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Kohram
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| Kohram | |
|---|---|
Poster | |
| Directed by | Mehul Kumar |
| Written by | Iqbal Durrani |
| Produced by | Amitabh Bachchan Corporation |
| Starring | Amitabh Bachchan Nana Patekar Jaya Prada Tabu Mukul Dev Mukesh Rishi Danny Denzongpa Jackie Shroff Kabir Bedi Ayesha Jhulka |
| Cinematography | Rasool Ellore |
| Music by | Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen |
Release date |
|
Running time | 145 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Box office | ₹13.28 crore[1] |
Kohram is a 1999 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Mehul Kumar.[2] It features an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Nana Patekar, Jaya Prada, Tabu, Mukul Dev, Mukesh Rishi, Danny Denzongpa, Jackie Shroff, Kabir Bedi and Ayesha Jhulka.
The film is notable for being the only occasion when Bachchan and Patekar costarred on screen. The film released worldwide on 13 August 1999 to mixed reviews, with praise for the performances of the principal cast, but criticism for the story and screenplay. Commercially the film was an average grosser.
Plot
[edit]The story starts with the death of an army officer, and it is believed to be the act of a terrorist group headed by Changezi. Colonel Balbir Singh Sodhi is asked to investigate this matter, and he discovers that minister Veerbhadra Singh is involved in this conspiracy. Colonel Sodhi stages his death in an attempt to kill Changezi and starts living as Dadabhai/Devraj Hathoda in Mumbai. Major Ajit Arya is sent in the guise of a Bengali journalist to discover the true identity of Dadabhai/Devraj Hathoda. Once Arya discovers the truth, he joins hands with Colonel Sodhi to bring the minister to justice and terminate the terrorist group.
Cast
[edit]- Amitabh Bachchan as Colonel Balbir Singh Sodhi/Devraj Hathoda (Dadabhai)
- Nana Patekar as Major Ajit Arya/Basu Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay (BBC)
- Jaya Prada as Namrata B. Sodhi
- Tabu as Inspector Kiran Patkar
- Jackie Shroff as Major Rathod (cameo)
- Danny Denzongpa as Minister Virbhadra Singh
- Kabir Bedi as Brig. Bedi
- Mukesh Rishi as Ghafoor Changezi
- Mukul Dev as Monty
- Ayesha Jhulka as Sweety
- Avtar Gill as Police Commissioner
- Kishori Godbole as Virbhadra Singh's daughter
Songs
[edit]| Kohram | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen | |
| Released | 1999 |
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack |
| Label | Universal Music India |
Music by the duo Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen.
- "Jay Mata Dee He Ambe Baliharee" – Sanjeevani, Sukhwinder Singh
- "Palakon Ko Kalam Banaa Ke, To Meraa Naam Nahin" – Alka Yagnik, Hariharan (Not in the film)
- "Satanaam Vaaheguru, Baabaa Naanak Dukhiyaan De Naath Ve" – Kishanpal Singh
- "Janeman Janeman Ladakee Too Number One" – Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy
- "Pagal Huwa Huwa Huwa" – Shankar Mahadevan, Jaspinder Narula
- "Ik Mashuka Hai Yeh Jindagee Tum Ho Isape Shaida" – Sudesh Bhosle, Amit Kumar
- "Ladakee Ladakee Too Woh Ladakee" – Alka Yagnik, Abhijeet (Not in the film)
- "Hum Hai Banaras Ke Bhaya" – Sudesh Bhosle, Amit Kumar
Release
[edit]Initially the film was slated to release on 6 August, but then Mehul Kumar advanced it to 13 August.[3]
Critical response
[edit]Sharmila Taliculam of Rediff.com criticised the storyline but praised the performances of Patekar and Bchchan. She further wrote, "Kohram would pass for quite an average film, hadn't it been for these two characters. If it's performance you are seeking, go right ahead and see it. If it's a great film, you want, forget it."[4] Anupama Chopra of India Today wrote, "Kohram has Krantiveer-like crude energy and the first half moves at breakneck speed with Amitabh Bachchan and Nana Patekar, both army men, matching wits in a cat-and-mouse game. But proceedings slow to a crawl in the second half and the novelty of watching Bachchan and Patekar palls."[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Kohram Box Office Collection". Bollywood Hungama. 13 August 1999. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ Siddiqui, Rana (25 May 2007). "Tabu returns, and how!". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ^ Chhabra, Aseem (18 August 1999). "Taal Dances To Record Numbers". Rediff.com. New York. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ Taliculam, Sharmila (12 August 1999). "A tale of two performers". Rediff.com. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ Chopra, Anupama (23 August 1998). "Two's a crowd". India Today. New Delhi: Living Media. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
External links
[edit]Kohram
View on GrokipediaProduction
Development
Mehul Kumar conceived Kohram as an action thriller extending his signature style of patriotic narratives critiquing societal and political ills, as seen in his earlier successes Tirangaa (1993) and Krantiveer (1994), which blended high-stakes action with commentary on corruption and national integrity. The screenplay, penned by Iqbal Durrani, centered on themes of military valor clashing with governmental betrayal, employing a dual-role protagonist to intensify conflict and underscore moral dichotomies. Kumar deliberately shifted from overt moralizing—deeming audiences weary of such "lecturebaazi"—toward a more dynamic, entertainment-focused structure to sustain engagement while retaining core ideological undertones.[3][4] Pre-production aligned with Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL)'s pivot after the commercial underperformance of its debut venture Mrityudata (1997), where an initial script exploring law and justice themes was abandoned in favor of Kumar's vision for Kohram, leveraging his established rapport with key collaborators. Budgeting reflected ABCL's constrained finances amid Bachchan's broader recovery from late-1990s production setbacks, including mounting debts from event ventures, yet proceeded under Kumar's direction to capitalize on Bachchan's action-hero resurgence. Development culminated in principal photography commencing in early 1999, targeting a mid-year release to align with audience appetite for escapist yet resonant spectacles.[5][6]Casting
Amitabh Bachchan was cast in the dual role of Colonel Balbir Singh Sodhi and Devraj Hathoda for Kohram, positioning the film as a vehicle for his attempted resurgence following the commercial disappointment of Mrityudaata in 1997.[7][8] Director Mehul Kumar, who had previously collaborated with Bachchan on Mrityudaata, approached him specifically for this project to leverage his star power in an action-oriented narrative.[7] Nana Patekar was selected for the lead antagonistic role opposite Bachchan, selected for his established reputation in intense, confrontational characters from prior films.[3] However, Patekar initially rejected the offer, prompting producers to consider Jackie Shroff as an alternative before Patekar ultimately agreed.[3] Bachchan expressed initial reluctance to co-star with Patekar, reportedly due to hearsay regarding Patekar's reputed rudeness toward crew members on previous sets, but Kumar intervened to assure him and facilitate the pairing.[7][9] The female leads were filled by Tabu as Inspector Kiran Patekar and Jaya Prada as Amrita Sodhi, complementing the male-dominated action ensemble that included Danny Denzongpa as the corrupt Minister Virbhadra Singh, Mukesh Rishi, Kabir Bedi, and others.[10] This casting aimed to integrate emotional depth amid the thriller elements, drawing on the actors' prior successes in similar genres.[11]Filming
Principal photography for Kohram occurred primarily in India, with director Mehul Kumar stating that extensive sequences were shot in the Kargil and Rajouri regions to represent Kashmir's terrain, though the resulting visuals closely resembled sets at Mumbai's Film City.[12] Filming incorporated action sequences involving pursuits and clashes, captured across mountainous and urban-like environments to contrast structured military elements with disorganized elements of corruption. Logistical hurdles arose from actor dynamics, as Amitabh Bachchan, cast in dual roles as Major Ajay and Dada Thakur, initially resisted pairing with Nana Patekar owing to accounts of Patekar's reputed rudeness on sets, yet the production advanced under Kumar's oversight.[9][7]Synopsis
Plot summary
The narrative of Kohram opens with the murder of an army officer, initially blamed on the terrorist organization headed by Changezi.[13] [14] Colonel Balbir Singh Sodhi, portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan, probes the incident and reveals the complicity of Home Minister Veer Bhadra Singh in funding and shielding the terrorists for political gain.[13] [14] After multiple failed assassination attempts on the minister, Sodhi stages his own death in a staged explosion to evade capture and continues his vendetta undercover as the Mumbai-based scrap dealer Devraj Hathoda, alias Dadabhai.[15] [14] Major Ajit Arya, played by Nana Patekar, is dispatched to track down the presumed-dead Sodhi, infiltrating Mumbai's underworld by posing as the eccentric Bengali journalist Basu Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay.[13] [1] Through persistent surveillance and confrontations, Arya exposes Hathoda's true identity as Sodhi and learns of the minister's conspiracy linking state corruption to terrorism.[13] [14] Inspector Kiran Patil, Ajit's love interest, aids in the investigation amid personal stakes, while Sodhi's wife grapples with his absence.[14] The duo unites for a high-stakes operation, dismantling Changezi's network through targeted strikes and gathering irrefutable evidence against the minister.[13] [14] In the climax, they orchestrate the minister's public exposure and downfall, culminating in justice for the slain officer and the eradication of the terrorist threat via Sodhi's calculated revenge.[13]Cast and characters
Principal cast
Amitabh Bachchan stars in a dual role as Colonel Balbir Singh Sodhi, an honorable and duty-bound army officer seeking justice for his family's tragedy, and Devraj Hathoda (also known as Dada Bhai), a menacing underworld enforcer; this casting leverages Bachchan's longstanding action-hero persona from films like Deewaar and Zanjeer, where he excelled in portraying conflicted protagonists blending righteousness with raw intensity in the masala action genre.[1][16]Nana Patekar plays Major Ajit Arya, a disciplined and vengeful military investigator, aligning with Patekar's archetype of gritty, no-nonsense anti-heroes in 1990s action dramas such as Krantiveer, emphasizing his ability to convey controlled aggression and moral complexity.[1][17]
Tabu portrays Inspector Kiran Patekar, serving as the emotional and investigative anchor tied to the protagonists' personal stakes, drawing on her emerging reputation for nuanced, resilient female leads in thrillers that balance vulnerability with determination.[1][16]
Jaya Prada appears as Amrita Sodhi, providing maternal support and familial motivation in the narrative, consistent with her frequent casting in empathetic, anchoring roles within family-centric action plots of the era.[1][17]
Danny Denzongpa enacts the villainous minister, embodying the corrupt authority figure archetype prevalent in Bollywood action films, where he specialized in portraying scheming power brokers with a veneer of respectability masking ruthless ambition.[1][18]
Supporting cast
Jackie Shroff portrayed Major Rathod, a military officer whose role underscores tensions within the armed forces and contributes to the film's exploration of loyalty among comrades.[10] Danny Denzongpa played Home Minister Virbhadra Singh, an authoritative antagonist whose decisions drive institutional conflicts and betrayals central to the ensemble dynamics.[18] Mukesh Rishi appeared as Ghafoor Changezi, a figure involved in adversarial subplots that amplify themes of deception and alliance shifts without overshadowing the principals.[18] Mukul Dev and Kabir Bedi filled supporting positions as aides and operatives, enhancing plot intricacies through their characters' roles in witnessing events and navigating moral ambiguities.[11] Additional ensemble members, including Ayesha Jhulka and Avtar Gill as a police commissioner, provided familial and bureaucratic layers that facilitate twists involving trust and revelation.[11][19]Soundtrack
Composition and release
The soundtrack for Kohram was composed by the duo Dilip Sen and Sameer Sen, who crafted a selection of songs incorporating romantic melodies, devotional hymns, and energetic tracks to complement the film's action-thriller narrative.[20] [21] Lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi, with vocal performances featuring artists such as Hariharan, Alka Yagnik, Amit Kumar, Sudesh Bhosle, Sukhwinder Singh, and Sanjeevani Bhelande.[22] [23] Composition and recording occurred in the lead-up to the film's production, emphasizing rhythmic percussion and string arrangements to heighten tension in action sequences alongside softer interludes for emotional scenes.[24] The album includes an instrumental track amid its primarily vocal songs, underscoring the thriller's dramatic undertones without dominating the lyrical focus.[24] The soundtrack was released on audio cassette in June 1999 by PolyGram Music India, ahead of the film's theatrical debut on August 13, 1999, as a key element of pre-release promotion to build audience anticipation through radio airplay and music channels.[25] Digital reissues followed years later, but the original physical distribution aligned with standard Bollywood strategies of leveraging hit songs for marketing.[20]Track listing
The soundtrack of Kohram consists of eight tracks composed by Dilip Sen and Sameer Sen, featuring a mix of romantic, devotional, and situational songs integral to the film's narrative, such as the Banarasi-themed "Hum Hain Banaras Ke Bhaiya" and the title-evoking devotional track.[26][27] Lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi, Dev Kohli, and Sameer. The album's total duration is approximately 46 minutes.[23]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tere Dil Pe Naam Na Likh Do | Hariharan, Alka Yagnik | Anand Bakshi |
| 2 | Hum Hain Banaras Ke Bhaiya | Amit Kumar, Sudesh Bhosle, Chorus | Dev Kohli |
| 3 | Baba Nanak Dukhia De Nath Re | Kishanpal Singh, Chorus | Dev Kohli |
| 4 | Ladki Ladki Tu Woh Ladki | Abhijeet, Alka Yagnik | Sameer |
| 5 | Pagal Hua Deewana Hua | Shankar Mahadevan, Jaspinder Narula | Dev Kohli |
| 6 | Jaaneman Jaaneman | Udit Narayan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Chorus | Anand Bakshi |
| 7 | Jai Mata Di Jai Mata Di | Sukhwinder Singh, Sanjeevani | Dev Kohli |
| 8 | Pagal Hua Deewana Hua (Instrumental) | Instrumental | — |
