The Disco Dancer Who Glided To Success

Mithun Chakraborty Movies
Image: UnBumf

 

Back in 1976, a young man portrayed the role of a tribal from Odisha who was an expert archer in Mrigayaa, a film dealing with exploitation by the British.

Nobody thought that this almost insignificant individual will go on to be amongst the best actor-dancer in the industry. Mithun Chakraborty ruled in the 1980s, his combination of disco dancing and desi steps capturing audiences all over India.

He was the Michael Jackson of India, dancing away with style along with his considerable acting abilities. This made Mithun unique because he could fit into any genre of cinema with ease despite his image as a dancer.

Here are some of his earlier works where both his acting and dancing abilities are to the fore.

Mrigayaa (1976)

Mrigayaa (1976)Cast: Mithun Chakraborty, Mamta Shankar, Robert Wright, Sadhu Meher, Tom Alter
Director: Mrinal Sen

In the 1930s, a tribal village in Odisha is facing multiple problems from wild animals, police informers and greedy landowners. Ghinua (Mithun), an expert archer, is befriended by the British administrator of the area who is very fond of hunting.

He offers a reward to Ghinua if he hunts down big game. Meanwhile, a revolutionary who comes home to meet his mother creates tension between a police informer and tribals. Then Ginhua’s wife is kidnapped by the landowner. Ginua kills the landowner and rescues his wife. But he does not understand the meaning of big game and pays a big price. Mithun won the National Award for Best Actor for this film.

Surakshaa (1979)

Surakshaa (1979)Cast: Mithun Chakraborty, Ranjeeta, Jeevan, Jagdeep, Iftekar, Prema Narayan
Director: Raveekant Nagaich

A terror organisation named Shiv Shakti is on a destruction spree which worries the CBI chief (Iftekar). He calls for Officer Gopi (Mithun), also known as Gunmaster G-9, who has the skill to take on the outfit.

He comes across Priya (Ranjeeta) who is seeking revenge for her father’s death, which she suspects was done by Gopi.  But once she comes to know the truth, she and Gopi go after the outfit. There are car chases and stunts galore before the climax.

Disco Dancer (1982)

Disco Dancer (1982)Cast: Mithun Chakraborty, Kim, Rajesh Khanna, Om Puri, Om Shivpuri
Director: Babbar Subhash

A wedding singer Anil (Mithun) is haunted by memories of his mother being beaten up by a bad man Oberoi (Shivpuri). A manager (Om Puri) is scouting for talent and spots Anil and gives him a chance. He is rebranded as Jimmy and Oberoi’s daughter Rita (Kim) falls for him.

But the wicked Oberoi connects Anil’s guitar to 5,000 volts of electricity which leads to his mother’s death. Jimmy won’t pick up the guitar. But there are many people supporting him and they want him back.

Ghulami (1985)

Ghulami (1985)Cast: Dharmendra, Mithun Chakraborty, Naseeruddin Shah, Reena Roy, Smita Patil, Anita Raj, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Raza Murad
Director: J P Dutta

The problems of the caste and feudal system in Rajasthan are is in the spotlight in this epic by J P Dutta. Ranjit Singh Choudhary (Dharmendra) is a rebellious character, the son of a peasant who is discriminated against along with others.

He goes away and only returns to find things the same in the village. He landlord’s daughter (Smita) falls for him. Ranjit, however, rescues an old friend (Reena) from rapists hired by the landlord and marries her. He then begins his vendetta against the system and is helped in his task by an army man Javar Pratap ( Mithun) and a police havaldar (Kharbanda). The violent climax ends in a bloodbath.

Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985)

Pyar Jhukta Nahin (1985)Cast: Mithun Chakraborty, Padmini Kolhapure, Danny Denzongpa, Asrani, Bindu
Director: Vijay Sadanah

Rich girl Preeti (Padmiini) falls in love with a photographer Ajay (Mithun). Preeti’s father Bhanu (Danny) helps Ajay become a top lensman but the altter’s prde his hurt. Preeti and Ajay separate.

Preeti gets pregnant and is whisked away to Shimla for the delivery by Bhanu. Ajay does not know. But once the child is born there are more misunderstandings which leads to Preeti becoming mentally disturbed. But things iron out eventually.

Babu Kalyanpur
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