Sarfarosh

It is a 1999 Hindi film starring Aamir Khan, Sonali Bendre, Nassiruddin Shah with others. It is directed by John Mattew Matthan. He began the research in 1992. Seven years later the film was released. It has elaborate sequences & details that give us the hint of the years spent in research. It was remade in Telagu as ‘Astram’ (2006) with Vishnu Manchu & Anushka Shetty. Earlier A Kannada remake ‘Satyameva Jayate’ in 2001 with Devaraj.

It deals with an Indian police officer’s quest to stop cross-border terrorism. Ajay Singh Rathod is the very personification of those honest, upright & patriotic officers we have in our services.

The opening sequence of terror feels so real & scary, it feels we have chosen a wrong film but the next sequence brings us back to the daily life. Then when these two twine, we get the events happening around in new light.

The gazal singer has us in his palm with the gentle gazal with the lead pair in their college. How their romance blooms till he changes the college. Both are soft & believable.

When she goes out with him, a man is chasing them. She walks up to him & asks why. She is so crazy & cute you just love her from the word go. Aamir Khan then tells her he is Ajay Singh Rathod, the officer. To which she has the reply, ” Aur mein Junagarh ki maharani!’ I really liked her then! Not many people can carry such a role with belief.

The film went on to bag the National award for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment. Along with best editing, screenplay, dialogue & critics award for the best movie at the Filmfare.

Aamir Khan is known to give the awards ceremony a miss & has never been awarded as the best actor. But then what is an award? When he is so special to all his fans. They wait for his next film to release. It may or may not be a hit but people go to watch him!