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.

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.

Though Dilip Kumar was labelled as the Tragedy King of Hindi cinema, he was quite skilled in comedy too. Today I am reviewing a movie which is a showcase of his comic talent. It's a classic movie which became a pioneer for twins-based stories in Hindi cinema later. This movie is Ram Aur Shyam (1967) which features Dilip Kumar in contrasting twin roles - one is a weak, coward and submissive person whereas the other one (the twin) is a daredevil and smart person. It's the latter which provided Dilip Kumar an opportunity to make the audience laugh and he did it with such finesse that till date his performance in this role is quoted as a classic comic performance.

Ram Aur Shyam is the story of twins who got separated in their childhood and brought up in utterly different environments leading to development of completely opposite personalities of them. Ram (Dilip Kumar) grows up in a rich household which remains under the tyranny of Gajendra (Pran) whereas Shyam (Dilip Kumar in double role) grows up in a village with the affection of Ganga Mausi (Leela Mishra) and the childhood teasings of Shaanta (Mumtaaz). For Ram also, the love of his affectionate sister-in-law - Sulakshana (Nirupa Roy) and niece - Kuku (Baby Farida) is there but they are helpless before Gajendra. Gajendra is greedy too and he decides to marry Ram to Anjana (Waheeda Rehman) who is the daughter of a wealthy man (Nazir Hussain) for the sake of getting a hefty dowry. Now comes the principle twist in the tale which forms the backbone of the story.

Destiny takes Ram to the house of Shyam and vice-versa. Now Ram who has always been getting bashed and humiliated by Gajendra, gets warmth, love and respect too. Shaanta finds his 'Shyam' to have changed into a shy and submissive person and instead of teasing him (as she has always done to the real Shyam), she starts loving him. On the other side, Shyam enters the house of Gajendra as Ram and his daredevil activities prove to be a pleasant surprise for Sulakshana, Kuku and the servants of the house and on the other hand a nightmare for Gajendra whom he bashes like anything. He happens to meet Anjana and her parents and falls in love. Anjana also starts loving him and she is quite happy to be the fiancée of 'Ram'. The reality comes before everyone in the climax and the fact of Ram and Shyam being twins is also known to render a happy ending to the movie.

Ram Aur Shyam was a pioneer movie in Bollywood because it paved the way for follow-ups like Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) starring Hema Malini in lead role, Jaise Ko Taisa (1973) starring Jeetendra in lead role, Chaalbaaz (1989) starring Sridevi in lead role etc., the stuff being the same, i.e., twins separated in childhood and nurtured in entirely different environments to grow up into entirely opposite kind of individuals. However the comedy Dilip Kumar did as Shyam in Ram Aur Shyam could not be repeated by anybody, may it be Hema Malini or Jeeendra or Sridevi. Ram Aur Shyam can be watched any number of times to watch the brilliant comedy presented by the actor who is contradictorily known as the Tragedy King of Indian cinema.

Dilip Kumar is the heart and soul of this movie and he has done well in the submissive role of Ram too. Both the leading ladies alongwith the supporting characters have also done satisfactorily. Nirupa Roy as the sister-in-law of Ram and Baby Farida as her daughter and Ram's niece deserve special mention. Other than Dilip Kumar, if someone has made his presence prominently felt in this movie, it's none other than the most dreaded and notirious baddie of Bollywood cinema - Pran.

Naushad has composed great music for this movie with the beautiful lyrics coming from the pen of Shakeel Badayuni. Two songs are immortal - Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki Salaami Le Le (Rafi) and Aayi Hain Bahaaren Mitay Zulm-o-Sitam (Rafi, Lata and chorus). Other songs - O Baalam Tere Pyar Ki Thandi Aag Mein Jalte Jalte (Rafi-Asha), Iss Nagari Ki Reet Hai Ulti (Asha-Mahendra Kapoor), Aaj Sakhi Ri More Piya Ghar Aaye (Asha and chorus), Maine Kab Tumse Kaha Tha Ki Mujhe Pyar Karo (Lata), Main Hoon Saaki Tu Hai Sharaabi Sharaabi (Lata) etc. are also good to listen (and to watch as well). Choreography in Aayi Hain Bahaaren Mitay Zulm-o-Sitam is just outstanding and it's a treat to watch this song on the screen.

Technical and production value aspects of the movie are all in order. The length of the movie is nowhere felt while watching because the complete movie is very interesting from beginning to end and at no place even an ounce of boredom has been allowed to creep in.

All in all, Ram Aur Shyam is a highly entertaining movie which should not be missed by either the fans of Dilip Kumar or the movie buffs in general. Those who have seen its remakes like Seeta Aur Geeta, Jaise Ko Taisa or Chaalbaaz should also watch it for getting a different kind of entertainment rendered by the Tragedy King's comic timing.

"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.

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.