One of the better Yash Chopra films which alongside The Burning Train is among the rare disaster films in India. The film was made in the wake of the Chasnala mining disaster in Dhanbad in which hundreds of miner were killed in an underground flood. Set in a small mining town, the film does a quick description of various characters in the mix -- an idealistic engineer Ravi(Shashi Kapoor), a lonely medic Sudha (Rakhee), an exploitative mine owner Dhanraj (Prem Chopra) and several colorful miners including an escaped convict Mangal (Shatrughan). The film quickly centers on brooding court martialled officer Vijay (Amitabh) who works as a coal miner as an escape / self-flagellation for an act of cowardice several years ago. The engineer's warnings to cease underground operations is rejected by the greedy owners, leading to the protracted climax of the actual disaster. As the disaster unfolds, the three protagonists - Ravi, Mangal, and Vijay seek their own redemption in the rescue operations. An entertainingly hammy Shatrughan Sinha and Amitabh in his angry young man element made the film a cult classic despite being a failure at the box office.
Review of Kaala Patthar
