Boxer

Boxer review :

Another desi adaptation of Stallone's Rocky after Dharmendra's Main Intequam Loonga (1982), Boxer was a slickly executed sports drama with top notch performances from Mithun Chakraborty and Danny. Sharad Saxena, playing the main antagonist Raghu, was super impressive but unfortunately, the film couldn't do much for his career.

Directed by Raj (Daddu) Sippy, the film features a retired boxer (Danny) who turns alcoholic nurturing an angst to win the game!! Circumstances drive his son (Mithun da) to the ring where he is pitted against the present champion Raghu (Saxena). The boxing sequences remain the film's highlight with the climax turning in to a cliffhanger!!

R. D. Burman churned two melodious numbers - 'Tere dil mein bhi kuch kuch kya hota hai' and the wedding song 'Shadmaani O Shaadmaani' which had Danny shaking a leg..

Undoubtedly, Boxer is one of the best Bollywood movie made on the sport but sadly, turned out to be a box office failure when released in early 1984. It was Mithun da's home production and he lost a lot of money on it.

Later, the film found its due and was referenced in Vikram Bhatt's Ghulam (1998) where Sharad Saxena played a boxer again. His photo from Boxer is prominently featured in that movie. Anil Sharma's hit film Apne (2007) liberally borrows its central theme from Boxer where a son wins the champions trophy for his father.

Of all the films on boxing, Boxer is Bollywood's best contribution so far. Its my personal favorite!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.