 The Indian movie, 'Prahar, The Final Attack', is written and directed by the apt actor Nana Patekar. 'Prahaar' is the story of Major Chavan, who is a tough and stern soldier, trained to destroy the enemy. He can see the enemy on our borders but is unaware of the invisible enemy within ourselves. When one of Major's Commandos named Peter D'Souza is killed, he is shown the harsh reality revolving around us. He gets the feel that the enemy is within ourselves. The battlefield changes and Major Chavan makes his final attack on the enemy within this crumbling society.
Incidentally Prahar was supposed to be an art movie but ended up being a huge commercial success. The director trains a group of Commandos and the movie for most part revolves around the love-hate relationship between the trainer and the victims. But eventually the film brings many issues such as corruption, extortion, apathy, and greed to light. It also highlights the plight of the common man whose circumstances give him very few options. Nana Patekar has tried to depict this in a realistic and hardhitting way. During the shooting of the film none of the actors wore any make-up to give it a realistic look. Synopsis of the Indian movie 'Prahar, The Final Attack', The film 'Prahar' starts with a young man, Peter D'Souza played by Gautam Joglekar, off to join the Indian Army or Commando wing. His family and friends are very apprehensive about this. His father John, a simple old man who runs a small bakery in Mumbai, would like Peter to handle the bakery whereas his fiancee Shirley played by Madhuri Dixit wants to marry as soon as possible. his friend the Freedom Fighter played by Achyut Potdar says that the thrills of the army e.g. riding, flying, shooting are available to civilians as well. His neighbor Kiran played by Dimple Kapadia says he should go if that is what he really wants to do and he should listen to his ownself. Consequenly Peter packs off for Commando training and move for the place. He comes to lion's den and the lion is Major Chauhan played by Nana Patekar. At 0400, he scans the new bunch of cadets. Army training isn't for the faint of heart, he says sternly. Young men come to him to become men, and men become fearless soldiers. The next 35 days comprise serious training. The cadets learn to run, fight, shoot, work in teams and basically become jawans. Although in the process many of them wanted to leave training halfdone but ultimately all passed with flying colours. They also learn to practice integrity, responsibility and prudence. During a morning jog, one of the cadets whistles at a passing girl. She informs it to Major Chauhan, and he promptly discovers and punishes the cadet. Training transforms Peter. During one of the obstacle course exercises, Peter is initially scared of making a high altitude jump into the pool below. Major Chauhan chides and taunts him in the evening, asking him to write to his parents saying they've produced a eunuch The next morning, Peter, properly incensed, executes the obstacle flawlessly. 
Major Chauhan wins over the unit. The men grow to respect and follow him. Peter graduates at the top of his class. At the commencement party, Major Chauhan is informed of some terrorists who have hijacked a school bus with 20 children and their teachers. The terrorists demand the release of their cohorts. Major Chauhan is tasked with neutralizing them and safely recovering the civilians. He hand picks a half-dozen commandos from his newly trained unit and they air drop into the area. The rescue operation occurs at night. The commandos take down the terrorists. But one of the terrorists, before dying, shoots out Peter's kneecaps, rendering Peter unable to walk again. Peter returns home with heavy heart though at the farewell party all of the cadet enjoys a lot. Shirley also comes at the party and Major Chauhan gets acquainted with all the family members of Peter.
After some days Peter writes to Major Chauhan inviting him to his wedding. The second part of the story begins when Major Chauhan arrives in Mumbai. He sees Peter's home decorated for the wedding, but there is a shroud of silence surrounding it. When he inquires, one of the neighbors bluntly tells him that Peter is dead. Kiran and Shirley visit Major Chauhan. They tell him about a band of goondas who have been extorting money from Peter's father for a long time. Peter refused to pay up. They dragged him into the street and forced him to death in broad daylight, with everyone in the neighborhood watching. Shirley tells the Major that Peter fought valiantly until the end. As Major Chauhan investigates, he uncovers a host of socio-economic problems. The police have investigated, but none of the neighbors is willing to bear witness. Major Chauhan tries asking around but nobody breathes a word in fear of the goondas. John D'Souza, Peter's own father, simply refuses to testify. This puzzles and angers Major Chauhan. In private, John vents his anger on the Major and also on the army. He tells Major chauhan that army training was wrong for Peter. Later, John explains that civilian life is very different from military life. Goondas exist, the police are either in league with them or apathetic, and that is just the way it is. The regular citizens choose to pay up and go about their normal lives. That's the way it goes on and on. Peter didn't understand this and ended up dead. Major Chauhan becomes angered. He has always taught cadets to live with pride. He decides to stick around for some time. When the goondas come back to the bakery, he fights them off. But the neighbors turn on him and drive him away. As because he cannot protect them forever. They blamed him that it was he who taught Peter all those crazy ideals, goondas will always remain around and he can't do anything. Later that night, the goondas reappear and taunt Kiran. Major Chauhan has had enough and decides to confront them. In a savage and ruthless hand-to-hand fight, he levels the entire bunch of goondas. He shows no mercy and no remorse as he employs various fighting techniques to basically silence them forever. Accused of manslaughter, Major Chauhan is hauled into court. He delivers a landmark speech in his defense. The last 45 years of Indian independence have seen three wars. The rest of the time has been called shantikaal i.e. time of peace. But the enemy within the society i.e. these goondas and the associated societal evils continues to assault the country.  As a soldier, he is trained and charged with eliminating the enemy and he will definitely do this anywhere he can find them. anywhere within the nation. He calls upon the general citizenry to compulsorily enroll in the armed forces and aid in the betterment of society by removing the evils as well. The court agrees to some of his points, but says that its not Major Chauhan's duty to 'clean the society' and that he is confused about his duties towards the nation. They send him to a mental asylum, without affecting his seniority in army and salary, and ask him to rethink about his duties when he is in the asylum. In the last part of the movie, Kiran comes to visit him in the asylum with her son. They see that Major Chauhan is planting seeds in the soil. Kiran's son asks Chauhan not to spoil his hands with the soil. On this Major Chauhan answers him by saying that the country's soil never makes someone's hand dirty. Its important for us to plant trees which shall give fruits to the future generations. The movie ends with a minute sequence of Major Chauhan giving commando training to hundreds of children. This is a unique creation of Nana Patekar which is applauded throughout the country and of course deamnds some changes in the society as well.
Cast and Crew of the film 'Prahar, The Final Attack' The star cast of the film includes Nana Patekar, Gautam Joglekar, Madhuri Dixit, Habib Tanvir, Sal Deodhar, Achyut Poddar, Malhar Patekar, Cheetah Yagnesh Shetty, Ankush Mohit and Dimple Kapadia. The movie is written and directed by Nana Patekar while it is produced by Sudhakar Bokade. Music in the film is given by Laxmikant Pyarelal. |
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