Drohkaal (English: Times of Betrayal) is a 1994 Indian film directed and produced by Govind Nihalani which deals with India's fight against terrorism. The film examines the mental and psychological trauma that honest police officers go through in their fight against a group of ruthless terrorists. This movie was remade into Kuruthipunal, produced by Kamal Haasan and directed by P. C. Sreeram, which received much better criticism and positive reviews.^{[by whom?][citation needed]}

Plot[link]

Indian cities are being terrorized by a group of people who want the government to give in to their demands and are willing to go to any extent for that purpose. Honest, experienced and diligent cops Abhay Singh (Om Puri) and Abbas Lodhi (Naseeruddin Shah) are part of the anti terrorism task force set up by the government to eliminate the menace.

Abbas Lodhi comes up with the idea of "Operation Dhanush",which involves sending two undercover cops, Anand (Manoj Bajpai) and Shiv (Milind Gunaji) among the terrorist group, so that they shall be part of them and learn all about them, and can call him through radio and transmit all the information under the code name Dhanush. No one except for Abbas and Abhay know about this operation.

One of the undercover cops , Anand is exposed by the terrorists a few years later, but he consumes cyanide and dies before they can get any info from him. Now Shiv is left alone in the gang. He soon wins the trust and respect of everyone in the gang, including the mastermind Commander Bhadra(Ashish Vidyarthi) himself.

Bhadra is captured and tortured by the police. But try as they may, he does not reveal anything to Abbas or Abhay. He even justifies all the wrong things that the terrorists are doing. When Bhadra is in jail, the gang appoints one of their sharp shooters to kill a minister as he is approaching the city in his car, which he does successfully. This man is apprehended and interrogated by Abhay. He agrees to help the police for the safety of his family, but soon is poisoned in jail itself by a corrupt cop, Inspector tiwari (Shrivallabh Vyas).

Soon one of Abhay and Lodhi's trusted and highly respected officers, and good friends, IGP Pathak (Amrish Puri), commits suicide when the CBI come to arrest him on charges of being linked with the terrorists. This comes as a rude shock for Abhay and Lodhi. They now relaize that there are people all over who seem to be linked with the terrorists. Now Bhadra offers Abhay the chance to join with and help the terrorists, or else his family will be in danger. Abhay does not oblige . The terrorists shoot at the family dog,killing it, shoot at Abhay's son's leg and injure him, and send messages directly and indirectly to threaten him.

Abhay finally agrees. Bhadra asks for Abhay to sham a fake kidnap drama and allow him to escape, which he unwillingly does. Lodhi is shocked at Bhadra's escape but he does not understand why Abhay is acting strangely.

Now outside, Bhadra soon send two people, Surinder (Annu Kapoor) and Mala to stay in Abhay's house, and asks the latter to accommodate them. The two of them keep Bhadra informed about everything, and threaten to kill Abhay's wife and child if he were to try anything funny at anytime. Only Abhay knows about their true identity.

Soon Bhadra meets Abhay, and under threat of his wife and child being killed by Bhadra's signalling to the couple at their house , Abhay reveals that it was Lodhi who had arranged for two undercover cops to be sent to the gang, and only he knows 'who' Dhanush really is. Abhay also comes to know that Inspector Tiwari, who was supporting Bhadra, has been eliminated.

The gang attacks Lodhi. He almost starts to finish them off when he sees that one of the people sent to capture him is Shiv, so he goes along with them. Lodhi is beaten but he does not reveal who the inside man is really. Soon he is killed accidentally by Bhadra's pistol. The shock of all that is happening is too much for Abhay to bear. he tells everything to Sumitra (Mita Vashishth), who tells Abhay that as a Police officer, he had taken an oath to protect the nation, and he must go by that. She also says that she will take care of everyone and everything if he were not there.

Consoled, Abhay is then called for a late night meeting by Bhadra again. When he leaves for Lodhi's house first, Surinder tries to attack and rape , a girl being taken care of by Abhay and his wife. At this point Mala orders Surinder at gunpoint to leave the girl , but Surinder shoots Mala. Sumitra sees all this, and in order to save , seduces Surinder. Once in the bedroom, she pushes Surinder off, and kills him with his own gun.

Abhay Singh is informed and he returns home, and consoles his family and bids them goodbye. He goes to meet Bhadra, where he attacks the criminal and is overpowered and bound to a chair. With only Shiv in the room, Commander Bhadra asks Abhay about the inside man, and suddenly points the pistol at Shiv. Abhay jumps off, attacks Bhandra, breaks free and stabs him in the neck with the broken wood of the chair.On hearing the commotion, as the entire gang comes from outside to break in to the room, Abhay tells Shiv to shoot him, because then it will appear as though Abhay was killed when he attacked Bhadra, and Shiv being highly trusted, would become the new gang leader. A reluctant Shiv does so, just as the gang breaks in. Shiv declares himself to be the terrorist gang leader, and the others accept his leadership. Abhay Singh passes away in peace.

Cast[link]

• Om Puri as DCP Abhay Singh
• Naseeruddin Shah as DCP Abbas Lodhi
• Mita Vashisht as Sumitra Singh
• Ashish Vidyarthi as Commander Bhadra
• Amrish Puri as IGP Pathak
• Milind Gunaji as Shiv
• Shrivallabh Vyas as Inspector Tiwari
• Manoj Bajpai as Anand
• Sudam

Awards[link]

Ashish Vidyarthi won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. His performance was cited as "bringing credibility to his role with strength and total conviction". In 1996, Mita Vasisht won the Star Screen Award for Best Supporting Actress.^[1] In 1995, Nihalani won the Best Director Award at the Damascus International Film Festival for the film.

References[link]

External links[link]

Drohkaal at the Internet Movie Database

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Om Puri
Puri at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	Om Rajesh Puri (1950-10-18) 18 October 1950 (age 61) Ambala, Haryana, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1976 – present
Spouse	Seema Kapoor (1996–2009, divorced) Nandita Puri

Om Puri (Hindi: ओम पुरी born 18 October 1950) is an Indian actor who has appeared in both mainstream Indian films and art films. His credits also include appearances in British and American films. He has received an honorary OBE.

Early life[link]

Puri was born in Ambala, Haryana. He graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India. He is also an alumnus of the 1973 class of National School of Drama where Naseeruddin Shah was a co-student.^[1]

Career[link]

Puri has worked in numerous Indian films and in many films produced in the United Kingdom and the United States. He made his film debut in the 1976 film Ghashiram Kotwal, based on a Marathi play of the same name. He has claimed that he was paid "peanuts" for his best work.^[2] He has collaborated with Amrish Puri as well as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil in art films such as Bhavni Bhavai (1980), Sadgati (1981), Ardh Satya (1982), Mirch Masala (1986) and Dharavi (1992).

He has been active in cinema. He was critically acclaimed for his performances in many unconventional roles such as a victimized tribal in Aakrosh (1980) (a film in which he spoke only during flash-back sequences); Jimmy's manager in Disco Dancer (1982); a police inspector in Ardh Satya (1982), where he revolts against life-long social, cultural and political persecution and for which he got the National Film Award for Best Actor; the leader of a cell of Sikh militants in Maachis (1996); as a tough cop again in the commercial film Gupt in 1997; and as the courageous father of a martyred soldier in Dhoop (2003).

In 1999, Puri acted in a Kannada movie A.K. 47 as a strict police officer who tries to keep the city safe from the underworld — it became a huge commercial hit. Puri's acting in the movie is very memorable. He has rendered his own voice for the Kannada dialogues. In the same year, he starred in the successful British comedy film East is East, where he played a first-generation Pakistani immigrant in the north of England, struggling to come to terms with his far more westernised children.

Om Puri in 2009

Puri had a cameo in the highly acclaimed film Gandhi (1982, directed by Richard Attenborough). In the mid-1990s, he diversified to play character roles in mainstream Hindi cinema, where his roles are more tuned to mass audiences than film critics. He became known internationally by starring in many British films such as My Son the Fanatic (1997), East Is East (1999) and The Parole Officer (2001). He appeared in Hollywood films including City of Joy (1992), opposite Patrick Swayze; Wolf (1994) alongside Jack Nicholson; and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) opposite Val Kilmer. In 2007, he appeared as General Zia-ul-Haq in Charlie Wilson's War, which stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

He has worked in Hindi television serials like Kakkaji Kaheen (1988) (roughly meaning "Uncle says") as a paan-chewing 'Kakkaji', which was a parody on politicians, and Mr. Yogi (1989) as a suave 'Sutradhaar' who enjoys pulling the protagonist's leg. These two serials underlined Om Puri's versatility as a comedian. He received critical acclaim for him performance in Govind Nihalani's television film Tamas (1987) based on a Hindi novel of the same name. He essayed comic roles in Hindi films like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro which reached a cult status, followed by Chachi 420 (1997), Hera Pheri (2000), Chor Machaye Shor (2002) and Malamaal Weekly (2006).

His more recent Hindi film roles include Singh Is Kinng, Mere Baap Pehle Aap and Billu. Puri was seen in the role of Mohammad Ali Kasuri in Road to Sangam (2009). In 2010, he appeared in The Hangman. In 2011 he was in the Indian action movie Don 2.

He has also worked in Aahat TV Series in some episodes during second season which was aired between 2004-2005 on Sony channel.

Controversy[link]

A breach of privilege notice was issued against Om Puri in the Parliament of India for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the politicians during the fast carried out by Anna Hazare for Jan Lokpal Bill at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi in August 2011.^[3]

Partial filmography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

Wins

• 1981: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Aakrosh
• 1982: National Film Award for Best Actor for Arohan
• 1984: National Film Award for Best Actor for Ardh Satya
• 1984: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Best Actor for Ardh Satya
• 1998: Brussels International Film Festival Best Actor for My Son the Fanatic
• 1990: Padmashri, India's fourth highest civilian award
• 1998: Grand Prix Special des Amériques Montréal World Film Festival for exceptional contribution to the cinematographic art
• 2004: Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to The British Film Industry
• 2009: Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award

Nominations

• 1990: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Ghayal
• 1997: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Maachis
• 1998: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Gupt: The Hidden Truth
• 1999: Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha
• 2000: BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for East Is East

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Om Puri

• Om Puri at the Internet Movie Database

Volunteer Martin Savage Irish: Máirtín Sabhaois (1898 – 19 December 1919) was an Officer in the Dublin Brigade of the Irish Republican Army, from Ballisodare, County Sligo.^[1] On 19 December 1919 he was killed during a gun battle after an ambush at Ashtown, near the border of County Meath and County Dublin, during the early stages of the Irish War of Independence.

Early life[link]

Savage was born in Streamstown, Ballisodare, County Sligo in 1898. He was the youngest son of Michael Savage, who was known locally as a Fenian activist.^[2] After leaving school he worked as an apprentice grocer in Sligo Town before committing himself to the fight for Irish Independence.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]}

Military action[link]

Savage moved to Dublin in 1915 and joined the Irish Volunteers. As a 17 year old he took part in the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin and fought with Padraig Pearse and James Connolly in the GPO.^[9] He was captured by the British Army and imprisoned in Richmond Barracks. On 30 April 1916 he was deported to Knutsford Detention Barracks in Cheshire, England along with 200 other captured prisoners. Upon his release Savage returned to Dublin and resumed his fight for Irish freedom and became a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade. Within republican circles he was known as a shy, slim built, handsome Sligonian who was a popular and trusted comrade especially amongst the likes of Dan Breen, Seán Treacy and Seán Hogan.^{[2] [10]}

The Ashtown ambush[link]

Planning by Breen[link]

On 19 December 1919, Savage and his unit which consisted of 10 fellow Volunteers, including Mick McDonnell, Tom Kehoe, Seán Treacy, Seamus Robinson, Seán Hogan, Paddy Daly (Leader), Vincent Byrne, Tom Kilcoyne, Joe Leonard and Dan Breen, met after planning to assassinate the then British Viceroy, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and Supreme Commander of the British Army in Ireland, Lord John French, as he returned from a private party which he had hosted the previous evening at his country residence in Frenchpark, County Roscommon.^[11]

It was not originally planned that Savage was to take an active part in the ambush, however, after a chance meeting with Breen and Hogan, Savage insisted that he join the party. Sean Hogan initially attempted to dissuade the eager young volunteer, but eventually he relented and gave Savage an automatic pistol. The Volunteers' intelligence operative had informed the unit that Lord French would be travelling in the second car of the armed convoy that comprised an outrider and three following cars which would bring Lord French from Ashtown railway station to the Vice-Regal Lodge in Phoenix Park, Dublin.^[12]

Events of the day[link]

On the day of the ambush, Savage attended work as usual and slipped away early in the morning to meet with the Volunteers who were gathered at Fleming's Pub in Drumcondra. They departed Drumcondra in small groups to avoid raising suspicion as they cycled through Phibsboro and up the Cabra Road, and then regrouped at Kelly's Public House (now called the Halfway House) in Ashtown. At approximately 11:40 a.m., as the train carrying Lord French pulled into the station, the unit left the pub and took up positions along the crossroads at Ashtown.

The plan was for Martin Savage, Tom Kehoe and Dan Breen to push a hay-cart halfway across the road and then, after the out-rider and the first car had passed, they would push it the rest of the way across the road, thereby completely blocking the path of the remaining vehicles. They had been informed that Lord French was to be in the second car and this car would be attacked with grenades, Mills Bombs and concentrated rifle fire.

As they pushed the hay-cart across the road their plan was almost foiled as a member of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) disturbed them, telling them to move on. One of Volunteers lobbed a grenade at him, although it didn't explode it struck the police officer on the head, knocking him unconscious. The police officer was then dragged from the road and the attack went ahead as planned.^[13]

Lord French's car and the gun battle[link]

When the convoy appeared minutes later, each Volunteer fulfilled their role in the operation and attacked the second car forcing it to swerve off the road. However, unknown to the unit, Lord French was travelling in the first car and managed to drive through the blockade. The occupants of the second car, part of Lord French's guard, returned fire. As the fierce gun battle developed the third car arrived on the other side of the cart and began firing with rifles and machine-guns on the now exposed Volunteers.

In the crossfire Dan Breen was shot in the leg and seconds later Savage fell mortally wounded after being hit by a bullet in the neck. He died in the arms of Dan Breen and his last words to Breen were "I'm done, but carry on....". Tom Kehoe and the wounded Dan Breen succeeded in carrying Martin Savage's body from the road and back to Kelly’s Pub while the gunfight continued.^[14]

Two RIC men and a driver were also wounded in the gun battle. At this point the British military, including some wounded, began to withdraw from the scene and continued on towards the Phoenix Park. Knowing British reinforcements would be on their way, the IRA unit then dispersed to safe houses in the Dublin area. Dan Breen was helped onto his bike by Paddy Daly who helped him to a safehouse in the Phibsboro' area, where he was attended to by the captain of the Dublin hurling team, Dr J.M. Ryan.

The next morning, the Irish Independent published an article which described the attackers as "assassins" and included other such terms as "criminal folly", "outrage" and "murder." Taking these terms as an insult to their dead comrade, it was decided to attack the paper. On Sunday, at 9pm, between twenty and thirty Volunteers under Peadar Clancy entered the offices of the Independent. They informed the editor of their intentions and began to dismantle and smash the machinery. Despite this action, with the assistance of the other Dublin papers, the Independent was able to appear the next day, and the owners were awarded £16,000 pounds in compensation. According to Breen, neither the Independent, nor any other Dublin paper, referred to the IRA as murderers or assassins again.^[15]

Funeral[link]

Savage's body was taken by British military and an inquest was held into his death. The inquest was attended by his brother and his employer William Kirk, who described the dead soldier as "a steady, sober and industrious young man, gentlemanly in manner and extremely courteous."^[16]

After the inquest, Savage's body was handed over to his relatives. His remains lay overnight at Broadstone Station before departing for Sligo where it was met at Collooney railway station by a large crowd.^[17] His coffin, draped in an Irish Tricolour, was carried over two miles at shoulder height to his family's burial ground. Savage was buried with full military honours in his native Ballisodare, County Sligo.^[18]

Street plaque at Martin Savage Terrace, Sligo.

Dan Breen noted that "the cortege was several miles long, the Parish Priest attended and recited the last prayer, while the RIC, with a chivalry characteristic of them, surrounded the graveyard with guns and bayonets. However, I suppose, this was the best tribute they could have paid to a gallant soldier, even though they did not mean it that way".^[18][19]

Legacy of Martin Savage[link]

12th December 2009 - Relatives of IRA Volunteer Martin Savage pictured at a commemoration to mark the 90th anniversary of his death. Also pictured are Sinn Féin Vice President Mary Lou McDonald and Dublin West representative Paul Donnelly

The Carrick-on-Suir Republican Flute Band pictured at the Volunteer Martin Savage Commemoration, Saturday 12th December 2009

Sinn Féin supporters carry this banner at their annual commemoration to highlight the similarities between the fight for Independence in the early twentieth century and the republican struggle through the decades right up until present day.

In 1948, the National Graves Association erected a memorial to Savage close to the site of the ambush at Ashtown Cross. There is an annual commemoration of his death at the site of the ambush.^[20][21][22]

There have also been a number of streets and public places named after the Volunteer including Martin Savage Place in County Meath, Martin Savage Road and the home of Kinvara Ards, Martin Savage Park in County Dublin and Martin Savage Terrace near the centre of Sligo Town.^[23][24]

Since 2002, the Dublin West Volunteer Joe McDonnell Sinn Féin Cumann hold an annual rally in in honour of Martin Savage on the anniversary of his death. These have been held in Castleknock and Blanchardstown, near Ashtown where he was killed.

Over 200 Republicans gathered in Castleknock Village on Saturday 12 December for a commemoration to mark the 90th anniversary of Martin's death. Relatives of the dead Volunteer – Mick and Rita Savage travelled from Ballisodare in Co. Sligo to join proceedings. The crowd – led by the Carrick-on-Suir Republican Flute Band, then marched to the commemorative stone at the Halfway House roundabout where they were addressed by Sinn Féin Vice President Mary Lou McDonald.

In her address, McDonald told those assembled that it was ironic that at the end of this difficult year, the country's banks, clerics and the government had all been discredited. It has become clear that the government are protecting the best interests of a few in society and were attacking the most vulnerable with its recent budget. She referred to the ultimate sacrifice made by Martin Savage 90 years ago and urged those present to get involved in Republican politics to counter the measures taken the Fianna Fáil/Green Party coalition during the week.

Paul Donnelly, who chaired proceedings, called on Rita Savage to lay a wreath on behalf of the Savage family, and Castleknock Sinn Féin representative Charlie Maples laid a wreath on behalf of the republican movement.

The Carrick-on-Suir Republican Flute Band then closed proceedings by playing Amhrán na bhFiann.

Republican colour party at the 2008 Sinn Féin commemoration.

The Coen/Savage (East Sligo) Sinn Féin Cumann also hold a commemoration every Easter Sunday morning at Martin Savage's graveside in Ballisodare, Co. Sligo.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Ashtown Road - The lyrics to a song written in memory of Martin Savage.

Kiran Janjani
Kiran Janjani at I am the Best Premiere
Born	12 March India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2003–present
Spouse	Ritu Janjjani

Kiran Janjani is an Indian actor who works for Bollywood.

Biography[link]

Janjani was born in Mumbai on 12 March. Janjani acted in a number of TV commerecials. He studied at Colegio Cosmopolitano de Colombia and completed his acting training at New York Film Academy, Universal Studios. And he after graduated from Narsee Monjee Institute of Management and Higher Studies, Mumbai. He is married to Ritu Janjjani who is a make up designer with masters in prosthetic&special effects make up....

Filmography[link]

• Haseena - Smart, Sexy, Dangerous (2011) (Stuck/On Hold) ...... Rahul
• Benny And Babloo (October 1, 2010) (Released) ...... Ranveer
• Life Express (September 17, 2010) (Released) ...... Nikhil
• My Friend Ganesha (July 6, 2007) (Released) ...... Aditya
• Sitam (November 18, 2005) (Released) ...... Raj
• Jalwa - Fun In Love (September 16, 2005) (Released) ...... Yash Singhania
• Sau Jhooth Ek Sach - The Uninvited (September 16, 2005) (Released) ...... Vikram Pradhan
• Stop! (November 5, 2004) (Released) ...... Rohit
• Oops? (August 1, 2003) (Released)

External links[link]

• Kiran Janjani at the Internet Movie Database

This article about an Indian actor or actress is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Antara Biswas (Bengali : অন্রা বিশ্বাস; also credited as Mona Lisa) is an Indian actress. She was born to a Bengali Hindu family. She adopted the stage name of Mona Lisa at the behest of her uncle. She studied at Julien Day School in Gariahat, south Kolkata and graduated from Asutosh College of the University of Calcutta earning a BA degree in Sanskrit before starting out a few years ago as a small-time TV actress and model in Oriya Albums. She acted in several b-grade films before making her debut in Bollywood with Blackmail starring Ajay Devgn and Suniel Shetty. She then acted and got rated in South Indian films before coming to notice through her role in Tauba Tauba opposite Amin Gazi. She did video albums in Oriya which earned her some film roles.^[1]

Filmography[link]

• ...Jayate (TV 1997)
• Hamam fi Amsterdam (1999)
• Jai Sriram (1999)
• Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence (2001)
• Wrong Number (2002)
• Tauba Tauba (2005)
• Ek Hi Bhool (2005)
• Jalwa: Fun in Love (2005)
• Blackmail (2005)
• Bobby: Love and Lust (2007)
• Love Guru (2007)
• Kaafila (2008)
• Dayanayak: Licenced to Kill (2008)
• Money Hai Toh Honey Hai (2008)
• To the London Calling (2010)
• Ek Main Ek Tum (2010)
• Hamilton Palace (2010)
• Khoobsurat - The Beauty (2010)
• Meri Life Mein Uski Wife (2010)
• Chunnu Babu Singapurri (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Monalisa at the Internet Movie Database

This article about an Indian actor or actress is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e