Starcast: Amitabh Bachchan, Amrita Singh, Dara Singh, Goga Kapoor, Nirupa Roy, Dan Dhanoa, Kamal Kapoor and Prem Chopra Music: Annu Malik ...
Starcast: Amitabh Bachchan, Amrita Singh, Dara Singh, Goga Kapoor, Nirupa Roy, Dan Dhanoa, Kamal Kapoor and Prem Chopra
Music: Annu Malik
Direction: Manmohan Desai
There was a time in Bollywood when logic used to
take a back seat, and entertainment—pure, loud, unapologetic entertainment—was
the driver. Mard (released on November 8,1985) fits that description perfectly. Directed by Manmohan
Desai, the master of the “masala” universe, this film is an all-out celebration
of everything that defined 80s Hindi cinema — action, emotion, drama,
patriotism, and of course, larger-than-life heroism embodied by none other than
Amitabh Bachchan.
The story starts off in pre-independence India.
Colonel Azad Singh (Dara Singh) is a brave Indian soldier fighting against the
British Raj. He gets betrayed, separated from his wife Rani Durga (Nirupa Roy),
and their newborn son. Before being taken away, Azad Singh tattoos the word
*“Mard”* on the chest of his infant son — a symbol of courage and defiance that
ends up defining the boy’s destiny. Years later, that boy grows up to be Raju
(Amitabh Bachchan), a fearless and kind-hearted tonga driver who loves his
mother, fights injustice, and has a horse named Badal and a mongrel Moti who
are practically his sidekicks.
Now, from the very first scene, you know you’re not
in for subtle storytelling. This is Desai-land — where emotions run wild,
villains are cartoonishly evil, and heroes punch through walls without getting
a scratch. Raju’s introduction itself is vintage Big B — swagger, energy, and
that unmistakable charm. The iconic line “Mard ko dard nahi hota” wasn’t just
dialogue; it became a national catchphrase. Even if you hadn’t watched the
film, you knew that line.
Raju’s world turns upside down when he crosses
paths with the British rulers and their Indian collaborators, especially the
slimy Dr. Harry (Prem Chopra), General Dyer (Kamal Kapoor) and the bloodsucking Danny Dyer (Dan Dhanoa). He also
meets Ruby (Amrita Singh), the daughter of Dr. Harry now turned British governor, who initially
looks down upon Raju but eventually falls for his honesty and bravery. Their
chemistry is surprisingly fun — Amrita matches Amitabh’s energy with her spunk,
and their romantic banter adds some light-hearted moments in between all the over-the-top
patriotism.
As expected from a Manmohan Desai film,
coincidences fly thick and fast. Raju’s long-lost parents, the villains’
connections, hidden identities — it’s all there. There’s also a scene where his
loyal horse Badal comes to rescue him — a perfect example of how Desai never
let realism limit his imagination.
What makes Mard work despite all the absurdity is
its energy. Every frame screams enthusiasm — the background score, the stunts,
the songs, the costumes — everything is dialed up to eleven. The music by Anu
Malik is catchy and very 80s in feel. Songs like “Hum To Tambu Mein Bamboo” and
“Sun Rubiya Tum se Pyar Ho Gaya” are silly yet strangely fun. “Mard Tangewala”
became an anthem in its time, a symbol of the angry young man redefined for
mid-80s audiences.It even inspired a four year old me and my 10 year old cousin
to write "mard" on our chest with a red felt pen !!
Amitabh Bachchan, at this point, was already a
living legend, and Mard came during a time when his health and personal life
were in the headlines. Yet on screen, he’s magnetic. He delivers corny
dialogues with such conviction that you can’t help but cheer. Whether he’s
joking around with his horse, romancing Amrita Singh, or single-handedly taking
down an army of British soldiers, he sells every bit of it. This film was made
for him — or maybe he made it work just by being himself.
Supporting actors add their own masala to the mix.
Nirupa Roy is, as always, the eternal suffering mother. Prem Chopra and
debutant Dan Dhanoa are deliciously evil, while Dara Singh brings a certain
gravitas to his brief but memorable role. And then there’s Amrita Singh, who
brings freshness and confidence to her part — she’s not just a damsel in
distress but a fiery young woman who gives as good as she gets.
Of course, if you try to view Mard through
today’s lens, you’ll find plenty to laugh at — the dated visual effects, the
exaggerated nationalism, and the overall lack of logic. But that’s not the
point. Mard wasn’t meant to be realistic; it was meant to make you feel
larger than life, to make you clap, whistle, and forget your worries for three
hours. And in that department, it succeeds big time.
Manmohan Desai’s direction is exactly what you’d
expect — chaotic yet oddly cohesive. He throws everything into the mix:
lost-and-found drama, animal heroes, melodramatic reunions, revenge, and a
pinch of comedy. It’s a formula only he could pull off. After Amar Akbar
Anthony, Naseeb, and Coolie, *Mard* felt like the last great hurrah of
that classic Desai-Bachchan brand of cinema.
In the end, Mard is not just a film — it’s a
mood. It’s that crazy mix of action, emotion, and patriotism that defined an
era when movies were made to entertain the masses, not critics. It might feel
over-the-top today, but for those who grew up on it, it’s pure nostalgia.
So yes, Mard is loud, illogical, and completely
overdramatic — but it’s also endlessly fun. And honestly, sometimes that’s all
you need.
All in all, A full-throttle 80s masala entertainer
where Amitabh Bachchan roars, punches, cries, sings, and makes you believe that
indeed — “Mard ko dard nahi hota!”
By Ayushmaan Mitra
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