I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

In the late 70s and early 80s Amitabh was a force that none could challenge In 1981 he had 4 Blockbusters Laawaris,Yaarana, Naseeb and Kaalia, Laawaris was his 4th collaboration with Prakash Mehra after 4 blockbusters like Zanjeer, Hera Pheri, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar Laawaris is a story of an orphan played by Amitabh of course. The film is a masala entertainer like Bachchan films, the story is similar to films made earlier but what makes it special is of course Amitabh, dialogues and several superb scenes. The film starts off well, Amitabh's introduction is superb and then the relationship he shares with his stepfather are superb There are several claptrap situations and Amitabh's character has lot of mass appeal. His scene where he delivers a speech at a function to award Amjad Khan is superb,Another one is Amitabh and Zeenat's first meet and the confrontation after the song Kahe Paise Pe which is at interval Prakash Mehra's films always had a strong message on society too and this film too has a strong message. On the flipside the film does tend to drag at times and several instances the story does deviate at times focusing on comedy scenes and other stuff. The relationship between Amitabh and Suresh Oberoi is well depicted and the turn of events are well handled, Amitabh being accused and threatens to take revenge on Amjad Khan is superb and the scene when Amitabh confronts Amjad in his bungalow is superb Thereon the film does seem never ending with the sudden song Mere Angne mein but the climax is superbDirection by PM is superb Music by Kalyanji Anandji is awesome, Apni to Jaise Taise, Kab Ke Bichre, Mere Angne mein(sung by big B) are still remembered, Kishore sang almost all songs for Big B again as in those days and every song is superb, Kahe Paise Pe is superb while the revise of Jiska Koi Nahin is brilliant too while the first song Mere Angne mein filmed on Rakhee is sung by young Alka Yagnik and she is superb tooAmongst actors Predictabily Amitabh scores and delivers yet another superb performance, he played streetsmart characters many times often but Laawaris is still remembered amongst them Zeenat Aman is good in her role Amongst actors Amjad Khan is superb in a positive role(he starred in most Bachchan releases that year Kaalia, Yaarana, Naseeb and BKER too) His chemistry with Big B is fab Ranjeet is good in his role, Suresh Oberoi is superb Om Prakash is good too while Bindu is stereotypical Ram Sethi entertains as the loud yes man of Ranjeet, he starred mostly in all films of Big B and PM. Satyen Kapuu as the villain is good while Sreeram Lagoo is fabulous Jeevan is as usual rest are OK

Prakash Mehra and Amitabh Bachchan were a hit combo and made some of Amitabh's memorable hits like ZANJEER (1973), HERA PHERI (1976) and MUQADDAR KA SIKANDAR (1978)In this film Amitabh is an orphan but the son of a very rich man (Amjad Khan) who dumped Amitabh's mother Raakhee A unique story well handledAmitabh's emotions are well-handled during the film Amjad Khan is given a positive role for once after Gabbar Singh in SHOLAY (1975)Amitabh makes the best of his role Zeenat Aman is good Shreeman Lagoo is funny Ranjeet is OK Suresh Oberoi does well in his mini role Amjad Khan excels

This is a Bollywood film titled "The Orphan". Thus the plot is a given: our hero will follow a winding road toward the ultimate discovery of his true father, and along the way he will discover his true nature. Alienation will be undone by solidarity. The poor and downtrodden will have their champion. One love interest will meet her untimely demise, and another will have her man.Our first glimpse of our hero as an adult is as a walking trope of machismo: coveralls open to the waist revealing a chest of dark black hair. One of our final glances reveals a side of the big B that I surely did not expect. The penultimate musical number features Amitabh in drag, with five costume changes, and he's damned good at it. The film is worth the watch for this sequence alone.

Amitabh stars as the "Lawaaris" Heera referred to in the title of the film. A boy, abandoned at birth, sent to be raised by a drunken bum. He grows to be a man who cares for others, while trying to find out his meaning in life. He encounters many obstacles in the way, such as a public beating. The songs are great. The movie has its share of action, but moreover has superb acting. I give it a 9 out of 10