Hey Ram (2000)

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Before I discuss the film in depth, I want to talk about the distributor of this DVD--Eros Video. Despite the name, it is not a pornographic film company. But, I am less than impressed by their practice of forcing ads upon the viewer. When the DVD begins, it forces you to watch previews (you cannot hit the menu button to skip them). Then, AFTER you finally push the DVD button to begin the feature, it forces you to watch another ad! This is the only company I know which does this. They also do something else which is terribly annoying--they don't bother to caption the songs sung throughout the film! Come on Eros, are you deliberately trying to get potential customers to deliberately avoid your releases and look for other Indian films to watch instead?! I know that because there are thousands and thousands of Indian films out there, I sure will look for those from other companies first.The story is told as a giant flashback by Saketh Ram (Kamal Hassan) and is set in 1946--just a year before India became independent of the United Kingdom. While many in the West may not realize it, this was a VERY scary time in India, as partition into East and West Pakistan and India would help to bring a lot of suppressed hatred between Hindus and Muslims to the surface--and countless people (at least in the hundreds of thousands) would die in sectarian violence. Many more would be forced to immigrate because of this violence.Ram adores his new wife--so much so that his friends think he's a bit henpecked and make fun of him. When, in the midst of the violence that is overtaking his city, he sees a woman being attacked by a crowd he rescues her--but, as the expression goes, no good deed goes unpunished! Later, a crowd of Muslims storms his home--raping and murdering his wife! Not surprisingly, he now hates Muslims and joins a group of extremists--determined to kill as many of 'them' as he possibly can. However, he and his new 'friends' come to hate one person more than anyone else...Gandhi. Although a Hindu, Gandhi calls for peace and forgiveness--which enrages these radicals and he is their number one target....and Ram is their chosen instrument of revenge.You probably noticed my summary in which I called this a fine but brutal film. Now the brutality certainly is necessary--this film is about a very, very violent time in India and I think everyone should know more about this period in history. But it is NOT a film for the young. While it doesn't show the rape occurring (thank God), it has quite a few scenes of shocking brutality. You can't help but flinch at several scenes--I know I did. Plus, this DID make the movie more realistic and hard-hitting---so have some Kleenex nearby just in case. And what is to like about the movie? Well, a lot...that's for sure. To me one of the best things about the film was choosing Kamal Hassan for the lead. He not only did a good job but looked so ordinary--not the larger than life sexy leading man. This 'ordinariness' of Ram and his wife as well made the film much easier to connect with and appreciate. I also liked the story....with one minor exception. Although the film is told through flashbacks, sometimes you can't tell when it's in the 1940s or the present--and that is a tad confusing--as are some of the surreal dreams. But, these are minor complaints, as the overall film is entertaining, touching and informative.For another film about the same period, though told from a different viewpoint, try also watching Deepa Metha's "Fire". I don't think the film is superior to "Hey Ram"--just different and quite touching.

Hey Ram was released on 18.02.2000 but its theme is as relevant today as it was on that day and even decades back from that day. Made by one of the most talented as well as the most dedicated cine-artists of India - Kamal Hassan, this movie takes on the misunderstandings spread in certain sections of the society regarding the great man for whom Albert Einstein had asserted - "Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth." Producer-cum-writer-cum-director-cum-hero of this movie - Kamal Hassan imagined that during that period of the late forties (in which the story has been set), there were many people who misunderstood Gandhi Ji and considered him responsible for the partition of the nation as well as the plight of the Hindus in the hands of the Muslim rioters. One such person was Naathu Ram Godse who succeeded in murdering him and another such person (as per the imagination of the filmmaker) was Saaket Ram who wanted to murder him but before he could do that, this act got executed by Naathu Ram Godse.The story goes like this - Saaket Ram (Kamal Hassan) is a well-educated Tamilian Brahmin who works in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and has married a Bengali girl - Aparna (Rani Mukherji). After the 'Direct Action' call of Mohammed Ali Zinnah on 16.08.1946 and around the partition of the nation on 15.08.1947, the Muslim majority areas of Punjab and Bengal are taken to ransom by the rioters who go on rampage - looting, raping and killing the hapless Hindus who are in less numbers in their areas, getting full support from the biased administration and the police. And our hero - Saaket Ram becomes a victim of these unfortunate times when his Muslim servant (Shaadab Khan) betrays him and ushers the rioters to his house. The rioters rape and kill Aparna and are about to kill Saaket Ram too when he (in these most difficult moments of his life) uses his wit to fool the rioters and save his life first, only to seek revenge from the perpetrators of that heinous crime afterwards.The burden of grief and the fire of vengeance overpowers the wisdom of Saaket Ram who has hitherto been truly a humanist only and he starts roaming about the streets killing the Muslims. However he comes across a hardcore Hindu fanatic - Shriram Abhyankar (Atul Kulkarni) who not only fuels further the destroying fire in Saaket Ram but also makes him believe that this plight of the Hindus is due to the wrong policies and practices of Gandhi Ji who should be killed. And Abhyankar only brings him to certain people thinking on the same lines the most prominent of whom is a ruler of a princely state (Vikram Gokhle).Meantime, Saaket Ram has remarried. His new bride is a Tamilian girl - Mythili Iyengar (Vasundhara Daas). However neither Saaket Ram has forgotten the heart-piercing dishonour and killing of his first wife, i.e., Aparna nor has he abandoned his decision to kill Gandhi Ji. He reaches Delhi to murder Gandhi Ji. Ironically his stay takes place at the residence of his old Muslim friend - Amjad Ali Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) who lives with his wife - Nafeesa (Iravati Harshe) and two kids. Just one day before the D Day (for Gandhi Ji's murder), a riot breaks out in the locality and Amjad dies in the crossfire, saving the life of his friend, i.e., Saaket Ram. Saaket Ram who has never been a fanatic in his life prior to unfortunate happenings to him, is now in a fix whether whatever he's going to do is correct or not. He approaches the spot where Gandhi Ji is heading for a prayer meeting but before he could decide in favour or against of killing him, Naathu Ram Godse shoots the great man from a point blank range and he dies uttering - 'Hey Ram' leaving Saaket Ram behind to repent for the rest of his life and go for penitence.Kamal Hassan has undertaken many responsibilities in this movie and as a producer-director he has made a gigantic effort in bringing that period alive on the screen. His imagination has been ably supported by the art director and the cinematographer and while watching the movie on the big screen, I got a feeling of passing through that turbulent era. A great effort indeed ! But ! Something is deeply missing here. And it's the soul of the story. Kamal Hassan's narcissistic attitude and self-indulgence have been responsible for the marring of this movie. He has kept himself in almost every frame and overpowered all the other characters. And this has skewed the movie in the negative direction. This is a movie made with a pious intention but it would have been much better had Kamal Hassan assigned the responsibility of directing it to some other capable director.Since Kamal Hassan himself has prevailed in the complete movie, he had to do well in the lead role and he has done it. All others (including he actors of the calibre of Hema Malini, Girish Karnaad and Shah Rukh Khan) have not been given any scope by him. However Atul Kulkarni has left impact in this debut movie of his and he won the national award for the Best Supporting Actor for his role.Hey Ram is a technically very superior movie and it was India's entry to the Oscars for the year 2000. However I wish that Kamal Hassan had restricted himself a bit and converted this movie into a masterpiece which it truly deserves to be.

I would of given this film a zero out of ten, but i will give it a two. Reason One is that Shah Rukh Khan appears in the film, which is not really a reason. Last Point is that Rani Appears in this film and does a smooch with Kamal. I Love Rani very much and have a respect that she is a great actress. Which is why i didn't enjoy her in this movie kissing Kamal, but its no big deal. Anyway enough of the bedroom scenes that made this film noticeable, lets actually talk about this film. Is it good or bad, I think its a completely rubbish movie that made me yawn. Me being a Fantastic critic, you can see my other 250+ review's by clicking on my name, I have great taste. The movie is not entertaining is one thing and if this is suppose to be hard hitting cinema, why is there no morale in this movie. Its a biased movie thats not a true story and it stinks. Watching Kamal kissing these actresses makes me sick, Man cant kiss properly anyway.

its a real good one.!! a reality show telling viewer what makes a human worse than a cruel and mad animal..and then again shows that still humanity is live like always.. and why our world is best place to live...certainly because our goodwill.. A reality show,fully mature and a search for the truth.its a great story telling with even greater acting by all its characters. it may some time make you think that path of gandhiji was not right,but eventually just like the hero knees down you would think that whatever Mr. Gandhi had in his hand he did his best. thanks to Mr. kamal haasan for his i think best Hindi movie and one of my best one too.. and finally i got it worthy enough to give it 9.9 out of 10.