The Underrated Genius . Review on Sanjay Dutt

Some years ago ….I remember…it was the concluding day of one tough exam season. In the evening, I was very happy that at least for some days the ‘TV remote control’ would be mine!!!

That night I watched a movie titled “Gumrah”. Sreedevi and Sanjay Dutt were the lead actors. After that movie, my opinion about Dutt was completely changed!

I discovered that I had been prejudiced.

Who is the best actor of Hindi cinema? If you ask this to a Keralite, most probably the answer will be ‘Aamir Khan’ or ‘Anil Kapoor’. I have mentioned this fact in my review on ‘the 5-best actors of Hindi cinema’. I too was no different. Earlier I have watched movies like ‘Rockey’, ‘Khal Nayak’ and ‘Sajan’ starring ‘Sanjay Dutt’. I hated him first because of the news about his drug addiction (In the 1980s), and then by those about the underworld links and that arrest. But now he is my favorite Hindi actor!

No other Hindi actor of today can match his skill and range. Some people say, “He is the ultimate gangster and nothing else”. But believe me that is not his mistake. He is typecast by the film makers. Even in those roles you can see him acting so accurately. Once Priyadarshan said about Mohan Lal that he never acts but behaves as the character in front of the camera! One can say the same about Sanjay Dutt. If you have any doubt, watch the scenes of ‘Munnabhai MBBS’ in which he shares the screen with Boman Irani or those of ‘Khoobsurat’ in which he forces himself to conceal his love for Urmila. He is effortless as Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor or Akshaye Khanna. But Akshay Kumar turns a bit artificial in places, Anil Kapoor lacks aggression and not imposing as Dutt and Akshaye Khanna is not able to conceal his introversion. Dutt is natural as Mohan Lal. In multi star films like Musafir, Kante, Deewar, Mission Kashmir etc., he surpassed all the others.

You cannot forget his character even when you can’t remember the plot of the film.

My favourite films

1.Vaastav.

The story is very similar to that of the Malayalam films ‘Abhimanyu’ and ‘Aryan’ starring Mohan Lal. The happy go lucky fellow ends up as a most wanted gangster and gets trapped by the police. Sanjay Dutt expressed the ecstasy and agony of being a gangster … touching, unforgettable.

2.Munnabhai MBBS

What a timing in acting! Should be followed by actors like Suniel Shetty who lacks it very much. Thanks to Raj Kumar Hirani for replacing SRK by Sanjay Dutt.

And so we got one ‘Munnabhai’ instead of a ‘Munni bahan’ !!!

3.Khoobsurat

This film is similar to Munnabhai in certain aspects. I meant the ‘tareeka’ in which he ‘Sab ko dheek karta hai’. It was one of those rare feel good films.

4. Musafir

“Kya entry hai hero!!!”

For me ,his character “Billa” is mightier than ‘Mogambo’, 'Gabbar Singh', 'Shaakal', 'Bilal' and 'Jageera' (*).

Sanjay Dutt is just “KIDILAN”in this film. (in Malayalam!... means 'terrific') .

5. Kante /Gumrah/ Khal Nayak/ Deewar/ Mission Kashmir/Daud

I am confused… I expect ‘Parineeta’ will solve it.

So please…….

do not be prejudiced as once I had been. Watch his films. Compare his acting skills with that of others. Feel the way he lifts a film into a higher level.

[And to those who hates because of his personal affairs.........

For admiring artists or writers, there is no need to follow their personal life. Otherwise who can admire the great Arthur Shopenhower?]

Anyway I am very happy that gradually Hindi cinema is becoming more sensible than that of the 1980s and 90s and I hope that film makers will give great roles to well-exploit Sanjay’s talents.

(*) Famous villain characters in Hindi movies Mr.India,Sholay,Shaan,Mission Kashmir & China Gate.(In the order)