Daata
Daata is a 1989 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed and produced by Sultan Ahmed.[1] The story centers on Dinanath, a principled school teacher in a rural village, whose family faces tragedy when his daughter's arranged marriage collapses due to excessive dowry demands from the groom's influential family, prompting his son Kundan to seek vengeance.[2] Starring Mithun Chakraborty as Kundan, Padmini Kolhapure, Shammi Kapoor as Dinanath, and supporting actors including Amrish Puri and Prem Chopra, the film exemplifies 1980s Bollywood masala cinema blending family drama, social commentary on issues like dowry, and high-stakes action sequences.[3] Released on 15 March 1989, Daata features music composed by Anand-Milind, with lyrics by Shamsul Huda Bihari, contributing to its period-typical song-and-dance elements amid themes of justice and rebellion against corruption.[1] While not a major commercial blockbuster, it reflects the era's popular tropes of righteous protagonists confronting societal evils through personal heroism.[3]Synopsis
Plot Summary
Dinanath, a respected schoolteacher in a small Indian town, lives happily with his wife, daughter Shanti, and son Kundan, having earned recognition for his book Daata that promotes humanistic values across religions.[4] [3] He arranges Shanti's marriage to the son of wealthy businessman Gopaldas, but the in-laws demand excessive dowry. Dinanath offers gold jewelry as dowry, which is later revealed to be fake, resulting in the abrupt cancellation of the wedding.[4] [5] Devastated by the humiliation and loss of family honor, Shanti commits suicide, triggering a heart attack that kills Dinanath.[4] [6] Abandoned by society and consumed by rage, Kundan avenges his family by killing Gopaldas' son, forcing him to flee and join a band of outlaws as a bandit.[7] [4] In this new life, Kundan participates in raids against the wealthy, honing his martial arts skills and forming alliances with fellow bandits, including a mentorship-like bond with a veteran outlaw leader.[3] [2] Amid his outlaw existence, Kundan develops a romantic subplot with a woman who supports his path, while relentlessly pursuing revenge against Gopaldas and his associate Nagraj through daring confrontations and action sequences.[8] The storyline culminates in a direct showdown with Gopaldas, where Kundan achieves vengeance, highlighting the film's anti-dowry message by exposing the destructive consequences of such societal practices.[4] [2]Production
Development
Daata's development originated under the direction and production oversight of Sultan Ahmed, who established the project through his banner, Sultan Productions, with principal pre-production activities commencing in 1985.[2] The screenplay, credited to Sultan Ahmed alongside writers M. Akhtar and K.B. Pathak, centered on core themes of familial honor, vigilante revenge, and critiques of social practices such as dowry extortion in arranged marriages, reflecting the era's prevalent Bollywood formula of blending melodrama with moral retribution against corrupt authority figures.[9] This narrative structure drew from Ahmed's prior works in action-oriented dramas, adapting motifs of personal justice to underscore ethical dilemmas faced by upright protagonists in rural or semi-urban Indian settings.[10] Production encountered significant setbacks, resulting in a four-year hiatus before completion in 1989, attributed to logistical and scheduling challenges though specifics remain undocumented in available records.[11] Ahmed's vision emphasized integrating high-energy action sequences, influenced by the rising demand for performer-driven stunts in mid-1980s Hindi cinema, to align with audience preferences for kinetic storytelling amid economic constraints on larger-scale spectacles.[3] Financing remained internalized within Sultan Productions, prioritizing cost-effective scripting and thematic resonance over expansive budgetary allocations, consistent with independent banners' approaches during Bollywood's transitional phase from studio dominance to star-centric ventures.[2]Casting and Filming
Mithun Chakraborty was cast in the lead role of Kundan Singh, the protagonist whose journey from poet to rebel drives the narrative's action elements.[12] Padmini Kolhapure portrayed Sona Dwarka Prasad, the female lead, having already married producer Pradeep Sharma in 1986 by the time her scenes were filmed.[13] Shammi Kapoor took on the supporting role of DIG Sher Ali Khan, a authoritative paternal figure, drawing on his established screen presence in dramatic roles during the late 1980s.[12] Veteran actors including Saeed Jaffrey as Master Dinanath and Amrish Puri in an antagonistic part rounded out the principal cast, selected for their reliability in ensemble action-dramas.[12] Principal photography commenced in 1985 under director Sultan Ahmed but encountered significant delays, extending completion to 1989—a four-year gap attributed in part to scheduling conflicts with Padmini Kolhapure, who initially could not commit dates post her personal commitments.[13][11] Outdoor sequences, particularly bandit and confrontation scenes, were shot at practical locations such as Amer Fort and Sagar Lake in Jaipur, Rajasthan, to capture authentic rural and fort settings.[14][15] Studio work handled interior dramatic portions, with emphasis placed on fight choreography to highlight the physical demands of the action genre.[3] No major technical disruptions beyond the delays were reported, allowing the production to leverage the cast's prior collaborations, such as Mithun and Padmini's pairing in Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985).[16]Cast and Characters
Principal Roles
Mithun Chakraborty portrays Kundan Singh, the protagonist and son of a principled schoolteacher, who embarks on a path of vengeance after enduring familial injustice, evolving into a bandit figure central to the film's action-driven narrative.[3][17] Padmini Kolhapure plays Sona Dwarka Prasad, the romantic lead who serves as an emotional anchor for Kundan, highlighting themes of love and loyalty amid conflict.[3] Shammi Kapoor enacts DIG Sher Ali Khan, a senior police officer embodying moral uprightness and integrity, providing guidance and representing institutional justice in the story.[3] Amrish Puri depicts Gopaldas, a primary antagonist whose greed and abuse of power precipitate the central familial and societal tensions driving the plot.[3]Supporting Roles
Amrish Puri portrayed Gopaldas, also known as G.D. Sarang, a disguised bandit leader whose family's dowry demands precipitate the central family conflict and Kundan's quest for justice.[3] His character embodies the ruthless authority figure, allying with other criminals in subplots involving abduction and territorial control, amplifying the film's themes of retribution against systemic banditry.[3] Puri's established screen presence as a commanding antagonist in 1980s action dramas lent gravitas to these ensemble dynamics, contrasting the protagonists' moral uprightness.[12] Prem Chopra played Lala Naagraj, a secondary villain entangled in the bandit network, contributing to chase sequences and confrontations that escalate the interpersonal vendettas.[3] Ranjeet depicted Nagraj, Gopaldas's son and a direct enforcer in the goon faction, whose aggressive actions in the marriage fallout subplot heighten the stakes for the lead characters' alliances.[3] These roles, typical of the masala genre's multi-layered villainy, provided foils that underscored the heroes' heroism without overshadowing the principal narrative arc.[3] Saeed Jaffrey's Master Dinanath served as the paternal figure and ethical compass, influencing subplots through his teachings and familial bonds, while injecting subtle levity amid the drama via his scholarly demeanor.[3] Suresh Oberoi as Ramzan Khan added layers to the ensemble as a supportive ally in law enforcement efforts, bridging family loyalty with broader societal confrontations against the antagonists.[3] Together, these supporting performances enriched the film's interpersonal tensions and action interludes, fitting the era's convention of robust character ensembles in Hindi commercial cinema.[3]Music and Soundtrack
Composition and Release
The soundtrack for Daata was composed by the musical duo Kalyanji–Anandji, consisting of brothers Kalyanji Virji Shah and Anandji Virji Shah, who were established figures in Hindi film music during the 1970s and 1980s, known for blending melodic orchestration with rhythmic elements suited to commercial cinema.[18][19] The compositions incorporated the duo's signature style of upbeat tracks and devotional undertones, aligning with the film's action-drama narrative centered on themes of justice, family loyalty, and divine intervention. Lyrics were written by Anjaan, whose work emphasized emotional depth and colloquial appeal to resonate with mass audiences of the era.[20][21] The audio cassette and vinyl formats of the soundtrack were released on April 2, 1989, preceding the film's theatrical debut later that year, a standard practice in Bollywood to build anticipation through radio airplay and cassette sales.[22] This pre-release strategy capitalized on the popularity of lead singers such as Kishore Kumar and Alka Yagnik, whose voices featured prominently to drive promotional momentum.[21] The music's integration into the film supported pivotal sequences, including romantic interludes and climactic action moments, reflecting 1980s industry norms where songs advanced plot and character development while serving as commercial hooks.[3]Track Listing and Themes
The soundtrack of Daata comprises ten songs composed by Kalyanji-Anandji, with lyrics by Anjaan, integrating melodic structures typical of late-1980s Hindi cinema that blend devotional fervor, romantic interludes, and upbeat rhythms to parallel the protagonist's journey of vengeance and redemption.[23] Primary playback for Mithun Chakraborty's character is provided by Kishore Kumar in several tracks, evoking his signature emotive and versatile style influenced by earlier hits, while duets highlight interpersonal dynamics central to the plot.[24] Songs are picturized with dynamic choreography, including group dances for heroic sequences and intimate settings for romantic ones, reinforcing visual motifs of protection and familial loyalty.[25]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daata Tere Kai Naam | Mahendra Kapoor, Manhar Udhas, Sadhana Sargam | 5:48 |
| 2 | Rona Dhona Chhod | Kishore Kumar, Alka Yagnik | 8:03 |
| 3 | Babul Ka Ghar | Kishore Kumar, Alka Yagnik | 7:20 |
| 4 | Meri Jaan Pyar Karo | Asha Bhosle | N/A |
| 5 | Naach Mere Lala | Sapna Mukherjee, Nalin Dave | N/A |