Lakshya (film)
Encyclopedia
Lakshya is a 2004
Bollywood
film directed by Farhan Akhtar
, with stars Hrithik Roshan
, Preity Zinta
, Amitabh Bachchan
, Om Puri
and Boman Irani
. Roshan plays the role of Lieutenant (later Acting Captain) Karan Shergill, who leads his team (initially 12, falling to 6 members) to victory over the Pakistani troops. It is a fictional story based on the historical events of the 1999 Kargil Conflict. It turned out to be a commercial flop, yet has garnered positive reviews and has achieved the status of a cult movie.
) is a young man who has no actual goal in mind or plans for his future. He represents those urban youth in modern India, who have money but little ambition or purpose in their lives. His father is a businessman; his brother is a successful individual living in America, but Karan is drifting along. His girlfriend, Romi (Preity Zinta
), a student activist and reporter who espouses fashionable causes out of well-meaning sincerity, tells him he needs to find a goal in life. When a friend announces he is going to join the Indian Military Academy
, Karan applies as well, despite dissent from his parents.
Karan's first days at the IMA is a disaster. Because he is indisciplined and unused to a spartan existence, he keeps getting into trouble at the academy. Upset, he leaves the academy without permission, sneaking over the wall. Back home, his parents are unsurprised and even though they urge him to join the family business, they are disappointed with the way their son has turned out, especially in comparison to his elder brother. Romi, meanwhile, is tired of his aimless and indecisive ways and calls off their relationship. Karan finally comes to terms with his situation and makes his decision. He returns to the IMA, takes his punishment, and becomes a focused, disciplined cadet leader, graduating as an officer Lieutenant Karan Shergill.
Lt. Karan Shergill (the starting rank for all new commissioned officers in the Indian Army) is posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment
, commanded by Col. Sunil Damle (Amitabh Bachchan
) somewhere in the Kargil sector, and handles his responsibilities well. From an immature teenager Karan transforms into a mature officer, he finally decides the essence of his life or his goal.
Karan comes home on leave and finds out that Romi is getting engaged and goes to the ceremony to congratulate her. Back at home Karan is recalled to his post as his leave is cut short due to outbreak of hostlities in Kargil. He reports back to his post where he is promoted to the rank of Acting Captain . His battalion CO briefs the officers on the latest situation. The battalion has been assigned to secure Point 5179, crucial vantage point dominating the army's main supply line, the NH1D.
The first part of the assault is successful and battalion destroys the enemy's screening units with Karan cited for his bravery in saving another officer's life. In the second phase of the assault Karan's unit engages in a failed attempt to storm and capture the Pakistani strongholds located on the mountain
. The Pakistanis have the advantage due to their strategic position, and deal the unit heavy losses during the attack.
Capt. Karan Shergill and a group of 12 are next given orders to encircle the enemy position and attack it from behind. To do this, they must scale a 1000-ft wall of rock. After the unit sustains an attack in a grass field and loses their commanding officer, the remaining men scale the cliff and attack the Pakistani stronghold from behind during the night. The movie ends with Col. Damle looking out across the mountains the next morning, to see Capt. Karan hoisting the Indian flag atop the ruins of the stronghold. Later, it is revealed that Karan and Romi reunite.
Bollywood films of 2004
A list of films produced by the Bollywood film industry based in Mumbai in 2004:-Top grossing films:The top ten grossing films at the Indian box office in 2004.-2004:-External links:* at the Internet Movie Database...
Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film directed by Farhan Akhtar
Farhan Akhtar
Farhan Akhtar is an Indian filmmaker, script writer, actor, playback singer, lyricist, film producer in Hindi cinema and a television host.His directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi...
, with stars Hrithik Roshan
Hrithik Roshan
Hrithik Roshan is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films.After having appeared in films as a child actor in the 1980s, Roshan made his film debut in a leading role in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai for which Roshan earned his Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Male Debut...
, Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu, Punjabi and English language films. After graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier the same year...
, Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
, Om Puri
Om Puri
Om Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
and Boman Irani
Boman Irani
Boman Irani is an Indian film and theatre actor and photographer. Irani began his acting career in theatre and moved to film in 2000 at the age of 44 with a role in Josh...
. Roshan plays the role of Lieutenant (later Acting Captain) Karan Shergill, who leads his team (initially 12, falling to 6 members) to victory over the Pakistani troops. It is a fictional story based on the historical events of the 1999 Kargil Conflict. It turned out to be a commercial flop, yet has garnered positive reviews and has achieved the status of a cult movie.
Plot
Karan Shergil (Hrithik RoshanHrithik Roshan
Hrithik Roshan is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films.After having appeared in films as a child actor in the 1980s, Roshan made his film debut in a leading role in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai for which Roshan earned his Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Male Debut...
) is a young man who has no actual goal in mind or plans for his future. He represents those urban youth in modern India, who have money but little ambition or purpose in their lives. His father is a businessman; his brother is a successful individual living in America, but Karan is drifting along. His girlfriend, Romi (Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta
Preity Zinta is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu, Punjabi and English language films. After graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier the same year...
), a student activist and reporter who espouses fashionable causes out of well-meaning sincerity, tells him he needs to find a goal in life. When a friend announces he is going to join the Indian Military Academy
Indian Military Academy
The Indian Military Academy, Dehradun is the officer training school of the Indian Army. IMA was established in 1932.-Demands for an Indian military training academy:...
, Karan applies as well, despite dissent from his parents.
Karan's first days at the IMA is a disaster. Because he is indisciplined and unused to a spartan existence, he keeps getting into trouble at the academy. Upset, he leaves the academy without permission, sneaking over the wall. Back home, his parents are unsurprised and even though they urge him to join the family business, they are disappointed with the way their son has turned out, especially in comparison to his elder brother. Romi, meanwhile, is tired of his aimless and indecisive ways and calls off their relationship. Karan finally comes to terms with his situation and makes his decision. He returns to the IMA, takes his punishment, and becomes a focused, disciplined cadet leader, graduating as an officer Lieutenant Karan Shergill.
Lt. Karan Shergill (the starting rank for all new commissioned officers in the Indian Army) is posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment
Punjab Regiment (India)
The Punjab Regiment of India was formed from the 2nd Punjab Regiment of theBritish Indian Army in 1947. It is one of the oldest regiments still in service in the Indian Army and has taken part in various battles and wars winning numerous honors for the same...
, commanded by Col. Sunil Damle (Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
) somewhere in the Kargil sector, and handles his responsibilities well. From an immature teenager Karan transforms into a mature officer, he finally decides the essence of his life or his goal.
Karan comes home on leave and finds out that Romi is getting engaged and goes to the ceremony to congratulate her. Back at home Karan is recalled to his post as his leave is cut short due to outbreak of hostlities in Kargil. He reports back to his post where he is promoted to the rank of Acting Captain . His battalion CO briefs the officers on the latest situation. The battalion has been assigned to secure Point 5179, crucial vantage point dominating the army's main supply line, the NH1D.
The first part of the assault is successful and battalion destroys the enemy's screening units with Karan cited for his bravery in saving another officer's life. In the second phase of the assault Karan's unit engages in a failed attempt to storm and capture the Pakistani strongholds located on the mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
. The Pakistanis have the advantage due to their strategic position, and deal the unit heavy losses during the attack.
Capt. Karan Shergill and a group of 12 are next given orders to encircle the enemy position and attack it from behind. To do this, they must scale a 1000-ft wall of rock. After the unit sustains an attack in a grass field and loses their commanding officer, the remaining men scale the cliff and attack the Pakistani stronghold from behind during the night. The movie ends with Col. Damle looking out across the mountains the next morning, to see Capt. Karan hoisting the Indian flag atop the ruins of the stronghold. Later, it is revealed that Karan and Romi reunite.
Cast
- Amitabh BachchanAmitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
as Colonel Suneil Damle - Hrithik RoshanHrithik RoshanHrithik Roshan is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films.After having appeared in films as a child actor in the 1980s, Roshan made his film debut in a leading role in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai for which Roshan earned his Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Male Debut...
as Capt. Karan Shergill - Preity ZintaPreity ZintaPreity Zinta is an Indian film actress. She has appeared in Hindi films of Bollywood, as well as Telugu, Punjabi and English language films. After graduating with a degree in criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in Dil Se in 1998 followed by a role in Soldier the same year...
as Romila Dutta - Om PuriOm PuriOm Puri is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.-Early life:...
as Subedar Pritam Singh - Sharad KapoorSharad KapoorSharad Kapoor is an Indian actor, who works in Hindi movies and television. Having debuted in Mera Pyara Bharat in 1994, Kapoor has acted in many films throughout his career, such as Lakshya and Josh....
as Maj. Binod Sengupta - Raj Zutshi as Maj. Kaushal Verma
- Sushant SinghSushant SinghSushant Singh is an Indian actor, born in 1971.-Biography:He hails from Bijnor District in Uttar Pradesh. He did his schooling from a residential public school in Nainital - Birla Vidya Mandir. He did his post graduation in English Literature from Kirori Mal College and was involved with the fine...
as Captain Jalal Akbar - 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...
as Pakistani Maj. Shahbaaz Humdani - Boman IraniBoman IraniBoman Irani is an Indian film and theatre actor and photographer. Irani began his acting career in theatre and moved to film in 2000 at the age of 44 with a role in Josh...
as Karan's father - Lilette Dubey as Mrs. Dutta, Romila's mother
- Sanjay SinghSanjay SinghDr. Sanjay Singh/Sinh is a member of the Parliament of India, Lok Sabha from Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, earlier was elected from Amethi / Amethi in India from 1998 to 1999 and earlier a member of Rajya Sabha from 1990 to 1996. He has been a controversial political figure...
as Capt. Manjit Singh Dhingra - Aditya Srivastav as Pradeep
- Amit Behl as Company Commander (I.M.A.)
- Ranvir ShoreyRanvir ShoreyRanvir Shorey is an Indian actor and former VJ. Since making his debut in Ek Chotisi Love Story , he has starred in a number of high profile films such as Jism and Lakshya...
as Tarsem Singh - Kushal PunjabiKushal PunjabiKushal Punjabi is an Indian film and television actor, who won the TV reality game show, Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout, the Indian version of internationally popular "Wipeout" in February 2011, taking home the prize of 5 million.-Early life and family:...
as Raj Tilak Singh - Prashant Chainani as Capt. Vishal Srivastav
- Shakeel KhanShakeel KhanShakeel Ahmed Khan is a former Pakistani cricketer who played one ODI in 1987.- References :...
- Nawab Shah as Maj. Satish Babbar
- Abir Goswami as Capt. (Dr.) Sudhir Mishra
- Abhimanyu Shekhar Singh as Adjutant Major Pratap Singh
- Ashok KumarAshok KumarAshok Kumar also fondly called Dadamoni was an Indian film actor. Born Kumudlal Ganguly in Bhagalpur, Bengal Presidency he attained iconic status in Indian cinema...
as Babulal - Surendra PalSurendra PalSurendra Pal is an Indian film and television character actor who is best known for his television roles of Dronacharya in Mahabharat, Amatya Rakshas in Chanakya and Tamraj Kilvish in Shaktiman.Surendra Pal was born in 1953....
as a Commandant (I.M.A.) - Parvin Dabbas
- K K Raina
- Amrish PuriAmrish PuriAmrish Singh Puri , ; 22 June 1932 – 12 January 2005 was an iconic theater and film actor from India, who was a key player in the Indian theater movement that picked up steam in the 1960s. He worked with notable playwrights of the time, such as Satyadev Dubey and Girish Karnad...
as Brig. Gen. Gautam Puri (Special Appearance)
Reception
Lakshya grossed $5,859,242 worldwide including $753,600 from North American markets and $5,105,642 from other markets.Wins
- Best CinematographerFilmfare Best Cinematographer AwardThe Filmfare Best Cinematography Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.The awards started in 1953-Superlatives:Most AwardsKamal Bose - 5Radhoo Karmakar - 4Fali Mistry - 3Jal Mistry - 3...
- Christopher Popp - Best ChoreographyFilmfare Best Choreography AwardThe Filmfare Best Choreography Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.Although the awards started in 1953, the best choreography category did not start until 1989.-Superlatives:Most Awards...
- Prabhu Deva SundaramPrabhu Deva SundaramPrabhu Deva is an Indian dancer, choreographer, film actor and director. He has performed in a wide range of dancing styles.- Early life and career :...
Nominations
- Best ActorFilmfare Best Actor AwardThe Filmfare Award for Best Actor is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954....
- Hrithik RoshanHrithik RoshanHrithik Roshan is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films.After having appeared in films as a child actor in the 1980s, Roshan made his film debut in a leading role in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai for which Roshan earned his Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Male Debut... - Best DirectorFilmfare Best Director AwardThe Filmfare Best Director Award is one of the main awards presented given by the annual Filmfare Awards to recognise directors working in the Hindi film Industry. It was first presented in 1954 in the inaugural year.-Superlatives:...
- Farhan AkhtarFarhan AkhtarFarhan Akhtar is an Indian filmmaker, script writer, actor, playback singer, lyricist, film producer in Hindi cinema and a television host.His directorial debut Dil Chahta Hai won a National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi... - Best StoryFilmfare Best Story AwardThe Filmfare Award for Best Story is an given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a writer who wrote a film's story.-1950s:* 1955 Mukhram Sharma - Aulad...
- Javed AkhtarJaved AkhtarJaved Akhtar is a poet, lyricist and scriptwriter from India. Some of his most successful work was done in the late 1970s and 1980s with Salim Khan as half of the script-writing duo credited as Salim-Javed...