Pukar (Call) is a Bollywood film released in 2000. The story centers around Indian Army Major Jaidev "Jai" Rajvansh (Anil Kapoor), who just managed to capture India's terrorist Abrush and lauded as a hero by the Indian people. While on a well-deserved vacation, he returns home to his family where his childhood friend Anjali (Madhuri Dixit), secretly has a crush on him and is determined to be with him 24/7.
Unfortunately, he falls for Pooja Mallappa, daughter of General Mallappa and an aspiring supermodel. Both hit it off almost immediately, leaving Anjali heartbroken and jealous. Observing this drama are Jai's enemies, who decide to take advantage of the situation. Hilarity Ensues.
Essentially an Indian cinematic version of 24 with particularly good Bollywood Masala and the smallest helping of Fatal Attraction added into the mix. Noted amongst Bollywood filmgoers for Madhuri Dixit's performance as Anjali, one of the most layered roles of her career and the only one that wasn't strictly heroic. Anil Kapoor was given the National Movie Award by the Indian Government for what was considered the best performance of his then-twenty year career.
Examples of:
- Avenging the Villain: The film revolves around this trope in the set up to the second half.
- Battle Couple: Jai and Anjali when they try to escape Abrush's deathsquads.
- Big Bad: Abrush of course.
- Catchphrase: "I'll have you courtmartialed, Major!" Whenever Jai annoys Anjali.
- The Captain: Jai, even though he's a Major, fits this trope.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Anjali at the beginning of the movie.
- Colonel Badass: Colonel Hussein, when he takes out a whole deathsquad after he is riddled with bullets and still manages to stay alive long enough to find and tip off Jai to the evil macinations of the Big Bad
- Despair Event Horizon: Abrush's ultimate goal with Jai and to a greater extent, India itself.
- Engagement Challenge: Jai goes through this with Pooja's parents.
- A Father to His Men: The reason why Jai is successful in capturing Abrush at the beginning of the movie.
- Heroic BSoD: The scene is one of the most memorable in the film and was mainly what won Anil Kapoor the National Movie Award.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Played straight multiple times.
- Insignia Rip-Off Ritual: Jai's dismissal from the Army after being accused of treason has this. By the end of the scene, his shirt is in tatters.
- Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: As mentioned above, this is essentially a Bollywood version of 24. As such, this trope is a must. Jai is both on the giving and receiving ends of the trope at different times of the movie.
- Ms. Fanservice: Anjali in a slinky nightclub outfit and Pooja during one of the songs.
- Parental Marriage Veto: Slightly subverted. Jai's parents want him to marry Anjali, but he has his heart set on Pooja. They don't do much other than object though.
- Relationship Upgrade: Anjali wants this very badly. And gets it, after having Jai nearly thrown in prison for treason
- Smug Snake: Mishra and his aide fit this to a tee.
- Unlucky Childhood Friend: First half of the movie revolves around this trope with Anjali.
- Woman Scorned: Anjali, of course.
- Yandere: Anjali gets damned close to this.
