Ram Jaane (1995)

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Surprisingly, it's become one of my favorites. Yes, it's really quite uneven and over-the-top in places but it has this very human core and philosophy that won me over... I cried quite a bit. Ram Jaane is not afraid of death... at all. And that's why he evokes so much pity.I thought Shahrukh really shined in this one. I too thought at first that he was overacting, but really, it's the character. He's supposed to be like this... Quite unhinged... a bit loud, a bit over-the-top and all over the place. But also carefree, simple, lovable, soft and smiling. And why not? Why always think in stereotypes based on Hollywood films that such a character should be more restrained and cool? I thought SRK created a really unique and memorable character. As he always does. All his "baddies" are different. Watch "Josh" for the "cool" one.Ram Jaane is a whole other story... SRK was plain brilliant in some scenes... many scenes. For example, the one where he learns that Bela loves Murli and not him, and asks Bela what it is that Murli has and he doesn't, and turns away hiding tears.Juhi is very beautiful and charming as usual. Since I've recently watched quite a few of her and SRK's films and really loved them ("Yes Boss" being the favorite), Juhi is fast becoming one of my favorite actresses, along with Rani, Kajol and Madhuri.Vivek Mushran as Murli was perfect. I really liked his character.And last but not least -- the music is great. I listen to the songs quite often and like them all: Ram Jaane, Chori Chori Chal O Gori, Ala la la long Pehla Love Song, and Phenk Hawa Ek Chumma Mein. They may not seem great at first but after a listening to them a few times they really grew on me.All in all, technically speaking, this film is not a masterpiece but since it's really endeared itself to my heart, I'd give it 9/10. For SRK's acting, for the story, for the music, and for the scorching chemistry with Juhi. I'd choose this over many SRK hits that are better known, like Don or Kal Ho Naa Ho or Mohabbatein or Dil To Pagal Hai or whatever.

It wasn't until the very end of Ram-Janne that I realized I was watching an homage to the 1938 "Angels With Dirty Faces" with James Cagney. If you can hold out that long, the final 15-20 minutes of the film is worth the wait. Until then, this is pretty typical masala fare with Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla dancing their way off to exotic locales not remotely related to the movie. It's those musical interludes -- and a few comical moments during "Ramjanne's" childhood -- that make the majority of the first half of the movie bearable. As much as I love Juhi, her character was a cardboard cutout in most scenes, Vivek Mushran's "Murli" (the alter ego of Pat O'Brien's "Father Jerry Connely" in "Angels") was less saintly than saccharine, and Pankaj Kapur as "Pannu Technicolor" was just plain annoying. Even Shah Rukh's version of Cagney's "Rocky Sullivan" (the title character, "Ram-Janne") couldn't prop this film up most of the way through.But the film's final scenes vindicate the patient viewer. Yes, it's still Bollywood at its melodramatic best. But the same elements that made "Angels" the classic it is are all in place for the big finish. And perhaps Ram-Janne -- being a masala film -- lends itself even better to this denouement than did its predecessor.Because it's this kind of scene that Bollywood does better than anyone else. Seeing SRK begging for his life on the way to the gallows is somehow more believable than watching Cagney blubbering in fear on his way to the electric chair. And give credit to F.C. Mehra for at least choosing to remake a film that's not been (re)done to death.A remake -- by definition -- will never change the course of cinematic history. But if you have an evening to spare, there are far worse choices you could make.

Ram Jaane is a Bollywood attemp in the gangster genre. Does it succeed in entertainment and is it worth the watch. The answer is YES, and this is only because of Shah Rukh Khans performance. Ram Jaane (Shah rukh khan) is about a orphan who is dumped in the bin and grows up to be a street wise smart gangster. Once Ram Jaane becomes a gangster, there is no proper plot. Its Ram Jaane and his way of life. Shah rukh Khan delivers a Great Performance. Why doesn't he make more of this kind of role. The movie also stars the very sexy Juhi Chawla in a decent role. The other actor is Vivek Mushram who is long gone and forgotten. Pankaj Kapoor is amusing as the Funny Gangster. This movie is absolutely entertaining. The Ram Jaane character is so amusing, his style and way of speaking is madness. If you like action movies and Shah Rukh Khan. It is worth the watch.

I remember how excited I was to see Ram Jaane, I was thinking to myself "This movie is definitely going to rock like all of Shahrukh and Juhi's other films; I can't wait to see it!" But I was WRONG... Ram Jaane ended up falling way below my expectations. The story itself isn't really that exciting or on the other hand that boring, you could say it's about average.Also, Shahrukh and Juhi weren't even together at all in this film! I know that SRK was in love with Juhi in Ram Jaane, but she was interested in some other guy which practically took out all the fun of the film itself! As for the acting, I'd have to say that Shahrukh had done a fabulous job playing his role and Juhi did a fairly good job at playing the role of Bela.I, myself as a fan of Shahrukh-Juhi was really disappointed after watching Ram Jaane and I know that many of the other SRK-Juhi fans were let down as well.All in all, Ram Jaane deserved a 4/10!