Overview
A tale of reincarnation and revenge unfolds as a singer uncovers his dark past.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- melodramatic
- theatrical
- eerie
- classic bollywood night
- musical movie marathon
What critics said
Initially criticized as ahead of its time, the film has since gained recognition as a cult classic of Hindi popular cinema.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Monty experiences visions of a murder and eventually discovers their connection to his birth and the earlier estate conspiracy.
Sir Juda engineers Ravi’s death to make Ranimaa’s estate vulnerable to takeover, creating the central motive for later reckoning.
Monty is introduced as a popular singer, and his performance persona is integrated into the film’s heightened romantic and mystery-driven storytelling.
The film combines an expansive estate, murder visions, romantic melodrama, and singer-led spectacle in a distinctly heightened Hindi commercial style.
Films like Karz, and why
Mahal
Hindi reincarnation melodrama combining musical spectacle, family secrets, revenge, and a murder mystery
Madhumati
Hindi reincarnation thriller built around recurring visions, romantic tragedy, and supernatural uncertainty
Karz: The Burden of Truth
Stylized Indian musical mystery centered on concealed identity, past-life connections, and an estate-bound conspiracy
Khal Nayak
Popular Hindi cinema melodrama blending revenge, inheritance conflict, romance, and heightened musical storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Subhash Ghai
- Release Date
- 1980-06-11
- Runtime
- 159 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (22)
Cast
- Rishi Kapoor
- Tina Munim
- Simi Garewal
- Premnath Malhotra
- Pran
- Durga Khote
- Aruna Irani
- Mac Mohan
- Iftekhar
- Madhu Malhotra
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video
- Buy
- Amazon Video
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Karz about?
- A charismatic singer’s haunting visions unlock a buried murder, a stolen inheritance, and the revenge encoded in his own identity.
- What is Karz like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Karz as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Karz violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Karz as moderate.
- What did critics think of Karz?
- Initially criticized as ahead of its time, the film has since gained recognition as a cult classic of Hindi popular cinema.
- Which films are like Karz?
- Films with a similar feel include Mahal, Madhumati, Karz: The Burden of Truth, and Khal Nayak.
- How long is Karz?
- Karz runs 159 minutes.
- Where can I watch Karz?
- In United States, Karz is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video.
