Hum Paanch

DISCLAIMER This movie is actually based on an epic - Mahabharat - but Kauravas are excluded for obvious fear of getting the movie over crowded. Here Pandavas are taking on Mama - maternal uncle (say him Shakuni or Kansa) instead.

PLOT Amrish Puri as Veer Pratap Singh is Zamindar of a village, he with help from Kanhaiyalal or Lala Nainsukh Shrivastava deem himself to be the God of the village.

Mithun Chakraborty (Bhima) is a slave to Thakur. Whereas Naseeruddin Shah (Suraj), Raj Babbar (Arjun), Gulshan Grover (Mahavir) and Uday Chandra (Swaroop) are the protagnists.

Shabana Azmi plays Sundariya a lower cast lady - whom Thakur exploites. Deepti Naval is Lajiya, Bhima's love but is tempted and exploited by Roopesh Kumar the Thakur's son who is also in love with citi belle and a con-lady Aruna Irani.

Krishna, brilliently essayed by Sanjeev Kumar is nephew of Thakur, is like his name sake is counting 100 mistakes to be made (and to remain passive he is made a drunkard).

Overall the plot is simplified version of the epic but still is complex and is revised to attract curiosity.

DIRECTION The direction is excellent and everyone has given a polished performence, even Roopesh Kumar! The rural background in the movie is one of most realistic portrayals of villages in Hindi belt of India.

MUSIC True on folk tradition the music is good based on simple lyrics.

TRIVIA Anil Kapoor makes a cameo.

The movie is produced by Surendra Kapoor but on the ground all the production was supervised by Son Boney Kapoor with able assistance from brothers Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor.

Overall 8/10.