Shreeram Lagoo

In the early years of the 20th century, Mohandas K. Gandhi, a British-trained lawyer, forsakes all worldly possessions to take up the cause of Indian independence. Faced with armed resistance from the British government, Gandhi adopts a policy of 'passive resistance', endeavouring to win freedom for his people without resorting to bloodshed.

As a heated race for the post of chief minister erupts between the incumbent and a challenger from his own party, political passions play out behind the scenes as seen through a journalist's eyes in this landmark drama. Directed by Jabbar Patel and inspired by Arun Sadhu's novels Mumbai Dinank and Simhasan, the film -- one of India's earliest political pictures -- stars Arun Sarnaik, Shriram Lagoo and Nilu Phule.

A frustrated housewife whose marriage to an average man does not meet her expectations enters into an affair with a younger man. Of course, there are no easy escapes from reality.

A respected village schoolteacher falls for a travelling dancer and faces a moral dilemma.

Maharaja Sharminder Bhupathi of Avanti and his wife, the Rajmata, would like to see peace in the region, and would like their daughter, Alaknanda, to marry the prince of Gandharva, Aditya Vardhan. While in Gandharva, Aditya has plans of his own, for he loves a courtesan, Jaswanti, and would not dream of marrying anyone else, much to the disapproval of his brother, Ugrarao. Not to be outdone, Alaknanda loves a young warrior by the name of Vikram Singh. Acharya Abangdev of Avanti has plans of his own, which do not include Alaknanda, as he would like to take the region over and rule over it through Ugrarao. Then the unexpected happens, Aditya is reportedly killed by bandits, and Abangdev announces that Ugrarao be the next king, but at the very moment, Aditya shows up, is crowned the king, and makes sweeping changes to Avanti for the betterment of the people.

In a typical college in a typical Indian city, the hostel boys Madan Sharma (Aamir Khan) and his friend are a rowdy lot. The teaching staff suffer from the common apathy of most teachers in similar colleges. The administration has the usual problems, with ill-paid employees periodically going on strike. On the whole, the college is a very normal place. But on this particular day, when Madan and his friends rise from their slumber, some with the customary hangover, they are not so perturbed to find no water in the taps again, as when they hear that it is not going to be a holiday after all. Instead there will be a lecture in the auditorium by the Chairman of the Board (Dr. Shriram Lagoo), on the day of the festival of fire, Holi, and the boys decide not to attend the classes. The hostel superintendent Professor Singh (Naseeruddin Shah), the only lecturer with some human links with the students...

In modern secular India corruption, nepotism, caste, and favoritism has taken root all the way from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, sparing no one in it's wake. Bombay Municipal Corporation's employee Kimtilal is one such person who had to pay a bribe to a gynecologist so that his wife, Shanti, can give premature birth to their son, Kamal. When Kamal grew up, Kimtilal had to pay another bribe in the form of a donation to a school for admitting him. Then he had to pay another bribe so that his son could successfully pass his college examination, and go on to join the Bombay Police Force. Finally, he withheld an important municipal license for businessman Sampat, in order to get his consent to marry his advocate daughter, Kamini, with his son.

When a Police inspector is killed by a band of thugs, his grieving father Samsher Singh seeks justice. Pratap Singh has left behind a pregnant widow, who dies in chidbirth, leaving Samsher to bring up the child Kunal. The transformation of Samsher Singh (a locomotive engine driver) into Sobhraj, multi millionaire and owner of a vast network of business. Kunal is brought up by Abu Baba, a servant of Sobhraj to be honest, upright, and very independent minded. Durga, the daughter of a former employee of Sobhraj, who is serving time and Kunal fall in love. This not acceptable to his grandfather, though Abu Baba approves of the relationship. Disaster strikes when an attempt is made to separate the lovers. The life of Samsher Singh alias Sobhraj begins to unravel from here. How Kunal's ethical upbringing by his foster-father, and his financial and business circumstances of his grandfather meet in a titanic conscience clash and how he resolves matters is at the nexus of the plot.