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{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Ghulam
| name = Ghulam
| image = Ghulam(Movie) Poster.jpg
| image = Ghulam (1998 film).jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Vikram Bhatt]]
| director = [[Vikram Bhatt]]
| producer = [[Mukesh Bhatt]]
| producer = [[Mukesh Bhatt]]
Line 11: Line 11:
| story = [[Budd Schulberg]] (adapted screenplay)
| story = [[Budd Schulberg]] (adapted screenplay)
| based_on = ''[[On the Waterfront]]'' (1954)
| based_on = ''[[On the Waterfront]]'' (1954)
| starring = {{ubl|[[Aamir Khan]]|[[Rani Mukherji]]}}
| starring = {{ubl|[[Aamir Khan]]|[[Rani Mukerji]]}}
| music = '''Songs:'''<br>[[Jatin–Lalit]]<br>'''Background score:'''<br>Amar Haldipur
| music = '''Songs:'''<br>[[Jatin–Lalit]]<br>'''Background score:'''<br>Amar Haldipur
| cinematography = [[Teja (film director)|Teja]]
| cinematography = [[Teja (film director)|Teja]]
| editing = Waman Bhonsle
| editing = Waman Bhonsle
| distributor = [[Vishesh Films]]
| distributor = [[Vishesh Films]]
| released = 19 June 1998
| released = {{Film date|1998|06|19|df=yes}}
| runtime = 162 minutes
| runtime = 162 minutes
| country = India
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| language = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| budget = {{INR|72}} million<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2557|title=Ghulam - Movie - Box Office India|website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}</ref>
| budget = {{INR|72}} million<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2557|title=Ghulam - Movie - Box Office India|website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}</ref>
| gross = {{INR|242}} million<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2557|title=Ghulam - Movie - Box Office India|website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}</ref>
| gross = {{INR|242}} million<ref name="boxofficeindia.com"/>
}}
}}


'''''Ghulam''''' ({{translation|''Slave''}}) is a 1998 Indian [[Hindi-language]] [[action film|action]] film, directed by [[Vikram Bhatt]], and starring [[Aamir Khan]] and [[Rani Mukherjee|Rani Mukherji]] in lead roles. The plot of the film is similar to [[Vishesh Films]]' first production ''[[Kabzaa]]'' (1988), starring [[Sanjay Dutt]], in turn inspired by [[Elia Kazan]]'s ''[[On the Waterfront]]'' (1954).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090524/jsp/7days/story_11011453.jsp |title=The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) &#124; 7days &#124; No ripoffs, please |access-date=11 March 2018 |archive-date=6 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806085246/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090524/jsp/7days/story_11011453.jsp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/19copy.htm|title=Whose movie is it anyway?|website=www.rediff.com}}</ref>
'''''Ghulam''''' ({{translation|''Slave''}}) is a 1998 Indian [[Hindi-language]] [[action film]], directed by [[Vikram Bhatt]], and starring [[Aamir Khan]] and [[Rani Mukerji]] in lead roles. The plot of the film is similar to [[Vishesh Films]]' first production ''[[Kabzaa]]'' (1988), starring [[Sanjay Dutt]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=63638==|title=Kabzaa Remake|website=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref> in turn inspired by [[Elia Kazan]]'s ''[[On the Waterfront]]'' (1954; itself inspired by "Crime on the Waterfront" by [[Malcolm Johnson (journalist)|Malcolm Johnson]], a series of November–December 1948 articles published in the ''[[The New York Sun (historical)|New York Sun]]'').<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090524/jsp/7days/story_11011453.jsp |title=The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) &#124; 7days &#124; No ripoffs, please |access-date=11 March 2018 |archive-date=6 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806085246/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1090524/jsp/7days/story_11011453.jsp |url-status=dead }}</ref>


''Ghulam'' released on 19 June 1998, and was a commercial success at the box office.<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2557|title=Ghulam - Movie - Box Office India|website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}</ref>
''Ghulam'' released on 19 June 1998, and was a commercial success at the box office.<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2557|title=Ghulam - Movie - Box Office India|website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}</ref>


At the [[44th Filmfare Awards]], ''Ghulam'' received 6 nominations, including [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]] (Bhatt) and [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] (Khan), and won [[Filmfare Award for Best Scene of the Year|Best Scene of the Year]]. The film was remade in Tamil in 2000 as ''[[Sudhandhiram]]''.
At the [[44th Filmfare Awards]], ''Ghulam'' received 6 nominations, including [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]], [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]] (Bhatt) and [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] (Khan), and won [[Filmfare Award for Best Scene of the Year|Best Scene of the Year]]. The film was remade in Tamil in 2000 as ''[[Sudhandhiram]]''.


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Siddharth "Siddhu" Marathe, a boxing champion from Mumbai, lives an aimless life, overshadowed by his older brother Jai, the right-hand man of local gangster Raunak "Ronnie" Singh. Siddhu befriends and falls in love with Alisha, unaware that her brother, Hari, a principled social worker, opposes Ronnie's reign of terror. When Siddhu unwittingly lures Hari into a fatal ambush orchestrated by Ronnie, he is overcome with guilt but initially refuses to testify against Ronnie due to his loyalty to Jai.
{{Long plot |date=April 2015}}
Siddharth "Siddhu" Marathe is a Mumbai tapori, a boxing champion. His brother, Jai Marathe, is the manager and right-hand man for Raunak "Ronnie" Singh, a former boxing champion who ostensibly runs a travel agency, but in reality rules the local community by terrorising people and stealing money from innocent merchants. Other than his boxing practice, Siddhu leads a relatively aimless and wanderlust life. In his spare time, he hangs out with friends, occasionally stealing money from rich people. Siddhu is financially dependent on his elder brother Jai, who lives in Raunak Singh's house, but occasionally visits Siddhu and tops up his finances.


After losing a boxing match on Jai's orders to protect Ronnie's illegal activities, Siddhu confronts his family's history of cowardice and resolves to fight injustice. Despite personal and emotional losses, including a breakup with Alisha and Jai's eventual murder by Ronnie, Siddhu testifies in court against Ronnie.
The opening scene features a female lawyer Fatima Madam defending Siddhu in court against accusations of small-time theft. The lawyer tries to convince the judge to show leniency towards Siddhu on account of his disadvantaged background as an orphan. The judge points out that Siddhu has already been shown leniency four times, and is greeted with laughter by everybody, including Siddhu. In the commotion, Siddhu steals Rs. 400 from his own lawyer's purse. Siddhu is let free. Later, when he asks the lawyer what her fees are, she asks him for a fee of Rs. 400, and he is thus forced to part with the money he has just stolen. The lawyer gives no indication of awareness that Siddhu had stolen an equal amount of money. Later, Siddhu, while joking around with friends, gets angry when one of his friends suggests that the lawyer may be receiving sexual favours from Siddhu in exchange for defending him in court.


Siddhu challenges Ronnie to a public boxing duel, defeating him and inspiring the local community to stand against Ronnie's tyranny. The collective resistance forces Ronnie and his gang to flee, signaling the community's empowerment and Siddhu's transformation into a courageous leader.
A few days later, Raunak Singh hires Siddhu to deliver a letter to a local cricket player, and to beat up the player if he shows signs of resisting. Unknown to Siddhu, the letter contains instructions to the player to get out after scoring a certain number of runs, so that Ronnie can win a bet. Siddhu delivers the letter and intimidates the cricket player into agreeing to follow the instructions, breaking the player's bat in the process. Later, while returning, he gets into a motorcycle speed race with a motorcycle gang led by Charlie, which escalates into a [[game of dares|dare game]] to run towards a moving train at night. Siddhu beats Charlie's past record in the game. Charlie chooses to run again, but falls on the train tracks, and seems to be headed for death as the train approaches him. Siddhu rescues Charlie at considerable personal risk. In the process, Siddhu becomes friends with Alisha, also part of the gang, and their friendship blossoms into love. The famous song ''[[Aati Kya Khandala]]'' is situated during this period, when Siddhu is trying to cheer Alisha up after a fight with her father.

It is revealed that Siddhu saw his own father's death when he was a child, which mentally affected him throughout his life.

Back in his local community, Siddhu witnesses an incident of some of Ronnie's men beating up a local restaurateur for not paying extortion money to Ronnie's gang. The restaurateur runs for his life as Ronnie's men chase him, but none of the other community people come to his aid. Harihar Mafatlal, a social worker, coaxes a police constable to stop the fight. The restaurateur and his two assailants land up on the roof where Siddhu is doing boxing practice, with Hari and the constable following. The constable breaks up the fight and scolds the restaurateur, and Hari is angry at the constable for [[blaming the victim]]. The assailants left, greeting Siddhu on the way out. Siddhu offers some water to the restaurateur and introduces himself to Hari, suggesting to both to avoid getting on the wrong side of Ronnie. Hari speaks of principle and self-respect, and Siddhu is reminded of things that his father told him long ago.

Ronnie is furious to hear about this and wishes to kill the restaurateur and Hari immediately. Ronnie explains the logic of terror to his henchmen: if even a few people stop acceding to his demands, then that will instill rebelliousness against Ronnie's demands in others. Fear is essential for the kind of respect Ronnie enjoys, and being lenient against a few people who stand up to him based on a short-term [[cost–benefit analysis]] will have long-term negative consequences for Ronnie. Jai, however, dissuades Ronnie from taking rash action. In the process, it is revealed that Jai and Ronnie are in the process of bribing politicians and government officials to make Ronnie the owner of a large construction project.

Hari later canvasses some villagers together, trying to get one of them to sign a complaint against Ronnie that can be filed with the police so that official action can be taken against him. Siddhu attends the meeting at Jai's request but does not inform Jai or Ronnie about it immediately. Instead, Siddhu offers Hari a friendly warning to [[cease and desist]] these activities. During the conversation that ensues, Siddhu says that his own motto in life is simple: live and let live. Hari reveals the principle guiding his own actions: whenever he sees himself in the mirror, he should not feel ashamed of what he sees.

Ronnie nonetheless learns of the events during the meeting and is angry. He tells Siddhu to arrange a meeting between Hari and himself (Ronnie) so that Ronnie can dissuade Hari from these activities. Siddhu agrees, and calls Hari over to a bridge, on the pretext that he himself (Siddhu) needs to talk to Hari. Hari arrives at the bridge, expecting to meet Siddhu. Ronnie arrives along with his men, beats up Hari, and throws him from the bridge after which he is crushed under a moving train. Siddhu is furious at Jai and Ronnie and attacks Ronnie physically, but Ronnie's men control him, and he is allowed to go on account of the fact that he is Jai's brother and he was the one who managed to inadvertently help Ronnie kill Hari. Siddhu, returning home, cannot bear the sight of himself in the mirror, and breaks it. It is also revealed that Hari was the brother of Alisha (Siddhu's romantic interest), something Siddhu had been unaware of because he was living separately. Siddhu confesses everything to Fatima Madam, the female lawyer who had defended him at the beginning of the movie but refuses to testify against Ronnie in court, for fear of implicating his elder brother Jai. The lawyer tries to talk him into testifying but fails. She challenges him to reveal the truth to Alisha, which he does, and they break up.

In a subsequent boxing match (against boxing champion "Kala Tiger"), that Siddhu has been preparing for several months, Siddhu is told by his brother, in the midst of the game, to throw the match, since Ronnie has bet money on Siddhu losing. Siddhu throws the game, allowing the other boxer to beat him unconscious. He is furious at his brother, and they have an oral confrontation. In the process, Siddhu is forced to confront that his father had betrayed five of his friends in the [[Indian independence movement]] to the British out of fear of being tortured, causing all of them to be killed. Siddhu realises that his father was a good man, but, like everybody else, was a coward and lacked the strength to fight injustice. Yet, he knows that his father wanted to instill these values in him, and he vows to bring Hari's killers to justice and complete the task that Hari attempted to begin. He tells Fatima Madam (the lawyer) that he is willing to testify publicly against Ronnie as well as against his own brother Jai, and also confesses to her his theft of Rs. 400 (shown at the beginning of the movie). She expresses pride in Siddhu, revealing that she knew all along about the theft and also knew that Siddhu would reveal it to her someday of his own accord. She tries to get Alisha to forgive Siddhu but fails. Siddhu is now a reformed man.

When Ronnie discovers that Siddhu is the person who has filed a complaint against him, he is ready to kill Siddhu. Jai dissuades Ronnie, reassuring him that Jai himself will dissuade Siddhu from testifying publicly against Ronnie. In an emotional scene, Siddhu, when approached by Jai, confronts Jai instead, accusing Jai of neglecting his duties as an elder brother by encouraging Siddhu to follow himself in a life of crime. Jai realises his error and apologises. Upon returning home, Siddhu discovers Alisha waiting for him, and they embrace and reconcile. Later that night, Ronnie kills Jai and his men also try to kill Siddhu, but the motorcycle gang led by Charlie (whose life Siddhu had saved earlier) intervenes to save Siddhu's life. Siddhu wants to kill Ronnie in person to avenge his brother's death, but the female lawyer arrives in time to dissuade him.

The next day, in court, Siddhu gives his testimony regarding Ronnie's murder of Hari. The court is adjourned until Monday. Coming out of court, Ronnie orders for a local [[bandh]] and forces all the shops to close down. He also has Siddhu's home broken into and his belongings thrown on the street. Siddhu, upon seeing this, walks up to Ronnie's house and challenges him to come out and duel alone, rather than hiding behind henchmen. Ronnie agrees, and all the people in the area come out to watch. The two boxers have a long and bloody boxing match, with nobody interfering. Though Siddhu is severely injured, he remains victorious. As the local people see one man with the courage to fight Raunak Singh, they awaken to the possibility that they too can resist his extortionary demands. Ronnie loses the fight, but he then orders his henchmen to kill Siddhu. The local people, who are much more numerous than Ronnie's henchmen, block the attempt. Together, they beat up Ronnie and his henchmen and force them to flee the area.


==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Aamir Khan]] as Siddharth Marathe "Siddhu"
*[[Aamir Khan]] as Siddharth Marathe "Siddhu"
*[[Rani Mukerji]] as Alisha Mafatlal
*[[Rani Mukerji]] as Alisha Mafatlal (Hindi dubbed voice as [[Mona Ghosh Shetty]])
*[[Deepak Tijori]] as Charlie
*[[Deepak Tijori]] as Charlie
*[[Sharat Saxena]] as Raunak "Ronnie" Singh
*[[Sharat Saxena]] as Raunak "Ronnie" Singh
Line 62: Line 45:
*[[Rajit Kapoor]] as Jai Marathe, Siddharth's brother.
*[[Rajit Kapoor]] as Jai Marathe, Siddharth's brother.
*[[Mita Vashisht]] as Siddharth's lawyer Fatima madam
*[[Mita Vashisht]] as Siddharth's lawyer Fatima madam
*[[Dalip Tahil]] as Vishwanath Marathe, Siddharth's father. (special appearance)
*[[Dalip Tahil]] as Vishwanath Marathe, Siddharth's father.(special appearance)
*[[Raju Kher]] as Ashok Mafatlal, Alisha's father.
*[[Raju Kher]] as Ashok Mafatlal, Alisha's father
*[[Ashutosh Rana]] as Shyamsundar Agrawal (special appearance)
*[[Ashutosh Rana]] as Shyamsundar Agrawal (special appearance)
*[[Kamlesh Oza]] as Avinash
*[[Kamlesh Oza]] as Avinash
*[[Daya Shankar Pandey]]
*[[Daya Shankar Pandey]]
*[[Amin Hajee]] as Black Tiger (boxing champion)
* Amin Hajee as Black Tiger (boxing champion)
*[[Prithvi Zutshi]]
*[[Prithvi Zutshi]]
*[[Sheikh Sami]]
* Sheikh Sami
*[[Rahul Singh (actor)|Rahul Singh]]
*[[Rahul Singh (actor)|Rahul Singh]]


Line 81: Line 64:
===Stunts===
===Stunts===


A sequence in the film shows Aamir running on a rail track towards an oncoming train, which misses him by a few feet as he jumps off the tracks. 1.3 seconds was the only difference between Aamir and the train. This stunt was actually performed by Aamir himself. At the [[44th Filmfare Awards]], it won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Scene of the Year|Best Scene of the Year]] award, but Aamir later criticized himself for taking such an unnecessary risk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/25051998/cinema.html|title=Amir Khan: Every shot is important}}</ref>
A sequence in the film shows Aamir running on a rail track towards an oncoming train, which misses him by a few feet as he jumps off the tracks. 1.3 seconds was the only difference between Aamir and the train. This stunt was actually performed by Aamir himself. At the [[44th Filmfare Awards]], it won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Scene of the Year|Best Scene of the Year]] award, but Aamir later criticized himself for taking such an unnecessary risk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.india-today.com/itoday/25051998/cinema.html|title=Amir Khan: Every shot is important|access-date=14 April 2007|archive-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929105717/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/25051998/cinema.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
Line 90: Line 73:
| cover =
| cover =
| alt =
| alt =
| released = 1998
| released = 8 March 1998
| recorded =
| recorded =
| venue =
| venue =
Line 101: Line 84:
| label = <div style="white-space: nowrap;">Tips Music</div>
| label = <div style="white-space: nowrap;">Tips Music</div>
| producer =
| producer =
| prev_title = [[Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge]]
| prev_title = [[Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge! (1998 film)|Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge!]]
| prev_year = 1998
| prev_year = 1998
| next_title = [[Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai]]
| next_title = [[Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai]]
Line 110: Line 93:


{{Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 33:42
| title1 = Aankhon Se Tune Yeh Kya Keh Diya
| title1 = Aankhon Se Tune Yeh Kya Keh Diya
| extra1 = [[Kumar Sanu]], [[Alka Yagnik]]
| extra1 = [[Kumar Sanu]], [[Alka Yagnik]]
| length1 = 05:06|
| length1 = 05:06
| title4 = [[Aati Kya Khandala]]
| title4 = [[Aati Kya Khandala]]
| extra4 = [[Aamir Khan]], Alka Yagnik
| extra4 = [[Aamir Khan]], Alka Yagnik
| length4 = 04:11|
| title2 = Jaadu Hai Tera Hi Jaadu
| length4 = 04:11|
| title2 = Jadoo Hai Tera Hi Jadoo
| extra2 = Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik
| extra2 = Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik
| length2 = 07:53|
| length2 = 07:53|
| title3 = Ab Naam Mohabbat Ke
| title3 = Ab Naam Mohabbat Ke
| extra3 = [[Udit Narayan]], Alka Yagnik
| extra3 = [[Udit Narayan]], Alka Yagnik
| length3 = 05:18|
| title5 = Saath Jo Tera Mil Gaya
| length3 = 05:18|
| title5 = Saath Jo Tera Mil Gaya
| extra5 = Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik
| extra5 = Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik
| length5 = 05:26|
| length5 = 05:26|
| title6 = Tujhko Kya
| title6 = Tujhko Kya
| extra6 = Surjit Bindrakhia, JoJo, Udit Narayan
| extra6 = Udit Narayan, Jojo, Surjeet
| length6 = 06:09|
| length6 = 06:09|
}}
}}


==Reception==
==Reception==
The film was declared a hit by Box Office India and its total gross was 242&nbsp;million.<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2557|title=Ghulam - Movie - Box Office India|website=www.boxofficeindia.com}}</ref>
The film was declared a hit by Box Office India and its total gross was 242&nbsp;million.<ref name="boxofficeindia.com"/>


==Awards==
==Awards==
Line 175: Line 159:


==Remake==
==Remake==
The film was remade in Tamil in 2000 as ''[[Sudhandhiram]]''. The remake rights were sold for {{INRConvert|25|l|year=1998}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Plagiarism-issue-jolts-Bollywood/articleshow/46715385.cms|title=Plagiarism issue jolts Bollywood &#124; Mumbai News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}</ref>
The film was remade in Tamil in 2000 as ''[[Sudhandhiram]]''. The remake rights were sold for {{INRConvert|25|l|year=1998}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Plagiarism-issue-jolts-Bollywood/articleshow/46715385.cms|title=Plagiarism issue jolts Bollywood |website=The Times of India|date=18 May 2003 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:1998 films]]
[[Category:1990s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1990s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1990s Indian films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Vikram Bhatt]]
[[Category:Films directed by Vikram Bhatt]]
[[Category:Films scored by Jatin–Lalit]]
[[Category:Films scored by Jatin–Lalit]]
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[[Category:Hindi-language action films]]
[[Category:Hindi-language action films]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Outlaw biker films]]
[[Category:Indian crime action films]]
[[Category:Indian crime drama films]]
[[Category:Films about brothers]]
[[Category:Films based on adaptations]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films about organised crime in India]]
[[Category:Indian gangster films]]
[[Category:Indian boxing films]]
[[Category:Films set in the Indian independence movement]]
[[Category:Films about lawyers]]
[[Category:Indian legal drama films]]
[[Category:Indian courtroom films]]
[[Category:Films based on multiple works]]
[[Category:Hindi remakes of English films]]
[[Category:Films based on newspaper and magazine articles]]

Latest revision as of 08:27, 19 December 2024

This article is about the Indian film. For other uses, see Ghulam (disambiguation).

Ghulam
Poster
Directed byVikram Bhatt
Written byAnjum Rajabali
Story byBudd Schulberg (adapted screenplay)
Based onOn the Waterfront (1954)
Produced byMukesh Bhatt
Starring
CinematographyTeja
Edited byWaman Bhonsle
Music bySongs:
Jatin–Lalit
Background score:
Amar Haldipur
Distributed byVishesh Films
Release date
  • 19 June 1998 (1998-06-19)
Running time
162 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹72 million[1]
Box office₹242 million[1]

Ghulam (transl. Slave) is a 1998 Indian Hindi-language action film, directed by Vikram Bhatt, and starring Aamir Khan and Rani Mukerji in lead roles. The plot of the film is similar to Vishesh Films' first production Kabzaa (1988), starring Sanjay Dutt,[2] in turn inspired by Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront (1954; itself inspired by "Crime on the Waterfront" by Malcolm Johnson, a series of November–December 1948 articles published in the New York Sun).[3]

Ghulam released on 19 June 1998, and was a commercial success at the box office.[1]

At the 44th Filmfare Awards, Ghulam received 6 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director (Bhatt) and Best Actor (Khan), and won Best Scene of the Year. The film was remade in Tamil in 2000 as Sudhandhiram.

Plot

[edit]

Siddharth "Siddhu" Marathe, a boxing champion from Mumbai, lives an aimless life, overshadowed by his older brother Jai, the right-hand man of local gangster Raunak "Ronnie" Singh. Siddhu befriends and falls in love with Alisha, unaware that her brother, Hari, a principled social worker, opposes Ronnie's reign of terror. When Siddhu unwittingly lures Hari into a fatal ambush orchestrated by Ronnie, he is overcome with guilt but initially refuses to testify against Ronnie due to his loyalty to Jai.

After losing a boxing match on Jai's orders to protect Ronnie's illegal activities, Siddhu confronts his family's history of cowardice and resolves to fight injustice. Despite personal and emotional losses, including a breakup with Alisha and Jai's eventual murder by Ronnie, Siddhu testifies in court against Ronnie.

Siddhu challenges Ronnie to a public boxing duel, defeating him and inspiring the local community to stand against Ronnie's tyranny. The collective resistance forces Ronnie and his gang to flee, signaling the community's empowerment and Siddhu's transformation into a courageous leader.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Filming for Ghulam began in June 1997. By mid-August, a week-long schedule at a specially erected set at Film City in Mumbai was completed.[4]

Dubbing

[edit]

Rani Mukerji's voice was dubbed by Mona Shetty,[5] who had a much more high-pitched voice. When asked if the director's decision to not use her voice in the film affected her, she said that her voice was dubbed as it "did not suit the character".[6][7]

Stunts

[edit]

A sequence in the film shows Aamir running on a rail track towards an oncoming train, which misses him by a few feet as he jumps off the tracks. 1.3 seconds was the only difference between Aamir and the train. This stunt was actually performed by Aamir himself. At the 44th Filmfare Awards, it won the Best Scene of the Year award, but Aamir later criticized himself for taking such an unnecessary risk.[8]

Soundtrack

[edit]
Ghulam
Studio album by
Jatin–Lalit
Released8 March 1998
Genre
Length33:12
LanguageHindi
Label
Tips Music
Jatin–Lalit chronology
Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge!
(1998) 		Ghulam
(1998) 		Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai
(1998)

The music was composed by Jatin–Lalit. Lyrics were handled by Indeevar, Nitin Raikwar, Sameer and Vinod Mahendra. The film's soundtrack album sold 2.5 million units in India, making it the year's fifth best-selling Bollywood soundtrack album.[9]

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Aankhon Se Tune Yeh Kya Keh Diya"Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik05:06
2."Jadoo Hai Tera Hi Jadoo"Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik07:53
3."Ab Naam Mohabbat Ke"Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik05:18
4."Aati Kya Khandala"Aamir Khan, Alka Yagnik04:11
5."Saath Jo Tera Mil Gaya"Udit Narayan, Alka Yagnik05:26
6."Tujhko Kya"Udit Narayan, Jojo, Surjeet06:09
Total length:33:42

Reception

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The film was declared a hit by Box Office India and its total gross was 242 million.[1]

Awards

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Awards Category Recipient(s) Results
44th Filmfare Awards Best Film Mukesh Bhatt Nominated
Best Director Vikram Bhatt
Best Actor Aamir Khan
Best Villain Sharat Saxena
Best Male Playback Singer Aamir Khan for "Aati Kya Khandala"
Best Scene of the Year The train-race scene Won
Zee Cine Awards Best Actor Aamir Khan Nominated
Best Actress Rani Mukerji

Remake

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The film was remade in Tamil in 2000 as Sudhandhiram. The remake rights were sold for ₹25 lakh (equivalent to ₹1.1 crore or US$130,000 in 2023).[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ghulam - Movie - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com.
  2. ^ "Kabzaa Remake". The Times of India.
  3. ^ "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | 7days | No ripoffs, please". Archived from the original on 6 August 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  4. ^ "On the Sets: Ghulam". Screen. 15 August 1997. Archived from the original on 14 September 2001. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  5. ^ Ansari, Shabana (30 April 2006). "Ghost speakers lend voices to Bollywood". DNA India.
  6. ^ Ganti, Tejaswini (2012). Producing Bollywood: Inside the Contemporary Hindi Film Industry. Duke University Press. p. 388. ISBN 978-0-8223-5213-6.
  7. ^ Interview with Rani Mukherjee. 2006. p. 16. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8. ^ "Amir Khan: Every shot is important". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2007.
  9. ^ "Music Hits 1990-1999 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. 2 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010.
  10. ^ "Plagiarism issue jolts Bollywood". The Times of India. 18 May 2003.
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