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Zulm-O-Sitam (1998) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo

Last updated: 8 May 2026

Zulm-O-Sitam (1998) Review

A review of Zulm-O-Sitam (1998) (Hindi action, drama), directed by K. C. Bokadia. Starring Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Jaya Prada. Superintendent of Police Arun is a hardworking, honest and diligent police officer in Bombay. He has been assigned to lead the detail in charge of the state's Chief Minister's protection. Things do not go as planned, and the Chief Minister is killed. The police find evidence linking Arun with this k... Our Rating: 2.75/5. Verdict: AVERAGE. Released: 19 Sept 1998.

Zulm-O-Sitam
AVERAGE

Zulm-O-Sitam(1998)

Hindi · Action, Drama

0 · 19 Sept 1998

Writer: K.C. Bokadia

Ratings

IMDbIMDb6.2
LetterboxdLetterboxd0
Metacritic UserMetacritic User0
TraktTrakt20
IMDbIMDb6.5

Our Rating

2.75

📖 Story

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.

🔍 Analysis

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.

🎭 Performances

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

✅

Strengths

  • ✓Veteran cast with strong screen presence
  • ✓Powerful dialogues suitable for mass audiences
  • ✓Traditional revenge plot for action fans
❌

Weaknesses

  • ✕Outdated and predictable storyline
  • ✕Poor production values
  • ✕Jarring background score
  • ✕Weak musical soundtrack

🎬 Direction & Writing

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.

📰 Critic Reviews

Gathering critic reviews…

📰 Ratings Sources

SourceRating
IMDbIMDb
6.2
LetterboxdLetterboxd
0
Metacritic UserMetacritic User
0
TraktTrakt
20
IMDbIMDb
6.5

Our Rating

2.75/5
★★★★★★★★

💰 Box Office Collection

No collection data available yet.

🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards

No centers data available.

No awards data available.

🏆 Records & Box Office

  • - The film opened to poor occupancy across India and failed to recover its costs.

😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics

TypeValue
Positive10%
Neutral25%
Negative65%

Critics

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

AVERAGE

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When did Zulm-O-Sitam release in theatres?▾

Zulm-O-Sitam released on 19 September 1998 (1998).

Is Zulm-O-Sitam a hit or flop?▾

Zulm-O-Sitam is declared a AVERAGE at the box office.

What is the budget of Zulm-O-Sitam?▾

Budget of Zulm-O-Sitam is approximately ₹4 Crore.

Where to watch Zulm-O-Sitam online? OTT release date?▾

Zulm-O-Sitam is available on YouTube. OTT date will be updated soon.

Who directed Zulm-O-Sitam?▾

Zulm-O-Sitam directed by K. C. Bokadia.

Who are the main cast members of Zulm-O-Sitam?▾

Zulm-O-Sitam stars Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Jaya Prada, Madhoo, Shakti Kapoor.

What is the Tollybo rating for Zulm-O-Sitam?▾

Tollybo rates Zulm-O-Sitam 2.75/5. Verdict: AVERAGE.

What is the genre and runtime of Zulm-O-Sitam?▾

Zulm-O-Sitam — Genre: Action, Drama, Language: Hindi.

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