doctor (Nizhalgal Ravi) who refused to attend immediately to Senapathy's daughter Kasturi (Kasthuri), who was suffering from third degree burns because he insisted on a bribe, which Senapathy refused in the past. Chandru parts ways with his father because of his excessive insistence on honesty and righteousness, and also, he considers these values to be dead and worthless. Public support surges for the Indian as he exposes so many corrupt people. Senapathy does not do his son any favours either. Chandru had earlier taken a bribe and given a safety certificate to a bus with faulty brakes, which eventually killed 40 school children it was carrying, and thus, Chandru is held responsible. Senapathy is bent on giving Chandru the same punishment as he gives others, i.e., death. Towards the end, a chase culminates at airport, where Senapathy kills Chandru, and apparently dies in an explosion. Krishnaswamy discovers that Senapathy escaped moments before the jeep is exploded killing his son in the explosion, while investigating the television footage at airport.
The epilogue shows Senapathy calling Krishnaswamy from a foreign land (Hong Kong), indicating that he will be back should the need for him arise.

Tags: violence

Review:
Probably one of Kamal Hassan's best movies ever.
It has a good story line to it, different from the usual Indian movies.
Yup that is true; the movie shows the evils in the society, which is the society itself.The cinematography is the movie is great.
If there would be anything I would recommend is that to drop the songs, thought they are great and part of Indian movie culture, it really takes away the seriousness from the movie.The makeup is the movie is great, kamal really does look like someone that is that old.
The fight scenes look just as cheesy as they usually do in any Indian movie.But hey it is great entertainment for the family.
A must see film for all audiences, Indian and foreign.
Indian was clearly director Shankar's magnum opum and India's entry for the Oscar.
This utterly brilliant and gripping film explores the horror of bureaucracy, corruption and bribery in modern India and its effect on society.
Even locals themselves will be shocked as reality reflects on their TV screens in this movie.
Whats shocking is the quality of the flashback footage in sepia of the colonial times where Indian rebels fought against the British.
Such superb quality, story and acting is truly not seen anywhere else in any Indian-made film.
I highly regret not seeing this film in the theatre when it originally released.
If seeing this film a decade after it released, on poor quality print, left such a positive impression, I wonder what the impression would have been back then?.
The Best movie.
The film was meticulously made and its hard to find a flaw in the movie making.
Kamal was the best actor in India and Shankar the Best Director and ARR always the best when comes to music.
Shankar also should have got a National award for the film.
Need more movies from the 3 combination and add to that Vairamuthu, Thotta Dharani etc.
Its an all time great movie.
I highly recommend to watch this movie for two type of audiences- first, those who expect a good thriller from Indian cinema (of course not only Bollywood) and second, those who have only heard Kamal Hassan's name but never watched his any single movie yet.
Kamal parts here dual role, one as an old man (Senapathy) who stops the corrupted people, and the other as his son (Chandru) who works in transport department concerning licenses.
Kamal did brilliant job in this movie by offering both the roles of a father and a son.
Perhaps, if examined clearly this is his career reflecting movie.
There are some high definition visual scenes where we can see the real freedom fighters like Subash Chandra Bose and Senapathy together.
This is a remarkable work from director Shankar, or say in Indian cinema.
For action lovers also this movie is a good reference.In romantic words, this is a love-triangle movie due to the presence of Manisha Koirala and Urmila Matondkar, both who love the same Chandru.
They did their own works, and run the movie.
I watched countless times, but never felt bored as it is highly entertaining for the three hours continuously.
One of Kamalhassan's best films in his career.
But you don't have to be Kamal fan to enjoy this film.
I rate this film has one of my all time favourites.
The film has a great cast.
Kamal dominates the film, as father and son.
Sughanya also gives good supporting performance.
A mixture of a great script, good cast, good songs, and good actions scenes make this a 8.5 out of 10..
The lone crusader against corruption in India.
Producer and actor Kamal Haasan dealt with the burning issue of corruption in his movie Hindustani (1996) which was originally made in Tamil as Indian (and also released in Telugu under the title - Bhaaratheeyudu.Hindustani (Indian) is the story of an aged Indian freedom fighter - Senapati (Kamal Haasan) who has shed his perspiration and blood for the motherland during the struggle fro freedom from the British rule, remained a soldier in the Indian National Army led by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and married a girl (Sukanya) by saving her honour.
Now in free India, he is peacefully living with his daughter (Kasturi) and son (Kamal Haasan's double role).
The thing which changed the course of his life is the corruption rampant in the Indian system of governance.
His daughter passed away for want of medical aid because he refused to pay bribes to the doctors, the cops and the people holding chairs in the system and not ready to move a finger till their pockets are warmed.
The loss of his beloved daughter got followed up by the separation of his son named as Chandru who feels that his father is sticking to his outdated ideals and not moulding with time and that only resulted in the death of his beloved sister.Chandru becomes a corrupt person by all means and grabs a creamy (from corruption viewpoint) job in the Regional Transport Office, warming his pocket through bribes.
And that mission is a crusade against the corrupt who rule the roost in India, rendering agony and injustice to the innocent commoners every day, every hour, every minute.
Now the lone crusader Senapati starts ruthlessly killing the corrupt government servants and thus sending a message far and wide that any corrupt government servant won't be able to survive his attack.
Chandru amidst his romances with Aishwarya (Manisha Koiraala) and Sapna (Urmila Maatondkar) is going ahead with his corruption-soaked life till a lethal accident takes place leading to death of many children.
Now Senapati comes to know that his own blood is no better than the other corrupt people sucking the blood of the masses in every nook and corner of India.
Can he spare Chandru just because he is his son ?Hindustani is a movie whose story comes straight from the heart of a person who has devoted his heart and soul to his motherland but found that post-independence, all the ideals and values that he had fought for, have been thrown by his countrymen into the Indian Ocean.
Greed for corrupt wealth has turned the Indians into stone-hearted fellows for whom money supersedes over everything noble, just and human.
Freedom fighters leave for their heavenly abodes one after another as their age takes over them.
We did not fight for the freedom of our motherland and hence the pinch is felt relatively less by us, we get used to the corruption and degeneration of values and adjust with the same.
And thus the freedom-fighter of this story raises arm to launch another freedom struggle in which the adversaries are his compatriots only.Director Shankar has directed his own story very well but only to the extent it shows Senapati (both young and old) and his activities.
When it comes to the activities of Senapati's young son Chandru, the movie appears to be no better than a regular Masaala movie made in India.
Songs, dances, romance, comedy; everything is unnecessarily imposed on the main story which is sensible and sensitive.
Either you make a hard-hitting movie or you make a Masaala entertainer.
And that's where the director - Shankar has disappointed.Performance wise talkiing, Kamal Haasan takes the cake.
He has done an excellent job especially as the old Senapati and quite sensibly has donned the wrinkled face to bring perfection to the persona being presented on the screen.
He has done well as the young son of also but the image that remains in the heart after the movie is that of the aged father only, the lone crusader against corruption.With my highest regards to the fictional Senapati of this movie, I will support every such person who undertake such a mission to eliminate the corrupt.
However at the same time, I also underscore that killing eliminates the corrupt individual and not the corrupt mentality which has spread across the length and width of our country like poison dissolved in a pond.
Hindustani is a movie about a man who loses his daughter to the condition that is aroused as a result of corrupt officials.
He wants to get things done the right way, but he realizes is that the officials could have prevented only if they cared for a person's life.
The result of this he becomes a serial killer of corrupt officials.
The movie also contains story of his wife and son and women who he likes.
Sadly his son chose's wrong means for his development just like those corrupt officials.
This results in ending which shows son killed by his own father.It is very much true that some people will get better only if nourished with fear.
I liked the way how character of Hindustani is constructed.
He used to be a freedom fighter who was expert in a fighting art from ancient India, thus capable of killing a person easily.
I did not like the masala part which included his son much.
I liked the way how his justice prevailed even against his family members.
He punished his own son for being corrupt, thus setting a new level of fear which was on par despite of any government policy.
A film recommended highly.Rating: 8.0/10.
Nice movie with an unusual storyline.
Hindustani is a very good film with an unusual storyline.
Kamal Hasan rocked in his double role as a freedom fighter and the freedom fighter's son.
I hope that Bollywood directors would try to utilize his talents like S.
Manisha Koirala is good but not great.
Urmila Matondkar is a notch above Manisha and she shows a flair for comedy the very first time with this film.
I loved her scenes with Kamal Hassan and Manisha though her character doesn't come across as full-fledged at the end.
Sukanya as the old Kamal Hassan's wife and Kasthuri as his daughter were good too.
INDIAN " STAND UP AND SALUTE.".
The movie was excellent.
The movie has many good messages against corruption.
Kamal Haasan's acting, BGM and songs in the movie and Shankar's direction were main highlights in the movie.
The movie was interesting and not at all boring.
Technologically next level - lacks of story depht.
All in all the movie "Indian" by Shankar is in technological aspects up to another level in the end of the 90's of the tamil cinema.
People who have watched some Shankar movies can expect a similiar theme to be handled.
The movie is about an old indian veteran fighter named Senapathy played by the legendary Kamal Hassan who is supposed to represent the good and supportive side of the Indian.
Due to personal losses he decided to fight against the corruption in government and society.
The film follows aswell the life of his son(also portrayed by Kamal) who is annoyed by his father and follows a different path.
The whole movie is now about the cleaning process of the Indian goverment and how the actions of father and son collide.
The outstanding parts are the new technological experiments of Shankar and the fact, how there is not a clear antagonist in person.
It was a nice effort by Shankar to try something new and develop.
Especially in the songs the VFX attempts have been good for that time.
Then the character development and the performances were a big plus for the movie.
The story of both father and son could match up and link in a neat way.
I liked the way of the choice of an innocent looking old man as a veteran.
Nontheless Kamal gave a good performance.
Now let me come to the worse part of the movie - the lack of story-depth.
The story of Indian was very one-sided and simple minded.
The corruption in India was shown very dramatic and successfully.
But while only the corruption was shown, there was nothing that justified the actions of Senapathy.
This makes the movie actually to the complete opposite of Death Note, which handled the topic of justice well.
The methods of Senapathy were not only absurd and unhuman, but they wouldn't work in the real world aswell, because the corruption is more complicated and the government is not that scared.
On top of that this is a disgrace to the all mighty actions of the true Indian pride Mahitma Gandhi.
Sadly this movie positions the complete opposite of Gandhi's hopes.
All in all it's a decent movie with a lot of star power, which was also a big milestone in technological aspects in Indian Cinema history.
Worth watching for Kamal Hassan's Impressive Performance and Special Effects......
"Hindustani" is a Hindi Version of a Tamil Movie and was also an official entry to Oscars in 1996.
The story of the movie involves the increasing corruption in government offices and how corruption has engulfed the public and country.
For cleaning the corruption, a veteran freedom fighter, who had fought for the country against the British ruler, sharpens his weapons and kills every corrupt official he encounters, including his own son.The story which the film tells is pretty questionable.
Is killing every corrupt official a right solution.
Despite a very improbable story, the film remains just compulsively watchable and you just feel like clapping when every corrupt official is killed; which explains how important it has been to wipe the roots of corruption.
Kamal Hassan in double role is the biggest strength of the film.
Especially in the role of an old fighter against corruption, Kamal Hassan excels and you just become compelled to clap for him.The film is pretty overlong though and many scenes and sequences seem to have no connection with the main theme.
The film uses superb special effects in the choreography and in the flashbacks showing the historic war against the British Rulers.
Urmila Matondkar and Manisha Koirala have very small roles in the film which they have done well and added glamour to the movie.
Overall, despite overlong and flawed, the film shall be remembered for a relevant issue the film raises and an excellent performance from Kamal Hassan.Rating: 3 stars out of 4.
Shankar's Churns Another Garbage, This Time It's A Patriotic Vigilant Crock.
I couldn't help but crack up when I heard that 'Indian' was India's entry to the Oscars.
'Indian' is pretty much just another patriotic vigilant film.
Kamal Hassan assumes a dual role.
He's stiff as the aged patriot Senapathy who wears the same monotonous facial expression throughout the entire film and as Chandra who hops around like a caricature.
Manisha Koirala and Urmila Matondkar do not have much screen time but they shine in their few scenes.
Anyway, other than A.R. Rahman's music, 'Indian' doesn't have much to offer.
S. Shankar needs to learn that a script comes first where filmmaking is concerned..
good movie and good performance..
probably one of the best movies to show why kamal has an is one of the best actors.
the movie deals with the elder kamal killing all the corrupt officials who accept bribe and who a cop chases him.
the elder kamal is a freedom fighter , he does not approve of bribing .
his son younger kamal leaves the home as his father denies giving bribe for job , and loosing his sister as his dad did not bribe the doctor for saving her.
he tries to cover the incident by bribing and ends up killed by his own father.the variations shown by the actor are amazing , and the best i have seen so far.
he is fat as a freedom fighter, lean as an old father and a bit intermediate as a son.
three variations in body in a single film, amazing.
Freedom fighter goes on a stabbing spree in drive against corruption.
Kamal Hassan under the pseudonym Indian goes on a stabbing spree after the death of his only daughter.
His aim to wipe out corruption in the Nation ends in a thrilling climax in which he has to kill his son, also played by Kamal.The movie, most noticed for its use of prosthetic make-up, graphics and an national award winning performance from Kamal, became a huge blockbuster of 90s Tamil cinema.Director Shankar, riding on a wave of success after his debut Gentleman and Kaadalan, cast Kamal in one of most expensive Tamil movies ever made.
Song sequences filled with graphics, flamboyant costumes and stunning cinematography by Jeeva were balanced with a lengthy flashback of the Indian freedom movement against Britain, where Senapathy, played by Kamal, joins Subash Chandra Bose in a Forest Gump-like sequence.Malayalam actor Nedumudi Venu plays a cop investigating the serial killings committed by Senapathy, who comes back from a retired life as a farmer to once again free India of corruption.
His son, Chandru, meanwhile has also turned corrupt and shockingly becomes an accomplice to the death of entire bus full of children.A couple of aspects of the movie stood out.
Kamal's stunning performance, AR Rehman's music (he hit back at critics of his background score as well) and Jeeva's cinematography especially in the song sequences.Shankar makes the message of the movie so loud and the violence graphic (though not much blood on camera) that this almost kills the movie.
Almost all actors expect Kamal, who is there in almost every frame, play two dimensional, superficial characters except for Nedumuni Venu, who performs his role with effortless ease that almost looks like he is being careless.The series of confrontations through the movie between the principled, though murderous father and the corrupt son form the crux of the movie.
The characters are actually presenting the two sides of the debate on corruption, but this is cleverly written into the script.
When performed by Kamal, these lines become more intense that they actually are involving the viewer in the story rather than its message.
A Single Freedom Fighters Attempt To Kill Money Related Problems , He kills His Own Son And Brings Fear To The Entire People Of The State!