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Kalyug

  • 1981
  • 2h 32m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
619
YOUR RATING
Rekha, Shashi Kapoor, and Raj Babbar in Kalyug (1981)
Drama

This movie tells story of fierce and total competition of two related business families in the days of license raaj India. The overall plot is based on Mahabharat. This movie shows that how ... Read allThis movie tells story of fierce and total competition of two related business families in the days of license raaj India. The overall plot is based on Mahabharat. This movie shows that how the pursuit of self serving ideals even legitimizes killing of family members.This movie tells story of fierce and total competition of two related business families in the days of license raaj India. The overall plot is based on Mahabharat. This movie shows that how the pursuit of self serving ideals even legitimizes killing of family members.

  • Director
    • Shyam Benegal
  • Writers
    • Girish Karnad
    • Shyam Benegal
    • Satyadev Dubey
  • Stars
    • Shashi Kapoor
    • Rekha
    • Raj Babbar
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    619
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Shyam Benegal
    • Writers
      • Girish Karnad
      • Shyam Benegal
      • Satyadev Dubey
    • Stars
      • Shashi Kapoor
      • Rekha
      • Raj Babbar
    • 17User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations total

    Photos2

    View Poster
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    Top cast35

    Edit
    Shashi Kapoor
    Shashi Kapoor
    • Karan Singh
    Rekha
    Rekha
    • Supriya
    Raj Babbar
    Raj Babbar
    • Dharam Raj
    Kulbhushan Kharbanda
    Kulbhushan Kharbanda
    • Bal Raj
    Anant Nag
    Anant Nag
    • Bharat Raj
    Amrish Puri
    Amrish Puri
    • Kishan Chand
    A.K. Hangal
    A.K. Hangal
    • Bhisham Chand
    Sushma Seth
    Sushma Seth
    • Savitri
    Victor Banerjee
    Victor Banerjee
    • Dhan Raj
    Vijaya Mehta
    • Devki
    Om Puri
    Om Puri
    • Bhavani Pandey
    Reema Lagoo
    Reema Lagoo
    • Kiran
    • (as Rima Lagu)
    Salim Ghouse
    Salim Ghouse
    • Desai
    Vinay Apte
    Vinay Apte
    • Mhatre
    Madan Jain
    Madan Jain
    • Kulkarni
    Sarita Sethi
    • TV Newsreader
    Khokha Mukherji
      Swadesh Pal
      • First Machine Operator
      • Director
        • Shyam Benegal
      • Writers
        • Girish Karnad
        • Shyam Benegal
        • Satyadev Dubey
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews17

      7.8619
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      Featured reviews

      rupanisp

      Excellent !!!

      Honorable Great Master Director Mr. Shyam Benegal has created a Masterpiece.

      All the actors have done Excellent Job.

      I want say something specially for His Royal Highness Great Shashi Kapoor. This is the only movie where he is himself. His clothes, His Life Style, Character, Charm, Beauty is unmatched.

      I wish every man on the surface of this planet look at least like him.

      Shashi is just excellent.

      Thank you very much for your kind considerations.
      10farazdiana

      A Well made Movie love it

      Movie ahead of its time probably one of the finest and underrated movies of Shashi Kapoor. It is produced by his Company Filmvalas and directed by Shyam Benegal. All Characters in this movie have done justice to there roles background music is superb it doesn't make the make look tht old movie has a lot of twist it shows how important it is to compete and have competition. Raj Babbar doesn't have much role Anant nag and Rehka stills the show one of there serious roles Kulbhushan karbanda and Reema lagoo are Okay Ak Hangal was his usual Urmila play the young boy. Sushma seth was the same like all her movies. Amrish puri doesnt have much in the movie same for Om puri. Supriya Pathak first movie. over All I rate this movie 8.5 a good watch if you like a ram gopal varma kinda movies this is a must watch movie doesn't have songs only 1 (what's your problem)
      10vishalsant

      A Modern Day Maharabhata

      Mahabharata is an Hindu epic. This epic tells us the story of two families fighting for the throne of Hastinapur. The film Kalyug tells us the story of two business families fighting for supremacy in the field of business. But this fight leads to sorrows and deaths. Kalyug is one of the finest Indian films ever made. Shashi Kapoor and Rekha have given the best performance of their lives in this film.
      10nadkarnisumeet

      Aaj ka Mahabharat.

      Kalyug review:

      Besides working in mainstream blockbusters like 'Deewaar' (1975), 'Trishul' (1978) and 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' (1978), Shashi Kapoor also spearheaded the parallel cinema movement in the 80's. Some of the acclaimed off -beat films he produced were 'Junoon' (1978), '36 Chowringhee Lane' (1981) and 'Kalyug' (1981). Of these, I consider Kalyug directed by the legendary Shyam Benegal to be his best.

      A contemporary take on the timeless epic 'Mahabharata', Kalyug transformed the Kaurava and Pandava princes in to warring business houses. Every character of Mahabharata finds a place in the contemporary setting and even episodes like the slaying of mighty Abhimanyu and Karna losing his life at the wheel is given a fantastic modern day twist.

      Shashi Kapoor himself, plays Karna, the illegitimate brother on the wrong side of dharma only to fulfill his unflinching friendship towards Duryodhana (named Dhanraj here and played wonderfully by the ever reliable Victor Banerjee). As Karna, Kapoor is a class apart - sophisticated, suave with a tough exterior yet inertly vulnerable within. It's one of his career best performance.

      Rekha was interestingly cast as the modern day Draupadi who hates her real husband Dharam Raj (Raj Babbar) but has an obvious attraction towards his younger brother Bharat (or Arjun). A young Reema Lagoo had a bed scene with her onscreen husband Balraj (Kulbhushan Kharbanda). Thankfully, there was no Draupadi 'vastraharan' in the new world and Benegal rightfully resisted the temptation.

      I watched Kalyug on Doordarshan in the late '80s and was blown away with Benegal's interpretation of Mahabharat. The epic was playing as a tv serial at the same time on Doordarshan and so it was much easier to compare and appreciate the two...Good olè days those!!

      Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.
      8agrawalmannu

      A Brilliant Modern day adaptation of Mahabharata

      This is India's greatest epic 'Mahabharata' adapted to the 'age of machines' (kalyug). Each character and situation is so well adapted and given a modern twist that if you didn't know you will appreciate the movie it as an intense modern drama.

      The story of Kauravas, Pandavas and their epic battle has been brilliantly adapted to Business Rivalry of two families who like Kauravas and Pandavas are related as well. Karna dying at his wheels, Abhimanyu dying in the chakravuha, Krishna, Bhishma and his quandary, Draupadi vastra-haran everything is there albeit you will have to identify them yourself.

      Excellent direction by Shayam Benegal and excellent performances by Shashi Kapoor, Victor Bannerjee, Anant Nag, Rekha, AK Hangal and Supriya Pathak.

      Definitely one of the finest movies ever made in India.

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      Storyline

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      Did you know

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      • Trivia
        Rekha, Urmila Matondkar and Victor Banerjee would reunite in Bhoot in 2003. This time Urmila Matondkar would play the protagonist while Rekha and Victor Banerjee in supporting roles.

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      FAQ15

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      Details

      Edit
      • Release date
        • March 28, 1981 (India)
      • Country of origin
        • India
      • Language
        • Hindi
      • Also known as
        • The Machine Age
      • Filming locations
        • India
      • Production company
        • Film-Valas
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      Edit
      • Runtime
        2 hours 32 minutes
      • Color
        • Color
      • Sound mix
        • Mono

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