Big B went into politics after super hit Aakhree Rasta and flop Inquilaab. This was his comeback into films and the movie went on to become a blockbuster. The movie is another typical film with wrong happening to people and the criminals doing their crimes with ease and the police acting stupid as usual not knowing anything. Big B's dad Kader Khan making his move against the villains and getting falsed accused and sent to jail, him committing suicide, and then the typical young boy grows old and takes his revenge by fighting against crime. Shahenshah's main plot has been told a million times in Hindi films many times where wrong is done and action taken against wrong as action. But, Tinnu Anand's handling is top class which makes the movie entertaining. Though, Bachchan's cop act irritates and the overall comedy in the film is not well extracted, the Shahenshah act of Bachchan and songs of the film keep the movie up. The villains and their plans are well shown, the famous court scene at the end is well demonstrated. Though the film has few rough patches in the plot, the movie still entertains and it doesn't drag like other films. Acting is good, Big B is damn good, his acting is up to standard, Meenaxi is good, Amrish Puri has got to be the best villain, rest are typecast but good. Direction by Tinnu is good, after Kaalia, Tinnu gives Bachchcan another hit. But, Main Azzad Hoon after this was a flop though it was a great film. Overall, Shahenshah is another classic which will definitely be remembered as Big B's good films.

After KAALIA, Tinnu Anand returned with Big B with Shaheenshah(1988) which was his comeback since his brief exit for politics. Shaheenshah is however very overrated. The film starts off well with Amrish Puri staging a bank robbery with Prem Chopra being along with him(who is the manager in the bank) and Innocent Inspector Kader Khan who catches one of them in a bar is arrested in a case of bribe. He commits suicide leaving behind a son, predictabily Amitabh Bachchan who first is shown as a buffoon raving about his fake encounters but he has a disguise of Shaheenshah who kills people. The handling however is very corny, much akin to cinema in 80s It's very heartening to see Amitabh in the Paan Banaras waala style especially because he was past his prime, overweight and wrinkles but yet some scenes are good especially Shaheenshah beating Muqtar Singh.An ode is given to DON where Amitabh too ate paan and spoke in the dialect There are several stupid scenes like the entire climatic court scene which is too stupid

Direction is okay Music is decent

Amitabh Bachchan does show good comic timing and his role of Paan Speaking Cop(looks similar to DON)but as I said he was past his prime by then(late 40s) and he looks old and overweight.He is good as Shaheenshah though. Meenaxi is okay in her role, To see a talent of her calibre in such roles is odd, but anywayz bollywood had not yet seen her perform in Damini that time. Amongst rest Aruna Irani is good, Rohini Hattangudy(though younger to Bachchan) is good, Pran is good too, Kader Khan leaves a mark in a cameo Aftab is decent as the child artist of Amitabh, Amrish Puri, Prem Chopra are as usual, rest are okay

Shahenshah review :

The films title became synonymous with Amitabh Bachchan and he is still referred as the Shahenshah of Bollywood. There are kings and stars in Hindi cinema but Shahenshah is only one!! Directed by Tinnu Anand who had worked with Bachchan earlier in the super hit Kaalia (1981), Shahenshah went through its share of delays and got involved in bit of controversy as a certain political party threatened to ban it in wake of Big B's alleged involvement in the Bofors scam.

Coming nearly two years after his Aakhree Raasta (1986), Shahenshah was highly anticipated by Bachchan's fans and in one of the many such incidences, police had to be called in to control the rampaging crowd for advance booking at Badal Bijlee cinema, Matunga.

The film itself was total paisa vasool with Amitabh playing a seemingly corrupt pan chewing cop Vijay Srivastava as well as his alter ego Shahenshah who is a separate kanoon in himself!! "Rishte mein toh hum tumhare baap lagte hai. Naam hai Shahenshah!!" is still mimicked by all and sundry..

Amrish Puri was outstanding as JK, the baddie who frames Vijays police wala dad (Kader Khan in a memorable cameo) and later, emerges wet out of a pool in his short trunks to burn down the neighborhood gareebon ki basti. The whisky guzzler occassionally changes his brand from Chivas Regal to Black dog whenever he spots a gori titli in his regular bar. Haha!!

This is one of the few films where I liked Meenakshi Seshadri, playing a street smart chorni in a complete departure from her bholi bhaali kamzor aurat image!! She looked great here opposite Big B as well.

Tinnu Anand's direction was super competent with focus on Bachchan's mass appeal. Not many may know that the story concept was by Jaya Bachchan. Amar Utpal's dashing musical score - "Jaane do mujhe jaana hai", "Hey you!" and ofcourse the evergreen title song sung by Kishore Kumar - is another positive factor.

Shahenshah remains a favorite of all Amitabh Bachchan fans. The film defines his aura, his style and his super stardom in more ways than one. Unmissable!!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.