Satya (1998)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Brilliant and touching

Best movie of this year hands down!

Admirable film.

Satya has been regarded one of the finest films of Indian cinema. No doubt, everytime I hear about it, people regard it as an underworld or a gangster film which is unfair and unjustified. Reason? Satya is not about underworld but the story of a poor innocent immigrant who comes to the city of dreams to earn an honest living but tragic consequences lead him to become one of the most dreaded gangsters. The film no doubt, is based on the underworld yet it sticks to the story of the man that becomes a gangster and even tries to quit the world of crime for the sake of woman he loves.I don't understand what has really happened to the once maverick director Mr Ram Gopal Verma who have given the Industry some amazing films like Rangeela, Kaun, Ek Hasina Thi, Ab Tak Chappan, Jungle, Company and of course Satya. I have been a huge fan of his work in the past and it feels sad that he has lost focus in the craft he once mastered at. Anyway Satya shall remain his finest work.It's the most realistic take on the world of crime. The film was made with the tight budget and hence it adds up to the realism with the absence of glitz and glamour. There are few scenes in the film where you may question the logic of the makers but it has been shot so amazingly that you would not blink your eye during the proceedings. It's a must watch.Performances are Top Notch. The star is of course Manoj Bajpayee who steals the show but let me put it here that JD Chakravarthy wasn't any less either. I have read reviews including some on IMDB where people have complained about Chakravarthy's performance and called him 'average' at everything. Perhaps people could not understand Satya's character. RGV wanted a south indian actor who doesn't show much of expressions yet has the feeling of anger like fire. JD has done complete justice to his character and It feels bad that he hasn't gotten his due as a performer.Urmila Matondkar is simply superb, she is my favourite actress and I have grown up watching her films. Her innocence and refreshing presence are the only bright spots in this out and out dark edgy film. She is simply outstanding in the climax sequence. Ditto for Shefali Chaya who was exceptional. Just a small complaint that makers didn't bring her up for the reaction after the killing of Bhiku Matre.Music by Vishal Shekhar was a rage at that time, I still remember. Sapne Mein Milti hai is still popular. But it's Sandeep Chowta who has done a remarkable job as the composer for background music. Saurabh Shukla is excellent as usual . Paresh Rawal in a small role is very effective as the Commissioner of Police. The other actors have nailed their parts well. Satya is a film that should not be missed. It's a hugely recommended film for the subject it takes, the execution and the reality it shows. Go Watch it if you haven't.

A film like Satya so authentic, yet highly dramatic is extremely rare. Anybody with a penchant for realistic action movies will surely fall for this movie. The most unique aspect of the movie is the objective, neutral portrayal of the characters, not making them typical bollywood hero/ villain caricatures. Manoj Bajpayee's humane gangster act is definitely the show stealer among some amazing performances by JD Chakravarty, Shefali Shah and Saurabh Shukla. Also, Mumbai has never been captured with such raw and rustic elegance as in Satya. 80s and 90s Mumbai kids will surely get nostalgic on revisiting the movie. A special mention to BGM, which compels the viewer to pay attention and is sufficiently loud to convey the importance of soulful moments of the movie. Only drawback remains the untimely songs, which can be excused considering the fact that the time when this movie was made it was inconceivable to have a mainstream movie without songs. All the aspiring movie makers need to watch this legendary, once in a lifetime movie that created such magic on screen especially considering that the maker RGV's present work reeks of self indulgence. All in all, 10 on 10 and my personal favorite.

"Satya" presents the "truth" of a good film. This is Ramgopal Varma's best directorial specimen. I think the film as the most important in last 10 years' Indian Cinema. Now I believe, Gangsters are people like us, they talk like us, dress like us, eat like us, probably feel like us. This film shatters the myth about absurd portrayal of earlier gangsters. Chakravarty, as Satya is excellent with his low-key acting style. Others are gems. The background music by Sandip Chowta is thrilling. You will feel the every bit of drums.I often feel perplexed to select the most interesting character in this film. Who is more important? Satya, Bhikhu, Mole, Chander, Bhao, Jagga, Jagga ke admi, Kalu, Amod Shukla, Khandelkar, Music director Runu Sagar, Vidya .............? Who? It is a terrific film. Truth's beauty and beauty truth.

This film gets my vote as the best Hindi gangster movie of all time. It is long but consistently engrossing as it charts the rise and fall of a gangster. The acting is top notch with no weak spots. Manoj Bajpai is mesmerizing as Bhiku Mhatre, a larger than life gangster who befriends our protagonist Satya (J.D. Chakravarthi). The film is gritty and successfully captures the spirit of Mumbai. The plot doesn't have a trace of sentiment and the gangsters are never romanticized. Yet we come to care for them. The fight scenes are violent and feel brutally honest. A terrific film.Overall 9/10