Satyamev Jayate

Raj Sippy was known as a good commercial director in his heydays. Movies like Inkaar, Satte Pe Satta, Andar Baahar, Loha, Thanedaar and Satyamev Jayate were not only well made but also had repeat value.

This movie, made in 1987, was a simple story of the life of a honest police officer, his fight against the system, against his own past and against a failed love life.

Vinod Khanna, in the lead role, gets to portray a gamut of emotions and this is easily one of his better movies. However, he is somewhat miscast. While watching the film I felt the lead character should have been younger, maybe a Sanjay Dutt or a Sunny Deol. In fact Dutt used to work frequently with Sippy and the role would have suited him, rather he would have suited the role more. And if Sippy wanted Mr Khanna he could have opted for an older heroine considering the relationship between the two leads is intimate. Mr Khanna looks like Meenakshi's father when he is supposed to be opposite her. The age difference between the hero and the heroine has perennially been a major issue in Indian cinema as a whole.

Tthe best performance in the movie certainly comes from Meenakshi Seshadri. She has the role of a harassed woman, who's treated rather contemptuously by everyone including the lead actor, and her character evokes sympathy among the viewer. Meenakshi has only a few scenes in the movie but almost all of them are powerful (and emotional) and she has acted very well in them.

Shakti Kapoor is good as the villain while Vinod Mehra is commendable in a supporting role.

Overall an entertaining movie, especially considering the fact that it was made in the 1980s.