User reviews

Saugandh is an unknown film of the early 1990s, and the only reason some people are aware of it today is the fact that it is actually the debut movie of Akshay Kumar. Saugandh is not a very well made film but I liked it as a kid and I still enjoy watching it with my family. Technically the film is very poor, but I think the film's main story is interesting. Everything is of course within the context of a Hindi fairy tale, so one should know that Saugandh is not to be taken seriously. The film starts by presenting the character of Chaudhary Saurang, a cruel and influential landowner. Saurang's sister Chand falls in love with Shiva, a young man who belongs to one poor and extended family of the town. When Saurang learns about their relationship, he murders Shiva's entire family and his own sister. The only one who survives during this incident is Shiva's pregnant sister Ganga. Ganga decisively takes an oath to avenge Saurang's merciless acts, not by killing him, but by repeating the love story between Shiva and Chand again, this time between her son, whom she names Shiva after her brother, and Saurang's to-be-born daughter. Ganga starts visiting Saurang on a frequent basis, cynically keeping him informed about what she is planning to do. Saurang is unexcited by Ganga's determination and attempts to challenge him, and he finds them laughable. He even names his daughter after his sister Chand to prove his indifference. And that is how the movie goes on, with the "Saurang Vs. Ganga" track carrying the narrative forward. Ganga makes her best efforts to turn her son into a courageous and strong young man, and she succeeds. At the same time, Saurang's daughter Chand is brought up as a boy, enjoying horse riding and having a particularly tough attitude, similar to her father's.

As said, the story is more of a fairy tale, it's unrealistic, and yet within the genre of Hindi masala flicks it was interesting and enjoyable. Like every Hindi film of its time and sort, the movie often resorts to sentimentality and is often overdone, but it also has its nice moments of comedy, romance and action. Anand-Milind's music is very melodious, with "Laila Ko Bhool Jayenge" being the best. The scenes between Ganga and Saurang were according to me amazing, each such sequence having great dialogues and presenting a new side of the story. The movie belongs to Raakhee, and she is superb as the decisive Ganga. This is a role Raakhee would play many times during this decade, but according to me it's better than most of them. She gets the film's best lines and delivers them very well, portraying her character's determination and inner pain efficiently. Mukesh Khanna is excellent as the proud, dignified and merciless Saurang. Shanti Priya is okay. Her character's sudden transformation is unconvincing. She overdoes her tomboy act in the beginning and in later portions she is pretty much the ordinary Hindi film heroine. Now to the reason many people actually would watch this movie, Akshay Kumar made his first appearance on the big screen with this movie and he did it with total aplomb. He was good-looking, energetic and confident, and his action scenes were done exceedingly well, even if they were typical. The film's ending is fantastic and I loved the way the saga of revenge was completed. Saugandh is not a great film, not even a particularly good film, but it is fairly entertaining and worth watching for more than one reason. I like it since childhood, so I cannot really recommend it, but Akshay Kumar fans would certainly like to see his first movie ever.

Saugandh review :

Directed by Raj (Daddu) Sippy, the 1991 released Saugandh marked the debut of Akshay Kumar who had made a ten seconds uncredited appearance in Mahesh Bhatt's Aaj (1988) a couple of years before. The chef cum martial arts trainer in Bangkok was discovered by noted director Pramod Chakraborty who promptly signed him for his film Deedar (1992) which got a bit delayed and enabled Saugandh to hit the marquèe first.

A mix of Taming of the Shrew meets Romeo and Juliet; Saugandh had Akshay Kumar and Shantipriya playing the lovers who are torn in to the age old enemity between Rakhee and Mukesh Khanna. In fact, the confrontation scenes between Rakhee and Khanna were the film's highlight. Anand Milind's music was also a positive factor with "Laila ko bhool jaayenge" rising up the popularity charts.

Shantipriya got a meaty role and was completely convincing in her transformation from a rugged tomboy to a coy 'bhartiya naari'. An impressive performance indeed!! Surprisingly, it was Akshay who looked too raw and amateur though his screen presence was towering even then. Interestingly, his introduction scene starts with him walking inverted on his hands before he leaps up and we see his face for the first time. Rakhee and Mukesh Khanna had the 'ceetimaar' punchlines and they didn't disappoint.

Saugandh would've probably done better had it not clashed with Amitabh Bachchan's Hum (1991) which released a week later and completely stormed the box office leaving no space for other movies.

I had seen Saugandh at Citylight Cinema, Matunga where it had done decent business. I came out having mixed feelings for the debutant actor least expecting he would be the superstar of the coming decades. Speaks volumes of his hard work and perseverance. Kudos Akshay!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

Until the release of Khiladi majority of the earlier films starring Akshay Kumar were cringe worthy. A film named Deedar was supposed to be his first film but its release was delayed until 1992. Despite being an unheard film until watching the film, i gave this film a try for two reasons. One being Akshay kumar's debut film and the second being it was directed by Raj N Sippy, who had directed well known films like Inkaar, Satte Pe Satta & Satyamev Jayate. But these reasoning are not enough to like this film as it was a predictable and cringe worthy film were in recent time the only film it can be compared with is Marjavaan, thanks to its predictable story and dialogues being uttered in poetic verses.

The story involves a woman avenging the murder of her family against a egoistic landlord by making her son marry the daughter of the landlord. As a promise given to his mother, the male lead (Akshay Kumar) goes up to any extent in fulfilling it?

In terms technical aspect the direction by Raj Sippy was pathetic when compared to the aforementioned films. The writer, Iqbal Durrani, could have worked on a slightly better script considering later in the year he wrote another mediocre film named Phool Aur Kaante (also starring a debutant in the form of Ajay Devgn). In the films of 90s the songs tended to be melodious but the film fails in that as well as none of the songs are memorable & the only positive that the film has to offer is its villain Pankaj Dheer, who if acted in 70s and 80s could have become a memorable villain and the fighting sequences of Akshay Kumar. Meanwhile it was sad to see Rakhee act in such film when there was a time when she was considered to be the most versatile actress of her era and unfortunately she continued the trend by acting in films like Barood & Sham Ghanshyam. Regarding Mukesh Khanna, his over the top performance was at its worse and it was better if he limited such acting in mythological serials. Same goes with the performance of its female lead- Shantipriya.

On the whole Saugandh is a forgettable film and can be recommended to those who want to see how Akshay Kumar acted in his debut film. (Considering the memorable films that he became a part of it is a pity he had to debut with such film. But these stuggles made him work hard and become one of the acclaimed actors in the industry)

This is the first movie that Akshay appeared in.

I have only seen a bad VHS version, but the upside-down shirtless sit-ups are extremely memorable.

A good first outing for one of the hottest bodies ever in Bollywood.

The story is easy to follow, even without subtitles. Boy meets girl. Boy meets bad guys. Boy trains (shirtless) to fight the bad guys with his trusty sidekick. Boy kicks a** of bad guys. Boy gets girl.

As this is a Bollywood movie, everybody inexplicably breaks into song and dance from time to time. The numbers are serviceable.

For good shirtless Akshay in bondage and mild torture, see Waqt Hamara Hai (1993)OR Main Khiladi Tu Anari.

Both of these are available on reasonably good DVD transfers.

Bollywood male bondage is an overlooked category.

Bollywood has produced some of the hottest, masculine, hairy chested stars ever on film. They are sometimes, but not often enough shirtless.

Check out my public category Bollywood Male Bondage and email me with any additions.

I am especially looking for shirtless scenes of Sunil Shetty.

NancyboySF

It's a quite good movie. As a debutant Akshay was decent. Love it & if you love Akshay Kumar then this is your must watch & if you are neutral then Saugandh is one time watch.

As a first movie as lead actor Akshay did good job. One time watch. Go ahead.

If you love Akshay Kumar, you will Love it. That's it.