Ram Aur Shyam

Okay, so, a movie about twins, and the main lead is none other than Mr Dilip Kumar. Ram Aur Shyam is a Dilip Kumar vehicle all the way and even the opening credits say "Dilip Kumar in his first dual role", as if it was an event of sorts. But while you expect something particular from the film, it turns out to be different. First, it is not a complete comedy of errors. Actually, there's more drama in this one than comedy. Towards the end, it even gets a dark tone which I personally did not predict and did not like at all. The comedy does work from time to time, and it's nice to see the turns even though everything is predictable. Ram Aur Shyam is not the only movie of its sort, and many such movies were made later, like Seeta Aur Geeta. Which brings me to the next point and it is the fact that today while watching all these twin movies, comparisons are inevitable. Clearly, the best one of the lot is Seeta Aur Geeta, an all-time great comedy, which had the verve, the light and lively comic mood, the music and the excellence that Ram Aur Shyam lacks. Even Hema Malini's unforgettable performance remains unmatched. Where acting goes, well, as said, this movie was made for Dilip Kumar, and he does well, but it is far from being his best. He is excellent as Shyam, but overdoes the cowardice and the shy nature of Ram. The girls do very well even if one expects to see them disappearing under his shadow. Waheeda Rehman plays Anjana with grace and conviction, while Mumtaz is wonderful as the street-smart Shanta. The supporting cast do well. The music is very ordinary and forgettable. Ram Aur Shyam is not a bad film and it has its moments of comedy and great fun, but they are limited, and I would rather go and watch Seeta Aur Geeta instead.

Ram Aur Shyam (1967) : Brief Review -

Chanakya's rock-solid remake that influenced every single possibility of the entire thematic formula of twin brothers in Hindi cinema. Chanakya made Ramudu Bheemudu and then remade it in Hindi with the legendary Dilip Kumar. The actor has often spoken about the nuances in the screenplay and how well they're written when it comes to connecting with the public's emotions. Hollywood may have done many twin formula movies before us, but none of them were huge hits or highly popular films with the masses. I myself have enjoyed watching legendary actresses like Bette Davis and Olivia De Havilland in twin roles, but Hollywood was more concerned about the content and American melodrama or noir touch than an easy mass cinema. Chanakya's Ram Aur Shyam paved the way for that people's mass cinema. You can look at all the twin formula movies made over the years and easily notice how heavily Ram Aur Shyam has influenced them all. Getting Dilip Kumar in the lead must have been a risky decision since he has been keeping away from mass films after Madhumati, Naya Daur, Kohinoor, and Ganga Jamuna because other films didn't work that well. He had that tragedy-king image, which was broken by this film. Even Ganga Jamuna, which was a huge blockbuster, had that tragic ending to provide him with that particular segment to show his tragedy-king image, but Ram Aur Shyam is outrightly a comedy-action drama. It must have been a huge shock to critics and his fans when Mr. Kumar showed this new side that's loaded with wit, humor, action, romance, and enough drama (which was so easy for him). Twin formulas were still predictable, but providing a touch of "swipe" to that idea while adapting the "comedy of errors" was something difficult. Chanakya handled it very well and left an entire textbook behind so that other filmmakers could easily read and learn from it. Ever think about watching Twin Brothers masala flicks? Start from here.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

"Ram Aur Shyam" is a classic Bollywood film released in 1967, directed by Tapi Chanakya and produced by B. Nagi Reddy. The movie features legendary actors Dilip Kumar in a double role as Ram and Shyam, alongside Waheeda Rehman, Mumtaz, and Pran in pivotal roles.

The film tells the story of identical twin brothers, Ram and Shyam, who are separated at birth due to unforeseen circumstances. While Ram grows up as a timid and oppressed individual, Shyam becomes a carefree and mischievous character. Fate brings them back together when Ram is mistaken for Shyam, and the brothers switch places, leading to hilarious and dramatic situations. The film explores themes of identity, deception, and the power of love and family.

One of the highlights of "Ram Aur Shyam" is Dilip Kumar's exceptional performance in the dual roles of Ram and Shyam. He effortlessly portrays the stark contrast between the two characters, displaying his versatility as an actor. The film showcases his impeccable comic timing in the scenes where the brothers switch places and the resulting confusion ensues. The chemistry between Dilip Kumar and Waheeda Rehman is also noteworthy, adding depth and emotion to the narrative.

The movie features memorable songs composed by Naushad, with lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni. Songs like "Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki Salami Le Le," "O Meri Zohra Jabeen," and "Teri Mehfil Mein Qismat Azma Kar" are still cherished by fans of Bollywood music.

"Ram Aur Shyam" is known for its engaging screenplay, skillful direction, and strong performances by the entire cast. It is regarded as a landmark film in Indian cinema and is considered a classic in the masala genre, blending comedy, drama, and action seamlessly.

Overall, "Ram Aur Shyam" is a delightful entertainer that continues to be cherished by audiences even decades after its release. It showcases the talents of its cast and offers a compelling story filled with humor, emotion, and entertainment value. If you enjoy classic Bollywood films, this one is definitely worth watching.

One more Dilip Kumar classic indeed. To be honest, when I watched the film for the first time, the first couple minutes were dramatic, to build up for the story. But I was glued to the tv and watched the film all the way. This film has got comedy scenes, drama scenes, action scenes, especially the one where Dilip Kumar retaliates by hitting Pran with a whip.

A special thing to note is the contrast in the character and personality of Ram and Shyam. Both portrayed by Dilip Kumar but still look at the differences in both. Ram is shy and scared of his brother in law, where on the other hand Shyam is brave and mischievous.

-- special note -- To see the Dilip Saab's level of unique acting is a scene where Shyam pretends to be Ram in front of Ram's brother in law (Pran) and tries to act like he's afraid of Pran, like the way Ram is painfully scared of, but still can't completely do it. Even though both Ram and Shyam are portrayed by Dilip Kumar. You get what I'm trying to say right.

This isn't the first time Dilip Kumar has done comedy, check his films like Azaad, Kohinoor, and even Babul, the earliest example of his career. The mirror scene in Kohinoor. The sweet-funny scenes between Dilip saab and Nargis and a scene between Dilip Kumar and TunTun in Babul.

This is probably the first and so far only film in my life that I watched twice again, after watching for the first time, in the same year.

1.the story is very entertaining. Full of laughs,emotional moments,action & romance 2.performance from dilip saab is excellent and very entertaining 3.every actors & their characters are just fabulous & relatable 4.although songs are not too good but also not too bad 5.dialogues are very very good & the screenplay is perfectly top notch 6.shoutout to the director "Tapi Chanakya" for making this all time classic twin movie. For that time to make this kinda film is very big thing.

Overall this movie is very entertaining & engaging with full of masala's like crying,romance,action,songs,dance,comedy with very entertaining screenplay & storyline

if you like light humour with some emotional touch & masaledaar story then you should definitely watch this film but if you are a fan of serious & realistic type of films then you can ignore it

but i recommend everyone to atleast once watch this this classic for dilip saab's performance & a perfect twin potrayel (9/10)