The Deol's Treasure Chest

By: Praveen Lance Fernandes IndiaFM
Friday, September 08, 2006
Today, the Sunny Deol- Viveik Oberoi- Sameera Reddy starrer Naksha releases worldwide. It is probably after a very long time that Bollywood is seeing a film based on a treasure hunt. Viveik Oberoi's quest for something undiscovered for hundreds of years will be something to look forward to considering the last prominent Hindi treasure hunt film was Aamir Khan's Daulat Ki Jung back in 1992. However, due to a lackluster script and shoddy plot the film didn't really work.

Sunny Deol is Viveik's elder step brother in the film and he is out to take his brother home and make him quit his quest. Sunny Deol and his father have always been synonymous with action films but do you know that the Deol's association with treasure hunt films didn't begin with Naksha? Papa Dharmendra was the lead in two treasure hunt films way back in the 80's.

The first one was Pramod Chakravorty's Jagir in 1984 starring Dharmendra, Danny Denzongpa and Mithun Chakravarthy in lead roles. Dharmendra's father; a Maharaja was killed by Amrish Puri when the former was trying to hide a locket which concealed a map to the secret treasure of Anjangad. Pran, a loyal servant saves the young Dharmendra but he meets with an accident and loses his memory. He grows up with the locket around his neck oblivious of who he really is.

Now when he grows up, he is out along with his compatriots Mithun, Danny, Zeenat Aman and Shoma Anand to protect the treasure from the bad guys. This film had a gripping plot and good music by RD Burman.

Trivia: One of the bad guys is the late Amrish Puri. Prior to this he starred in another adventure treasure hunt film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom directed by Steven Spielberg.

This film was one of the first times when Dharmendra and Mithun came together in a film. They subsequently went onto star in a number of films including a lot of B-grade ones in the 90's. Who knows? There might have been a treasure hunt film in that list as well.

Then there was Zalzala in 1988. For those of you who would like to go back in time to watch an old Hindi adventure flick, this one is for you.

Puneet Issar comes to know of an ancient temple made of gold and is out to loot it. The only person who knows about the location of temple is an old Pujari. But the Pujari is adamant of letting him know the whereabouts of the temple and destroys the only map in existence. But not before letting Dharmendra know about the location of the temple. Now he along with his friends seek out the temple and secure it. Legend has it that whoever tries to loot the temple will perish in a colossal earthquake. All this time the treasure is referred to as Bhagwan Ka Sona. Directed by Harish Shah, this film also starred Shatrughan Sinha, Rajiv Kapoor, Karan Kapoor and Kimi Katkar.

So there you have it. Two films with Dharam paaji amassing vast fortunes. Will Naksha do the same for Sunny Deol? Wait and watch!

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