Janbaaz review :
With Qurbani (1980), Feroz Khan ushered in a new style and glamour to Hindi cinema. The film had two macho men wooing a sexy women with the trendy disco and pop music thrown in good measure. Qurbani was instantly lapped up by the audience and became the biggest hit of 1980.
Feroz Khan attempted to replicate the same formula for his next ambitious venture titled Janbaaz. In fact, he wanted his Qurbani co-star Vinod Khanna but the actor left Bollywood to join the Osho Ashram. The much coveted role was bagged by then relative newcomer Anil Kapoor. The gorgeous Dimple Kapadia was making her comeback and naturally, Feroz was quick enough to sign her for this film.
Loosely adapted from the Hollywood classic Duel in the Sun (1946), Janbaaz was about two brothers - a cop and a vagabond - whose path cross when the younger pampered one gets on the wrong side of the law. His girlfriend forms a pivotal twist to the tale and is actually the catalyst for his reformation later. The drug menace of that time was superbly blended in to the narrative with main villain (Raza Murad) shown as an evil drug lord. Shakti Kapoor was fabulous as the antagonist with an eye on Dimple.
Known more for style than substance, Feroz Khan's execution was highly western in approach particularly, the after-effects of drug abuse have never ever been depicted so impressively in any Hindi movie till date. The scene where Anil Kapoor, in a doped state, plays Russian roulette - "Ek goli daali paanch ghar khali" - is the best after Sholay's (1975) Gabbar Singh act.
After Zeenat Aman in Qurbani, Feroz Khan was successful in exploring the sexuality of Dimple to the fullest. She is at her sensous best here looking absolutely amazing just like in Ramesh Sippy's Saagar (1985). Her torrid love making with Anil Kapoor shot in the hay is still talked about!!
Majorly shot in FK Ranch - Khans own stud farm, Janbaaz carried forward Feroz's trademark cowboy avatar though he played a cop in the film.
Any review of the movie will be incomplete without mention of its extraordinary music credited to Kalyanji Anandji. All songs were chartbusters from the cloudy title track to Sridevi swinging to 'Har kisiko nahi milta' and Rekha's surprise appearance in 'Pyaar do pyaar lo'. Janbaaz's soundtrack remains a remix favourite even now.
Surprisingly, the film didnt do too well on its release with the audience preferring Mithun Chakraborty's Muddat which came around the same time. Janbaaz was slammed by the critics as well as certain section of the paying public who found it all style and no substance. Over the years, this opinion has gradually changed and the film is now considered one of the accomplished works of Feroz Khan. After Qurbani of course!!!
Regards,
Sumeet Nadkarni.
