Damini - Lightning is a 1993 Hindi film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi starring Rishi Kapoor, Meenakshi Sheshadri, Sunny Deol, Amrish Puri, Tinu Anand and Paresh Rawal in lead roles. The story is of how a woman fights against society for justice.

Besides being critically acclaimed, the film became the sixth highest grossing of the year and was declared a 'hit' at the Indian box office.^[2] Damini - Lightning is also memorable for Sunny Deol's role as an advocate and gained him a Filmfare as well as National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for 1993. It strengthened his Bollywood he-man image. The film was a milestone in the careers of Sunny Deol and Amrish Puri who gave some great hits like Ghayal, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Ghatak: Lethal together. Aamir Khan acted in a very special appearance in the stage show dance song. Damini - Lightning was remade into Oriya as Nari Nuhne Tu Narayani starring Sidharth and Rachana. It was remade into Tamil as Priyanka starring Revathi as the titular character.

Synopsis[link]

Shekhar Gupta (Rishi Kapoor), a rich businessman, falls in love at first sight with Damini (Meenakshi Sheshadri). They get married and Damini moves into his palatial bungalow. One day, she witnesses Shekhar's younger brother, Rakesh, molesting the maid-servant and rushes to tell Shekhar. Shekhar rushes over to prevent the sexual assault but is too late. The Gupta family conspire to cover up this shameful incident. But Damini decides to inform the police. The matter is taken up in court, and Damini is asked to testify. Damini is portrayed as a mentally unstable person and confined in a mental institution for two weeks by a judicial order. Unable to bear the mental torture in the institution, she escapes and runs into a down-and-out alcoholic lawyer, Govind (Sunny Deol), who has the rape case re-opened. The maid-servant dies in hospital, and the police write her death off as a suicide. But Govind is able to prove otherwise. It is up to Damini, Govind and Shekhar to provide justice to the victimized girl.

Plot[link]

Shekhar Gupta (Rishi Kapoor) is the elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Gupta (Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Rohini Hattangadi). He sees Damini(Meenakshi Sheshadri), a poor young woman who is an upcoming dancer. The duo fall in love and get married without a hitch. It is only when Damini enters the Gupta household that the problems start. She learns that her mother-in-law wanted Shekhar to get married to the daughter of Mr. Bajaj (Paresh Rawal), a wealthy acquaintance. Her world turns topsy-turvy when her brother-in-law rapes a servant's teenage daughter, Urmi. The girl is later said to be missing. Damini decides to testify, much against her in-laws' wishes. Even Shekhar seems to be reluctant to aid her.

The case stands in court, but Indrajit Chaddha (Amrish Puri), a corrupt lawyer fighting for thr Guptas, embarrasses Damini by asking her uncomfortable questions in front of the court. When Damini's father Chandrakant (Anjan Srivastav) gives false testimony that she had mental problems, Damini is declared insane and sent to an lunatic asylum. Her confidence is crippled, but she soon recovers. Soon, Damini stages an escape. Govind(Sunny Deol), an ex-lawyer, gives her shelter. It is revealed that Govind's girlfriend was a victim. When Govind failed to give her justice, he left his practice and took to drinking.

On Damini's insistence, he reluctantly agrees to see into the case. When Chaddha meets Govind personally, Govind decides to come out of his retirement. The case is reopened. However, this time, Govind turns the tables and methodically thwarts all the pressure tactics of the villains. Things again take a turn for worse, when Mamta commits suicide, now disgraced as a rape victim (although it is hinted that the police murdered her). Without urmi's testimony, the case seems lost. However, Bajaj decides to kill Shekhar as he might buckle under the pressure. He also sends his goons to kill Damini. Damini escapes and counter-attacks the goons. Here, the judge is tired of waiting and is about to give a decision in Gupta's favour. Damini enters just in time to declare that she wants to withdraw the case.

Govind tries to talk her out, but she vents her anger on Chaddha and the others for the things that happened. Shekhar, who is thoroughly ashamed of himself, steps in and testifies. He tells the truth and asks Damini's pardon. On basis of his testimony, the villains are arrested while Shekhar is given a lighter sentence. Govind leaves happily, while Mamta's father is seen thanking him and Damini.

Cast[link]

• Meenakshi Sheshadri - Damini Gupta
• Rishi Kapoor - Shekhar Gupta
• Sunny Deol - Govind
• Amrish Puri - Barrister Indrajit Chaddha
• Anjan Srivastav - Chandrakant (Damini's dad)
• Paresh Rawal - Mr. Bajaj
• Kulbhushan Kharbanda - Mr. Gupta
• Rohini Hattangadi - Mrs. Gupta
• Vijayendra Ghatge - Inspector Kadam
• K.K. Raina - Shekhar's friend
• Prajakta - Urmi
• Sulabha Arya ... Mami Tinu Anand's wife
• Tinnu Anand - Shekhar's uncle^[3]

Famous Dialogues[link]

"Chaddha in logo se kehdo ke Aise kai khiloney baazaar mein milthe hain lekin inse khelne ke liye jo kaleja chahiye voh mard leke paida hota hai"

"Tum kabhie cheediya ghar gaye ho, wahan par pinjhrey me qaid sher par bachhe bhi moong phalliyan phenk ke maarte hain, kabhi khule sher se muqabla kar ke dekho mard hone ka ehsaas nikal jayega"

"Judge order order karta rahega aur tu pittha rahega"

"Tarikh peh tarikh, Tarikh peh tarikh, Tarikh peh tarikh, Tarikh pe tarikh milti hai to sirf tarikh "

"Chaddha kabhi kabhi bachhe bhi bijli ke taaron se patang nikaal lete hain lekin is case me ulajh ke tune us taar ko chua hai ki aisa jhatka lagega ki zindagi bhar jhatakna bhul jaoge"

"Jab yeh Dhai kilo ka haath kisi pe padta hai na, toh aadmi ut tha nahi, uth jata hai"

Soundtrack[link]

Awards[link]

• National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor - Sunny Deol
• Filmfare Award
  • Best Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
  • Best Supporting Actor : Sunny Deol ^[4]
  • Best Actress (Nominated):Meenakshi Seshadri

References[link]

External links[link]

• Damini – Lightning at the Internet Movie Database

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