Maachis (1996)

Original title

माचिस

Directed by

Gulzar

Genre

drama film, action film

Country

India

Runtime

2h 40m

Rating

7.5 of 10 from 11 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

This film follows a group of young people swept into the violence of the Sikh insurgency in 1980s Punjab. It focuses on how state forces and personal losses push them toward radicalization and vengeance.

tensebleakgrittyemotionally heavyurgentpoliticalmelancholicgrounded

What happens

Maachis (transl. Matchsticks) is a 1996 Indian Hindi-language period political thriller film written and directed by Gulzar. The film stars Chandrachur Singh, Om Puri, Tabu, and Jimmy Sheirgill. The film is set against the backdrop of the Sikh insurgency in Punjab during the 1980s. The plot delves into the personal and political turmoil faced by individuals caught in violence and explores themes of state repression, vengeance, and the radicalization of youth. The film was released on 25 October 1996. Maachis received critical acclaim for its direction, story, screenplay, dialogue, and music. The film emerged as a commercial success at the box-office, grossing ₹6.19 crore against a production budget of ₹2 crore. At the 44th National Film Awards, Maachis won 2 awards – Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Actress (Tabu). At the 42nd Filmfare Awards, the film received 10 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director (Gulzar), Best Actress (Tabu), and Best Supporting Actor (Puri), and won 4 awards, including Best Male Debut (Chandrachur) and R. D. Burman Award (Bhardwaj). (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

More like this

• Huliya (1996)
• Hahakaar (1996)
• Shiva Sainya (1996)
• Aavathum Pennale Azhivathum Pennale (1996)
• Nirbhay (1996)
• Maanbumigu Maanavan (1996)
• Namak (1996)
• Sivasakthi (1996)