Bhai is a 1997 Indian Hindi‑language gangster drama action film directed by Deepak Shivdasani and written by Kader Khan. Produced by Deepak Shivdasani, Veena Advani, and A. K. Abdul under the Yashish Enterprises banner, the film features an ensemble cast including Sunil Shetty, Pooja Batra, Sonali Bendre, Kunal Khemu, Om Puri, Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, and Ashish Vidyarthi. The musical score was composed by the duo Anand–Milind, with a background score by Sandeep Chowta.
Release and runtime
The film was released on 31 October 1997, coinciding with the Diwali festival. Its theatrical run time is 154 minutes.
Country and language
India; Hindi.
Plot summary
Kundan (Sunil Shetty), disillusioned by corruption and lawlessness in his rural village, relocates to Mumbai with his younger brother Kisna (Kunal Khemu). With the assistance of an honest lawyer, Satyaprakash (Om Puri), and his daughters Pooja (Pooja Batra) and Meenu (Sonali Bendre), Kundan secures employment as an auto‑driver and attempts to provide a better life for his brother.
The city’s underworld is dominated by rival dons David (Ashish Vidyarthi) and Malik (Rajendra Gupta), who are also backed by a corrupt minister, Mantri. After Satyaprash’s murder and the subsequent killing of Kisna—who witnesses David committing the crime—Kundan embarks on a path of vengeance. With the support of Inspector Lalit Kapoor (Kader Khan) and the local community, Kundan eliminates David’s henchmen, eventually assuming the role of “Bhai,” a respected crime lord who is both feared and admired.
Kundan marries Pooja, and they have a son named Kisna. However, his criminal activities strain his family life, particularly with Pooja. As his enemies conspire to destroy him, Kundan is falsely arrested, and a coordinated attack is planned against him in the jungles of his origin. He escapes, confronts and defeats the conspirators—including a dramatic showdown involving a helicopter—before surrendering to Inspector Lalit. The film concludes with Kundan’s return home and a reunion with his family.
Cast
- Sunil Shetty as Kundan
- Pooja Batra as Pooja
- Sonali Bendre as Meenu
- Kunal Khemu as Kisna
- Om Puri as Advocate Satyaprakash
- Kader Khan as Inspector Lalit Kapoor
- Shakti Kapoor as Bharat (the postman)
- Ashish Vidyarthi as David
- Rajendra Gupta as Malik
- Lalita Pawar as Satyaprakash’s mother
- Additional supporting roles: Ishrat Ali, Lambu Atta, Mohan Joshi, Mushtaq Khan, Deepak Shirke, Shiva Rindani.
Music
The soundtrack, composed by Anand–Milind with lyrics by Sameer, comprises eight tracks featuring prominent playback singers such as Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik, Abhijeet, Poornima, Suresh Wadkar, Sadhana Sargam, Vinod Rathod, and Chandana Dixit. Notable songs include “Husn Tumhara,” “Katti Batti,” “Mujhe Ekraar,” and “Sare Mohalle Mein.”
Production and reception
Bhai is a Hindi remake of the Telugu film Anna. Upon release, it shared the Diwali box‑office with high‑profile releases such as Dil To Pagal Hai (Shah Rukh Khan) and Ghulam‑E‑Mustafa (Nana Patekar). Box‑office data and critical assessments are limited in publicly available sources; however, the film is documented in Indian cinema databases and retains a presence in discussions of 1990s Bollywood action dramas.
References
- Box Office India entry for Bhai.
- Archived articles from Express India (Nov 21, 2000) referencing the film’s production.
Note: The above summary is based on information from the Wikipedia article “Bhai (1997 film)” and associated references.