RAM JAANE (1995)

Although Ram Jaane was not as big a hit as Darr and Bazigaar a couple of years earlier, this film nevertheless stands out as one of the few in which Shahrukh’s character has real depth and credible personality, and considering the extreme and unusual nature of the Ram Jaane character, this required exceptional acting skill which Shahrukh very impressively displayed, earning him the Best Actor Screen Awards.

Ram Jaane is a complex character who lives a life far removed from most of us, but with Shahrukh’s skillful interpretation of the role, the audience is still able to relate to him and even feel sympathy for him.  The opening scenes of the movie lay the foundation for the Ram Jaane character, namely an unwanted baby who was put in a dumpster.  But far from feeling sorry for himself, the boy grows up to be hard and tough in order to survive in the cold and loveless world on the streets onto which he was thrown.

The way he received his name, Ram Jaane, meaning ‘God knows’, already stirs up pity for the nameless boy whose life seems destined for crime, which is often the fate of many homeless children.  This sad fact becomes the essence of the entire film and conveys a meaningful message about society and psychology, as well as love and self-sacrifice.

Ram Jaane is a serious film with a number of violent and bloody scenes, but in contrast to Ram Jaane’s violent world of ruthless crime gangs, there is the love and good nature of his childhood friends, Murli and Bela, who believe there is goodness underneath Ram Jaane’s tough exterior and that he can be rehabilitated.  This hope, the quality of seeing the good in others, and Murli’s attempts to rehabilitate other street kids give the movie an overall positive feeling.

Meaningful messages and excellent scriptwriting aside, Ram Jaane would not convey all these things if the leading role were not presented in such a convincing and entertaining manner as Shahrukh is able to do.   He manages to present the image of a hardened criminal who grew up on the streets mainly with his manner of fast and slurring speech and use of slang, but also with body language which expresses his defiant and opposed stand towards the whole world.

Ram Jaane is mean, physically rough and even abusive with everyone, and his angry attitude combined with an air of invincibility and superiority intimidates other criminals.  But as he struts around in expensive suits and gold jewellery, there are glimpses of a soft and caring person buried underneath, and there is hope of a change when he falls in love with Bela. 

These romantic scenes are a welcome break from the seedy world of crime, and a total of four songs in Ram Jaane feature Shahrukh with the beautiful Juhi Chawla who plays Bela; one of them set in an exotic, tropical seaside location.   In fact, the music of Ram Jaane suits the character and overall mood of the film, with dynamic rhythms and energy-charged dancing, especially in Pump Up the Bhangra and Ram Jaane.

This exciting music for Ram Jaane was done by one of India’s best composers, Anu Malik, who became successful after writing the soundtrack for Baazigar, for which he won an award for Best Music Director.

Other talented cast and crew of Ram Jaane, besides Juhi Chawla who has appeared in many movies with Shahrukh, there are Ram Jaane’s strange-looking and almost amusing partners-in-crime, such as “Technicolor” who always wears bright, clashing colours, while a more dangerous gang boss has a severely kinked neck.

Another noteworthy and effective character is the ugly, bald policeman who is totally corrupt, and who plays a significant part in aggravating the tensions between gangs and the innocent victims, namely the homeless boys and young men who see Ram Jaane as their role model. 

As the story reaches its dramatic climax, Shahrukh delivers some of his best acting moments which leave the viewer stunned.  These scenes give insight into Ram Jaane’s deeper feelings such as intense anguish out of love, as well as his contempt for the law, judicial system and the world in general which has been his enemy from the very beginning. 

Ram Jaane is a soul-stirring experience made even more palpable through Shahrukh’s dynamic portrayal of Ram Jaane, which once again shows his special gift for interpreting all kinds of characters far removed from his own personality, and at the same time keeping audiences fully enthralled and entertained.

by Barbara Burkowsky

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