Don - 1978

Introduction

Chandra Barot's 1978 release "Don" is an action-thriller movie in Hindi. The film, a crucial turning point in Indian cinema, is renowned for its compelling plot, catchy dialogue, and legendary performances. The story of a prominent criminal genius named Don and his double, Vijay, who is tasked with imitating him, is told in "Don," which stars Amitabh Bachchan in a dual role.

The protagonist of the narrative is a policeman by the name of D'Silva, played by Iftekhar, who is committed to bringing Don to justice. D'Silva takes advantage of the chance to train Vijay to pose as Don in order to acquire information against the criminal gang when Don is hurt and mistakenly believed to be dead. As Vijay infiltrates Don's criminal organisation, he comes across frightening foes including Pran's Jasjit and

As Vijay attempts to outwit Don's supporters and learn the truth about the criminal organisation, "Don" transports the audience on an emotional rollercoaster that is full of tension, exhilarating action sequences, and unexpected twists. There is catchy music in the movie by Kalyanji-Anandji, such as the timeless song "Khaike Paan Banaraswala" and the well-known theme tune that is still connected to the figure of Don.

The box office smash "Don" cemented Amitabh Bachchan's reputation as the "angry young man" of Indian cinema. Over the years, it developed a cult following, and Shah Rukh Khan played the lead character in the 2006 remake. The original 1978 version is still regarded as a masterpiece and is praised for its gripping story and strong acting.

Table of contents

• Details

• Plot 

• Release

• Reviews

• Casting

• Crew

• Songs

• Behind the scenes

• Box office collection

• Character Analysis 

• Intresting Facts

Details

Plot

In the 1978 movie "Don," Amitabh Bachchan played the notorious criminal mastermind Don, and Bachchan also played Vijay, who is Don's identical twin. Don is the boss of an international gang that engages in illegal activity and smuggling. Iftekhar plays D'Silva, a dedicated policeman who works to apprehend and prosecute Don.

Don is hurt during a police pursuit and left for dead, so D'Silva takes advantage of the situation to penetrate the criminal underworld. He recruits Vijay, a simpleton who resembles Don remarkably, and prepares him to pose as the criminal. Vijay hesitantly agrees and enters Don's realm where he runs against deadly foes including Kamini, a beautiful dancer, and Jasjit, a devoted member of Don's group.

Vijay must navigate a hazardous web of deceit, betrayal, and risky encounters as he dives deeper into the criminal organisation. Vijay tries to gather evidence against the criminal organisation and expose their operations while trying to stay one step ahead of Don's loyalists who suspect his true identity. The movie keeps the audience on the edge of their seats with surprising twists and turns.

Release

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The movie was released on the 12th of May 1978. It opened with a huge reception from the audience. Don is a hindi based crime action thriller movie. The movie was made with a budget of 70 lakhs and earned a box office collection of 7 crores. Don got a rating of 7.7/10 on IMDB and can be enjoyed on Amazon Prime Video.

Reviews

• Significant praise was shown for Amitabh Bachchan's depiction of the twin parts of Don and Vijay. Viewers were profoundly affected by his compelling presence, dramatic acting, and change from the slick and sophisticated Don to the innocent and simple Vijay. The movie demonstrated Bachchan's range as a performer and reaffirmed his superstar status.

• The soundtrack of "Don," which was composed by Kalyanji-Anandji, was also well-received. The songs gained enormous popularity, notably "Khaike Paan Banaraswala," and listeners continue to recall and appreciate them now.

Casting 

• Amitabh Bachchan as Mark Donald aka Don/Vijay Pal (dual role)

• Zeenat Aman as Roma

• Pran as Jasjit Ahuja("JJ")

• Iftekhar as DSP D'Silva

• Om Shivpuri as Vardhaan / the fake R. K. Malik

• Satyen Kappu as Inspector Verma, DSP D'Silva's junior

• P. Jairaj as Dayal

• Kamal Kapoor as Narang, Vardhaan's right-hand man

• Arpana Choudhary as Anita, Don's girlfriend

• Helen as Kamini, Ramesh's fiancée

• Shetty as Shakaal, Don's gang member

• Mac Mohan as Mac, Don's gang member

• Yusuf Khan as Vikram, Don's gang member

• Pinchoo Kapoor as the real R. K. Malik, Interpol officer

• Sharad Kumar as Ramesh, Roma's brother

• Baby Bilkish as Munni, Jasjit's daughter

• Mastar Alankar as Dipu, Jasjit's son

Crew

• Director - Chandra Barot

• Writer - Salim Javed

• Produced By - Nirman Irani

• Cinematographer - Nirman Irani

• Edited By - Waman Rao

• Music - Kalyanji- Anandji

• Production Company- Nirman Films

Character Analysis

• Don : Amitabh Bachchan, a prominent gangster and the boss of a group operating in the underground. Don is charismatic, cunning, brilliant, and determined, as was already mentioned. He is the perfect example of a traditional anti-hero, hiding behind the persona of Vijay, a simpleton, to elude the law. Don's persona showcases the strength and attraction of crime and the shadowy underbelly of society.

• Roma (Zeenat Aman): Roma plays a crucial role in the movie and is Don and Vijay's love interest. She begins as an inspector looking for closure after Don's gang murdered her brother. Roma is described as having a strong will, being self-sufficient, and committed to holding Don accountable. As she falls in love with Vijay, her character changes, creating a conflict of emotions. Romance and emotion are added to the plot by Roma, who also acts as a catalyst for the

• Pran portrays : Jasjit, Don's dependable and trusted right-hand guy. He is a talented and well-liked associate in Don's crew. Jasjit is portrayed as a devout disciple who blindly obeys Don's commands. Jasjit is presented as having honour and integrity while being a criminal. He has a strong moral compass and is prepared to put his own interests aside for the benefit of others.

• Vardhan, who is portrayed : Iftekhar, is Roma's superior and a police officer. He is essential in creating the scheme to capture Don. Vardhan is shown as an experienced, smart officer who has a thorough awareness of the criminal underground. He is willing to take risks to bring Don to justice since he is dedicated to doing so. Vardhan's persona stands in for the unshakable commitment of law enforcement personnel.
  

Songs

Behind the scenes

• Writing and direction: Chandra Barot's direction significantly influenced the direction of the movie. He created a compelling story by deftly balancing the action, drama, and suspense components. Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan's screenplay was intricately braided, with clearly defined characters and memorable dialogue that became a Bollywood classic.

• Amitabh Bachchan's Performance: A key element in the movie's popularity was Amitabh Bachchan's portrayal as Don. Don became one of his most famous parts thanks to his unmatched charisma and ferocity in the role. Bachchan became a megastar because to his commanding presence and faultless acting abilities, which also enhanced the movie.

Controversy 

Shahrukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra starred in the same-named remake, which Farhan Akthar directed in 2006. The movie's conclusion was designed in such a way as to be used in its sequel, which was released in 2011 against the original film's producers' objections, claiming they had only granted the rights to make the original movie and not its successor.

Box Office Collection

The movie earned a box office collection of 7 crores.

Awards

Interesting facts

• Pop Culture Influence: "Don" has a profound effect on Indian culture. Many of the movie's lines, like "Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, namumkin hai" (It's not just tough to capture Don, it's impossible), have gained notoriety and are frequently used in jokes or references in other movies, TV shows, and even casual conversations.

• Legacy & Sequels: One of Amitabh Bachchan's most enduring films, "Don" is frequently regarded as a masterpiece in Indian cinema. Due to its popularity, a follow-up called "Don 2," which was released in 2011, was made and continued the narrative of the character Don. Shah Rukh Khan played the protagonist character in both of the Farhan Akhtar-directed flicks.

Finally, the 1978 film "Don" is still regarded as a timeless masterpiece of Indian cinema. The charismatic and cunning Don, played by Amitabh Bachchan in a famous performance, captured moviegoers' attention as the film's riveting story, memorable dialogue, and unforgettable soundtrack. In addition to cementing Bachchan's position as a superstar, the film's popularity had a long-lasting effect on popular culture, with its dialogue and characters going down in Indian cinema history. "Don" is still praised for its chic execution, exhilarating action scenes, and the mysterious fascination of its lead character. It is a movie that fans still like because of the enduring strength of its narrative and Amitabh Bachchan's unrivalled magnetism.