Ardh Satya (1983)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

Govind Nihalani

Writers:

Dilip Chitre (poems)
Vasant Dev (dialogue)

Release Date:

19 August 1983 (India)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Awards:

7 wins

Cast

Om Puri	...	Sub-inspector Anant Velankar
Smita Patil	...	Jyotsna Gokhale
Amrish Puri	...	Anant's Father
Shafi Inamdar	...	Inspector Hyder Ali
Achyut Potdar	...	Inspector Patil
Sadashiv Amrapurkar	...	Rama Shetty
Naseeruddin Shah	...	Mike Lobo
Prabhakar Patankar
Rafique Mukadam
Madhuri Purandare
Shanta Gokhale
Ila Arun
Leela Jariwala
Arun Kakde
Suresh Bhagwat

Also Known As:

Half Truth

Runtime:

130 min

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Color:

Color

Certification:

India:A

Filming Locations:

Rajkamal Studios, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Company:

Neo Films

Trivia:

The entire film was shot as per the script written by Vijay Tendulkar. But during the climax, Govind Nihalani somehow had a different vision than the writer. But Vijay Tendulkar was too senior a person and Govind Nihalani did not want to let him down. So Govind Nihalani shot two ends for the film - one that was written by Vijay Tendulkar in the script and other that was his own vision. He showed both versions to the writer and finally Vijay Tendulkar gave Govind Nihalani consent to retain his own ending.

Powerful

"Ardh Satya" is one of the finest film ever made in Indian Cinema. Directed by the great director Govind Nihalani, this one is the most successful Hard Hitting Parallel Cinema which also turned out to be a Commercial Success. Even today, Ardh Satya is an inspiration for all leading directors of India.

The film tells the Real-life Scenario of Mumbai Police of the 70s. Unlike any Police of other cities in India, Mumbai Police encompasses a Different system altogether. Govind Nihalani creates a very practical Outlay with real life approach of Mumbai Police Environment.

Amongst various Police officers & colleagues, the film describes the story of Anand Velankar, a young hot-blooded Cop coming from a poor family. His father is a harsh Police Constable. Anand himself suffers from his father's ideologies & incidences of his father's Atrocities on his mother. Anand's approach towards immediate action against crime, is an inert craving for his own Job satisfaction. The film is here revolved in a Plot wherein Anand's constant efforts against crime are trampled by his seniors.This leads to frustrations, as he cannot achieve the desired Job-satisfaction. Resulting from the frustrations, his anger is expressed in excessive violence in the remand rooms & bars, also turning him to an alcoholic.

The Spirit within him is still alive, as he constantly fights the system. He is aware of the system of the Metro, where the Police & Politicians are a inertly associated by far end. His compromise towards unethical practice is negative. Finally he gets suspended.

The Direction is a master piece & thoroughly hard core. One of the best memorable scenes is when Anand breaks in the Underworld gangster Rama Shetty's house to arrest him, followed by short conversation which is fantastic. At many scenes, the film has Hair-raising moments.

The Practical approach of Script is a major Punch. Alcoholism, Corruption, Political Influence, Courage, Deceptions all are integral part of Mumbai police even today. Those aspects are dealt brilliantly.

Finally, the films belongs to the One man show, Om Puri portraying Anand Velankar traversing through all his emotions absolutely brilliantly.