''Ram Jaane'' () is a
1995
File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The Great Hanshin earthquake str ...
Indian
Hindi
Hindi ( Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...
action thriller film
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats. The genre tends to feature a mostly resourceful hero struggling against incredible odds, which include life ...
directed by
Rajiv Mehra about an unnamed kid (portrayed by
Shah Rukh Khan) who grows up to become a gangster. He uses the name Ram Jaane after meeting with a priest who in response to the kid asking what his real name was, said ''Ram Jaane'' (Ram knows). It is the fourth time
Shah Rukh Khan played a negative role after ''
Baazigar
''Baazigar'' () is a 1993 Indian romantic crime thriller film directed by Abbas–Mustan and produced by Venus Movies. It stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in lead roles, while Raakhee, Shilpa Shetty, Dalip Tahil, Siddharth Ray, and Johnny Le ...
'', ''
Darr
''Darr: A Violent Love Story'' ( ''Fear'') is a 1993 Indian romantic psychological thriller film directed and produced by Yash Chopra under his banner Yash Raj Films. The film stars Juhi Chawla, Sunny Deol and Shah Rukh Khan with Anupam ...
'' and ''
Anjaam
''Anjaam'' () is a 1994 Indian Hindi-language psychological thriller film directed by Rahul Rawail. It stars Madhuri Dixit and Shah Rukh Khan in lead roles, with Tinnu Anand, Johnny Lever, Kalpana Iyer, Himani Shivpuri, Sudha Chandran, Beena, ...
''. ''Ram Jaane'' was released to a positive reception from audiences and was a commercial success.
Shah Rukh Khan has bought the rights to this film under his banner,
Red Chillies Entertainment
Red Chillies Entertainment is an Indian visual effects, production and distribution company established by actor Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri Khan in 2002. It was transformed from the defunct Dreamz Unlimited. Based in Mumbai, the studio' ...
. This was the second Rajiv Mehra film to feature Shah Rukh Khan after ''
Chamatkar
''Chamatkar'' () is a 1992 Indian Hindi-language fantasy comedy film directed by Rajiv Mehra. It featured Shah Rukh Khan (in his second film after '' Deewana'' and first in lead role), Naseeruddin Shah and Urmila Matondkar in pivotal roles. Raj ...
'', in 1992; that film was a box office failure, but ''Ram Jaane'' proved a success.
Plot
A nameless boy, who was abandoned at a very young age, faces taunts from the other children in his village. He asks the priest what his name is, to which the priest answers ''Ram Jaane'' (Ram knows), which the boy accepts as his name. Ram Jaane and his friend Murli are caught stealing from a train by a corrupt police officer, Chewte (
Puneet Issar
Puneet Issar (born 6 November 1959) is an Indian actor, writer, director, producer and dialect coach best known for his works in Hindi films and television shows. Issar started his acting career as a villain in the Manmohan Desai's 1983 film ' ...
). Chewte beats Ram Jaane in jail, but he is released without charge. Years later, Ram Jaane (
Shah Rukh Khan) is working under Sameer Sanvla (
Tinnu Anand
Tinu Anand (born Virender Raj Anand, 12 October 1945) is an Indian actor, director, writer and producer in Hindi cinema and a few Telugu and Tamil films.
Early life
He is the son of veteran writer Inder Raj Anand, brother of producer Bittu An ...
) – Sanvla is murdered by the now promoted Inspector Chewte and when Ram Jaane attempts to kill Chewte, he is again put in jail and brutally assaulted. When released from prison, Ram Jaane is taken by Murli (
Vivek Mushran
Vivek Mushran (born 9 August 1969) is an Indian actor.
Career
After leaving Sherwood College, Nainital, he started his career in 1991 with the blockbuster Hindi movie '' Saudagar'' and has appeared in many other movies, including Ram Jaane, th ...
) to "Apna Ghar", a home set up for the homeless – Murli believes that this is the best way to reform him, it is here where Ram Jaane is reunited with his childhood friend Bela (
Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla (born 13 November 1967) is an Indian actress, film producer and entrepreneur. She established herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. Recognised for her comic timing and v ...
), whom he is in love with.
However, even in Apna Ghar, Ram Jaane still remains a criminal and even manages to influence the children in the house to follow in his footsteps. Apna Ghar is soon targeted by Baweja (G.P. Singh), who encourages his gang to attack Apna Ghar and all its residents, which Ram Jaane is able to stop. Ram Jaane is then seen shooting Baweja in the head. Chewte learns of Baweja's death and is determined to have his murderer put in prison – he approaches Apna Ghar and starts beating one of the children, which leads to Murli and the others attacking Chewte and his fellow officers. In the riot, one child gets killed. Murli blames Ram Jaane for this tragedy and Ram Jaane runs away, he attempts to make Bela run away with him (as he believes she loves him), but she refuses. Bela is, in fact, in love with Murli – Murli realized this all along and reciprocated her feelings, but did not show it as he realized that Ram Jaane also loved her. Murli begs Bela to attempt to reform Ram Jaane. However, whilst trying to reform him, Bela begins to dislike him for his criminal ways. Bhau (
Gulshan Grover
Gulshan Grover (born 21 September 1955) is an Indian actor and producer who has appeared in over 100 films. He is popularly known as the "Bad Man" of Bollywood because of his ability to create an impact with his negative roles in films.
Early ...
), Ram Jaane's rival and Technicolour (
Pankaj Kapur
Pankaj Kapur (born 29 May 1954) is an Indian actor who has worked in Hindi theatre, television and films. He has appeared in several television serials and films. He is the recipient of several awards, including a Filmfare Award and three Nati ...
), Ram Jaane's former partner in crime hatch a plot to kill Ram Jaane – when he hears of their plan, he kills them both and then rushes to Apna Ghar to stop their henchmen from killing anyone. Eventually, Chewte arrives but is shot by Ram Jaane.
Ram Jaane is taken to court where he confesses to all of his sins – the court decides that he must be sentenced to death. The boys of Apna Ghar are in awe of Ram Jaane, as he plans to "die with a smile." The boys think this is courageous and plan to follow in his criminal footsteps. Murli pleads with Ram Jaane not to die bravely, so the boys won't want to follow his path, but Ram Jaane refuses. On the day of his death, with Murli and the boys watching, Ram Jaane feigns fear, crying and pleading for his life. One by one, the boys remove their red headbands, the symbol of being members of Ram Jaane's gang. After his death, Bela and Murli read a letter from Ram Jaane to Bela, which states that he feels guilty for everything he had done and that he had planned intentionally for Bela to leave him and to go back to Murli.
Cast
*
Shahrukh Khan
Shah Rukh Khan (; born 2 November 1965), also known by the initialism SRK, is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. Referred to in the media as the " Baadshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood" ...
as Ram Jaane
*
Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla (born 13 November 1967) is an Indian actress, film producer and entrepreneur. She established herself as one of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema from the late 1980s through the early 2000s. Recognised for her comic timing and v ...
as Bela
*
Vivek Mushran
Vivek Mushran (born 9 August 1969) is an Indian actor.
Career
After leaving Sherwood College, Nainital, he started his career in 1991 with the blockbuster Hindi movie '' Saudagar'' and has appeared in many other movies, including Ram Jaane, th ...
as Murli
*
Pankaj Kapur
Pankaj Kapur (born 29 May 1954) is an Indian actor who has worked in Hindi theatre, television and films. He has appeared in several television serials and films. He is the recipient of several awards, including a Filmfare Award and three Nati ...
as Pannu Technicolor
*
Puneet Issar
Puneet Issar (born 6 November 1959) is an Indian actor, writer, director, producer and dialect coach best known for his works in Hindi films and television shows. Issar started his acting career as a villain in the Manmohan Desai's 1983 film ' ...
as Inspector Chewte
*
Tinnu Anand
Tinu Anand (born Virender Raj Anand, 12 October 1945) is an Indian actor, director, writer and producer in Hindi cinema and a few Telugu and Tamil films.
Early life
He is the son of veteran writer Inder Raj Anand, brother of producer Bittu An ...
as Sameer Sanwla
*
Deven Verma
Deven Verma (23 October 1937 – 2 December 2014) was an Indian film and television actor, particularly known for his comic roles, with Bollywood directors like Basu Chatterji, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Gulzar. He also produced and directed fi ...
as Daddu Uncle
*
Gulshan Grover
Gulshan Grover (born 21 September 1955) is an Indian actor and producer who has appeared in over 100 films. He is popularly known as the "Bad Man" of Bollywood because of his ability to create an impact with his negative roles in films.
Early ...
as Bhau
*
G.P Singh as Baweja Builder
*
Arun Bali
Arun Bali (23 December 1942 – 7 October 2022) was an Indian actor who has worked in numerous films and television series. He played the part of King Porus in the 1991 period drama ''Chanakya'', Kunwar Singh in the Doordarshan soap opera '' ...
as Paowala Baba
*
Amritpal as Mirchi
*
Chandu Parkhi as Drunkyard
*
Brownie Parasher as Amar
*
Ali Asgar as Junior Pannu
*
Javed Rizvi as Sabir (Sargam Gang)
Soundtrack
The music is composed by
Anu Malik
Anwar Sardar "Anu" Malik (born 2 November 1960) is an Indian music composer, singer, music arranger and score composer. He is an Indian National Award and Filmfare Award winning musician, who primarily composes music for the Hindi film indus ...
and the songs are written by
Anand Bakshi. The soundtrack is on PolyGram (now
Universal Music India
Universal Music India Pvt. Ltd. (UMI) was launched in 1999; it is a part of the Universal Music Group, an American-based, Dutch-listed multinational music corporation. Universal Music India is registered with the Indian Music Industry, a tru ...
). Upon release, "Raam Jaane" and "Phenk Hawa Me" became popular.
Box office
''Ram Jaane'' grossed in India and $200,000 (69.50
lakh) in other countries, for a worldwide total of , against its budget. It had a worldwide opening weekend of , and grossed in its first week.
India
It opened on Thursday, 30 November 1995, across 175 screens, along with ''
Akele Hum Akele Tum
''Akele Hum Akele Tum'' (I'm Alone, You Are Alone) is a 1995 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film starring Aamir Khan, Manisha Koirala and Master Adil, and directed by Mansoor Khan. The music is by Anu Malik and the lyrics are by Majrooh ...
'', starring ''
Aamir Khan
Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan (; born 14 March 1965) is an Indian actor, film director and producer who works in Hindi films. Through his career spanning over 30 years, Khan has established himself as one of the most notable actors of Indian ci ...
''. It earned nett on its opening day, and grossed nett in its opening weekend. It had a first week of nett, and grossed nett and nett in its second and third week respectively. The film earned a total of net. This is the only time when the films of Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan clashed at the box office. ''Ram Jaane'' was ahead from day one and remained there through the run, earning a "Hit" verdict by ''
Box Office India
Box Office India is an Indian film website. Its traffic ranking in India is 83,665 . A new Box Office India website went live on 20 January 2014.
About
Box Office India was launched on 10 June 2003. Its uses Whois privacy to anonymize its ow ...
'', while ''Akele Hum Akele Tum'' was declared a "Flop".
It remains one the fan favourites of Shah Rukh Khan's films and his acting was appreciated in it.
Overseas
''Ram Jaane'' also managed to fare better overseas, despite ''Akele Hum Akele Tum'' having the more overseas friendly genre. It earned a total of $200,000 (69.50
lakh) outside India.
References
External links
*{{IMDb title, id=0114231
1995 films
1990s Hindi-language films
1990s action films
1995 crime drama films
Films scored by Anu Malik
Indian remakes of American films