Amitabh Bachchan’s profound importance in Hindi cinema just cannot be explained in words. As an actor, he has given some stellar performances, be it when he was young or old, and Bollywood can never be discussed without his impact on the industry.
However, Benaam is not one of those films that contribute to Bachchan’s legacy. Instead, it’s a one-time watch at best that had potential but failed to live up to it. So, let’s get into it.
Benaam Review: At a Glance
- Story — 2.5/5
- Acting — 2.5/5
- Music — 2/5
- Directing — 3/5
Must Watch?: No
One-Time Watch: If you don’t mind a slow and somewhat mild story, then sure… but don’t feel bad if you want to bail on it
Benaam (1974) Review: A Deep Dive
Benaam is a mystery thriller that doesn’t really live up to the expectations of its genre, even though it is led by Bachchan.
It’s worth noting that while Benaam is a film he did earlier in his career, he had already delivered power-packed performances in Anand, Bombay to Goa, and Namak Haraam. As such, he didn’t stand out in Benaam, and neither did his co-star Moushumi Chatterjee.
The thing is that Benaam had all the elements of 70s Bollywood that could have made it hit differently — Bachchan is in the lead role (and his name is Amit), Prem Chopra is the villain, the idyllic Bombay city, and the ever-gorgeous Helen also flirts with the hero in a dance number.
Yet, despite all its potential, Benaam doesn’t really leave a mark on its audience.
It’s just another movie from the 70s that is partly entertaining and can be watched if you really don’t have much else to do.
Now, talking about its story, Benaam’s saving grace is the fact that it hides the identity of the villain till the last moment, but most else about the movie can be anticipated. It may have had shocking elements for the time, which I will not reveal but will say made me sad, but today’s audiences will probably shocked by nothing in the film.
What’s refreshing about Benaam is it doesn’t have too much music forced into the script, so the film doesn’t drag out the suspense in a misguided attempt to convince its audience that the payoff is going to be incredible.
Given that it is a mystery thriller, Benaam certainly has the right intention but fails to deliver too much in its execution. Having said that, however, if you’re someone who is just getting into the genre and want something that is a little tense but also suitable for “background watching,” then you can definitely give this movie a chance.
What was also a little…odd about the story is that while it gives clear indications that trouble is brewing on the Horizon for Amit, it gives very few clues about the identity of the villain. Like any good thriller, it has a red herring as well.
But you will have to wait till the climax to finally learn about this enigmatic figure that has made Amit’s life hell. As such, even though Benaam doesn’t present anything groundbreaking in the genre, it is one of the few films that does keep its audience relatively interested even without revealing anything about the villain, which I quite appreciated.
