Vishnu Vijaya
Vishnu Vijaya (or Ashaant) is a 1993 multi-lingual Indian film directed by Keshu Ramsay and released simultaneously in Hindi and Kannada. The film stars Akshay Kumar, Vishnuvardhan, Ashwini Bhave and Pankaj Dheer.
| Vishnu Vijaya (Kannada) Ashaant (Hindi) | |
|---|---|
 Vishnu Vijaya Poster | |
| Directed by | Keshu Ramsay |
| Produced by | Vishnuvardhan |
| Screenplay by | V. R. Bhaskar |
| Story by | Ananda Vardhan |
| Starring | Vishnuvardhan Akshay Kumar Ashwini Bhave Mamta Kulkarni Pankaj Dheer |
| Music by | Songs: Jatin Lalit Background score: Raju Singh |
| Cinematography | Anil Sehgal |
| Edited by | V. N. Maykar Koushal Mishra Prasad |
Production company | Vishnupriya Combines |
| Distributed by | Vishnupriya Combines |
Release date |
|
Running time | 140 min |
| Country | India |
| Language | Kannada Hindi |
The Hindi version of the film was a box office failure while the Kannada version became a success.[1] Akshay Kumar, after the death of Vishnuvardhan, said "We did a Hindi and a Kannada version of Ashaant. The Kannada version was a super hit. The Hindi version was a flop. I realised Vishnuji was a much bigger star than I could ever be."[2]
Plot
Ashaant is a story about the effort made by the whole Police Force of the country, especially two police officers, A.C.P. Vijay Bombay Police (Akshay Kumar) and A.C.P. Vishnu, Bangalore Police (Vishnuvardhan) to bring peace, i.e. Shanti to the country. They wage a war against a Mafia who deals in printing fake currency notes and have become a threat to the country's security. These Mafia dons Kaka (Jai Kalgutkar) and Rana (Punit) are operating from Bangalore city. But when the pressure of Police Officer Vishnu mounts on them, the decide to shift their roots to Bombay. As they enter Bombay, Rana is nabbed by ACP Vijay and is arrested. Vijay starts his investigation to reach the roots of this Mafia through Rana, when orders come from the home ministry to shift Rana from Bombay custody to Bangalore court for many previous serious crimes.
Vijay, along with his friend ACP Amit (Pankaj Dheer), join him to re-arrest Rana. Vishnu, who is in charge of Rana's case gets them permission, on two conditions; that Vijay and Amit can't use their weapons and police uniforms. Vishnu's wife Anita (Ashwini Bhave) and Vijay are ex-lovers. Their relationship ended as Anita's father Ex-Chief Minister Niranjan Das refused to let her daughter marry an ordinary Police Officer. Also, to take revenge on Vijay, he got Vijay's Sister Ritu (Amit's Wife) killed. Vijay then misused his power as Police Officer and got Niranjas Das forced to resign as Chief Minister. Anita also took an oath that she would only marry a Police Officer and married Vishnu.
On the other hand, Rana splits away from Kaka and forms his own Mafia, which gradually becomes more powerful and ruthless. Vijay and Amit, along with Vishnu, make a team to capture Rana and now Kaka also. Sonali (Mamta Kulkarni) a dancer in Kaka's hotel, joins this team of three against the two mafia operating in the city.
Kaka manages to create a misunderstanding between Vijay and Vishnu to break their unity and divide their power. Vishnu starts suspecting illegitimate relationships between his wife Anita (Ahwini Bhave) and Vijay. The degree of suspicion rises, but Amit finally wipes out the misunderstanding between these two friends Vishnu and Vijay. They join each other with equal faith and then manage to smash both the Mafias. Rana and Kaka are destroyed, but at the cost of sacrificing their dear friend Amit.
Box office
The kannada version saw a theatrical run of 100 days at centers across kanataka.
Cast
- Vishnuvardhan as Vishnu
- Akshay Kumar as Vijay
- Ashwini Bhave as Anu / Anita
- Pankaj Dheer as Amit
- Mamta Kulkarni as Sonali
- Sharat Saxena as Chief Minister Niranjan Das
- Puneet Issar as Raana, antagonist
Soundtrack
| # | Song | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Nannannu Nee Seru Baa" | SPB, K. S. Chithra | 6:12 |
| 2 | "Raja Nanna Raja" | Chithra | 5:25 |
| 3 | "Entha Santhosha" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Manjula Gururaj | 4:20 |
| 4 | "Kannalli Dhim Dhim" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5:26 |
| 5 | "Saavira Januma" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Manjula Gururaj | 5:11 |
| 6 | "Naa Thalenu" | Manjula Gururaj | 4:09 |
| # | Title | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Dil Ki Ghadi Are Ghadi Ghadi" | Kumar Sanu, Kavita Krishnamurthy |
| 2 | "Tu Bhi Sharabi Main Bhi Sharabi" | Udit Narayan, Abhijeet |
| 3 | "Hum To Sanam Sadiyon Se" | Abhijeet, Kavita Krishnamurthy |
| 4 | "Deewane Tu Hai Jahan" | Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik |
| 5 | "Bheege Bheege Jo Sawan" | Kavita Krishnamurthy |
| 6 | "Jaani Jaani Jaani" | Chithra |
Trivia
- This is the first South Indian and only Kannada film of famous Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar.
References
- "Sandalwood branded Akshay Kumar as a flop actor". The Times of India. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
- "Akshay Kumar made his debut in South Indian Cinema 20 years ago! ENDHIRAN 2 is not his first South Indian Film!!". India Glitz. 19 December 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2016.