{ "id": "epb33hn89f", "slug": "nastik", "title": "Nastik (नास्तिक)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1980s", "label": "Hindi films of the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1980s" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1980s", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Hindi films of the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1980s", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1980s", "label": "Hindi films of the 1980s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1980s" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Nastik (नास्तिक), Hindi/Sanskrit for atheist or unbeliever, opposite of aastik; also two Hindi films: I.S. Johar's 1954 partition drama and Pramod Chakravorty's 1983 Amitabh Bachchan action drama.", "snippet": "Nastik (नास्तिक), Hindi/Sanskrit for atheist or unbeliever, opposite of aastik; also two Hindi films: I.S. Johar's 1954 partition drama and Pramod Chakravorty's 1983 Amitabh Bachchan action drama.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1980s", "markdown": "# Nastik (नास्तिक)\n\n**Nastik** (नास्तिक) is a Hindi and Sanskrit word meaning an unbeliever or atheist, one who denies the existence of God, and in classical usage also one who does not accept the authority of the Vedas or rebirth; it is the direct opposite of *aastik* (आस्तिक, believer)[1](https://www.sanskritdictionary.in/shabdkosh?search=%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95) • [2](https://www.hindwi.org/hindi-dictionary/meaning-of-naastik). The Monier-Williams Sanskrit dictionary defines *nāstika* as \"atheistical, infidel\" and \"an atheist or unbeliever (opp. to āstika)\"[1](https://www.sanskritdictionary.in/shabdkosh?search=%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95). The word is best known to general audiences as the title of two Hindi films, a 1954 drama directed by [I. S. Johar](https://www.edgepedia.org/i-s-johar) and a 1983 action drama starring [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan)[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0232166/) • [4](https://letterboxd.com/film/nastik-1983/).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Meaning | *Nāstika*: unbeliever, atheist, heretic; one who denies God, the Vedas, or rebirth; opposite of *āstika*[1](https://www.sanskritdictionary.in/shabdkosh?search=%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95) • [2](https://www.hindwi.org/hindi-dictionary/meaning-of-naastik) |\n| 1954 film | Directed and written by I. S. Johar for Filmistan; stars Ajit, Nalini Jaywant, Ulhas; music C. Ramchandra; 2h 28m[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0232166/) |\n| 1983 film | Directed by Pramod Chakravorty, produced by Vinod Doshi, written by Sachin Bhowmick; released 18 February 1983[4](https://letterboxd.com/film/nastik-1983/) |\n| 1983 cast | Amitabh Bachchan (Shankar/Bhola), Hema Malini (Gauri), Pran (Balbir), Amjad Khan (Tiger)[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084393/) |\n| 1983 music | Kalyanji-Anandji, lyrics Anand Bakshi; soundtrack of 7 tracks, about 32 minutes[6](https://hamraaz.org/filmssite/public/film.php?id=5967) • [7](https://www.qobuz.com/ca-en/album/nastik-kalyanji-anandji/nx1qnywba25mc) |\n| 1983 box office | ₹38 million (₹3.8 crore) lifetime India net; verdict \"Average\" (Bollywood Hungama) or \"Above Average\" (KeepAlive Bollywood)[8](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/nastik-2/box-office/) • [9](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1983&yr=1980-1989) |\n| Famous essay | Bhagat Singh's \"Why I am an Atheist\" (मैं नास्तिक क्यों हूँ), written in Lahore Central Jail, first published in *The Peepal*, 27 September 1931[10](https://gsl.lbsnaa.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=356627&query_desc=su%3A%22Socialism.%22+and+su-to%3ASocialism+and+%28%28+%28allrecords%2CAlwaysMatches%3D%27%27%29+and+%28not-onloan-count%2Cst-numeric+%3E%3D+1%29+and+%28lost%2Cst-numeric%3D0%29+%29%29) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot: Nastik (1983)\n\n**Plot.** Shankar, the son of a village temple priest, sees his father murdered by the treacherous landlord Tiger (Amjad Khan), and his mother and sister are trapped in their burning house[17](https://www.moviebuff.com/nastik). Blaming God, he grows up an atheist, flees to the city, and becomes a thief working with Balbir (Pran) and Gauri ([Hema Malini](https://www.edgepedia.org/hema-malini))[17](https://www.moviebuff.com/nastik). He discovers that his mother and sister are alive, learns that Tiger survived as well, and the story turns on whether he takes revenge and whether the atheist comes to believe in God again[17](https://www.moviebuff.com/nastik). In one plot turn, instead of killing Tiger, Shankar blinds him[17](https://www.moviebuff.com/nastik). The cast also includes Sarika as Mala, Tiger's sister, Deven Verma as Gayaprasad, Madan Puri as Police Inspector Ganga Ram, Rita Bhaduri as Shankar's sister Shanti, Nalini Jaywant as Shankar's mother, and [Bharat Bhushan](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharat-bhushan) as the priest[18](https://thereviewmonk.com/movie/nastik/) • [19](https://digiguide.tv/programme/Film/Nastik/78427/).\n\n## The word\n\nIn Sanskrit lexicography, *nāstika* carries several overlapping senses: an unbeliever or atheist, a denier of the Vedas, and one who does not believe in rebirth or a creator of the world[1](https://www.sanskritdictionary.in/shabdkosh?search=%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95) • [11](https://kosha.sanskrit.today/word/sa/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83). Hindi dictionaries gloss it as a person who does not accept God, the afterlife, or the scriptures, and as the reverse of *aastik*[2](https://www.hindwi.org/hindi-dictionary/meaning-of-naastik). In the classification of [Indian philosophy](https://www.edgepedia.org/indian-philosophy), a school that accepts the authority of the Vedas is called aastik and one that does not is called naastik[12](https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/106874/1/Unit-3.pdf).\n\nThe word also titles a well-known work of modern Hindi prose. [Bhagat Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhagat-singh) wrote the essay \"Why I am an Atheist\" (मैं नास्तिक क्यों हूँ) while imprisoned in Lahore Central Jail, and it was first published in the Lahore newspaper *The Peepal* on 27 September 1931; it is counted among the most discussed and influential parts of his writing, and it has been republished many times, including in recent Hindi collections[10](https://gsl.lbsnaa.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=356627&query_desc=su%3A%22Socialism.%22+and+su-to%3ASocialism+and+%28%28+%28allrecords%2CAlwaysMatches%3D%27%27%29+and+%28not-onloan-count%2Cst-numeric+%3E%3D+1%29+and+%28lost%2Cst-numeric%3D0%29+%29%29).\n\n## Nastik (1954)\n\nThe earlier *Nastik* is a Hindi drama directed and written by I. S. Johar, produced by Filmistan, and released on 1 January 1954 with a running time of 2 hours 28 minutes[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0232166/) • [13](https://www.moviebuff.com/nastik-1954-hindi). It stars Ajit Khan, Nalini Jaywant, and Ulhas, with music by [C. Ramchandra](https://www.edgepedia.org/c-ramchandra)[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0232166/). Its protagonist, Ajit, turns an atheist after his parents die in the 1947 partition riots; he later loses his younger sister and brother, holds the Mahant responsible, and pursues him, at one point marrying the Mahant's daughter Rama (Nalini Jaywant) as part of his revenge[14](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/nastik/cast/2030138161/). The film holds an IMDb rating of 6.7 from 53 votes[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0232166/).\n\n## Nastik (1983)\n\nThe 1983 film is a Hindi-language action drama produced by Vinod Doshi and directed by Pramod Chakravorty, written by Sachin Bhowmick, photographed by V. K. Murthy, and edited by Narendra Arora[4](https://letterboxd.com/film/nastik-1983/). It was released in India on 18 February 1983 with a U censor certificate (certificate number 103348, dated 9 February 1983), and Cinemaazi records a run time of 159 minutes on 18 reels of 35 mm film[15](https://cinemaazi.com/film/nastik-1983); other databases list run times from 151 minutes to about 3 hours[4](https://letterboxd.com/film/nastik-1983/) • [16](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/nastik/umc.cmc.45ukb30zvmwuu7i6s31t9kb6j).\n\n**Music.** The score is by the duo Kalyanji-Anandji with lyrics by [Anand Bakshi](https://www.edgepedia.org/anand-bakshi)[6](https://hamraaz.org/filmssite/public/film.php?id=5967). The soundtrack album contains seven tracks totaling about 32 minutes, sung by [Kishore Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kishore-kumar), Asha Bhosle, Anup Jalota, Amit Kumar, Alka Yagnik, Sadhana Sargam, and [Mahendra Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahendra-kapoor), among others; songs include \"Aaj Ka Ye Din\" and \"Main Hoon Tere Samne\"[7](https://www.qobuz.com/ca-en/album/nastik-kalyanji-anandji/nx1qnywba25mc).\n\n**Reception and box office.** *India Today* reviewed the film in its issue of 31 March 1983, calling it \"dull, hackneyed, and extremely pedestrian\" and \"an unimaginatively routine pot-boiler with virtually nothing to set it apart from the hundreds of similar films which preceded it\"; the reviewer, Chander Uday Singh, noted that it was the first new release featuring Amitabh Bachchan since his widely reported accident and fight for life seven months earlier[20](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19830331-dull-and-hackneyed-nastik-is-an-unimaginatively-routine-pot-boiler-770555-2013-07-22). Bollywood Hungama lists a lifetime India net collection of ₹38 million (₹3.8 crore) and a verdict of \"Average\"[8](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/nastik-2/box-office/), while the KeepAlive Bollywood compilation gives a net gross of ₹38,000,000 and a gross of ₹76,000,000 with the verdict \"Above Average\"[9](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1983&yr=1980-1989). The film holds an IMDb rating of 5.4 from 486 votes[5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084393/).\n\n## References\n\n1. [नास्तिक, Sanskrit-Hindi-English Dictionary (sanskritdictionary.in)](https://www.sanskritdictionary.in/shabdkosh?search=%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95)\n2. [नास्तिक का हिंदी अर्थ, Hindwi Dictionary](https://www.hindwi.org/hindi-dictionary/meaning-of-naastik)\n3. [Nastik (1954), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0232166/)\n4. [Nastik (1983), Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/nastik-1983/)\n5. [Nastik (1983), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084393/)\n6. [Nastik, Hindi Film Database 1931-1985 (hamraaz.org)](https://hamraaz.org/filmssite/public/film.php?id=5967)\n7. [Nastik (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), Kalyanji Anandji, Qobuz](https://www.qobuz.com/ca-en/album/nastik-kalyanji-anandji/nx1qnywba25mc)\n8. [Nastik Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/nastik-2/box-office/)\n9. [Box Office Bollywood, 1983 top earners, KeepAlive Bollywood](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1983&yr=1980-1989)\n10. [Mai nastik kyon hun, Bhagat Singh, LBSNAA catalog record](https://gsl.lbsnaa.gov.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=356627&query_desc=su%3A%22Socialism.%22+and+su-to%3ASocialism+and+%28%28+%28allrecords%2CAlwaysMatches%3D%27%27%29+and+%28not-onloan-count%2Cst-numeric+%3E%3D+1%29+and+%28lost%2Cst-numeric%3D0%29+%29%29)\n11. [नास्तिकः, Sanskrit Dictionary Kosha.App](https://kosha.sanskrit.today/word/sa/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83)\n12. [भारतीय दर्शन का वर्गीकरण (आस्तिक और नास्तिक), eGyanKosh Unit-3](https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/106874/1/Unit-3.pdf)\n13. [Nastik (1954), Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/nastik-1954-hindi)\n14. [Nastik - Full Cast & Crew, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/movies/nastik/cast/2030138161/)\n15. [Nastik (1983) - Movie Details, Cinemaazi](https://cinemaazi.com/film/nastik-1983)\n16. [Nastik, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/nastik/umc.cmc.45ukb30zvmwuu7i6s31t9kb6j)\n17. [Nastik (1983), Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/nastik)\n18. [Nastik (1983) - Cast, Crew & Film Details, TheReviewMonk](https://thereviewmonk.com/movie/nastik/)\n19. [Nastik (1983), Digiguide](https://digiguide.tv/programme/Film/Nastik/78427/)\n20. [Dull and hackneyed, Nastik is an unimaginatively routine pot-boiler, India Today, 31 March 1983](https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19830331-dull-and-hackneyed-nastik-is-an-unimaginatively-routine-pot-boiler-770555-2013-07-22)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 1980s*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/nastik", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/nastik.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Nastik (नास्तिक)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/nastik. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Nastik (नास्तिक)](https://www.edgepedia.org/nastik)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/nastik](https://www.edgepedia.org/nastik). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Nastik (नास्तिक)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/nastik. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Nastik, Hindi/Sanskrit for atheist or unbeliever, opposite of aastik; also two Hindi films: I.S. Johar's 1954 partition drama and Pramod Chakravorty's 1983 Amitabh Bachchan action drama." }