Dharam Karam

Okay, this is another take on Raj Kapoor's Awaara not in the story or the script, but more in the concept of nature vs. Nurture which is really quite corny by now, and it is even handled very poorly. The idea that a criminal would try to outsmart life by switching between his child and the child of an honest man, just to have his biological man become a decent man, is really quite silly. Not only that, the morale of the story, unlike in Awaara, is the most distorted there can be: it's all in the genes, decency or lack thereof. I can't think of a worse message to convey.

Indeed, the film doesn't work and not just because of its poor story but basically its poor script - it fully adopts all the ingredients of mainstream Hindi cinema - melodrama, sentimentality, unconvincing, childish dialogue, ridiculous action, whiny background score, caricatures for characters, and just a general lack of credibility. Directed by Randhir Kapoor, Raj Kapoor's eldest son who bears a striking resemblance to his father but never matches him in neither looks nor talent. The only redeeming in the narrative is the wonderful music by R. D. Burman.

What this film has going for it other than the lovely music is Raj Kapoor, who finally plays a man closer to his actual age, without the silly shticks of overdone innocence that his characters had become so famous for over the years. He is amazingly kind and wholesome - the kindness in his eyes makes it really work well. Everyone else in the film is a caricature - Randhir Kapoor hasn't got what it takes to lead a film, Rekha gets a role of zero importance, Prem Nath is very poor, so is Narendra. Sadly, Dharam Karam is the most stereotypical film you'll find.

RK films known for their slightly higher standard films does a rarther miserable job of this film. directed by Raj Kapoors son Rhandir Kapoor, the film suffers in alot of places. the editing is not up to scratch and the story is plain rubbish. The idea of doing good deeds rather than being lured to the dark side of life is potrayed poorly. Rekha whose fashion sense in the film is rarther questionable acts well but is nothing special. though there is one thing good and that is the soundtrack of the film. especially one all time classic....

The great showman of Bollywood Raj Kapoor had made a classic movie - Aawara (1951) containing an interesting and meaningful discussion about Nature vs. Nurture issue and the conclusion drawn was that nurture is more important in shaping the personality of an individual than nature or the jeans in his / her blood. I am in complete agreement with this conclusion. A child is like a lump of clay which is shaped by his / her nurture and the associated environment only in which he / she grows up. The role of his /her genes, if any, is minimal only.

However around two and a half decades post Aawara, Raj Kapoor's elder son Randhir Kapoor directed a movie in which this argument was contradicted and it was established that jeans play a far greater role in shaping an individual than the fostering and environment. Well, I find it difficult to agree with that assertion. But I appreciate that the movie made by Randhir Kapoor under the prestigious banner of his father is definitely an entertaining movie which was a box office hit also. It's Dharam Karam (1975).

Dharam Karam is the story of Shankar (Premnaath) who is a hoodlum and, therefore, better known as Shankar Daada. He is not at all happy with this form of his life and he wants his offspring to become a law-abiding, decent and honourable individual. He believes that it's possible only by his nurturing in a suitable environment and not his home and the milieu he is in. Hence when his wife gives birth to a baby boy, he switches him with a simultaneously born kid who is the child of a renowned artist Ashok (Raj Kapoor). Now Shankar's son Ranjeet (Narendranaath) grows up in Ashok's home and Ashok's son Dharam (Randhir Kapoor) grows up in a slum.

Now as per the vision of the script-writer (Prayaagraaj) and the director (Randhir Kapoor himself), genes prove to be stronger than fostering and environment. Thereby despite growing up in a defective environment, Dharam does not become a baddie and despite growing up in a desirable environment, i.e., Ashok's home, Ranjeet takes the wrong path. Destiny brings all the characters of this story together and Shankar realizes his mistake in the climax when the children come to know who their real fathers are.

Dharam Karam is a damn interesting movie. The narrative maintains its momentum from the very beginning to the very finish. If this movie is watched for sheer entertainment only, it's fine. However the thought propagated by it is dangerous. I don't know how Raj Kapoor allowed his son to make a movie turning his all time great classic Aawara upside down. A child arriving on the Earth has no control over the surroundings in which he is born. And hence blaming the genes in his blood for his taking the wrong path in life, is a sheer injustice to him. In fact, it's the quality of the nurture, the environment and the milieu which makes all the difference in development of his personality.

Technically the movie is superior and lives up to the repute of the R.K. banner which is known as the first family of Bollywood. The screenplay is formula-based but able to maintain the curiosity of the spectator throughout. Writer Prayaagraaj has written the dialogs also which are not great. Considering the mood of the movie and the script, better dialogs should have been written.

Randhir Kapoor was a good actor (at least in my opinion) but he was a better director who knew his job well. He has directed only three movies in his directorial career - 1. Kal Aaj Aur Kal (1971), 2. Dharam Karam (1975) and 3. Henna (1991). And everyone of them has turned out to be a good movie. He has directed this movie also quite proficiently and extracted good performances from all the lead actors including himself as well as his legendary father. Rekha being his love interest in the movie didn't have much to do though.

R.D. Burman's music is admirable. It contains two gems in the voice of Mukesh - 1. Ek Din Bik Jaayega Maati Ke Mol (this classic song elaborates a great philosophy of life), 2. Tere Humsafar Geet Hain Tere (sung by Mukesh with Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar). Other songs are average.

I recommend Dharam Karam to all the entertainment-seekers but with my reservation about the theme of the movie. A seed may be good but if it does not get proper soil, water, manure and care; it cannot grow up into a stout tree. So much talent is wasted in India because the talented kids do not get the requisite nurture and desirable environment. They are the unfortunate buds which are not able to bloom into fragrant flowers and wither out before time.

Well .... It is a wholesome entertainer. In my tender age, I had watched it thrice, when it was released ! Then several times again on TV! Irrespective of whether you agree to its central theme, this movie is a musical masala delight and punches all essential elements of a masala Hindi movie. Watch it, if not already seen. Enjoyment is guaranteed ! In fact, I liked all 3 movies directed by Randhir Kapoor, viz. Kal Aaj Aur Kal, this one and Heena. He should have directed more movies, I feel ! 👍 👍👍☺ Action sequences, emotional moments, comedy situations, fine humours, loud scenes - all are captured well in this movie. Era of 70's can be earmarked as an era of solid musical entertainers, be it a Sholay or it may be Jay Santoshi Maa or Don or Trishul or Seeta Aur Geeta (with my favourite Hema Malini, the Dream Girl of the Nation in double role, winning Filmfare award for the best actress) or even Amol Patekar & Tina Munim's Baato Baato Mein ! You like them all. You enjoy them all. In fact, today missing such cinemas !