Ram Balram

Ram Balram (1980) : Brief Review -

Vijay Anand's mediocrity saved by Dharmendra and Amitabh's pair. It's hard to believe that Vijay Anand, who has made so many beautiful films for 3 decades, has to surrender to the masala era for this mediocrity. Not that Ram Balram is a bad film or a crappy affair, but it's outdated for 1980. The film runs on known formulas of lost & found and revenge theories and then adds an interesting concept of a thief and a cop being brothers. It's illogical to see them okaying these things and carrying on working in their particular fields when they have to live like brothers, if not together. It's also illogical to believe that none of the gangsters even found out about their relation with Jagatpal. As expected, he is exposed years later, be it about his relationship with these two brothers or his own daughter. The plot looks thin, and the screenplay is faulty as well. Too many things happened so quickly in the last quarter, right from Dharmendra's escape from the ship, kidnappings, Amitabh's raid, Ajit's hostages, and all that masala stuff that looked highly repetitive. You can't really waste two big villains like Prem Chopra and Amjad Khan, even though Ajit has done well as the main villain. Dharmendra and Amitabh's pair somehow saves the show, but even they couldn't match what they had created before in other movies. Zeenat Aman and Rekha play typical heroines, and Helen as a mother wasn't up to the mark. Like I said, it looks so formulaic that at one point you find all if it is forced. Vijay Anand played safe-actually too safe. Ram Balram is based on a ridiculous theory of having chor police combo at home, and I would have enjoyed it more if the father/uncle's role wasn't too brutal. Laxmikant-Pyarelal's "Ek Rasta, Do Rahi, Ek Chor, Ek Sipahi" tried to define the same, while the rest of the songs are below par. Overall, a fairly watchable film but didn't do justice to Big B & Dharmendra's pair.

RATING - 6/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Jagatpal (Ajit) manipulates his sister-in-law (Urmilla Bhatt) to sign the estate away to him, which she does, and is subsequently thrown out, leaving two boys in the care of Jagatpal. The two boys have grown up to fear and obey their uncle, Balram (Amitabh Bachchan) is now a police inspector, and Bholuram (Dharmendra) is a motor mechanic. Bholuram and Balram continue to acquire wealth, by hook or by crook, for their uncle. In so doing, Bholuram incurs the wrath of Chandan Singh (Prem Chopra) and Suleiman Seth (Amjad Khan). In the meantime Balram has fallen for Shobha (Rekha), and Bholuram for Madhu (Zeenat Aman), little knowing that Madhu is the daughter of none other than his uncle, Jagatpal(Ajit)..Ajit one of the great stylish villain in the 70's. what an actor at that time..

Okay, I guess if you're a Dharmendra or an Amitabh fan...and if you were really impressed with Sholay (like me), you should see this movie.

Jagatpal (Ajit) causes a misunderstanding between two brothers who he claims as relatives (but obviously not). While they were arguing, Ajit shoots both of them from the window, and frames them for murdering each other. Meanwhile he kills Ram's mother Saraswati who also raises her brother in-law's son Balram as her own (supposedly, but she pops up at the end somehow). Jagatpal forcefully raises Ram to be a thief, and Balram to be educated without the accompaniment of his brother/cousin. He does this with sharp-pointy objects on the ends of his crutches...if they don't listen he threatens to stab them.

Ram (Dharmendra) ends up being a car mechanic, and Balram (Amitabh Bachchan) ends up being a police officer. Jagatpal shares his plan, for Ram to be the best smuggler, and for Balram to be the best police officer. Balram tries to argue, but those annoying pointy things are once again a threat.

The first half of the movie (excluding the evilness of their evil uncle) was pretty entertaining ~ Dharmendra and Amitabh are first shown together and then shown in different scenes separately to show the differences and similarities in their life. Balram falls in love with Shoba (Rekha - a good couple I must say) and Ram falls in love with Madhu (Zeenat - she is very ugly in this movie and her a Dharam don't match). The part where they display their own girls to each other is pretty funny.

But I mean the VIOLENCE is just TOOOO much! I watch action movies, but this was ridiculous! After the first half, one who is watching this movie won't even be able to see the nice acting of the Dharmendra and Amitabh! It's like shooting and blowing up things all the time. And Jagatpal's evilness gets to be too much. It's hard to believe that it was so hard for toughies like Dharmendra and Amitabh to beat up a cripple.

I only rate it a nine because I am an ardent fan of Dharmendra as well as Amitabh and I wasn't particularly disappointed with their powerful performance combo. I recommend this movie if you like the actors, and if you're a fan of Laxmikant Pyarelal who made good songs (like Ek Rasta, Hama Maafi Dai Do, Yaar Ki Khabar, and Ladki Pasand). But if you're not then don't waste your time. I was thoroughly angry with Vijay Anand's violent and perverted direction.

Stick with Sholay.

Amitabh and Dharmendra were the top stars of 70's-80's. Unfortuantely they came together in 3 movies-Sholay,Chupke-Chupke and Ram-Balram.Fortunately for their fans whenever they came together they formed an amazing team.Ram-balram is such a movie where u will love their chemistry and aided by fast pace and lots of action it becomes worth watching.

This film is special as it is the only Amitabh-Dharam film in which both of them have equal roles. Otherwise both in Sholay and Chupke-Chupke Dharamendra had a bigger role.The film is directed by Vijay Anand who is known more for his Guide and Jewel Thief than for action flicks like Johny Mera Naam.But he handles the action oriented,star-studded Ram-balram quite well.

The topic of 2 brothers on opposite sides of law became a common feature of soem Amitabh's movies like Deewar,Suhaag, Parvarish.But none of them were so cool and celebrated about it as this movie.Here there is no tension between the brothers for this reason.On the contrary they proclaim it loudly in a amazing song ''Ek Rastaa Aha haa...''

Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra team up together after SHOLAY(1975) and CHUPKE CHUPKE(1975)

Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha are paired after MR NATWARLAL(1979) with Dharmendra and Zeenat Aman paired after SHALIMAR(1978) Ajit plays their mean uncle.

The film is mainly about Ajit's plan to use Dharmendra to kill the smugglers and Amitabh to save him But Amitabh has a plan of his own The climax is done-to-death

The film may not have reached the status of SHOLAY but is still very entertaining Above all the cast, Dharmendra-Amitabh are a perfect combo and have very good chemistry Zeenat Aman looks ugly with Dharam but is okay Rekha looks beautiful for Amitabh and both make a good pair Amjad Khan, Prem Chopra are typecast Ajit impresses with his evilness