"The clash of the titans" read the boarding of Minerva theatre, Mumbai. Year 1982, film 'SHAKTI' -starcast include the tragedy king Dilip Kumar with the 'Badsaah of Bollywood'- Amitabh Bachchan. Add to it the notable Smita Patil, Raakhee Gulzar, and Amrish Puri. But everyone's eyes were stuck to the father-son dual combination. It hit the theatres and collections were 100 per cent in first two weeks. It was a hit, but it couldn't maintain the likes of SHAAN and SHOLAY.

The film had certain plus points for its doing well-mind you those were indirect factors. First Amitabh's fatal injury that he suffered in the film COOLIE. He was making a comeback; also the two giants were for the first time coupling, added further to the benefits.

The producer Mushir-Riyaz felt that the script was an excellent opportunity for Ramesh Sippy to use. Sippy amalgamated Dilip and Amitabh's confrontation, drama and emotion in a superb way. However, in some scenes we get the glimpse of DEEWAR and FARZ.

THE PLOT:

Dilip Kumar (Ashwini Kumar) is an honest cop who narrates the story to his grandson, who also wants to join the police force. During his reign Dilip Kumar was a honest police officer, for whom duty to the nation was above everything. His son Amitabh Bachchan (Vijay) is kidnapped by Amrish Puri (JK). Dilip Kumar does not budge a bit. Amitabh however escapes.

If childhood was painful, adulthood was all the more worse. Regular tiff's with his father makes, his leave home. Amitabh moves on to live with a hotel singer (Smita Patil). As if to rub salt on his father, he joins another don (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), who also happens to be Amrish Puri's adversary.

Amidst this, Amitabh's mother Raakhee Gulzar is killed. Vijay is furious. He breaks the jail. And kills JK. Law must take its course; Vijay is killed by his father.

Performance wise:

Dilip kumar has excelled in every role-play and is class apart in a police-officer role. Amitabh Bachchan performs with eyes. Intensity of his emotions added to his killing voice really is fatal. Raakhee is as graceful she can be. Add to that Smita Patil's heart-rending performance also speaks out. Anil Kapoor in his prime acts with an earnest effort.

Script & Direction

The combination of Salim-Javed with Ramesh Sippy dates back to their blockbuster SHOLAY was made. They combined once again in this earnest effort for it was hard nut to set the two giants in a minefield. Ramesh Sippy and Salim-Javed grapple with human emotions and come up with a film true to psychological realism.

Music:

Late R.D. Burman didn't have much to deliver in the movie but there were no musical situation in the film. There are only 3 songs with good tunes and works, but they fall too short for such a big film. The song, "Jaane Kaise Kab kaha..." sung by the musical duo of 'Lata-Kishore' stands apart in lovers list.

This film is not a romantic subject. It neglects lovemaking or sex exhibition. The picturisation of songs has nothing special to be mentioned with no specific or imaginative flights.

Though SHAKTI is not an action film it still had a sufficient quantity of thrills, but quality wise they are of normal running standard. These scenes are not of the mark of SHOLAY or SHAAN.This is where today's mass won't be able to take it much since now even the action directors are coming from abroad. That is a drawback isn't?

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