Shabana Azmi replaced Mumtaz (who had quit the industry).
Fakira opens with young lads Vijay and Ajay forced to stand by and watch their parents die in a blaze caused by rowdies who are trying to cover up evidence. Shortly afterwards the boys are beaten, chased by the evil rowdies and, of course, separated. They start new lives that will take them on very different journeys, although Vijay still has his friend Popat to hang on to
Vijay grows up to become Fakira (Shashi Kapoor) – Master of disguise, scourge of smugglers and general ladybait.
Fakira, who takes target practice on a dummy bearing a placard reading "smuggler hamare dushman hain" - makes it his mission to redistribute among the poor the loot from his attacks on rich bandits; but money stolen from the government he returns tot he police. Meanwhile the other brother grows up to be Toofan (Danny Denzongpa), a heavy-for-hire employed by a corrupt politician (Madan Puri )to put a swift end to Fakira's career.
Geeta (Shabana Azmi) - or Neeta, her name keeps changing - is a police commissioner's daughter and an undercover police officer herself who infiltrates Fakira's gang with the intention of bringing him to justice. Her plan is to seduce him to gain his confidence, but she soon finds herself enamoured by Fakira's Shashilicious charm - she's really in love with him, and, before she knows what hit her, really married to him too. All of this is to the distress of Neelam (Aruna Irani), one of Fakira's sidekicks who has tried, repeatedly and unsuccessfully) to seduce him for herself. While Neeta makes up her mind as to whether she's with Fakira or against him, Neelam takes matters into her own hands, forcing a confrontation between Fakira and his nemesis. Popat (Asrani) is the loyal friend.
Fakira's glorification of vigilante social justice through its dashing Robin Hood hero is the clear social message of the film. But there are some fun twists on the usual masala cliches as well. Here it is the hero, not the villain, who dwells in a luxuriously-appointed secret underground lair equipped with high-tech gadgetry. Fakira's glorification of vigilante social justice through its dashing Robin Hood hero is the clear social message of the film. But there are some fun twists on the usual masala cliches as well. Here it is the hero, not the villain, who dwells in a luxuriously-appointed secret underground lair equipped with high-tech gadgetry. Fakira’s sound activated lights are used to great effect
The bad guy is just a corrupt politician, not a criminally insane mastermind. And Fakira really tickles with some deliciously naughty sequences surrounding Fakira and Neeta/Geeta's first night together (after marriage, of course).
Shashi Kapoor and Shabana are in top form ably supported by Asrani, Aruna Irani (role having similar shades like that of her role in Caravan). Danny does his bit as also Iftekhar, Ramesh Deo and Madan Puri.
Music by Ravindra Jain is melodious.
He carries the Tota Maina story from Chor Machaye Shor to Fakira with Tota Maina Ki Kahani purani ho gayi.
The title song by Mahendra Kapoor is also catchy. Dil Main Tumhe Bithake is pleasing and it's picturisation is beautiful. And for those who have wondered what Iftekhar and Danny Denzongpa might look like in a qawwali showdown, Fakira does provide the answer with Hum toh Jukhkar salaam karte hain.
The director C.P.Dixit does well to make the film entertaining.
Definitely a one time watch.
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