Last updated: 8 May 2026

Ratings
Our Rating
2.75
SP Arun (Dharmendra) is a dedicated police officer who is framed for a crime by a powerful underworld don (Milind Gunaji). After spending years in prison and losing his family, Arun returns to seek vengeance. With the help of a righteous lawyer (Shatrughan Sinha), he attempts to dismantle the criminal empire and prove his innocence through a series of violent confrontations.
Zulm-O-Sitam is a quintessential 90s Bollywood action-drama that feels like a throwback to the 80s. Directed by K.C. Bokadia, the film relies heavily on the 'angry man against the system' trope, which by 1998 was starting to lose its charm with the audience. The narrative is predictable, filled with loud dialogues and melodramatic sequences that cater strictly to a niche single-screen audience.
The first half moves at a decent pace, establishing the protagonist's integrity and the subsequent betrayal. However, the second half drags significantly with repetitive action sequences and a lack of innovative storytelling. The screenplay lacks depth, and the transitions between scenes are often jarring, making the viewing experience feel dated.
The music by Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen is forgettable and fails to add any value to the film. The background score is overly loud, typical of the era's action films. While the cinematography is functional, it doesn't offer anything visually striking. Overall, the film suffers from a weak script and a direction style that failed to evolve with the changing times.
Dharmendra: Delivers a high-decibel performance as the wronged officer, though his age was becoming apparent in the physically demanding action scenes.
Shatrughan Sinha: Provides a solid supporting presence with his signature dialogue delivery and commanding screen presence.
Milind Gunaji: Effective as the antagonist, though the character is written as a standard, one-dimensional villain.
Jaya Prada: Has limited screen time but performs her role with grace and sincerity.
Strengths
Weaknesses
K.C. Bokadia sticks to his traditional formula of loud action and high-pitched drama. While he manages to extract decent performances from the veterans, his writing and direction lack the freshness needed to compete with the evolving cinema of the late 90s.
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Our Rating
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| Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Positive | 10% |
| Neutral | 25% |
| Negative | 65% |
The film received largely negative reviews from contemporary critics who criticized the loud execution and the recycled plot. Most critics felt the movie belonged to a bygone era of cinema.
Final Box-Office Result
Zulm-O-Sitam released on 19 September 1998 (1998).
Zulm-O-Sitam is declared a AVERAGE at the box office.
Budget of Zulm-O-Sitam is approximately ₹4 Crore.
Zulm-O-Sitam is available on YouTube. OTT date will be updated soon.
Zulm-O-Sitam directed by K. C. Bokadia.
Zulm-O-Sitam stars Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Jaya Prada, Madhoo, Shakti Kapoor.
Tollybo rates Zulm-O-Sitam 2.75/5. Verdict: AVERAGE.
Zulm-O-Sitam — Genre: Action, Drama, Language: Hindi.