Pukar (lit.'The Call') is a 2000 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film co-written and directed by Rajkumar Santoshi with cinematography by Ashok Mehta, Santosh Sivan, Baba Azmi and Chota K. Naidu. It stars Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Namrata Shirodkar, Danny Denzongpa, Shivaji Satam and Om Puri. The score and soundtrack were composed by A. R. Rahman.[2][3][4]

Pukar
Poster
Directed byRajkumar Santoshi
Written byDialogues:
Rajkumar Santoshi
Anjum Rajabali
K.K. Raina
Screenplay byRajkumar Santoshi
Anjum Rajabali
Story byRajkumar Santoshi
Produced bySurinder Kapoor
Boney Kapoor
Bharat Shah
StarringAnil Kapoor
Madhuri Dixit
Namrata Shirodkar
Danny Denzongpa
Om Puri
CinematographyAshok Mehta
Santosh Sivan
Baba Azmi
Chota K. Naidu
Edited byRajkumar Santoshi
Music byA. R. Rahman
Production
company
Distributed byEros International
Shemaroo Entertainment
Release date
  • 4 February 2000 (2000-02-04)
Running time
165 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget$4.9 million[1]

Pukar was released on 4 February 2000 and received critical acclaim, but did average business at the box office.[5]

At the 48th National Film Awards, Pukar won 2 National Film Awards – the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration and Best Actor (Kapoor). At the 46th Filmfare Awards, Pukar received 2 nominations – Best Actor (Kapoor) and Best Actress (Dixit).

Plot

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Para (Special Forces) officer Major Jaidev "Jai" Rajvansh and his fellow officer manage to rescue a leading politician as well as capture his kidnapper, Pakistani terrorist Abhrush. The terrorist has been wanted for years, and he is finally captured by the two officers. Jai returns to a joyous welcome and is declared a national hero. His senior offers him to take leave for a week, Jai accepts it and returns to his hometown. There he meets his childhood friend Anjali who has always harboured love for Jai. Anjali wants to make most of Jai's holiday and tries to get close to him and spend time with him as much as she can.

At a party, he meets Miss India, Pooja Mallapa. As they spend time together, they begin to fall in love. As Jai's parents are arranging his marriage to Anjali, Jai admits his love for Pooja and that he always thought of Anjali as a close friend. Heartbroken and jealous, Anjali wants revenge for Jai's rejection. Realizing her frustration with Jai, Abhrush takes advantage (via the said "kidnapped" politician who is hand in glove with Abhrush) and together they plot to destroy Jai's reputation and life.

Anjali manages to steal confidential documents detailing plans for Abhrush's movement from prison to prison. The following events lead to Jai being court-martialed and declared a traitor to the country. Pooja leaves him due to family pressure. Jai, determined to prove his innocence and redeem himself, decides to pursue Abhrush alone. Ultimately Anjali comes to her senses and realizes her mistake. To atone for it, she single-handedly tries to thwart Abhrush's plans and help Jai prove his innocence. Jai overpowers Abhrush. Finally, Jai expresses his love for Anjali and forgives her and both unite to live happily.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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Pukar
Soundtrack album by
Released29 November 1999 (India)
RecordedPanchathan Record Inn
GenreFilm soundtrack
LabelVenus
ProducerA. R. Rahman
A. R. Rahman chronology
Taj Mahal
(1999)
Pukar
(1999)
Alaipayuthey
(2000)

The music is given by A. R. Rahman, while the lyrics were written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and Javed Akhtar. The song Kay Sera Sera is based on "Kadhal Niagara" from En Swasa Kaatre. Rahman reused the song "Oh Bosnia" as "Ek Tu Hi Bharosa". The song was composed and performed by Rahman in his Malaysian concert in 1996 that was in aid of Bosnian victims. The piano was played by Rahman himself. "Hai Jaana" has two parts within the film version and soundtrack version. The song "Sunta Hai Mera Khuda" was shot at Arches National Park in Utah, United States. The song " Kismat Se Tum Humko Mile Ho" was shot at Mount Marcus Baker in Alaska, United States.

Track list

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No Song Artist(s) Lyrics Length
1 "Kay Sera Sera" Shankar Mahadevan, Kavita Krishnamurthy Javed Akhtar 06:51
2 "Sunta Hai Mera Khuda" Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Swarnalatha Majrooh Sultanpuri 06:36
3 "Humrahi Jab Ho Mastana" Udit Narayan, Hema Sardesai 04:26
4 "Hai Jaana" (Soundtrack Version) Sujatha Mohan 04:18
5 "Kismat Se Tum" Sonu Nigam, Anuradha Paudwal 06:20
6 "Ek Tu Hi Bharosa" Lata Mangeshkar 06:29
7 "Hai Jaana"(Film Version) Sujatha Mohan

Awards

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46th Filmfare Awards:

Nominated:

2nd IIFA Awards:

Nominated:

48th National Film Awards:
2001 Screen Awards:

Nominated:

Won:

  • Best Publicity Design — Himanshu Nanda and Rahul Nanda

References

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  1. ^ Lall, Bhuvan (18 February 2000). "Hindi budget costs take off". Screen International. p. 10.
  2. ^ "Rediff on the NeT, Movies: The Pukar review".
  3. ^ "Pukar". Sify. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022.
  4. ^ "Pukar Review | Pukar Movie Review | Pukar 2000 Public Review | Film Review". Bollywood Hungama. 11 February 2000.
  5. ^ "Box office 2000". Archived from the original on 24 December 2006.
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