Shaan (1980 film)

Shaan is a 1980 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Ramesh Sippy, with a screenplay co-written by Salim-Javed, who also wrote many of Sippy's previous successful films. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhee Gulzar, Shatrughan Sinha, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Parveen Babi.

The film revolves around the efforts of two brothers, Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) and Ravi (Shashi Kapoor), who are small-time crooks trying to make an honest living. They are drawn into a deadly game against a ruthless and eccentric criminal mastermind named Shakal (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), who operates from a remote island fortress. Shakal plans to destroy India and holds numerous hostages.

A disgraced police officer, Shiv Kumar (Sunil Dutt), whose family was killed by Shakal, joins forces with Vijay and Ravi. They are aided by Sunil (Shatrughan Sinha), a skilled marksman and friend of Shiv Kumar, and Sheetal (Parveen Babi), a nightclub singer who provides information and assistance. The group embarks on a dangerous mission to infiltrate Shakal's island, rescue the hostages, and bring him to justice.

Shaan is known for its elaborate set design, including Shakal's technologically advanced island lair, and its action sequences. Despite its high production value and star cast, the film was initially considered a box-office disappointment upon its release, though it has since garnered a cult following. The film’s music was composed by R. D. Burman. The dialogue, particularly Shakal's lines, became quite popular.