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Preview : Shakti

By Pravin Sharma & Stanley Hobber
 

Director: Shridevi & Bonny Kapoor.
Cast: Karishma Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Nana Patekar, Sanjay Kapoor
One of the most eagerly awaited films of the year, Boney Kapoor and Sridevi Kapoor's SHAKTI – THE POWER is inspired by the Hollywood flick NOT WITHOUT MY DAUGHTER (1990; starring Sally Field and Alfred Molina), which was attempted in Telugu as ANTHAPURAM. SHAKTI – THE POWER has been directed by Krishna Vamsi, who had directed ANTHAPURAM, which proved a major success at the box-office.

 

Story: Krishna Vamsi has several awards to his credit. His very first film – GULABI – won the National Award for Best Regional Film as also the Best New Director Award from the Government of Andhra Pradesh. His next two films – NINNE PELADUTHA won him the Filmfare Best Director Award, while SINDOORAM was awarded the National Award for Best Regional Film.

The role essayed by Karisma Kapoor in SHAKTI – THE POWER was initially to be essayed by Sridevi and later by Kajol. But due to certain reasons, both were unable to do the film and Karisma was eventually signed for it.

SHAKTI – THE POWER co-stars Sanjay Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Nana Patekar and Deepti Naval with Aishwarya Rai in a special appearance. SHAKTI – THE POWER has music by Ismail Darbar, while one song ('Ishq Kameena', picturised on SRK and Aishwarya) has been composed by Anu Malik.


The story of SHAKTI – THE POWER moves on various levels – a serene life full of love and tenderness in Canada, the harsh reality of a feudal family in India, a mother's love, a father's tyranny, family feuds, bloodshed, mayhem… and above all, a mother's determination to wrest back the destiny of her child

Nandini (Karisma Kapoor) and her two uncles live happily in Canada. Nandini is treated like a princess by her two doting uncles, who yearn to see her as a bride. She meets and marries Shekhar (Sanjay Kapoor) and they soon have an adorable son, Raja.One day, Shekhar suddenly informs Nandini that they are going to India to visit his ailing mother.

And so they arrive in India. The heat, the dust, the crowd… Nandini and Raja are dumbstruck. Before they can catch their breath, they are herded into a train by Shekhar. A long and exhausting journey later, Shekhar, Nandini and Raja finally set feet upon a platform. But their misery is far from over. There's still a harrowing ride in a dirty, crowded bus through harsh and dusty terrain.

To Nandini's absolute horror, their bus is attacked by a frenzied mob welding swords and Shekhar is singled out and beaten black and blue. Nandini is terrified and assumes the end is near, when miraculously Shekhar's attackers are shot dead.

Blood, gore and mutilated bodies. Nandini is shaken by her first taste of Shekhar's home.

Shekhar, Nandini and Raja are driven to a fortress like haveli where Shekhar's father, tyrant Narsimha (Nana Patekar), reigns supreme. Treated insolently by her father-in-law, Nandini is given a loving welcome by her mother-in-law (Deepti Naval).


Even as she grows to love her gentle mother-in-law, with every passing day, Nandini is revolted by the savage and ruthless ways of Narsimha, for whom killing is a way of life.

One day Nandini sees Narsimha teaching her little son, Raja, to throw a country made bomb and goes crazy. Shekhar pacifies her and promises her that they will return to Canada soon. Even as she starts dreaming of a peaceful life again… Nandini's whole world is shattered.

Overnight, she and her beloved son are at the mercy of the man she hates most in the world – Narsimha!

Alone in an alien land, surrounded by cruel and ruthless people, Nandini has to fight her most important battle – for her son. Starved, beaten and locked up, the sophisticated, pampered girl changes into a tigress. Tooth and nail, she fights back. Refusing to bow down to the inevitable, she takes her destiny into her own hands. It will be all or nothing.

The odds are stacked against her. The battle lines are drawn. On one side is the despotic Narsimha and his heartless army. On the other, a desperate mother and her son.

SHAKTI – THE POWER is slated for release on September 20.