DON


Don (1978). Released and authored by DEI. Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Pran and Helen. 172 minutes. Subtitles on songs and dialogue. Mono. Full screen. Aspect ratio 4:3.

Video quality is very good; colors are true and picture detail is sharp. Still, at times, the DVD is a bit grainy with the occasional artifact (face smearing). Audio is good considering the mono source. Yet, hissing can be heard, especially during the softer passages of the film. The DVD's box cover and the moving menu's graphics are very cool. The main menu consists of a dizzying montage of the action scenes while instrumental music, taken from the films opening credits, plays. Average bit rate hovers between 6 and 8.

Don is a bonafide Indian film classic. Starring in a dual-role as a underworld boss and as street urchin, Amitabh gives one of his best performances. "Don" won him the Filmfare Best Actor award for 1978. The beautiful Zeenat Aman is mesmerizing as the karate-kicking femme-fatale who literally kicks butt of anyone in her way.

Music is by Kalyanji Anandji; and all the songs are memorable. 2 songs especially stick out: "Main Hoon Don" and "Yeh Mera Dil". The former is perhaps Amitabh's most famous tune and may also be considered his signature song. It's sung with gusto by Kishore Kumar and is picturised brilliantly in the film with the swagger of a boastful Amitabh as he sings to a group of gangsters "Main Hoon Don" (I'm The Don!). "Yeh Mera Dil" features a dancing, gyrating Helen. She pulls out all stops to seduce and trap Amitabh with a fascinating dance, as she shakes and jiggles and wiggles her shoulders and hips in vain!

In closing, Don is a non-stop actioner with memorable songs, and excellent performances from Amitabh, Zeenat and Helen. The film is a hoot from start to finish; it never has a dull moment. And while not perfect, DEI's DVD of Don is likely to be the best copy we'll ever see. Highly recommended.






"Don ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, naamumkin hai." -Don







This page hosted by Yahoo! 
GeoCities Get your own Free Home Page


1