Main Azaad Hoon (1989) User Reviews

Could have been much better. Good story, exaggerated portrayal.

[Peter_Young · 6/10 · 17 August 2009]

Well, first, I enjoyed this film - I liked the realistic portrayal of the modern-day urban India of the 1980s, I immensely liked the background score, the cinematography, the dialogues. But I totally HATED the unrealistic concept of an entire nation going crazy about one simple man without a completely justified reason and considering him their God. What I found even more laughable is that when he wants to go, they sing a song for him. It was so clichéd that I lost any interest in the film. I don't get why good stories must go to unnecessary edges. The entire story revolves around this admiration. Anyway, Amitabh in one of his better performances of the 1980s, is great, and Shabana Azmi, who is beautiful and as always natural, provides great support. Go for it if you like - I see why the film is widely appreciated, but I frankly don't find it underrated as many people here say.

Socially and polictially awakening movie

[jaihind_17 · 8/10 · 28 February 2005]

Main Azaad Hoon has a very different theme to usual masala treats as this has a cause or soul in the people Azaad voices for. The script was excellent along with the plot.

A corrupt politician decides to accelerate newspaper sales by asking a female reporter to create a fictional character who claims rights for the poor and unwealthy called "Azaad" (Freedom). This starts a sensation a face is required for Azaad and Amitabh a wandering bumpkin is recruited for the job. However, it turns out that he's quite popular with his new identity. The story continues......

Amitabh again is great as the wondering nomad turned voice of the downtrodden, Shabani Azmi is ideal in the supporting lead.

A film which addresses certain issues in our motherland which still resound today even after 16-17 years this movie was released.

This was Tinnu Anand's latest AB starrer after Shahenshah. Not your usual "dishoom dishoom haram zaada", more "humari maange puri karo!"

could have been made so much better

[chaitanyaenrico · 6/10 · 4 January 2007]

i gathered that it was adapted from a Frank Capra film - "Meet John Doe". it has been made differently but i still don't think Tinu Anand is good enough. i liked the fact that it didn't have any songs, just one theme song or more like a revolution chant, which was repeated quite a few times. Amitabh Bachchan is absolutely riveting in the role of "azaad", a quite brilliant acting performance from him. i'm surprised he didn't get a best actor nomination. shades of him in this role can be seen in "Khakee". poor editing and hopeless extras take the cream away but i think it is still better than Tinu Anand's previous film "Shahenshah". and much better than other films of its time. this film failed miserably at the box office, something that goes to show that unless you have a three minute long fight scene, some pretty-pretty locations, and twelve songs you can't expect getting your dough back.

One of the best performances to date by Amitabh Bachchan

[prasith · 10/10 · 14 February 1999]

So it bombed at the box office. But that does not mean that the movie is bad. A remake of "Meet John Doe", Amitabh does justice to the role of John Doe. It's the story of a man, a wanderer, arriving in a town, looking for food and shelter. Instead, he meets with Shabana Azmi, a journalist who has caused a sensation in the media and political world by fabricating a story about "Azaad" who would be committing suicide by jumping off the top of a building. To make the character more believable, she needs someone who can play the role of "Azaad" and in pops Amitabh. A definite watch. 5 stars awarded.

The best Amitabh movie yet

[BiswajitSince2005 · 10/10 · 6 February 2007]

One of the best movies of Amitabh I have watched other than Hum. Mein Azaad hoon is a movie about freedom. Freedom from poverty, freedom from worries and freedom from depression.

A Hollywood remake, mein azaad hoon was a nicely made movie but somehow wasn't appreciated much by the audience then. But every time I see the movie, it makes me think. It is an inspiration showing one person with courage makes an army.

Amitabh has played a very nice role and it could have been a turning point to his career as the role was tailor made for him. Shabana as a reporter is nice in her role. She has played it perfectly. The funniest part in the movie is Amitabh is being shown as wearing one single jacket from the beginning till end with a very uniform patch showing the jacket as torn.

Directed by Tinnu Anand, the movie was well above its time.

One of the best Indian movies ever made in terms of subject matter

[skdhungel · 31 May 2006]

Main azaad Hoon is one of best Indian movies i have ever watched. I do not think any movie with a hypothetical plot could touch the human feelings more than this. It is not an Indian masala movie at all rather it is targeted to the oppressed and suppressed poor class of people to teach the lesson that the common people should become conscious about anything happening in the society and get united to eradicate the bad elements . The film ends with a message of sacrifice along with the motivation for revolt through true consciousness. The acting of Amitabh Bacchan is lively and that of Sabana Azmi too is praiseworthy. Rest of the characters are not that significant. The role played by Annu Kapoor is a short but sweet.

An excellent adaptation of Meet John Doe

[souvik_das_pwc · 10/10 · 15 January 2010]

This is an excellent Indianization of the original Hollywood flick Meet John Doe. The highlight of the movie was the realistic touch brought into a typical masala movie. The towering performance of Amitabh Bachchan and Shabana Azmi were two more feathers in the cap of this movie. The movie was released at a time when the career of this leading superstar of India was struggling for a breath of fresh air after 5 flops in a row. This was the sixth flop but he re-established his prowess as the leading actor from India, very well supported by Shabana, who hails from a different school of acting altogether. This movie played the same role in Bachchan's career in 1989 as Black played in 2005. The rumor goes that the movie had a scene shot by the legendary Satyajit Ray (the scene where several bullock carts are seen against the backdrop of a rising sun). The film also boasts a communist song by the Late Kaifi Azmi (father of Shabana Azmi), very well-sung by Amitabh.

A copy with a serious overtone.

[sauravmitra · 1/10 · 11 July 2006]

This is a copy of the movie Meet John Doe by director Frank Capra. Although the original is satirical or humorous, this film is serious. Indeed it brings out the present day mess that is called India. The character of Azad is the quintessential voice of our inner self. Well made movie and highly watchable, but a copy nonetheless.

Amitabh Bachchan gives a stellar performance as Azaad, but being in his 'barren' zone of movies, this one bombed spectacularly in the box office. Although a serious movie, it is still watchable with the family because unlike most of his movies of that period, this one lacks violence.

One of the most powerfull performance by the powerhouse called Amitabh

[register-28 · 10/10 · 18 March 2004]

As Azad, Amit ji sends a beautiful message and the way he organizes the movements are well defined. In the movie, Amitabh towards the end doesn't go for a revenge style of movie. He doesn't justify or blame any thing in his last message. This makes movie different from the other masaala movie. He works for a cause.

A meaning full movie, good dialog and above all great acting by Amitabh. Film industry require more such movie. Film has got just one song which is quite meaning full. in the role of Azad, Amit ji has done justice to the role. He was excellent in the way he played the role of a stranger and in the costume of powerful personality called Azad.

Big B's most underrated movie

[jmathur_swayamprabha · 8/10 · 3 March 2015]

Main Aazaad Hoon is the most underrated movie of the star of the millennium(!) Amitabh Bachchan who is definitely the living legend of Indian cinema. It got released in 1989 and flopped on the box office. But the notable thing is that it got ignored by both the viewers and the critics. In fact, the movie deserved a better treatment because it is quite different from the masala movies of Amitabh Bachchan and one of his better works.

Inspired by Hollywood movie - Meet John Doe (1941), It is a movie of a person whose actual name has not been told in the movie. He is nicknamed as Aazaad by an ambitious journalist of a newspaper run by even more ambitious mediaman. A false story is published in the newspaper that the person named Azaad will suicide on the next republic day(26 January) as a protest of the corrupt system prevalent in India. The purpose of this false story is to boost the declining sale of the newspaper. The sale, in fact, gets boosted up but now the readers want to meet the person named Aazaad. The lady journalist, in a very smart move, catches a layman to play the role of Aazaad for money and assures him that he would not have to commit suicide on the given day as he will be released and allowed to flee away anywhere before that. The person who is none other than our Big B, is ready to do it but while performing the role, he comes to realize the pains and problems of the common man coupled with realities of the rotten system. Becoming sympathetic to the people's plight and feeling from within to give a meaning to his otherwise meaningless life, he actually commits suicide on the already declared date. His sacrifice awakens the sleepy and dormant masses and they are made to realize that each one of them is, in fact, an Aazaad in himself.

Quite astonishingly, this movie has been made and directed by Tinu Anand, the masala moviemaker. It is sans any romantic lead pair and consequentially any romance with songs and dances, any traditional baddies and consequentially any relevant scenes of fight, chase, shootout, explosion or other type of action or thrill for which Amitabh Bachchan was known for about two decades of his career(the so called angry young man tag was attached to him for such kind of roles only). This movie is totally different, realistic, sensitive, thought-provoking and to a large extent, logically made. To my knowledge, Amitabh Bachchan has never acted in any other movie of this category. It is a hard-hitting statement on the corrupt and manipulative system which was and still is prevalent in India.

Despite being a realistic, non-formulaic movie, it is engrossing and able to focus the viewer's attention on the screen throughout. Recently Amitabh Bachchan has acted in RGV's Rann in which the corruption rampant in the media has been exposed. The same thing is here also but when this movie had been made, electronic media was not prominent in India. Hence it has exposed print media which was(and which is) no less corrupt than the electronic media working for vested interests and own commercial growth only. Journalists are toeing the lines of newspaper owners only because they too are joining the media for glittering careers and not for any ideals. The complete portrayal of the reality within the media house is utterly realistic. Powerful mediamen foster political ambitions, is a fact highlighted through the character of Manohar Singh, the newspaper owner.

Amitabh Bachchan has got national award for best actor twice - first for Agneepath and second for Black. In my view, his performance in Main Aazaad Hoon is far better than both those performances and he should have won the national award for this movie instead. He has entered the skin of the protagonist completely and given a gem of a performance. Shabana Aazmi as the journalist, is natural, as usual. One of the big names of Indian theatre, (late) Manohar Singh has played the role of the owner of the newspaper house with highest degree of efficiency. Other performers like Annu Kapoor, Sudhir Pandey, Raja Bundela, Ajeet Vachchhani etc. are also up to the mark.

The script as well as the direction are superb except dragging at some places which could have been avoided. The climax is hard-hitting and unforgettable. All the technical departments of the movie are all right. Music has been given in the movie by Amar-Utpal and this offbeat movie contains only one song - KITNE BAAJOO KITNE SAR- written by Shabana Aazmi's father, the legendary Shaayar Kaifi Aazmi and sung by none other than Amitabh Bachchan himself.

It happens sometimes that useless or weak movies catch undue attention(and box office success too) whereas excellent movies pass by unnoticed. Main Aazaad Hoon belongs to the second category. Even AB's fans are not aware of this movie. It is movie which should be watched by not only the admirers of Amitabh Bachchan but also the people fond of watching sensible, thoughtful and useful cinema.

Most underrated film of Amitabh Bachchan.

[nadkarnisumeet · 8/10 · 14 October 2020]

Main Azaad Hoon review :

A fake news article escalates to unprecedented level and compels a media house to actually create a character called Azaad (Amitabh Bachchan) who vows to stand against the corrupt system. In this age of increasing false propaganda and media trials, Main Azaad Hoon is much relevant. It is also Amitabh Bachchan's most underrated performance till date.

Shabana Azmi plays the news reporter who creates the fake character Azaad and is encouraged by her cunning employer and head honcho Manohar Singh to create a sensation for his own hidden political agenda. Amitabh is just a pawn in the vicious game but turns out to be a tough nut to crack..

"Itne baazu itne sarr Gin le dushman dhyaan se Haarega woh har baazi Jab khele hum jee jaan se. Aao aajao Jag pe chaa jao"

Sung by Amitabh Bachchan himself, the above song is ever memorable in a film which sadly failed to enthuse the audience in 1989.

Reportedly, director Tinnu Anand had initially thought of a limited release in selected premium theatres only. However, that was not to be and Main Azaad Hoon released near Christmas 1989 at the Super cinema, Grant Road and other aam janta theatres all over. The audience could not accept Bachchan in such an offbeat role and the movie proved to be a box office disaster.

With a still relevant subject and an excellent performance from Bachchan, Main Azaad Hoon is highly recommended to all, especially his fans.

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

One of Amitabh's offbeat films of 80s and underrated

[silvan-desouza · 8/10 · 15 May 2013]

In late 80s Amitabh was going through a bad phase, post his return from politics and the success of the overrated Shaheenshah(1988), his films started flopping, GJS, TOOFAN, JAADUGAR Amitabh also was past his prime those days, he had put on weight, face looked wrinkled and he signed awful films but Main Azaad Hoon is a rare film that released in 1989. The film is a remake of Meet John Doe and is a very different film in Bollywood sensibilities. The film has no romance angle, no unwanted songs, comedy and sticks to the main plot throughout, perhaps this was one reason it didn't work that time The film exposes political scandals, government malfunctions superbly, In 1980s there were many films exposing the government starting from AAJ KA MLA, INQUILAAB.etc The film starts off superbly and keeps your attention throughout, there are few flaws too like certain aspects may seem unreal but that is forgiven.There are several scenes brilliantly handled like the clash between Amitabh and the corrupt Government officials, The plans played by the officials, The finale The film is superbly handled by Tinnu Anand who surprisingly earlier directed KAALIA and Shaheenshah type films. There is only one song in the film which is superbly sung by Amitabh and used throughout

Amitabh Bachchan known for his commercial roles dons a different role this time and handles the role superbly as always, letting his eyes and body language do the talking too, he is simply superb in the role Shabana Azmi who was known for offbeat films does a superb job, this is the first time both worked opposite each other, earlier she and AB starred in Parvarish and AAA but not opposite each other. Amongst rest Late Manohar Singh does a superb job as the corrupt Newspaper Bureaucrat, Sudhir Pandey is equally effective, Annu Kapoor as AB's sidekick gets few scenes but is good, The rest including Anjan Shrivastav, Mushtaq Khan, Deepak Qazir, Ajit Vachnani are all perfect

A revolutionary movie ahead of its time for the People by the people.

[mohindrarishi · 10/10 · 7 March 2019]

First a big congratulations applaud To the cast and crew to create this magic on screen and making it a masterpiece. It surely deserved the matured and prudent audience which lacked the understanding during its release time. Today it would have been appreciated more. Nevertheless we expect to have sequel or similar movie with Mr. Bacchan recreating such magic. Applauds to Tinu ANAND, have akhtar and rest of the The crew. Great song.... I still remember I watched this movie twice in theatre.