Kachche Dhaage
Encyclopedia
Kachche Dhaage is a 1999 Hindi
action thriller film directed by Milan Luthria
and starring Ajay Devgan
, Saif Ali Khan
and Manisha Koirala
. The film, which features Devgan as a smuggler, delivering goods across the Rajasthan
-Pakistan
border, was filmed in the deserts of Rajasthan and in Switzerland
. It premiered on February 10, 1999 in Mumbai
.
A film under the same title, Kuchhe Dhaage
(spelling variation) was originally released in 1973, directed by Raj Khosla
and starred Vinod Khanna
, Moushumi Chatterjee and Kabir Bedi
.
whilst Dhananjay is a corporate yuppy from the city, with a high-flying lifestyle. Aaftab is in love with Rukshana (Manisha Koirala), but is rejected by her family because he is illegitimate. Dhanajay is dating Ragini (Namrata Shirodkar) and has his father's death to contend with.
When the brothers meet for the first time, they instantly loathe each other, having nothing in common. One night, Aaftab blows up a loaded truck while trying to steal from it and attracts a mass of unwanted enforcers. Soon, Aaftab is forced to send Dhananjay into a trap, but ends up with them both being handcuffed and escaping from the Border Security Force
, the Central Bureau of Investigation
, and the border mafia who are attempting to incriminate the brothers for anti-national activities and a murder. They escape on foot, in motorbikes, cars, stolen trucks and Aaftab is tied to the undercarriage of a moving goods train. They run into difficult circumstances on the run, not in the least made better by their hatred for each other. Despite their initial differences, the two gradually learn to like and understand each other, eventually proving their innocence.
described Devgan as "effective" but disapproved of Koirala's performance, believing it was wasted.Verma noted a similarity with that of Soldier in that there is a troubled hero, a great many red herrings and a mysterious villain who pulls all the strings but believed that Kachche Dhaage was a weaker film because it lacked the pace and focus.
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
action thriller film directed by Milan Luthria
Milan Luthria
Milan Luthria is an Indian film director of Hindi films. He is the son of noted hindi film director Raj Khosla. He is most known for his films, Taxi Number 9211 and Once Upon a Time in Mumbai .-Career:...
and starring Ajay Devgan
Ajay Devgan
Ajay Devgan , born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.He made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in the film and for which he won a Filmfare Best Debut Award...
, Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan is an Indian actor known for his work in Bollywood films. He is the son of the late former Nawab of Pataudi, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, and actress Sharmila Tagore. He has two sisters: Saba Ali Khan and actress Soha Ali Khan....
and Manisha Koirala
Manisha Koirala
Manisha B. Koirala is a Nepali-Indian actress who works in Indian films, as well as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and social activist. Koirala has primarily worked in Hindi cinema, though she has appeared in several Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films as well...
. The film, which features Devgan as a smuggler, delivering goods across the Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
-Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
border, was filmed in the deserts of Rajasthan and in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It premiered on February 10, 1999 in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
.
A film under the same title, Kuchhe Dhaage
Kuchhe Dhaage
Kuchhe Dhaage is a 1973 Bollywood action film directed by Raj Khosla. The film stars Vinod Khanna, Maushumi and Kabir Bedi. Laxmikant Pyarelal scored tuned lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi which were quite popular in those days. It is one of the big film of the year.-Cast:*Vinod Khanna ... Thakur...
(spelling variation) was originally released in 1973, directed by Raj Khosla
Raj Khosla
Raj Khosla was one of the top directors, producer and screenwriter in Hindi films from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was known for bringing in ‘neo-noir’ and style in Indian cinema since black & white times, and also as a "women's director" because he showcased actresses at their best. He is often...
and starred Vinod Khanna
Vinod Khanna
-Early life:Khanna was born to Kamla and Kishanchand Khanna, a textiles, dyes and chemicals businessman of Hindu Punjabi Khatri origin, on 6 October 1946, in Peshawar, British India . He has three sisters and one brother...
, Moushumi Chatterjee and Kabir Bedi
Kabir Bedi
Kabir Bedi is an Indian television and film actor. His career has spanned three continents including India, the United States and many European countries in three mediums: film, television and theatre. He is noted for his role as Emperor Shah Jahan in Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story...
.
Plot
Aaftab (Ajay Devgan ) and Dhananjay (Saif Ali Khan) are two step brothers who meet for the first time. Each one has a selfish approach to life; Aaftab is a petty smuggler, specializing in smuggling goods across the Rajasthan border into PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
whilst Dhananjay is a corporate yuppy from the city, with a high-flying lifestyle. Aaftab is in love with Rukshana (Manisha Koirala), but is rejected by her family because he is illegitimate. Dhanajay is dating Ragini (Namrata Shirodkar) and has his father's death to contend with.
When the brothers meet for the first time, they instantly loathe each other, having nothing in common. One night, Aaftab blows up a loaded truck while trying to steal from it and attracts a mass of unwanted enforcers. Soon, Aaftab is forced to send Dhananjay into a trap, but ends up with them both being handcuffed and escaping from the Border Security Force
Border Security Force
The Border Security Force is a border patrol agency of the Government of India. Established on December 1, 1965, it is one of the Central Armed Police Forces. Its primary role is to guard India's international borders during peacetime and also prevent transnational crime...
, the Central Bureau of Investigation
Central Bureau of Investigation
The Central Bureau of Investigation is a government agency of India that serves as a criminal investigation body, national security agency and intelligence agency. It was established on 1 April 1963 and evolved from the Special Police Establishment founded in 1941...
, and the border mafia who are attempting to incriminate the brothers for anti-national activities and a murder. They escape on foot, in motorbikes, cars, stolen trucks and Aaftab is tied to the undercarriage of a moving goods train. They run into difficult circumstances on the run, not in the least made better by their hatred for each other. Despite their initial differences, the two gradually learn to like and understand each other, eventually proving their innocence.
Cast
- Ajay Devgn as Aftab
- Saif Ali KhanSaif Ali KhanSaif Ali Khan is an Indian actor known for his work in Bollywood films. He is the son of the late former Nawab of Pataudi, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, and actress Sharmila Tagore. He has two sisters: Saba Ali Khan and actress Soha Ali Khan....
as Dhananjay Pandit 'Jai' - Manisha KoiralaManisha KoiralaManisha B. Koirala is a Nepali-Indian actress who works in Indian films, as well as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador and social activist. Koirala has primarily worked in Hindi cinema, though she has appeared in several Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films as well...
as Rukhsana - Namrata ShirodkarNamrata Shirodkar- Early life and family :Born on 22 January 1972 in a moderate Marathi-speaking family, Namrata Shirodkar is an Aquarian. She used to live in Khar, a suburb in Mumbai. Her sister is the actress Shilpa Shirodkar...
as Ragini Pandit - Sadashiv AmrapurkarSadashiv AmrapurkarSadashiv Amrapurkar is a popular actor who is well known for his performances in Marathi and Hindi films in the 1980s and 90s.He received the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role in 1991 for Sadak — the first time the award was instituted...
as CBI Officer Jadeja - Govind NamdeoGovind NamdeoGovind Namdeo is an Indian film actor. Govind made his debut as a corrupt cop in David Dhawan's Shola Aur Shabnam . He has acted in numerous A grade movies...
as Vaikunth - Maya Alagh as Mariam
- Anupam ShyamAnupam ShyamAnupam Shyam born Anupam Shyam Ojha on 20 September 1957 is an Indian film and television actor, who usually plays villainous or character roles. He most known for his role of Thakur Sajjan Singh in STAR Plus TV series Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya...
as Ramakant Pandit - Ishrat Ali as Maulvi
- Vineet KumarVineet KumarVineet Kumar is a veteran actor, well known for playing negative roles. He has done a number of Hindi films and television serials. He is sometimes credited as Vinit Kumar or Binit Kumar.-Early life:...
- Anu Kapoor
- Parmeet SethiParmeet Sethi-Personal life and education:Parmeet was educated in Mumbai. He passed out of Sydenham college of commerce. He married Archana Puran Singh, a film and television actress, on 30 June 1992. They have two sons...
(Cameo appearance) - Simran(Cameo appearance)
- Mahavir Shah as Dhananjay's Lawyer
- Rajeev Varma as Justice Nariman Sorabji
Critical response
The film received a mediocre reception. The film was described as having a weaker climax than some of the earlier action sequences although was praised for its scenery in Switzerland northwestern India. Suparn Verma of Rediff.comRediff.com
Rediff.com India is a news, information, entertainment, and shopping portal. It was founded in 1996 as "Rediff On The NeT" and is headquartered in Mumbai, India with offices in New Delhi and New York City, USA....
described Devgan as "effective" but disapproved of Koirala's performance, believing it was wasted.Verma noted a similarity with that of Soldier in that there is a troubled hero, a great many red herrings and a mysterious villain who pulls all the strings but believed that Kachche Dhaage was a weaker film because it lacked the pace and focus.
Box office
The film was an above average success grossing Rupees 19,00,00,000 at the box office.Soundtrack
The soundtrack, which featured a number of Punjabi folk tunes, proved popular amongst non Hindi audiences of the film.The music was composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.- Band Lifafa Dil Mera - Kumar SanuKumar SanuKumar Sanu Kumar Sanu Kumar Sanu (alias Kedarnath Bhattacharya , born in Kolkata, is a leading Indian Bollywood playback singer. He was awarded the Filmfare Best Male Playback Award over five consecutive years. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2009....
, Lata MangeshkarLata MangeshkarLata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional... - Ek Jawani Teri - Alka YagnikAlka YagnikAlka Yagnik is an Indian singer who is ranked among the best Hindi playback singers of all time. She is a seven-time winner of the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award as well as a two-time recipient of the prestigious National Film Awards...
, Kumar Sanu - Upar Khuda Aasmaan Neeche - Female Lata Mangeshkar
- Upar Khuda Aasmaan Neeche - Male - Sukhwinder SinghSukhwinder SinghSukhwinder Singh, Born as Sukhi Singh Lubana is an Indian singer best known for working as Bollywood playback artist. Singh is famous for singing "Chaiyya Chaiyya" for which he won the Best Male Playback Award at the 1999 Filmfare Awards. The song, from Mani Ratnam's 1998 film Dil Se, was composed...
- Dil Pardesi Ho Gaya - Kumar Sanu , Lata MangeshkarLata MangeshkarLata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
- Khali Dil Nahi - Alka YagnikAlka YagnikAlka Yagnik is an Indian singer who is ranked among the best Hindi playback singers of all time. She is a seven-time winner of the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award as well as a two-time recipient of the prestigious National Film Awards...
, Hans Raj HansHans Raj HansHans Raj Hans is an Indian Punjabi language singer.Early lifeHans was born in Shafipur, a village near Jalandhar, Punjab, India. He is the second son of Late Sardar Arjan Singh Ji and Mata Ajit Kaur Ji . Hans had no musical history in his family, yet he began singing at a young age. Hans... - Pyar Nahi Karna -Alka YagnikAlka YagnikAlka Yagnik is an Indian singer who is ranked among the best Hindi playback singers of all time. She is a seven-time winner of the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award as well as a two-time recipient of the prestigious National Film Awards...
, Kumar SanuKumar SanuKumar Sanu Kumar Sanu Kumar Sanu (alias Kedarnath Bhattacharya , born in Kolkata, is a leading Indian Bollywood playback singer. He was awarded the Filmfare Best Male Playback Award over five consecutive years. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2009.... - Is Shaan-e-Karam ka kya kehna - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan