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Parinda is a Hindi crime drama film directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and released in 1989. Set in the background of the Mumbai underworld, the film features Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, and Nana Patekar in leading roles. Parinda follows the story of two brothers, Karan (Shroff) and Kishen (Kapoor), who are orphaned after their parents are killed in a car accident. Karan is the elder brother who chooses to join the underworld as a hitman, while Kishen becomes a photographer. Karan works for Anna (Patekar), a powerful gangster who treats him like a son. However, Karan's life takes a turn when he falls in love with Paro (Madhuri Dixit), a woman who works at a brothel owned by Anna.

The film's narrative revolves around the relationship between the two brothers and how it affects their lives in the underworld. The first half of the film establishes the characters and their backgrounds, creating a sense of familiarity with the audience. However, the second half takes a darker turn, leading to a tragic climax.

One of the film's most significant aspects is the portrayal of Mumbai's underworld, which was relatively new to Indian cinema at the time. The film's story was inspired by the real-life gangster Abdul Karim Khan, who was killed in a police encounter in 1982. Parinda's depiction of the underworld is gritty and realistic, but it also humanizes the gangsters. The movie shows that the lives of actors in the underworld are not just limited to violence and crime but are complicated by their personal lives, relationships, and emotions.

Moreover, Parinda's exploration of the theme of brotherhood is one of the movie's highpoints. The movie establishes a close bond between the two brothers, who despite their differences, remain loyal to each other. Additionally, the relationship between Karan and Anna is also significant. The audience sees Anna portraying his father's role to Karan, a father figure who loves him but also uses him for his own benefit. The film's climax is as much about loyalty and betrayal as it is about the Mumbai underworld.

The performances in Parinda are top-notch. Jackie Shroff's portrayal of Karan is intense and brings a sense of gravitas to the character. Anil Kapoor, in a relatively subtler role, is an excellent foil to Shroff's brooding violence. Madhuri Dixit, as Paro, is charismatic and endearing in her limited screen time. The most notable performance, however, comes from Nana Patekar, who steals the movie as Anna. Patekar's portrayal of Anna is menacing yet sympathetic, making him one of the most memorable villains in Indian cinema.

The film's music, composed by R.D. Burman, is an ever-green classic. Burman's melodies, coupled with lyricist Khursheed Hallauri's lyrics, bring out the characters' emotions, adding to the film's emotional depth. The song "Tumse Milke" is a timeless classic that is still popular today.

Parinda was a critical and commercial success and is regarded as one of the finest Hindi films ever made. Moreover, it was chosen as India's official entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 62nd Academy Awards. Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Parinda remains a milestone in Indian cinema, with its intense storytelling, humanistic portrayal of gangsters, and the seamless weaving of themes of brotherhood and betrayal.

Parinda is a 1988 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8.