Joint Commissioner of Police Dev Pratap Singh, a duty-bound, self-righteous officer, and Special Commissioner Tejinder Khosla, the balancing force between the political interests of Chief Minister Bhandarker and Dev's commitment to the law, are lifelong friends, each with his own ideals. Farhaan, a law graduate, was brought up with ideals of non-violence and patriotism. Dev unwittingly gives Farhaan the wound that plunges him into rage and violence after witnessing the death of his father during a peace demonstration. Taking advantage of the situation, corrupt politician Latif sets the vulnerable young man on a path of violence and destruction that threatens to ignite the city. Aalyn is the light in Farhaan's life. Beautiful and innocent, the young woman also gets caught in extraordinary circumstances that transform her life and she dares to stand up for the truth.
Acting
Bachchan's trembling righteousness vs. Om Puri's exhausted compromise.
Direction
Nihalani stages riots like tragedy, not spectacle.
Writing
Dev and Khosla's friendship cracks in loaded silences.
Director
Govind Nihalani
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Nihalani made this after 'Ardh Satya' and 'Pukar' — Dev completes his trilogy of compromised authority figures, with Bachchan as the most self-aware yet still doomed.
The scene where Dev visits Farhaan's home and sees the father's photo was improvised after Bachchan felt the scripted version was too declarative.
IN
