Sarfarosh
1999 · Directed by John Mathew Matthan
Original language: Hindi
- action
- drama
The story
When terrorists kill a cop's brother and disable his father, he fights back against the smuggling of guns and drugs which plagues his country.
What it’s like
Hard, dusty light and grimy interiors give this Hindi crime thriller a sun-baked, tense look, with dim police offices, sodden night streets and gunfights shot close and fast. The score swings between driving percussion during action and soft ghazal melodies in the quieter, more reflective passages, so the mood keeps changing between brooding and lyrical. Pacing is brisk and purposeful, with the story building steadily toward a sustained final confrontation, and the emotional register is grim and determined, shaped around a man's grief hardening into resolve. Its intensity is moderate to high: frequent gunfire and fatal shootings, physical fights and some brutal interrogation scenes, but the violence is more punchy than gory. It is not gentle, and its darkness and bursts of violence will sit heavily with anyone wanting something light. It suits a focused evening for viewers who enjoy serious action cinema with melodic music, a rugged, no-nonsense thriller with a strong emotional spine.
More films like Sarfarosh
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Sarfaroshand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
