Ram Lakhan

About the film

Ram Lakhan is a 1989 Indian Hindi-language action masala film directed by Subhash Ghai and written by Anwar Khan with screenplay by Ram Kelkar. Ram Lakhan stars an ensemble cast of Raakhee, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Madhuri Dixit, Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, and Anupam Kher in lead roles. The supporting cast includes Gulshan Grover, Saeed Jaffrey and Satish Kaushik. Music of the film was by Laxmikant–Pyarelal, while Anand Bakshi penned the lyrics. Ghai also did a special appearance in the song "Tera Naam Liya Tujhe Yaad Kiya".

Made on a budget of ₹28.3 million (US$300,000) including production and marketing costs, Ram Lakhan was released theatrically on 27 January 1989 on the Republic Day weekend. The film emerged as a major critical and commercial success and earned ₹180 million (US$1.9 million) worldwide, becoming the second highest grossing Bollywood film of 1989. Considered as Ghai's best work till date, Ram Lakhan has attained a cult classic status over the years and is still remembered for its cast, direction and soundtrack. Kapoor's performance as Lakhan was much loved and is regarded as one of his best roles; the song "My Name Is Lakhan" filmed on him has become his trademark and signature song.

Plot

Sharda is happily married to the rich and benevolent Thakur Pratap Singh. The couple has two young sons, Ram and Lakhan. Pratap's father, Veer Singh, shows mercy to his nephews, Bhishambar and Bhanu, after they serve jail time for siphoning the family wealth. Veer Singh is tricked into signing a will that deprives Pratap, Sharda, Ram, and Lakhan of the family wealth and right to live in their ancestral manor.

Veer Singh is then killed by a car explosion. Pratap refuses to bow down to the cruel Bhishambar after finding out their master plan. He is later severely beaten up, brutally stabbed, and left on a nearby railway track to be cut into pieces by the next passing train, leaving behind Sharda, Ram, and Lakhan. Sharda vows to avenge Pratap’s death and hopes to get it by visiting the temple every day and praying for justice. She talks about when her sons grow up and ultimately destroy Pratap’s assailants, and it is then and only then that she will disperse Pratap's ashes.

Ram, now a police inspector, becomes a major obstacle in Bhishambar's illegal activities. He is in love with Geeta, the daughter of Police Commissioner Arun Kashyap. Lakhan is the fun-loving, precocious young man, still living under Ram's shadow and Sharda's love. When Lakhan finds out there is a big reward for the arrest of notorious gangster Kesariya Vilayti, he single-handedly captures him and claims the reward.

Track list

The soundtrack was composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal and the lyrics written by Anand Bakshi. The songs were extremely popular and remain popular even today. The catchy numbers like "My Name Is Lakhan" and "tera naam liya, tujhe yaad kiya" were playing almost in every street in Northern India, the album also includes melodious and soulful tracks like "O Ram ji! bada dukh deena" with mythological connotations and the title track "mere do Anmol Ratan" .

Awards

Best Comedian – Anupam Kher and Satish Kaushik (tie)

Best Male Playback Singer – Mohammed Aziz – "My Name is Lakhan"

Best Female Playback Singer – Anuradha Paudwal for "Bekhabar Bewafa"

Key details