Movies - Hey Ram

	Movies - Hey Ram

Hey Ram (2000) is an Indian film directed by Kamal Haasan. This feature film was originally made in Tamil, and subsequently made in Hindi. The film's score and soundtrack are composed by Ilayaraja.

Setting

The film is about a protagonist's journey from religious hatred to love with the theme of the partition of India in the background. Its relevance in the present Indian environment clouded by religious extremism was widely unrecognized. This is the story of Saket Ram, as narrated by his grandson. The film takes place as Ram, a retired archeologist, lies on the deathbed, on December 6, 1999, the 7th anniversary of the destruction of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.

Synopsis

The movie begins at present day with Saket Ram (Kamal Haasan), an 89-year-old South Indian Brahmin who is dying. The scene reverts back to the past as Saket remembers the 1940's, when he and his good friend, Amjad Ali Khan (Shahrukh Khan) were archeologists working together under their boss, Mortimer Wheeler, in Mohanjodaro (Indus River Valley Civilization) in Karachi. Relations are pleasant between the Indians and the English, and Saket and Amjad do not approve of the Partition and the creation of Pakistan.

Aparna Ram (Rani Mukerji), Saket's simple Bengali wife, is a school teacher. She lives in Calcutta in the midst of riots and chaos over the issue of the formation of Pakistan. Saket goes to Calcutta and is swept into the madness. In one instance, Saket saves an innocent Punjabi girl from the hands of a Muslim gang. The Muslims are angered and decide to take revenge; the group is headed by Aparna's tailor, Altaf, who breaks into Saket's home. They brutally rape and murder Aparna. Saket, unable to cope with his tragic loss, goes completely mad and seeks to kill every Muslim he can. He soon joins fanatical Hindus and loses sense of himself, falling victim to the chaos and religious hatred around him. He is also urged to marry again and agrees to do it reluctantly. He weds Mythili (Vasundhara Das).

Saket comes to the belief that Mahatma Gandhi (Naseeruddin Shah) is solely responsible for the division of India and of the two religions. Hindu fundamentalists, including Saket, are furious and plot to murder Gandhi, however Saket, realising India would be destroyed without Gandhi, decides against assassinating the spiritual leader, and asks for forgiveness. Soon afterwards, Mahatma Gandhi is killed by another assassin.

Cast

Kamal Hassan as Saket Ram
Rani Mukerji
as Aparna Ram
Shahrukh Khan
as Amjad Ali Khan
Atul Kulkarni
as Shriram Abhayankar
Hema Malini
as Ambujam Iyengar
Vasundhara Das
as Mythili Iyengar
Naseeruddin Shah
as Mahatma Gandhi

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Hey Ram ]

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