Ajooba


Ajooba is a 1990 superhero film, produced and directed by Shashi Kapoor and co-directed by Soviet filmmaker Gennadi Vasilyev. An Indian-Soviet co-production, it is loosely based on Arabic folklore such as One Thousand and One Nights. The film had a Russian language version released in the Soviet Union, Черный принц Аджуба, in 1990, before its Indian release in 1991. The film starred Amitabh Bachchan as the titular superhero Ajooba, along with Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Sonam, Shammi Kapoor, Dara Singh, Amrish Puri and Saeed Jaffery in pivotal roles. Made on a budget of 8 crore, it was the most expensive Indian film made until then.
Ajooba released worldwide on 12 April 1991, on the Eid weekend. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances, special effects and music, but criticised the story, screenplay and direction.

Plot

The Afghan kingdom of Baharistan is ruled by a kind Sultan. All is well in the land, except that Sultan seemingly can't have any child. An evil devil-worshipping Vazir seeks to usurp the throne, reviving his "Fauladi Shaitan" and take over the world. Vazir instructs his maids to strangle every child born to Sultan. Finally, however, a spark of divine intervention renders the next newborn son immune to the poisons and strangulations administered by the maids. This Shehzada, named as Ali, eventually becomes Ajooba.
Sultan and his wife Malika kick off celebrations throughout the land. The good court magician Ameer Khan, fondly called "Ameer Baba", the very much close friend of Sultan, recently returned from his travels to Hind, presents a magic sword to Sultan. Sultan thrusts it into a pillar and Ameer Baba pronounces that it may be drawn out of the stone again only by a member of the royal family.
Soon after, Sultan privately discusses about the traitors in the kingdom, with Ameer Baba. Vazir overhears their discussion, eventually tricks Ameer Baba, steals his Necklace of Immortality, throws him into the dungeon, attempts to murder Sultan and his family and take over the throne. Sultan escapes with his wife and child. After a pitched battle involving magic carpets, storms and ships, Sultan is missing. Malika is blinded and the young Shehzada is washed ashore by a dolphin to a blacksmith. This blacksmith adopts the kid, trains him in all the worldly and martial arts and thus creates Ajooba. In the meantime, Vazir blames Ameer Baba for Sultan's murder, takes over the throne and begins ravaging the land, always uttering his slogan Shaitan Zindabad.
Ajooba is a masked rider in black who thwarts Vazir's lackeys as they pillage the lands and harass the citizens. His plain self is Ali, an ordinary restaurateur and his chum is Hassan. Together they foil Vazir's evil schemes, raid his caravans and woo their girls. Ali falls for Rukhsana, the daughter of Ameer Baba, returned from Hind, while Hassan's affections are for Vazir's Shehzadi Henna.
Ajooba inflicts constant pain upon Vazir. Vazir eventually raises his Fauladi Shaitan and plans an all-out attack. The King of Hind, Karan Singh brings his forces to aid Ajooba. The resulting war brings all the central characters together.
Several questions are essentially resolved in the ensuing war. The climax is a panorama of demons, magical horses and donkeys, a full-scale combat between Vazir's army and the Hind army, enchanted swords and a final revelation about the true identity of Ajooba.

Cast

Production

The film was made in the wake of the success of two previous Indo-Soviet collaborated movies - Alibaba aur 40 Chor and Sohni Mahiwal:
After the success of these two Indo-Soviet movies, Ajooba, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia and Rishi Kapoor, was the third Indo-Soviet film made in 1990. It was a Superhero themed film.

Soundtrack

Box office

In India, the film was a disaster at the box office.
One the other hand, the film was a relatively successful in the Soviet Union, where it was released as Черный принц Аджуба in July 1990. The overall failure of the movie resulted it being the last collaboration between the Indian and Soviet film industries.