Hey Ram (2000)

Wonderful character development!

Nice effects though.

Disapointment

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

I hesitate to call this a great film, because it has too many flaws (I was particularly annoyed by the "old Saketh Ram" scenes). Nor is it a film I yearn to see again, like many other films. So, why a 10 -- a rating, I've only given to 4 other films?Because, more than a dozen years after I first saw it, it remains the most powerful and thought-provoking film I have seen. For answering two questions I had, and also for its powerful transformation. First the questions:I had always wondered when I read about riots and seemingly common people going berserk and killing people from another religion, "how could someone kill an innocent person just because they were Sikh/ Muslim / Hindu?" In dialogues with friends, it was easy to pass that away with "It is the uneducated, poor, dis-satisfied -- led by a bunch of thugs," and remain comfortable with the knowledge, "That could never happen to me."This movie shows with amazing clarity how a normal peace-loving academic, with no communal feelings, can turn into a killing machine, dispatching Muslims without a shred of remorse. Powerful scenes with the slaughter of the protagonist's wife and his subsequent conversion to avenging angel...The second question I had -- I am an unabashed Gandhi-phile, rating him the greatest human that ever lived -- is how could a Hindu want to kill Gandhi? Again, this movie brilliantly depicts how a section of society could fixate on Gandhi as the root of all of India's ills, and determine that his execution was the solution to India's ills. These aren't raving lunatics plotting to kill Gandhi, but patriots -- misguided surely, but patriots in their own minds -- who are willing to kill Gandhi for the good of the nation. Saketh's conversion to the self- appointed assassin is totally believable.Finally, apparently a lot of people were upset that this film showed anti-Gandhi sentiments (apparently the irony of stoning theaters to protest a film seemingly disparaging the Apostle of Nonviolence was lost on the protesters). Here is where, I disagree, and the single reason why this film lingers in my mind. (Spoilers follow:)THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST PRO-GANDHI FILM EVER MADE. Yes, even more than Attenborough's deification of the Mahatma.Yes, the first 99% of the film is profoundly anti-Gandhi, but at the very end of the film, when Saket Ram repents and goes to seek Gandhi's forgiveness transforms this film completely. Because Saketh Ram's change of heart is driven not by Gandhi himself, but the actions of Amjad Khan (Shahrukh Khan in one of his best roles), Saketh's friend, and a true Gandhian. And that transformation is so powerful and authentic, that the film remains fresh in my mind today -- can't wait to see it with my children. And for that reason, flaws and all, I give it a 10.

Kamal Hassan, one of the most popular & talented actors from South started his directorial debut with the funny & entertaining 'Chachi 420' where Hassan mastered the role of an old woman with ease. After a rib- tickling endeavour, Kamal Hassan grabbed the reigns to direct a powerful film of a completely new genre, 'Hey Ram' a film which displayed the communal instability in India post Independence in 1947. The words breathed last by the great leader of our country, Mahatma Gandhi itself reveals the fact that the film is based on a semi-fictional plot involved in the assassination of Gandhi. Gathering an ensemble cast from Bollywood, Hassan made it a point to make a very commercial approach to the film. The film starred Kamal Hassan as the protagonist while Bollywood actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee, Hema Malini, Naseeruddin Shah & Om Puri handled small but significant roles. The film commences on 6th December 1999 which marked the 7th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition which invited communal riots between Hindus & Muslims. On this date, in a dark dingy room lay 89-year old Saket Ram on his death bed with his grandson by his side. The film time- travels to the era of 1940's where Pakistan & India where being partitioned and that was the reason why two best friends Saket Ram (Kamal) & Amjad Ali Khan (Shah Rukh), who were archaeologists working for a British named Wheeler were told to stop their work & return back to their respective homes. Saket Ram returns back to Calcutta to his Bengali wife, Aparna (Rani) but tragedy follows after him as Aparna gets sexually assaulted & killed by Muslim extremists in the locality. A distraught & enraged Saket Ram meets Abhyankar, a revolutionary who convinces Ram that Mahatma Gandhi is solely responsible for this bloodbath. Succumbed to family pressure, Saket Ram marries a teenager Maithili (Vasundhara Das). The film displays some intimate scenes between Saket & Maithili. The scenes are so detailed that you find yourself astonished as why Censor Board did not intervene with their snipping tool.The film revolves entirely around Saket Ram's life as he collaborates with Abhyankar and Maharaja and offers to help them in the plot to assassinate Gandhi. Shah Rukh Khan as Amjad Ali Khan is entirely used as a commercial weapon by Kamal Hassan as inspite of having just 30 minutes in the film; SRK has successfully managed to uplift the standard of the film. He plays a Muslim Pathan who rescues Saket Ram who gets trapped in the communal riots in curfew-struck Muslim community in Delhi. The film indeed deserved more of Shah Rukh Khan's exquisite display of acting skills as his inclusion in Hey Ram poster must have promised the viewers a parallel role alongside Kamal. The film has some really advanced & subtle effects, the film although shot in 2000 makes you feel as if the film is shot in the early 60's. The 1999 India scenario is showcased in black & white to distinguish it well with the cinematic representation of happenings in past. Hey Ram is powerful as it deals efficiently with universal & contemporary themes set in the post-Independence India. Thanks to Kamal's creative mind & brilliance put into the film, film was chosen as India's official entry to Oscars to be considered as nomination in Best Foreign Film of the year. Hey Ram is story of fictional character whose life gets turned up-side down because of some real life incidents in 1940's that have changed the course of history. The film concludes admirably in a poignant mannerPeople having a fine taste for art films, Hey Ram will give you one of the best cinematic experiences of your life.

A semi-fictional tale of Saket Ram (Kamal Hassan) who in flashback remembers India of 1940s where he and his pal Amjad Ali Khan (Shahrukh khan) work as archaeologists trying to uncover Harappa civilization. Ignoring the political happenings around they try to stay happy among their lives as they soon realize their life is much different as Saket Ram goes to Calcutta to be with his wife and soon discovers himself becoming part of the riots as he comes to terms with Abhyankar (Atul Kulkarni), a Hindu militant after his wife (Rani Mukherjee) is raped and brutally murdered by Muslims in the midst of chaos. Saket Ram is unable to come to terms that life moves on even after remarrying and holds MK Gandhi responsible for his wife's murder and division of India. He develops a strong hatred against Gandhi Ji and decides to assassinate him and is unable to cope with his work and his new married life. Many events like offering grant to Pak by India after division and invasion of Kashmir by Pak happens side by side that leads to more and more hatred among Hindu militants and Saket Ram against MK Gandhi. Then happens re-union of the archaeological friends when their life and perspective have utterly been changed regarding political and social scenario surrounding them. And the end that is the real soul of he movie that you can't afford to miss as it grips you to the edge of the seat and gives fair idea regarding different views among different people. I would like to say that this CONTROVERSIAL Indian movie is slow but of International standard made from heart by one of the most versatile artists Kamal Hassan challenging the belief regarding the last words "Hey Ram" said by Gandhi Ji as depicted in Ben Kingsley's Gandhi movie and moreover screenplay and portrayal of characters of that time seems so actual that you can't get away from your seat.MY RATING: 8/10

worth watching, Kamal at his best as usual. The movie depicts almost the real happenings of the Hindu-Muslim riot during independence, and culminating with the murder of Gandhi. The movie was the target of vandalism by various political parties because of its content. Still it stood test of time and could be treated as one of the finest movies of him. Rani got a good focus in this movie, and ultimately helped her to bag a number of movies in the future. She is now one of the leading actress in Indian cinema. Kamal always come up with innovating cinema like this one. Anybody who is interested in Indian cinema can see this movie.