Jaani Dost is a 1983 Bollywoodaction film, produced by C. Ashwini Dutt, M.Arjuna Raju under Roja Art Productions banner and directed by K. Raghavendra Rao. It stars Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Parveen Babi, Sridevi in the lead roles and music composed by Bappi Lahari. The film was simultaneously made along with the Telugu movieAdavi Simhalu, starring Krishna, Krishnam Raju, Sridevi, Jaya Prada in the pivotal roles. Both the movies were made simultaneously by the same producer and director, some of the scenes and actors are identical in both the versions.
Plot
The film begins with Raja Narendra Varma, owner of Raj Nagar estate, and his wife Annapurnamma. The couple have a son and want a daughter. At that juncture, his brother-in-law, Kondala Rao / Cobra, a hoodlum, intrigues to eliminate not just Dharma Raj but his heir Krishna, too, and distorts as an accident. Fortunately, Krishna escapes, acquainted with an orphan Raju and they befriend. At this time, Raju decides to spend time with Krishna, sacrificing his studies in the process. Years roll by, Raju becomes a truck driver and Krishna becomes a mobster. Once Raju saves a girl Lalitha sister of Krishna without the knowledge. Meanwhile, Krishna is associated with Cobra's younger brother Hari, who is always disguised. Currently, Raju and Lalitha fall in love, and Veeru falls for lionhearted Rekha. Meanwhile, Raju learns Krishna's true identity and discord arises, but this subsides when Krishna is unveiled as an undercover cop. then, he seizes many gangsters, but Hari escapes. Thereafter, Cobra ploys indict Raju in crime and then seeks to kill Lalitha. Henceforth, Cobra and Hari abscond to a forest where they continue with their misdeeds. Knowing it, Raju breaks the bars. Rekha accompanies him as well because she suspect Hari deceived her mother. Being cognizant of it, Cobra attempts to destroy them, but they escape. Moreover, Krishna unearths his birth secret and realizes Lalitha as his sister. Here Cobra subterfuges to establish Krishna and Raju as rivals, therein, a battle erupts when they fathom the truth. At last, they destroy Cobra and his gang. Finally, the movie ends happily with the marriages of Krishna and Rekha and Raju and Lalitha.
The movie was a semi-hit. The ending had weak writing and the action was messed up. The message of Jaani Dost was not lifted up in the movie. The lack of a duet between Dharmendra and Jeetendra limited the acceptance of their strong bond.
