One of Amitabh Bachchan's finest performances turned the 1990 revenge drama Agneepath into a cult classic
Why Vijay Deenanath Chauhan has a bit of Tony Montana in him
05 Feb 2016 11:00 IST
Updated : 17:38 IST
Mayur Lookhar
Vijay Deenanath Chauhan was a boy from the slums who rose to become a don and avenge his father. The film was said to be ahead of its time, but was it truly original?
In 1983, filmmaker Brian De Palma released Scarface, starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. Interestingly, like Agneepath, it wasn't received well initially, but Pacino's portrayal of Cuban gangster Tony Montana slowly won people over.
We found a couple of similarities between the two films.
1. The voice
The first thing that strikes audiences about Vijay Deenanath Chauhan is how his voice is similar to that of Tony Montana in Scarface. Like Tony, Vijay too is interrogated by the police, and the fearless self introduction is Montanaesque in nature.
2. The mole
Sharat Saxena played Terralin, who has despised Vijay from the time the latter was a child. During his first meeting with Vijay, Kancha Cheena asks his men to throw Terralin from the helicopter, an act that helps him gain Vijay's trust. In Scarface, Montana goes to meet Alejandro Sosa in his remote island, where Sosa directs his men to hang Omar Suarez, a spy and Montana's adversary, from the helicopter.
3. The snub
Money can buy guns and glory, but not mom's respect. The scene where Vijay goes home after many years to meet his sister and mother for dinner, but is snubbed by momma, is heavily inspired by Montana's bitter reunion with his family.
4. The bullet
Both Tony and Vijay escape attempts to their lives by betraying partners, but wow to return the favour. Both get out of hospital bed with injured arms in a cast, to hunt down the perpetrators. The only difference is Tony's blue suit as opposed to Vijay's white one. That and Tony killing the bad guy in his den, while Vijay prefers a police lock-up.
5. The restaurant
No place for dons or killers in civil society. Vijay loses his cool after fellow diners at a plush restaurant object to his presence. He blasts the elite diners and walks out of the place after damaging some furniture. Diners weren't as cruel in Scarface, but the ugly spat between Tony and Elvira attracts a lot of attention.
There were other similarities such as Tony and Vijay's sisters falling in love with their right hand men. While Tony disapproves of Manny's and his sister's relationship, eventually killing Manny, Vijay is initially offended but eventually accepts Siksha and Krishnan Iyer's relationship. What this all points to is the fact that maybe a little inspiration from Scarface helped make Agneepath a classic.
People in this story
Amitabh Bachchan
Actor, Singer, Producer
Sharat Saxena
Actor
Movies in this story
Agneepath
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