Zamane Se Kya Darna (1994) - Review in English

About the story: Since his early childhood, Vikram (Sanjay Dutt) has to live with the stigma of being the son of a murderer who abandoned him and his mother (Reema Lagoo); that’s why all his thoughts about his father are full of hatred. Looking for a job, he comes across an ad in the paper, indicating that wealthy businessman Sardar Rajpal (Alok Nath) is in search for a manager. But when Vikram arrives at Rajpal’s, the job is already assigned to a man whom Rajpal believes to be his lost son Vicky, not knowing that this "Vicky" is a crook named Shakti (Shakti Kapoor) who knows Rajpal’s well-hidden secret: The businessman’s real name is Virendra Singh – he is Vikram’s father who years ago in self-defence had killed Shakti’s uncle and fled, and when he had come to know that his victim’s brother Gajendra Singh (Raza Murad) burnt down his house together with Virendra’s wife and little son, he had started life afresh under the name of Rajpal and raised the orphaned Anju (Raveena Tandon) – without having a clue that his family had survived the fire attack. Now Gajendra and Shakti see their chance come to take more revenge on Rajpal/Virendra: With Shakti as "Vicky" they plan to get their hands on Rajpal’s properties. Rajpal, however, develops a strong affection to Vikram who proves to be an honest and loyal workman. Slowly but surely, Vikram even manages to turn arrogant Anju’s aversion against him into love. When Gajendra and Shakti find out that Vikram is the real son of Rajpal’s (a fact still unknown to the persons concerned), they fear for their revenge plans and start intriguing against Vikram to discredit him in Rajpal’s eyes. And they are successful in their efforts...


In the early 90es, Sanjay simply succeeded in everything in front of the camera. Self-confident, with great charisma and in splendid mood for dancing and acting, he embodied most different characters, and he was especially convincing as the nice and good-hearted young man who with love, straightforwardness and courage achieves every goal. Vikram is a perfect example for this kind of role: a lovable man with noble ethic values and with moral courage which, after a first and foolish investment in the wrong man, afterwards regularly opens new ways for him. Even the scene when Vikram finally boils over and takes cross-gained Anju to deserved task, doesn’t diminish the character’s positive impression as Vikram even in this situation remains fair.

After Jeena Marna Tere Sang, Sanjay and Raveena are a beautiful couple again, but this time the initial situation is turned; in Jeena Marna Tere Sang it was Sanjay who first was the rotter while Raveena was his unfortunate victim. Now in Zamane Se Kya Darna, Raveena starts as the rich and arrogant brat whose actions against Sanjay become more and more eccentric (honestly, in my opinion she was shaped too harsh and negative) while Sanjay is the victim. He doesn’t put up with everything without contradiction, but no matter how meanly Raveena treats him, he remains the nice guy. Alok Nath is a specialist for father figures of all kinds, and here he is convincing as a father torn between two possible sons and tormented by guilt and conscience. And the ethnic clan led by Bhairon Singh (Gulshan Grover for once in a not-as-bad role) adds colour to the story as well as one of several cheerful dance clips, all of them starring Sanjay and Raveena.

The story is well-constructed, without unnecessary frills (except the absurd bull scene Shakti Kapoor has to absolve) or logic gaps. You just sometimes wonder how Vikram always knows exactly where he is needed to come to others’ rescue. But honestly: Who wants to know that? The main point is that Sanjay steps in and does his fist’n’kick act which simply belonged to his hero image – the more the better. Zamane Se Kya Darna is a feast for every Sanjay fan, and even as a whole it's a recommendation – not because the film is somehow gorgeous or genial, but it’s fun watching it. And listening to it. For in the 90es, Sanju even vocally continuously improved, using his voice pointedly as addictive means of expression. This was extremely audible in Khalnayak or in Gumrah, and now even here. Just take the train scene and Vikram’s cunning "prooomise?" – that’s Sanju live! *g*

There’s only one detail we mercifully want to forget now and forever: the costumes of Anju’s and Vikram’s group dancers in "Hey Doston". I really would like to know what the costume designer had in mind doing this kind of crime...

Produced and directed by Bobby Raaj
157 Min.; DVD: Eros, English Subtitles (including songs)
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