Movie Reviews

Shakti - The Power

Producer: Sridevi Kapoor
Director: Krishna Vamsi
Starring: Nana Patekar, Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, Deepti Naval, Ritu Shivpuri, Jai Gidwani, Tiku Talsania, Vijay Raaz, Jaspal Bhatti, Special Appearances by Shahrukh Khan, Prabhu Deva & Aishwarya Rai
Released on: September 20, 2002

SYNOPSIS - Nandini (Karisma Kapoor) is a delicate yyyoung girl raised like a princess in Canada by her two doting uncles. She finds her ideal man in Shekhar (Sanjay Kapoor) whom she marries regardless of his family background. Soon, Nandini gives birth to a son, Raja.

Things take a sudden turn after Shekhar visits his native village in India to see his ailing mother. Nandini and Raja accompany him.

The harsh realities of impoverished India strike Nandini and Raja as they undergo a long, roughshod journey through the countryside to finally arrive in a fortress-like haveli in Shekhar’s native village. But Nandini’s misery is far from over.

While she gets a heart-warming reception from her mother-in-law (Dipti Naval), her tyrannical father-in-law Narsimha (Nana Patekar) refuses to accept a modern girl as his bahu. However, Narsimha wants to take his grandson Raja under his wing.

Nandini takes stoically Narsimha’s insults and his attempt to separate Raja from her. Her only hope is to return to Canada one day with Shekhar and Raja. Little does she know that the day she so much longs for will never come and she will have to fight her father-in-law’s hegemony alone?

Rest of the film shows Nadini’s transition from a vulnerable girl to an audacious mother who is willing to kill to save her only son! (Apna Ka Choice)

A lot of people wanted to watch Shakti because Karishma has acted really good in her last couple of movies such as Fiza and Zubeida. She's better in the arty type of movie. She's one of Bollywood's best actress. In addition, I think she has the best figure and is the best dressed actress. She has grown a lot as an actress since her Do Quadi days. I used to not like her but since Dil To Pagal Hai, I started to like her more and more.

Sanjay Kapoor has not been in that many films and the films that he has been in...he was unnoticed. He wasn't bad in Sirf Tum but didn't have such a great role that didn't show any acting skills. I was surprise to see him in Shakti. The only reason was because I thought Shahrukh was going to be in the lead. But since it is a Sridevi production, she gave her a little brother-in-law a role...so sweet.

Shahrukh in another guest appearance....I think. I thought he was going to have a big role but is his role going to be significant or not?

I still couldn't believe this is the same movie that Kajol turned down. Although she is my fave actress, I am glad Karishma took the role. Like I said after Fiza and Zubeida, she totally fit the role. I think Kajol could have pulled off the role but Karishma is a better choice than Kajol. I think it was the hype to see Kajol and Shahrukh again that hyped up some people. 

The storyline is inspired from "Not Without My Daughter." Of course there are remakes after remakes in Bollywood. I don't mind the remakes as long as the movie is enjoyable. I just think that Sanjay and Karishma should have started off married in the beginning because right after they got married, the pregnancy and their son growing up was rushed.

The performances were phenomenal. I think Nana Patekar is the best. He is a very good actor and deserves more recognition than he is getting. Karishma is good and gets better and better. Sanjay Kapoor does a very good job too. Wow to him. I think if even the right role, he will do good. He even looks cute in the movie at some scenes. Shahrukh is cute in his short role and see his signifance in the movie but his role was more of a comic relief. It was totally out of place. Even though Ishq Kamina is the best song to watch in the movie, I thought it could have been deleted although Shahrukh and Aishwarya look so cute dancing. Also his death was so dragged...it was sad but dragged.  Shahrukh's appearance was mostly there for comic relief.

Overall, the movie is good. I liked it. Even though there is violence, it's not that I haven't seen a movie with violence before and this movie definitely isn't the worst or anything.

My rating - 8 out of 10

NiCKi

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