Often regarded as a milestone in Amitabh’s career, ‘Deewaar’ (directed by Yash Chopra) is one of the most successful representatives of Amitabh’s ‘angry young man’ persona. The film exudes the anger of a man who takes to crime due to the uncaring attitude of the society and takes revenge by twisting every norm that the society has set. The narrative is a dramatic tussle between two brothers, Vijay (Amitabh Bachhan) and Ravi (Shashi Kapoor). Amitabh played a smuggler in this film, playing the cat and mouse game with his own police officer brother Ravi. Their mother is torn by the dilemma to choose one of his sons. She ultimately chooses the law upholding son. In the end, the conflict gets resolved with the victory of law and order over crime as Vijay is shot dead by Ravi. This film is interesting for several reasons. On one hand it deals with the exploitive management of the mill who are in fact responsible for what Vijay later in his life becomes. ‘Deewaar’ also exposes the malevolent attitude of the society which makes him pay for his father’s crime. But most importantly, the ultimate triumph of the society over its strayed member is most noticeable in the film. Though this film upholds the norm set by the society; the nihilistic attitude of Vijay (Amitabh Bachhan) is a real characteristic of what is called the ‘angry young man syndrome’. 
The ‘Deewaar’ (1975) story begins on a happy note with a family of four-Vijay, Ravi and their parents. Vijay’s father, a union leader, leads the mill workers in their demand for a higher wage. Pressurized by the mill management, Vijay’s father reluctantly gives in and signs the papers, forfeiting the claims of the workers. Trouble ensues as soon as the workers come to know about his betrayal and he flees, leaving behind his family, who now has to bear the wrath of the villagers. The trouble worsens when a group of mill workers write on Vijay’s arms “Tera bap chor hai” (Your father is a thief). This incident embeds deep hatred in Vijay’s psyche as he comes to look at the society unjustifiably punishing him for his father’s crime. The family soon moves to Mumbai.
To educate Ravi, Vijay takes to polishing shoes and the mother (Nirupa Roy) finds work as a labor at a construction site. Vijay grows up to become a dock laborer and steps into the world of crime when a mafia leader (Iftikhar), impressed by the former’s die-hard attitude, invites him to join his gang. Vijay soon becomes a rich person and buys a palatial mansion for his mother. The twist in the film comes with Ravi, Vijay’s brother, being a police officer by now, is given the task of bringing Iftikhar and his associates to the book. Ravi soon finds out the shady life of Vijay and thus the height of tension builds up in the narrative. The film then progresses through the conflict between the two brothers and reaches the climax with Vijay dieing into the arms of his mother after being shot by Ravi, for whose education ironically Vijay paid. Remembered for dialogues like “Mere pass ma Hain” (I have the mother), ‘Deewaar’ became a blockbuster hit and is still very popular. Parveen Babi provides the romantic touch to the story as she plays the love of Vijay.
Technorati Tags: Milestones of Indian Cinema - Deewaar
Technorati Tags: Milestones of Indian Cinema - Deewaar
