Pratibandh : Explosive Hindi launchpad for Chiranjeevi turns 35

  Starcast: Chiranjeevi, Juhi Chawla, J V Somyajulu, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rami Reddy and Harish Patel Direction: Ravi Raja Pinisetty ...

 

Starcast: Chiranjeevi, Juhi Chawla, J V Somyajulu, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rami Reddy and Harish Patel

Direction: Ravi Raja Pinisetty

Music:  Laxmikant Pyarelal 

Digging into old-school Bollywood action flicks is like cracking open a time capsule of pure '90s masala. That's exactly what Pratibandh, released on September 28, 1990, hits you with, Ravi Raja Pinisetty's gritty revenge drama that launched Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi into Hindi cinema. It packs a punch that still lands after 35 years. Remade from the Telugu hit Ankusam, with Anees Bazmee penning the script to amp up the Hindi flavor. If you're chasing that raw, unfiltered thrill of Amitabh-era vigilante vibes but with a South Indian twist, this one's for you. 

 

No plot bombs here—promise—but picture this: Our man Siddhanth (Chiranjeevi, owning every frame like it's his birthright) is this orphan-turned-cop, forged in the fires of a brutal orphanage and a no-nonsense mentor (J.V. Somayajulu, channeling quiet authority like a boss). He's all about justice, dodging bullets and bad guys to shield the ones he loves from a slimy assassin nicknamed "Spot" Nana (Rami Reddy - think a discount Amrish Puri with extra menace). Then there's Shanti (Juhi Chawla), the firecracker who ties the emotional knots tighter than a Mumbai local. The story zips from shadowy alleys to high-stakes chases, blending family loyalty with political intrigue, all set against that classic '90s backdrop of corrupt power plays and one-man-army takedowns. Pinisetty keeps the tension humming like a pressure cooker. 

 

Chiranjeevi as Siddhanth, has got this brooding intensity, eyes like daggers one minute, cracking a rare smile that could melt steel the next. He shines in those action scenes. He flips goons like pancakes, scales walls without breaking a sweat, and in one warehouse brawl, he turns a bunch of thugs into human piñatas—logical physics for once, no flying-through-walls nonsense that plagues some South imports. Juhi Chawla steals your heart, though, her Shanti's got layers: sassy witness on the run, devoted wife holding it together, and in the heavier scenes, she crushes it with raw vulnerability. It's the kind of role that shows why she was more than just the girl-next-door. Rami Reddy as Spot Nana was iconic. Pitch-perfect villainy with a laugh that grates like nails on chalkboard. You love to hate him, and the supporting crew, from Harish Patel's comic relief to Kulbhushan Kharbanda's gravitas, rounds it out without stealing spotlight.

 

Visually, it's peak '90s—K.S. Hari's camera slingshots through rain-slicked streets and dimly lit hideouts, capturing Mumbai's underbelly is like a noir film. The fights pop with practical effects: no CGI ghosts, just real crashes, punches that thud, and a torch-lighting climax that's as symbolic as it is bonkers. Pinisetty directs with a steady hand, borrowing from his Telugu playbook to layer in social jabs at orphanage cruelty and political rot, but it never preaches—it's all fuel for the revenge fire. And the songs? Laxmikant-Pyarelal at their melodic best, scoring four bangers that glue the drama together. That opener "Kabhi Hua Nahi Kabhi Dekha Nahi" (Amit Kumar and Alka Yagnik duetting like pros) is a wistful earworm, all longing glances and monsoon romance. "Pyar Mujhe Tum Karte Ho Itna" ramps up the flirt, with Juhi's charm making it sparkle. The kids' ditty "Baccho Bajao Tali" lightens the load with playground pep, and Mohammad Aziz belts "Yeh Badnaseeb Bachcha" , it underscores the tragedy without milking it. Viju Shah's background score? Pulsing, urgent !! 

 

Flaws? Sure, it's formulaic as a Diwali blockbuster—predictable beats if you've inhaled a dozen cop dramas, and some dialogues fall flat. The pacing sags mid-way with a forced family flashback . And Chiranjeevi's Hindi? Accented charm that grows on you, but early lines feel a tad stiff. Still, it's unapologetic fun, the kind that scratches that itch for heroes who bleed for what's right. Commercially, it was a smash hit back then, proving Chiranjeevi could cross borders without losing his megastar chutzpah.

 

If you're nostalgia-tripping or just need a shot of adrenaline with heart, watch Pratibandh. It's not reinventing the wheel, but it spins it fierce—raw, riveting, and ridiculously rewatchable. Its a solid '90s action film with soul. Grab some kaapi and let the boss take over. 

By Ayushmaan Mitra