Maachis (1996)
October 25, 1996Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Currently Maachis is available for streaming online, rent, buy or watch for free on: Pantaflix
Streaming in:🇺🇸 United States
Cast & Crew.
Om Puri
Sanatan
Tabu
Veerandra 'Veeran'
Chandrachur Singh
Kripal Singh 'Pali'
Kanwaljit Singh
Inspector Vohra
Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Commander
S M Zaheer
Khurana
Raj Zutshi
Jaswant Singh Randhawa 'Jassi'
Suneel Sinha
Vazira
Media.
Details.
Release DateOctober 25, 1996
Original Nameमाचिस
StatusReleased
Running Time2h 40m
Genres
Wiki.
Maachis (transl. Matchsticks) is a 1996 Indian period political thriller film written and directed by Gulzar and produced by R. V. Pandit. It stars Chandrachur Singh, Om Puri, Tabu, and Jimmy Sheirgill. The film portrays the circumstances surrounding the rise of the Sikh insurgency in Punjab in the 1980s. The music of the film was composed by Vishal Bhardwaj, with lyrics penned by Gulzar. It was also the Hindi film debut of KK as a playback singer.
The title of the film Maachis is a metaphor that conveys that any nation's youth are like matchsticks, which can be used to light a lamp or a fuse that will blow a dynamite. The film depicts how corrupt political and policing systems implement willful policies and ploys to target and subdue people based on religious discrimination. The protagonist in the film becomes a victim of such atrocities that bring about a transformation in his character. He goes from being an ordinary boy next door to an angry, vengeful person who pursues his version of justice, as the system responsible for it has failed him.At the 44th National Film Awards, Maachis won 2 awards – Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Actress (Tabu). At the 42nd Filmfare Awards, the film received 10 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director (Gulzar), Best Actress (Tabu) and Best Supporting Actor (Puri), and won 4 awards, including Best Male Debut (Chandrachur) and R. D. Burman Award (Bhardwaj).
Tabu won her first Best Actress National Award for her portrayal of Virendar Kaur aka Veeran. "Chhod Aaye Hum" was the first Hindi film song sung by KK.