This is one of Amitabh's very early films, released when he was not even a familiar star, let alone a superstar that he is today. It did not exactly fit in with the 'masala' films of 70s Bollywood and flopped at the box-office. Yet, despite being an almost unknown piece, the film has a strong central storyline and features by far the best acting performance form Amitabh Bachchan to date. In fact, I doubt very much if he will ever be able to match his role as Jaishankar Rai in this film.
Basically, it is based on the Shirley MacLaine-Jack Lemmon masterpiece, "The Apartment". While "Raaste ka Patthar" does not match its Hollywood inspiration, it is a very good movie in its own right. Amitabh's atypical role as a shy and timid clerk regularly manipulated and exploited by everyone around him is heartrendingly brilliant, as is his fantasy 'revenge' against his tormentors as the gun-slinging cowboy in his dreams. His co-stars also give better-than-average performances, notably Prem Chopra as Amitabh's manipulative boss and the almost unknown Nita Kahani as the heroine. I hope that I can get a DVD of this film someday.
Basically, it is based on the Shirley MacLaine-Jack Lemmon masterpiece, "The Apartment". While "Raaste ka Patthar" does not match its Hollywood inspiration, it is a very good movie in its own right. Amitabh's atypical role as a shy and timid clerk regularly manipulated and exploited by everyone around him is heartrendingly brilliant, as is his fantasy 'revenge' against his tormentors as the gun-slinging cowboy in his dreams. His co-stars also give better-than-average performances, notably Prem Chopra as Amitabh's manipulative boss and the almost unknown Nita Kahani as the heroine. I hope that I can get a DVD of this film someday.