On Independence Day of 1955, a poor sod called Kiśanlāl is released from prison where he has done time for a crime committed by local kingpin Robert. When Kiśanlāl finds his family suffering in the depths of utter destitution he goes on a rampage against Robert, who had promised to take care of his wife and three little sons. At the end of the day, the boys are (seemingly) orphaned, with three kind men from three different religions soon taking care of one each… And this is only the premise of Amar Akbar Anthony, grandmaster Manmōhan Dēsāī’s seminal monument to religious tolerance as well as the joys of exuberant storytelling, which not only became one of the biggest hits of Hindi film culture, but also the blueprint for a whole sub-genre in Indian cinema whose plots involve siblings growing up in different surroundings.
It seems sensible to screen this new restoration as a lateral addition to the IFFR programme Focus: The Shape of Things to Come?, as here we see an India firmly believing in a secular state, an India where all religions are equal seeing as they equally contribute to the welfare of the nation. Let’s also consider this presentation as a belated happy 80th birthday to the one and only Amitābh Baccan!
– Olaf Möller
This film has been provided by Film Heritage Foundation.
Film details
- Country of production
- India
- Year
- 1977
- Festival edition
- IFFR 2023
- Length
- 175'
- Medium/Format
- DCP
