LAKSHYA

Karan Shergil (Roshan) is a young man who has no actual goal in mind or plans for his future. He represents those urban youth in modern India, who have money but little ambition or purpose in their lives. His father is a businessman; his brother is a successful individual living in America, but Karan is drifting along. His girlfriend, Romi (Zinta), a student activist and reporter who espouses fashionable causes out of well-meaning sincerity, tells him he needs to find a goal in life. When a friend announces he is going to join the Indian Military Academy, Karan applies as well despite dissent from his parents.

Karan's first days at the IMA are a disaster. Because he is indisciplined and unused to a spartan existence, he keeps getting into trouble at the academy. Upset, he leaves the academy without permission, sneaking over the wall at Last Post. Back home, his parents are unsurprised and even though they urge him to join the family business, they are disappointed with the way their son has turned out, especially in comparison to his elder brother. Romi, meanwhile, is tired of his aimless and indecisive ways and calls off their relationship. Karan finally comes to terms with his situation and makes his decision. He returns to the IMA, takes his punishment, and becomes a focused, disciplined cadet leader, graduating as a cadet officer.

Lt. Karan (the starting rank for all new commissioned officers in the Indian Army) is posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Punjab Regiment, commanded by Col. Sunil Damle (Amitabh Bachchan), and handles his responsibilities well. From an immature teenager to a mature officer, he finally decides the essence of his life or his goal. His goal is now his unit's target - a mountain peak - known to have been recently invaded by the Pakistani Army.

During the night, Lt. Karan's unit engages in a failed attempt to storm and capture the Pakistani strongholds located on the mountain. The Pakistanis have the advantage due to their strategic position, and deal the unit heavy losses during the attack.

Lt. Karan and a group of 10 men are next given orders to encircle the enemy position and attack it from behind. To do this, they must scale a 1000-ft wall of rock. After the unit sustains an attack in a grass field and loses their commanding officer, the remaining men scale the cliff and attack the Pakistani stronghold from behind during the night. The movie ends with Col. Damle looking out across the mountains the next morning, to see Lt. Karan hoisting the Indian flag atop the ruins of the stronghold. Later, it is revealed that Karan and Romi reunite.

Cast :

Amitabh Bachchan ... Col. Sunil Damle

Hrithik Roshan ... Lt. Karan Shergill

Preity Zinta ... Romila Dutta

Om Puri ... Subedar Major Pritam Singh

Sharad Kapoor ... Major Binod Sengupta

Rajendranath Zutshi ... Maj. Kaushal Verma

Sushant Singh ... Capt. Jalal Akbar

Boman Irani ... Mr. Shergill (Father of Karan)

Parmeet Sethi ... Major Shahbaaz Humdani (Pakistan Army)

Amrish Puri ....as Brigadier Puri

Reception :

Lakshya grossed $5,859,242 worldwide including $753,600 from North American markets and $5,105,642 from other markets.[1]

[edit] Crew :

Director: Farhan Akhtar

Producer: Ritesh Sidhwani

Cinematographer: Christopher Popp

Editor: Anand Subaya

Screenplay: Javed Akhtar

Sound: Nakul Kamte

Costumes: Arjun Bhasin

Hairstylist: Adhuna Akhtar

Art Direction: Sonal Sawant, Sunil Babu and Suzzanne Merwanji

Visual Effects: Keya Banerjee

Action: Shyam Kaushal

Choreography: Bosco, Prabhu Deva and Vaibhavi Merchant

Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

Lyrics: Javed Akhtar

2004 Filmfare Awards :

[edit] Nominations ----

Best Actor - Hrithik Roshan

Best Director - Farhan Akhtar

Best Choreography - Prabhu Deva

Best Story - Javed Akhtar

Best Cinematographer - Christopher Popp

[edit] Wins

Best Cinematographer - Christopher Popp

Best Choreography - Prabhu Deva Sundaram

References :