Vaastav: The Reality
Tags: revenge, murder, violence, romantic

Plot synopsis:
Vaastav opens with a family performing the funeral rites of a person on a beach. When the young son of the deceased asks his grandmother all about the deceased, she begins to narrate the story.
As the film opens, Raghunath Namdev Shivalkar or "Raghu" (Sanjay Dutt) and his best friend Dedh Footiya (Sanjay Narvekar) (literally meaning "One and a half feet tall" in Hindi) struggle to find work in Mumbai. Raghu lives in a Mumbai Chawl with his retired father (Shivaji Satham), mother (Reema Lagoo) and a graduate but unemployed brother (Mohnish Behl). They decide to run a pav bhaji stall. But Raghu and Dedh Footiya accidentally kill a customer who turns out to be the brother of a notorious gangster, Fracture Bandya (Jack Gaud). Now on the run, the two of them soon kill Fracture Bandya and his men also, when the latter tries to find them and kill them both treacherously by arranging a meeting through Suleiman Bhai (Paresh Rawal), a middle man in the Mumbai underworld. Raghu and Dedh Footiya now end up in the Mumbai underworld.
Vitthal Kaanya (Ashish Vidyarthi), a rival gang lord, offers Raghunath (Raghu) and Dedh Footiya protection and later hires them both as hitmen. Raghunath becomes a respected hit man, with Dedh Footiya as his accomplice. With Raghunath in his gang, Vitthal Kaanya hits a peak in the Mumbai underworld. Later Raghunath is approached by the home minister Babban Rao (Mohan Joshi) and who asks Raghunath to work for him and uses Raghunath for his needs. Raghu agrees, much against the wishes of Assistant Inspector Kishore Kadam (Deepak Tijori), a good friend of Raghu, who continues to help him by advising him and providing inside information. Vitthal Kaanya is soon killed by rival gangsters.
While Babban Rao relies on Raghunath, there are some others who despise Raghunath and are waiting in the sidelines to see when he makes an error. Raghunath does so, and Babban Rao is soon under serious pressure from the public and government. He issues a shoot-to-kill warrant for Raghunath. Dedh Footiya is killed in an encounter. Then Raghu comes to know from Kishore that the police have been ordered to kill him in an "encounter". Raghu is now on the run, both from the police and Babban Rao's men. Raghunath knows now that he must protect his wife, parents, and family, as they too are in danger. He realizes that there is no escape from this harsh reality. He arranges to meet Babban Rao with the help of Suleman Bhai (Paresh Rawal) and kills Babban Rao as he would spoil others' lives like his in the future. In the process, Suleiman Bhai is also killed.
Unable to save himself from the police, Raghu comes back to his home and tells his mother to save him. He apparently has become crazy and starts hallucinating. His mother takes him away to safety. He tells her to take his gun and kill him, so she remembers how Raghu had once taught her how to use a gun, pulls the trigger and kills him.
As the film ends, the family is seen fulfilling the annual rites of Raghu on the Mumbai beach, as the film had begun, with Raghu's mother explaining all that happened to her young grandson.

Review: The talented Mahesh Manjrekar directs his second feature which centres around the character of a simple guy whose attempts to lead a normal life fail and as a result he becomes a merciless underworld don.
Many of the film's scenes are extremely moving.For the demanding role of Raghunath, Manjrekar casts Sanjay Dutt, one of the industry's most respected and loved stars, yet one of its most underrated actors.
Other cast members do a very good job, with Reema Lagoo delivering the most memorable performance of the lot as Raghu's tormented yet loving mother.
Sanjay Narvekar is quite effective as his best friend, while Namrata Shirodkar does a fine job as Sonu, a young prostitute with whom he falls in love.Vaastav is not without its flaws.
Do watch Vaastav, mainly to see Sanjay Dutt's performance..
Vaastav is probably the best movie ever created in Indian Cinema if not the best It should be in top 5 of every list .
Sanjay Dutt proves why he is one of the best "ACTORS" who stepped in bollywood and not many can claim that .
1st time for story, 2nd for Sanjay acting and 3rd for overall experience .
The Best Sanjay Dutt Film ever...
This is in my Top 10 Bollywood Best Movies of all time.
It is no doubt the Best Sanjay Dutt movie ever.
Sanjay Dutt received BEST Actor award from Filfare, Zee and International Indian Awards.
I did not expect much since Bollywood hasn't really made any realistic Gangster Movies (apart from Parinda) in the likes of Hollywood Classics (Scarface, Goodfellas, Godfather).
Vaastav is easily among the best Hindi Gangster Movie, others include (Company, Hathyar).
Sanjay dutt gives a powerhouse performance of his career.
Sanjay Dutt steals the show with one of the best performances of his career, better than Naam, Kabzaa and Hathyaar..
Satya is probably the best underworld film to come out Bollywood in recent years.
Vaastav is not flawless like Satya, but it has a gripping storyline, good direction and characterizations, and most importantly - Sanjay Dutt.This is probably the best role Sanjay Dutt has got his hands on since Khal-Nayak, and he takes full adavantage of it.
Sanjay Dutt does an excellent job as the guy gone astray.
Ektaa, Himani Shivpuri, Jack Gaud, Achyut Potdar, Sunil Shencle, Ganesh Yadav, and Kashmira Shah (in a special appearance) lend average support.The film is very well directed by the debutant Mahesh Manjrekar.
The film belongs to Sanjay Dutt all the way.
To sum it up Mahesh Manjrekar has a winner on his hand and Sanjay Dutt will get lots of accolades for this film.A Silver Jubilee (25 weeks run) HIT.
Sanjay Dutt in the role that was created for him, by far one of the best written, directed, and performed films ever to come out of Indian cinema.
Im not your average bollywood fan, in fact quite the opposite, i despise most productions that come out of the Indian film industry.
However, this movie is compelling from the first scene to the last, and although it has elements of the stereotypical bollywood film, the film itself illustrates a story that is gripping and intriguing.
Sanjay Dutt takes the lead role of Raghunat Namdev Shivalkar, and fulfills it to a frighteningly captivating effect.
Dutt who has had a life of controversy and turbulence himself, was perhaps best equipped to play this role like nobody else could.
This is bollywood at its rare finest, and it will not fail in living up to the trademark of the movie itself 'The Reality'.
Plot:Story Off A Normal Man Get's Dragged Into Crime Life And Pay With Life Cast:Sanjay Dutt As Raghunath "Raghu" Namdev Shivalkhar Namrata Shirodkar As Sonia Sanjay Narvekar As Dedh Foootya Mohnish Bahl As Vijaykanth Namdev Shivalkhar, Raghu's brother Shivaji Satam As Namdev, Raghu's father Reema Lagoo As Shanta, Raghu's mother Deepak Tijori As sub-inspector Kishore Kadam Paresh Rawal As Sulemaan Bhai (Mandavali Badshah) Mohan Joshi As Home Minister Babban Rao Ashish Vidyarthi As Vitthal Kaanya Performances:Cast Performances Is Great But Sanjay Dutt Steal Movie With Easily One Of Most Powerful Performance Ever Seen In Bollywood And Taking Home Is First Filmfare Best Actor Award Plus Award for Artistic Excellence And 2000 Screen Weekly Awards.
the best Sanjay movie ever.
Though almost everyone is just bragging about Sanjay Dutt's acting performance, the storyline itself made him important one.
let it, Raghu's forced start in crime world to the ending words of wisdom through his Mother about 'having a choice' are grim reality unveiled by script.
I love watch this twice a year , because story of become gangster and love between mother and son gives you lots of emotions.
Yet i found myself intrigued by this film in which Sanjay Dutt plays a most intriguing role.
Yet i found myself intrigued by this film in which Sanjay Dutt plays a most intriguing role.
Sanjay Dutt is the anti-hero of this movie which rollicks through his early years and shows him to grow up a confused and very bitter human being.
Sanjay Dutt is the anti-hero of this movie which rollicks through his early years and shows him to grow up a confused and very bitter human being.
True to Bollywood style, it has it's fair share of "romance scenes" and the never ending songs, but the fairly original and interesting script, and some fairly decent acting by Dutt makes up for the rest of the movie's failings.
True to Bollywood style, it has it's fair share of "romance scenes" and the never ending songs, but the fairly original and interesting script, and some fairly decent acting by Dutt makes up for the rest of the movie's failings.
Similarly, if we take boxoffice success as the difference between what the movie (or the producer-director) intended to do and what it actually did - then Vaastav is a FLOP.
Mujhe Kuch Whatever Hai is a HIT.Vaastav was indeed a good effort gone somewhat astray from Mahesh Manjrekar.
It revolves around Sanjay Dutt - the chawl guy- becoming Raghubhai the dreaded and much-utilized Don. Storyline is predictable and more is the ending.
The positive side of making a movie out of a predictable storyline is you have got to be real good in presentation.
In fact, it appears more than a few times that as if the film doesn't at all want anyone to sympathize with the main character anyway.Raghu's father Shivaji Satam is just a father.
We see Raghu's mother (played by Reema Laagu who actually looks of the same age as Sanjay) never really voicing anything against her son.
At the end though she plays Mother India as if that was the thing she wanted from the day Raghu was born.
Perhaps this was the first time a Miss India playing prostitute )after Zeenat Aman) made her acting so hyped.This movie was released during 1999.
And in 'Jungle ki Beta' he played Tarzan!Overall, Vaastav was and will remain the landmark of Mahesh Manjrekar.
Vaastav:The Reality,Watch it for Sanjay Dutt ,he's simply superb in this one...
Vaastav is about Ragunath Namdev Shivalkhar aka Raghu Bhai(Sanjay Dutt),he lives in a lower middle class family in a Chawl of Mumbai,he's a brat and has no interest in studies whatsoever,and is always having fun with his best friend Dedhfutiya(Sanjay Narvekar)and other friends,because of his nature his parents(Father:Namdev Shivalkhar(Shivaji Satam) and Mother:Shanta(Reema Lagoo)) and brother Vijay Namdev Shivalkhar(Mohnish Behl) are always angry with him ,so on Raghu's insistence his father withdraws 40,000 from his provident fund and with that money Raghu opens a Pav Bhaaji stall, they run their shop smoothly,until one day 2 local goons mess with Dedhfutiya and beat him up,hence a fight starts and Raghu accidentally kills a goon who is the brother of a local Don Fracture Bandya(Jack Gaud).Afraid and terrified Raghu and Dedhfutiya go absconding,Fracture Bandya goes crazy searching them and even takes the help of police to find them but it's of no use as Raghu and Dedhfutiya go hiding in the place of another Don 'Vitthal Kaanya'(Ashish Vidyarthi) with a help of an Sub Inspector friend Kishore Kadam(Deepak Tijori),Vitthal Kaanya was once the boss of 'Fracture Bandya',but is now losing his hold over the city due to increasing power of Fracture Baandya.Fracture Bandya comes to know that Raghu is hiding with Vitthal Kaanya,and meets Middle Man Mandvaali Baadshah 'Suleiman Bhai'(Paresh Rawal) asking Vithal Kaanya to pay a huge ransom amount to save Raghu's life, so a meeting is arranged in a restaurant with a promise that no guns will be bought,but Suleiman does not trusts Fracture Bandya and get's a gun attached under one of the restaurant's table.In the restaurant Raghu and Dedhfutiya meet Francture Bandya and his brother'Chota Fracture'(Ganesh Yadav), Fracture Bandya arranges for a gun from one of the waiters and is about to kill Raghuand Dedhfutiya when Raghu takes out the gun attached below the table and kills Fracture Bandya, however his brother escapes...Raghu becomes the most powerful and feared and the richest don of Mumbai Underworld and starts working for Maharshtra Home Minister Babban Rao Kadam(Mohan Joshi),Raghu arranges for a job for his brother Vijay and also gets him married to Puja(Ekta Sohini)using his fear antics.Raghu becomes a smoker, an alcohol and cocaine addict and falls in love and marries a prostitute Sonia(Namrata Shirodkar) at a brothel owned by Lakshmi Akka(Himani Shivpuri).Soon Chota Fracture gets Vitthal Kaanya killed so Raghu and his gang kill Chota Fracture with his entire gang.Raghu also kills a group of hoodlums who eve tease Puja(Vijay's wife).
Babban Rao Kadam behaves as if Raghu is his own son and even sends Raghu on a honeymoon with Sonia to Switzerland on his cost,Raghu does many killings on Babban's including a Muslim preacher which leads to riots.Babban sends Raghu to threaten a Parsi person to empty a land,after Signing the required papers for emptying the land the Parsi starts abusing Raghu and Babban so Raghu loses his head and kills the Parsi, This incident gets a lot of media publicity ,so due to increasing pressure by media on his links with the underworld Babban shows his true color and gives an encounter order for Raghu, Dedhfutiya and all Raghu's gang members,which leads to encounter of Dedhfutiya and all the Raghu's gang members by the police..So Raghu asks Suleimaan to arrange a secret meeting with Babban where he will surrender to police but he comes and kills Babban but unfortunately Suleiman also gets killed in the meeting ,Raghu goes running to his secret house in Alibaug where he has hidden his family,fed up with his life and fear of police encounter he tells his mother to please kill him which she obliges to do..The biggest strength of the movie is Sanjay Dutt who gives a performance of his life ,to put in mild words he gives one of the best performances in Bollywood history and deservedly won Filmfare best actor for it,even making the legendary actor Dilip Kumar to say that if there is a performance in Bollywood he won't be able to do it would be Sanjay Dutt's in Vaastav,all other performances are good too and specially of Reema Lagoo as Raghu's mother and Sanjay Narvekar as Dedhfutiya.The direction is excellent by Mahesh Manjrekar(his debut as director),The dialogues are very powerful throughout the movie with'PACHCHAS TOLA' dialogue and climax dialogues being outright brilliant,the cinematography by Vijay Arora is very good adding to the intense, powerful and realistic feel of the movie,the background score by Sandeep Chowta is perfectly apt for the movie, the music by Jatin-Lalit is good too and suits the movie.At the box office the film was only a moderate success but surely deserved more,although the film won many awards and has very high critical acclaim, Vaastav was followed by Haathyar as a sequel in which Raghu's son grows up to be a don played by Sanjay Dutt again,but was not as good.VAASTAV IS A MATERPIECE AND STRONGLY RECOMMENDED,AMONG THE BEST GANGSTER MOVIES EVER MADE IN BOLLYWOOD..RATING-9/10.
Vaastav is in my top 10 Hindi film list of all time and in my opinion in the Indian gangster genre only GOW2 and Satya are ahead of this.
Vaastav tells the story of a lower-middle class family whose eldest son has no choice but to accept and embrace the Indian crime world of Mumbai after he and his friends accidentally kill a local gangster's brother.
Why do I rate this film so highly is essentially the performance of Sanjay Dutt as Raghu Bhai a character we slowly see transform to a manic and terrifying Gangster whose rage we see slowly burning and building leading to the explosive climax absolutely superb.
Dutts portrayal of Raghu Bhai is easily the greatest on screen gangster portrayal of Hindi cinema..
These actually tell you whether a movie is truly good.
A great one will leave you falling in love all over again, and a not-so-great one will show its true colors in the second run, sometimes even after grossing highly in its first run.And the pleasure of seeing a real good movie, all over again, is one of those still unparalleled in life.
This is the film that rewrote the futures of both Sanjay Dutt and Mahesh Manjrekar.This masterpiece from Manjrekar starts off on a light note highlighting the simplicity of a family of four.
Raghu (Dutt) and his elder brother (Mohnish Behl) are struggling to find a proper job.
Raghu finds peace and success in a pav-bhaji stall put up by him with the help of a few friends.Depicting the true nature of life in the Mumbai chawls, we see how the course of events can so easily lead the average youngster astray.
And the role played by 'ded-phutia', the best friend of Raghu, is absolutely breathtaking, albeit a little melodramatic.But what was hugely touted as the major reason of the film's success was its ending, where we have a very sensitive portrayal of the futility of violence, as Raghu is killed by a bullet fired from his own gun and by his own mother.The screenplay and editing is crisp and goes lengths in establishing the high quality of the film.
An item number by Kashmira Shah went down very well with the audience, as did the rest of the music by Anu Malik.But what is definitely the very essence and character of the movie is the unparalleled rendering of the cocaine-addicted underworld don, played by Sanjay Dutt as only he can.
It brought back memories of the hugely successful 'Khalnayak', where Dutt had given a whole new meaning to the role of an underworld goon.Overall, a must watch for those who had missed it earlier, and for those who had liked it the first time itself, this is as good a time as any for a flashback..
Vaastav is a brilliant film which portrays story of two individuals living in chawl growing as biggest criminals in Mumbai, after an incidence with other criminals.Direction: Awesome direction from Mahesh Manjrekar.Screenplay and Cinematography: : Screen play and cinematography of chawl, cooking chicken, matki breaking scenario, paw bhaji corner, hiding place, kotha, residing places, etc have been carved well.Tone: Tone is mainly how a new set of criminals take over and older ones get eliminated.
The film has Sanju yet again play a similar role to NAAM where we becomes a gangster.
The film has scenes lifted from GODFATHER and SCARFACE however yet the drama between Sanju and Reema is well handled, the love story between Sanju and Namrata is clichéd yet has good moments.
Sanju's transformation is brilliantly handled, most notable is that Mohinish Behl is shown as a good character yet he has grey shades, he is shown as a practical man who leaves his chawl and settles with his wife in a flat as he doesn't want people to know he is Raghu's brother, though he goes later begging for help when his wife is stalked.
There are several superb scenes like Shivaji Satham-Sanju's emotional breakdown, Sanjay Dutt breaking down in his house front of Namrata Shirodkar after killing the Parsi, Sanjay Dutt being in trouble due to Mohan Joshi and the scene at Paresh's house The climax too is superb which was shot using 2 cameras(one inside and 1 outside) Ironically Sanju too was a drug addict and here too he plays 1 Direction by Mahesh Manjerekar is good Music by Jatin Lalit is decentSanjay Dutt is splendid in his act which he did before but this film has an edge, He plays the role like only he can, his last few minutes are the best performance he ever gave till then.
Sanjay Narvekar is good as Dedh Phutiya, Namrata Shirodkar is good too Reema Lagoo though just 1 year older to Sanju in real life is superb as his mother, Shivaji Satham is good too,Mohinish and Ekta Behl are good Ashish Vidyarthi is okay, Paresh Rawal is good, Mohan Joshi is as usual Mahesh Manjerekar has a cameo in the song Apni To Nikal Padi rest are okay.
Vaastav is a film about a man named Raghu who rises to the top in underworld as the most feared guy who kills people.this is just the basic plot line i wrote above but you have to see the movie yourself i am not going to tell the full story.as far as the cast goes Sanjay Dutt was amazing here,this is one of his best & most remembered films ever,Namrita Shirodhkar was looking great the rest cast was impressive but the dialogs & story was really moving plus the music was real nice meri dunia & jawani se ab jang were great songs.this film came in 1999 its the best film but the camera work was bad & it was directed by mahesh manjrekar who later became an actor himself most people remember him in kaante 2002 as bali.anyway this film spawned a sequel too called Hatyar 2002.My rating for vaastav the reality is 10/10 must buy film recommended because there is a strong message in the film.