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| name          = Meri Jung
| name          = Meri Jung
| image          = Meri Jung, 1985 Hindi film.jpg
| image          = Meri Jung, 1985 Hindi film.jpg
| image_size    =
| caption        =  
| caption        = Poster
| director      = [[Subhash Ghai]]
| director      = [[Subhash Ghai]]
| producer      = N. N. Sippy
| producer      = N. N. Sippy
| writer        = [[Javed Akhtar]]
| writer        = [[Javed Akhtar]]
| narrator      =  
| narrator      =  
| starring      = [[Anil Kapoor]]<br />[[Meenakshi Seshadri]]<br />[[Nutan]]<br />[[Javed Jaffrey]]<br />[[Amrish Puri]]<br />[[Parikshit Sahni]]
| starring      = [[Anil Kapoor]]<br />[[Meenakshi Sheshadri]]<br />[[Nutan]]<br />[[Javed Jaffrey]]<br />[[Amrish Puri]]<br />[[Parikshat Sahni]]
| music          = [[Laxmikant–Pyarelal]]
| music          = [[Laxmikant-Pyarelal]]
| cinematography =  
| cinematography = Kamalakar Rao
| editing        =  
| editing        = [[Waman Bhonsle]]<br>[[Gurudutt Shirali]]
| studio        = N. N. Sippy Productions
| studio        =  
| distributor    =  
| distributor    =  
| released      = {{Film date|df=yes|1985|8|11}}
| released      = {{Film date|1985|10|11|df=y}}
| runtime        = 167 mins
| runtime        = 164 mins
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = Hindi
| language      = [[Hindi]]
| budget        =  
| budget        =  
}}
}}


'''''Meri Jung''''' ({{trans|My Battle}}) is a 1985 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[crime thriller film]] produced by N. N. Sippy and directed by [[Subhash Ghai]]. The film stars [[Anil Kapoor]], [[Meenakshi Seshadri]], [[Nutan]], [[Amrish Puri]], [[Javed Jaffrey]] (in his debut film), [[A. K. Hangal]], [[Iftekhar]], [[Khushbu]] and [[Parikshit Sahni]]. The film's music was by [[Laxmikant-Pyarelal]] and lyrics were by [[Anand Bakshi]]. The film was a huge box office success and was critically acclaimed. It was a breakthrough performance for Anil Kapoor and put him into the big league.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/meri-jung-changed-my-life-anil-kapoor-118101100406_1.html|title='Meri Jung' changed my life: Anil Kapoor|last=IANS|date=2018-10-11|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/happy-birthday-anil-kapoor-best-films-4996285/|title=Happy birthday Anil Kapoor: The actor who has livened up decade after decade with his polished performances|date=2017-12-24|website=The Indian Express|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref> Kapoor's performance in the film is considered to be one of his best and he received his first Filmfare Award nomination; under the Best Actor Category.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scoopwhoop.com/amp/Anil-Kapoor-Turns-60-Today-Heres-A-Flashback-Of-His-25-Best-Performances-Till-Date/|title=Anil Kapoor Turns 60 Today. Here's A Flashback Of His 25 Best Performances Till Date|website=www.scoopwhoop.com|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref> The film was also nominated under the Best Film category.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}
'''''Meri Jung''''' (<abbr>transl.</abbr> My War) is a 1985 Indian Hindi movie produced by N N Sippy and directed by [[Subhash Ghai]]. The film stars [[Anil Kapoor]], [[Meenakshi Sheshadri]], [[Nutan]], [[Amrish Puri]], [[Javed Jaffrey]] (in his debut film), [[A. K. Hangal]], [[Iftekhar]], [[Kushboo]] and [[Parikshat Sahni]]. The films music is by [[Laxmikant Pyarelal]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
The story begins with a happy lower-middle-class family – Arun Verma ([[Anil Kapoor]]) an 8-year-old boy, his sister Komal Verma ([[Khushbu]]) a 5-year-old girl, his mother ([[Nutan]]) and his father ([[Girish Karnad]]) – living a peaceful life. Arun's parents teach their children through the famous title song "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai, Jeet Jayenge Hum, Jeet Jayenge Hum Tu Agar Sang Hai" which means that life is full of challenges at every step and still we will overcome all these if we are together.
The story begins with a happy lower-middle-class family – Arun Verma([[Anil Kapoor]]) an 8-year-old boy, his sister Komal Verma ([[Kushboo Sundar|Khushboo]]) a 5-year-old girl, his mother, Aarti Verma ([[Nutan]]) and his father, Deepak Verma ([[Girish Karnad]]) – living a peaceful life. Arun's parents teach their children through the famous title song "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai, Jeet Jayenge Hum, Jeet Jayenge Hum Tu Agar Sang Hai" which means that life is full of problems at every step and still we will overcome all these if we are together.


Arun's father is trapped in a murder case. A famous criminal lawyer G. D. Thakral ([[Amrish Puri]]) proves him guilty, and he is sentenced to be hanged by the court. Pleas by Arun's mother fail to convince Thakral to be truthful and spare her husband. Thakral asks her to give evidence for his innocence, to which she sadly quotes, "Jiske paas koi sabut, koi gavanh nahi hote kya we begunah nahin hote" ("one who does not have any proof or witness of innocence, are they not innocent?"). Thakral was determined to let her husband hang. He was hanged as per the court's decision. His mother becomes mentally unstable from shock and is sent to a mental institution. Later Advocate Gupta ([[A. K. Hangal]]), the lawyer who defended Arun's father, finds out that Thakral had known all along that he was innocent, but only wanted him to be hanged. Arun finds out that Thakral abused the law.
Deepak Verma is trapped in a murder case. A famous criminal lawyer G.D. Thakral ([[Amrish Puri]]) proves him guilty, and he is sentenced to be hanged by the court. Pleas by Arun's mother fail to convince Thakral to be truthful and spare her husband. Thakral asks her to give evidence for his innocence, to which she sadly quotes "Jiske paas koi sabut, koi gavanh nahi hote kya we begunah nahin hote" ("one who does not have any proof or witness of innocence, are they not innocent?"). Thakral was adamant to let her husband be hanged. He was hanged as per court's decision. His mother becomes mentally unstable from shock and is sent to a mental institution. Later Advocate Gupta ([[A.K. Hangal]]), the lawyer who defended Arun's father, finds out that Thakral had known all along that he was innocent, but only wanted him to be hanged. Arun finds out that Thakral abused the law.


Arun's house and all his property are auctioned off by the court. Arun and his sister are not offered help. He grows up with the seeds of revenge in his heart. He becomes a successful defence lawyer and keenly follows every case of Thakral so that some day he can stand up in court against the unbeaten Thakral and beat him.
Arun's house and all his property is auctioned off by the court. Arun and his sister are not offered help. He grows up with the seeds of revenge in his heart. He becomes a successful defence lawyer and keenly follows every case of Thakral so that some day he can stand up in court against the unbeaten Thakral and beat him.


One day Geeta Srivatsav ([[Meenakshi Seshadri|Meenakshi]]) comes to him and asks him to fight the case of her sister, Dr. Asha Mathur ([[Beena Banerjee|Bina]]), who is accused of killing a patient on duty with her medicine, which she gave from her purse. Arun refuses saying that if she can produce even a piece of evidence of her sister being innocent he will fight for her. Geeta replies coincidentally the same sentence "Jiske paas koi sabut, koi gavanh nahi hote kya we begunah nahin hote." Arun is instantly reminded of his mother's pleadings before Thakral. Geeta storms out of his office, but Arun is convinced to take the case. He meets Asha Mathur in police custody. He learns from her that on that fateful night she got a call from her ward assistant that her patient is in the ICU and needs her. She stops on the way (due to a traffic jam), and she impatiently moves out of her car to ask the reason. Meanwhile, somebody replaces the medicine bottle with the look-alike bottle of poison from her purse. On arrival in the hospital, she gives the liquid from that bottle to stabilise the patient. This resulted in the patient's death.
One day Geeta Srivatsav ([[Meenakshi]]) comes to him and asks him to fight the case of her sister, Dr. Asha Mathur ([[Beena Banerjee]]) who is accused of killing a patient on duty with her medicine, which she gave from her purse. Arun refuses saying that if she can produce even an iota of evidence of her sister being innocent he will fight for her. Geeta replies coincidentally the same sentence "Jiske paas koi sabut, koi gavanh nahi hote kya we begunah nahin hote." Arun is instantly reminded of his mother's pleadings before Thakral. Geeta storms out of his office, but Arun is convinced to take the case. He meets Asha Mathur in police custody. He learns from her that on that fateful night she got a call from her ward assistant that her patient is in the ICU and needs her. She stops on the way (due to a traffic jam), and she impatiently moves out of car her to ask the reason. Meanwhile, somebody replaces the medicine bottle with the look-alike bottle of poison from her purse. On arrival in the hospital, she gives the liquid from that bottle to stabilise the patient. This resulted in the patient's death.


It is shown that Asha Mathur's husband, Dr. Dinesh Mathur ([[Parikshit Sahni]]), had gone to meet Thakral and had asked him to fight his wife's case. Thakral says no, claiming he is very busy at the moment, but later tells his assistant that there is no way that this case could be won. Arun meets Dinesh Mathur and informs him that he will fight the case. He asked him about the nature of poison and for how long a person can sustain the poison; he learns that poison might result in death within 2 to 15 minutes depending on the body's resistance.
It is shown that Asha Mathur's husband, Dr. Dinesh Mathur ([[Parikshat Sahni]]), had gone to meet Thakral and had asked him to fight his wife's case. Thakral says no claiming he is very busy at the moment but later tells his assistant that there is no way that this case could be won. Arun meets Dinesh Mathur and informs him that he will fight the case. He asked him about the nature of poison and for how long a person can sustain the poison; he learns that poison if might result in death within 2 to 15 minutes depending on the body resistance.


The case begins with the prosecution lawyer recounting the events of that fateful day and telling that the medicine given to the patient was actually poison. Arun defends the case says that the patient did not die of this medicine. To prove himself right he drinks the medicine in court and refutes the claim. The court declares Geeta's sister not guilty. Just after the judgement, Dr. Mathur rushes Arun to hospital. It is revealed that the medicine contained poison, and Arun is saved in the nick of time.
The case begins with the prosecution lawyer recounting the events of that fateful day and telling that the medicine given to the patient was actually poison. Arun defends the case says that the patient did not die of this medicine. To prove himself right he drinks the medicine in court and refutes the claim. The court declares Geeta's sister innocent. Just after the judgement Dr. Mathur rushes Arun to hospital. It is revealed that the medicine contained poison, and Arun is saved in the nick of time.


Geeta calls him on a beach to appreciate his efforts and kindness at the canteen. They fall in love. Thakral's son Vikram Thakral ([[Javed Jaffrey]]), a spoiled brat, not knowing anything about Arun, teases Geeta, which irritates the couple. Soon things take an ugly turn and Arun beats up Vikram.
Dr. Mathur wants to appreciate and compensate Arun for the risky effort he took to save his wife. He calls him for a get-together in his mansion. Dr. Mathur gives Arun a blank cheque. Arun rejects the offers politely and says he did for his self-satisfaction. He then finds the same piano with the sticker of Bhagwat Geeta of Krishna which his father used to play and was auctioned. His memories are refreshed again and with the emotional request he tells Dr. Mathur that this piano is very significant to him and asks for it. Dr. Mathur very happily gives the piano and asks him the reason for accepting this small fees. He tells the Mathur family his tragic story. He says that his mother was never seen after his father's death, and he assumes that she is dead.


Dr. Mathur wants to appreciate and compensate Arun for the risky effort he took to save his wife. He calls him for a get-together in his mansion. Dr. Mathur gives Arun a blank cheque. Arun rejects the offers politely and says he did for his self-satisfaction. He then finds the same piano with the sticker of Bhagwat Geeta of Krishna which his father used to play and was auctioned. His memories are refreshed again and with the emotional request he tells Dr. Mathur that this piano is very significant to him and asks for it. Dr. Mathur very happily gives him the piano.
Geeta calls Arun on a beach to appreciate his efforts and kindness at the canteen. They both fall in love. Thakral's son Vikram Thakral ([[Javed Jaffrey]]), a spoilt brat, not knowing anything about Arun, teases Geeta, which irritates the couple. Soon things take an ugly turn and Arun beats up Vikram.


One day at Arun's home, Mr. Mathur sees a photo of the former's mother hanging on the wall. He immediately recognises the face with the patient he was handling for mental disorders. Arun and his sister request them to take them to her. In the mental hospital they see their mother. Her memories had stopped on the day of the incident; she feels that their children are eight and five, staying with father. Arun brings her mother to his house and tries to make her come back to normal; she regains her memory on hearing the song "Zingadi Har Kadam..."
Dr. Mathur sees a photo of his mother hanging in the wall. She immediately recognises the face with the patient she is handling for mental disorders. Arun and his sister request them to take to her. In the mental hospital they see their mother. Her memories had stopped on the day of the incident; she feels that their children are eight and five, staying with father. Arun brings her mother to his house and tries to make her come back to normal; she resumes her memory on hearing the song "Zindagi Har Kadam..."


Meanwhile, Vikram wants to exact revenge on Arun and devises a plan to trap Komal who studies in the same college . He tries to impress her by his charms, dancing skills, and ways of flattering people. The plan works. Komal falls for him and he convinces her to run away with him (so that he can publicly defame Arun by leaving his sister). At the planned moment, when one of Vikram's ex-girlfriends shows up and tells Komal of Vikram's evil intentions. In the ensuing argument, Vikram murders his girlfriend which is witnessed by Dr. Mathur's family.
Vikram plans to trap Arun's sister Komal and learns she studies in the same college to exact revenge. He tries to impress her by his charms, dancing skills, and ways of flattering people. The plan works. Komal falls for him and he convinces her to run away with him (so that he can publicly defame Arun by leaving his sister). At the planned moment, when one of Vikram's ex-girlfriends, Indu Gupta, shows up and tells Komal of Vikram's evil intentions. In the ensuing argument, Vikram murders Indu which is witnessed by the Dr. Mathur's family.


Arun had been waiting for this moment to take revenge on Thakral. He steps in as the prosecutor against Thakral who is defending his son. The case moves to and fro and, in the end, Arun has the upper hand. Thakral kidnaps Arun's mother and attempts to blackmail him. Arun goes to save his mother and is beaten up by Thakral's goons. Even though injured, Arun fights back. In an attempt to shoot Arun, Thakral shoots his friend's son and is jailed. He is unsuccessful in saving his son, who is given the death penalty. Thakral becomes a mentally unstable person.
Arun had been waiting for this moment to take revenge on Thakral. He steps in as the prosecutor against Thakral who is defending his son. The case moves to and fro and, in the end, Arun has the upper hand. Thakral kidnaps Arun's mother and attempts to blackmail him. Arun goes to save his mother and is beaten up by Thakral's goons. Even though injured, Arun fights back. In an attempt to shoot Arun, Thakral shoots his friend's son and is jailed. He is unsuccessful in saving his son, who is given the death penalty. Thakral becomes a mentally unstable person.


Arun and his family are reunited.
Arun and his family are happy again and sing the famous "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai" song.


==Cast==
==Cast==
{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Actor/actress !! Name !! Character !! Notes
! Actor/Actress !! Character
|-
|-
|[[Anil Kapoor]]
|[[Anil Kapoor]]
|Arun Verma
|Arun Verma
|Defence Lawyer
|
|-
|-
|[[Meenakshi Seshadri]]
|[[Meenakshi Sheshadri]]
|Geeta Srivastav
|Geeta Srivatsav, Arun's love interest
|Sister of Asha Mathur
|
|-
|-
|[[Javed Jaffrey]]
|[[Kushboo Sundar|Khushboo]]
|Vikram Thakral
|Komal Verma, Arun's sister
|Son of G.D Thakral
|
|-
|[[Khushbu]]
|Komal Verma  
|Arun's Sister
|
|-
|-
|[[Nutan]]
|[[Nutan]]
| Aarti Verma  
| Aarti Verma, Arun and Komal's mother
|Rowspan="2"|Parents of Arun and Komal
|
|-
|-
|[[Girish Karnad]]
|[[Girish Karnad]]
|Deepak Verma
|Deepak Verma, Arun and Komal's father & Aarti's husband
|
|-
|-
|[[Amrish Puri]]
|[[Amrish Puri]]
|G. D. Thakral
|G. D. Thakral
|Public Prosecutor
|Rowspan="2"|Senior Lawyers
|-
|-
|[[A. K. Hangal]]
|[[Beena Banerjee]]
| Gupta
|Dr. Asha Mathur, Geeta's sister
|Defence
|-
|-
|[[Rabia Amin]]
|[[Parikshat Sahni]]
|Indu Gupta,  
|Dr. Dinesh Mathur, Asha's husband and Geeta's brother-in-law
|Advocate Gupta Daughter
|
|-
|-
|[[Viju Khote]]
|[[Javed Jaffrey]]
|
|Vikram Thakral (Vicky)
|Arun Verma Assistant
|
|-
|-
|[[Beena Banerjee]]
|[[A. K. Hangal]]
|Asha Mathur
|Advocate Vinay Gupta
|Rowspan="2"|Doctors
|
|-
|-
|[[Parikshit Sahni]]
|[[Viju Khote]]
|Dinesh Mathur
|as Damodar Sharma , Arun Verma,s asistant
|
|-
|[[Kamal Kapoor]]
|Dhaaga sahab
|Smuggler
|
|-
|[[Iftekhar]]
| Mr. Garewal
|Rowspan="2"|Public Prosecutors (lawyers)(Special Appearances)
|
|-
|-
|[[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]]
|[[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]]
|Rawat
|Government Advocate Balwant
|
|-
|[[Sudhir (Hindi actor)|Sudhir]]
| Bhosale
|Police Inspector
|
|-
|[[Rajan Haksar]]
|Oberoi
|(Special Appearance)
|
|-
|[[Subhash Ghai]]
|Subhash Ghai
|Himself as Special Appearance in the Song "Bol Baby Bol"
|
|}
|}


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
Music was composed by [[Laxmikant–Pyarelal]] and lyrics were penned by [[Anand Bakshi]].
{| border="10" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="centr"
! Song !! Singer
! # !! Title !! Singer(s)
|-
|-
| "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai" - 1
| 1
| "Zindagi Har Kadam"
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]], [[Nitin Mukesh]]
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]], [[Nitin Mukesh]]
|-
|-
| "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai" - 2
| 2
| "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nai Jung Hai – 1"
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]], [[Shabbir Kumar]]
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]], [[Shabbir Kumar]]
|-
|-
| "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai" (Short)
| 3
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
| "Bol Baby Bol Rock-N-Roll"
| [[Kishore Kumar]], [[Javed Jaffrey]], S. Janaki
|-
|-
| "Ae Mere Khwabon Ke Shehzade"
| 4
| "O Mere Khwabon Ke Shehzade"
| [[Anuradha Paudwal]]
| [[Anuradha Paudwal]]
|-
|-
| "Jhoom Le, Jhoom Le"
| 5
| "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nai Jung Hai – 2"
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
|-
| 6
| "Jhoom Le Jhoom Le"
| [[Laxmikant Kudalkar]], [[Subhash Ghai]]
| [[Laxmikant Kudalkar]], [[Subhash Ghai]]
|-
| "Bol Baby Bol, Rock-N-Roll, Mere Sang Dol, Duniya Hai Gol"
| [[Kishore Kumar]], [[Javed Jaffrey]], [[S. Janaki]]
|-
|}
|}


==Remakes==
==Remakes==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
{| border="10" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
! Year !! Title !! Language !! Ref.
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" align="centr"
! Year !! Title !! Language !! Cast
|-
|-
| 1986
| 1986
| ''[[Vijrumbhana]]''
| ''Vijrimbhana''
| Telugu
| Telugu
| <ref>https://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-popular/60-bollywood-films-remade-in-south-indian-film-industry/</ref>
| [[Sobhan Babu]]
|-
|-
| 1987
| 1987
| ''[[Oru Thayin Sabhatham]]''
| ''[[Oru Thayin Sabhatham]]''
| Tamil
| Tamil
| <ref>https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19870424&printsec=frontpage&hl=en</ref>
| [[T.Rajendar]]
|-
|-
| 1989
| 1989
| ''[[Yuddha Kaanda|Yuddha Kanda]]''
| ''[[Yuddha Kaanda|Yuddha Kanda]]''
| Kannada
| Kannada
| <ref>https://chiloka.com/movie/yuddha-kaanda-1989</ref>
| [[V Ravichandran]]
|-
|-
|}
|}
Line 194: Line 149:
*[[Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award|Best Supporting Actress]] – [[Nutan]]
*[[Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award|Best Supporting Actress]] – [[Nutan]]


'''Nominated'''
'''Nominationed'''
*[[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]] – N. N. Sippy
*[[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]] – N. N. Sippy
*[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] – [[Anil Kapoor]]
*[[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] – [[Anil Kapoor]]
Line 200: Line 155:
*[[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]] – [[Anand Bakshi]] – "Zindagi Har Kadam"
*[[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]] – [[Anand Bakshi]] – "Zindagi Har Kadam"


==References==
==Reception==
{{reflist}}
The movie was critically acclaimed, with special praise heaped upon Amrish Puri and Anil Kapoor. The movie established Kapoor as a mature actor with a lot of talent, shedding his newcomer image.


==External links==
==External links==
Line 209: Line 164:


[[Category:1985 films]]
[[Category:1985 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:1985 Indian films]]
[[Category:1980s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1985 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Laxmikant–Pyarelal]]
[[Category:Films scored by Laxmikant–Pyarelal]]
[[Category:Indian courtroom films]]
[[Category:Courtroom films]]
[[Category:Indian legal films]]
[[Category:Indian legal films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Subhash Ghai]]
[[Category:Films directed by Subhash Ghai]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]

Latest revision as of 05:25, 4 March 2026

Meri Jung
File:Meri Jung, 1985 Hindi film.jpg
Directed bySubhash Ghai
Produced byN. N. Sippy
Written byJaved Akhtar
StarringAnil Kapoor
Meenakshi Sheshadri
Nutan
Javed Jaffrey
Amrish Puri
Parikshat Sahni
Music byLaxmikant-Pyarelal
CinematographyKamalakar Rao
Edited byWaman Bhonsle
Gurudutt Shirali
Release date
  • 11 October 1985 (1985-10-11)
Running time
164 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Meri Jung (transl. My War) is a 1985 Indian Hindi movie produced by N N Sippy and directed by Subhash Ghai. The film stars Anil Kapoor, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Nutan, Amrish Puri, Javed Jaffrey (in his debut film), A. K. Hangal, Iftekhar, Kushboo and Parikshat Sahni. The films music is by Laxmikant Pyarelal.

Plot[edit | edit source]

The story begins with a happy lower-middle-class family – Arun Verma(Anil Kapoor) an 8-year-old boy, his sister Komal Verma (Khushboo) a 5-year-old girl, his mother, Aarti Verma (Nutan) and his father, Deepak Verma (Girish Karnad) – living a peaceful life. Arun's parents teach their children through the famous title song "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai, Jeet Jayenge Hum, Jeet Jayenge Hum Tu Agar Sang Hai" which means that life is full of problems at every step and still we will overcome all these if we are together.

Deepak Verma is trapped in a murder case. A famous criminal lawyer G.D. Thakral (Amrish Puri) proves him guilty, and he is sentenced to be hanged by the court. Pleas by Arun's mother fail to convince Thakral to be truthful and spare her husband. Thakral asks her to give evidence for his innocence, to which she sadly quotes "Jiske paas koi sabut, koi gavanh nahi hote kya we begunah nahin hote" ("one who does not have any proof or witness of innocence, are they not innocent?"). Thakral was adamant to let her husband be hanged. He was hanged as per court's decision. His mother becomes mentally unstable from shock and is sent to a mental institution. Later Advocate Gupta (A.K. Hangal), the lawyer who defended Arun's father, finds out that Thakral had known all along that he was innocent, but only wanted him to be hanged. Arun finds out that Thakral abused the law.

Arun's house and all his property is auctioned off by the court. Arun and his sister are not offered help. He grows up with the seeds of revenge in his heart. He becomes a successful defence lawyer and keenly follows every case of Thakral so that some day he can stand up in court against the unbeaten Thakral and beat him.

One day Geeta Srivatsav (Meenakshi) comes to him and asks him to fight the case of her sister, Dr. Asha Mathur (Beena Banerjee) who is accused of killing a patient on duty with her medicine, which she gave from her purse. Arun refuses saying that if she can produce even an iota of evidence of her sister being innocent he will fight for her. Geeta replies coincidentally the same sentence "Jiske paas koi sabut, koi gavanh nahi hote kya we begunah nahin hote." Arun is instantly reminded of his mother's pleadings before Thakral. Geeta storms out of his office, but Arun is convinced to take the case. He meets Asha Mathur in police custody. He learns from her that on that fateful night she got a call from her ward assistant that her patient is in the ICU and needs her. She stops on the way (due to a traffic jam), and she impatiently moves out of car her to ask the reason. Meanwhile, somebody replaces the medicine bottle with the look-alike bottle of poison from her purse. On arrival in the hospital, she gives the liquid from that bottle to stabilise the patient. This resulted in the patient's death.

It is shown that Asha Mathur's husband, Dr. Dinesh Mathur (Parikshat Sahni), had gone to meet Thakral and had asked him to fight his wife's case. Thakral says no claiming he is very busy at the moment but later tells his assistant that there is no way that this case could be won. Arun meets Dinesh Mathur and informs him that he will fight the case. He asked him about the nature of poison and for how long a person can sustain the poison; he learns that poison if might result in death within 2 to 15 minutes depending on the body resistance.

The case begins with the prosecution lawyer recounting the events of that fateful day and telling that the medicine given to the patient was actually poison. Arun defends the case says that the patient did not die of this medicine. To prove himself right he drinks the medicine in court and refutes the claim. The court declares Geeta's sister innocent. Just after the judgement Dr. Mathur rushes Arun to hospital. It is revealed that the medicine contained poison, and Arun is saved in the nick of time.

Dr. Mathur wants to appreciate and compensate Arun for the risky effort he took to save his wife. He calls him for a get-together in his mansion. Dr. Mathur gives Arun a blank cheque. Arun rejects the offers politely and says he did for his self-satisfaction. He then finds the same piano with the sticker of Bhagwat Geeta of Krishna which his father used to play and was auctioned. His memories are refreshed again and with the emotional request he tells Dr. Mathur that this piano is very significant to him and asks for it. Dr. Mathur very happily gives the piano and asks him the reason for accepting this small fees. He tells the Mathur family his tragic story. He says that his mother was never seen after his father's death, and he assumes that she is dead.

Geeta calls Arun on a beach to appreciate his efforts and kindness at the canteen. They both fall in love. Thakral's son Vikram Thakral (Javed Jaffrey), a spoilt brat, not knowing anything about Arun, teases Geeta, which irritates the couple. Soon things take an ugly turn and Arun beats up Vikram.

Dr. Mathur sees a photo of his mother hanging in the wall. She immediately recognises the face with the patient she is handling for mental disorders. Arun and his sister request them to take to her. In the mental hospital they see their mother. Her memories had stopped on the day of the incident; she feels that their children are eight and five, staying with father. Arun brings her mother to his house and tries to make her come back to normal; she resumes her memory on hearing the song "Zindagi Har Kadam..."

Vikram plans to trap Arun's sister Komal and learns she studies in the same college to exact revenge. He tries to impress her by his charms, dancing skills, and ways of flattering people. The plan works. Komal falls for him and he convinces her to run away with him (so that he can publicly defame Arun by leaving his sister). At the planned moment, when one of Vikram's ex-girlfriends, Indu Gupta, shows up and tells Komal of Vikram's evil intentions. In the ensuing argument, Vikram murders Indu which is witnessed by the Dr. Mathur's family.

Arun had been waiting for this moment to take revenge on Thakral. He steps in as the prosecutor against Thakral who is defending his son. The case moves to and fro and, in the end, Arun has the upper hand. Thakral kidnaps Arun's mother and attempts to blackmail him. Arun goes to save his mother and is beaten up by Thakral's goons. Even though injured, Arun fights back. In an attempt to shoot Arun, Thakral shoots his friend's son and is jailed. He is unsuccessful in saving his son, who is given the death penalty. Thakral becomes a mentally unstable person.

Arun and his family are happy again and sing the famous "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nayi Jung Hai" song.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Actor/Actress Character
Anil Kapoor Arun Verma
Meenakshi Sheshadri Geeta Srivatsav, Arun's love interest
Khushboo Komal Verma, Arun's sister
Nutan Aarti Verma, Arun and Komal's mother
Girish Karnad Deepak Verma, Arun and Komal's father & Aarti's husband
Amrish Puri G. D. Thakral
Beena Banerjee Dr. Asha Mathur, Geeta's sister
Parikshat Sahni Dr. Dinesh Mathur, Asha's husband and Geeta's brother-in-law
Javed Jaffrey Vikram Thakral (Vicky)
A. K. Hangal Advocate Vinay Gupta
Viju Khote as Damodar Sharma , Arun Verma,s asistant
Pradeep Rawat Government Advocate Balwant

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

# Title Singer(s)
1 "Zindagi Har Kadam" Lata Mangeshkar, Nitin Mukesh
2 "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nai Jung Hai – 1" Lata Mangeshkar, Shabbir Kumar
3 "Bol Baby Bol Rock-N-Roll" Kishore Kumar, Javed Jaffrey, S. Janaki
4 "O Mere Khwabon Ke Shehzade" Anuradha Paudwal
5 "Zindagi Har Kadam Ek Nai Jung Hai – 2" Lata Mangeshkar
6 "Jhoom Le Jhoom Le" Laxmikant Kudalkar, Subhash Ghai

Remakes[edit | edit source]

Year Title Language Cast
1986 Vijrimbhana Telugu Sobhan Babu
1987 Oru Thayin Sabhatham Tamil T.Rajendar
1989 Yuddha Kanda Kannada V Ravichandran

Awards and nominations[edit | edit source]

33rd Filmfare Awards

Won

Nominationed

Reception[edit | edit source]

The movie was critically acclaimed, with special praise heaped upon Amrish Puri and Anil Kapoor. The movie established Kapoor as a mature actor with a lot of talent, shedding his newcomer image.

External links[edit | edit source]

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