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Hey Ram
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'Hey Ram' A vintage look at the partition of India

By Ajay Chaturvedi
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

So Hey Ram, Kamal Haasan's second directorial venture, has been released after some “disturbing” portions were cut by Indian film censor board. The film takes a vintage look at the partition of India.

The movie begins with an 89-year-old man, Saket Ram (Kamal Haasan) on his deathbed and his grandson by his side. From there, the movie goes into a flashback to the pre-Indian independence days. Saket is an archeologist and works on the site of Mohanjodaro in Karachi. He is accompanied by his best friend Amjad Khan (Shah Rukh Khan) there.

The movie takes a turn when Saket Ram goes to Calcutta to his wife Aparna (Rani Mukherjee), whom he has married against his parents’ wishes. The city is already in strife because of Jinnah's demand for a separate state of Pakistan. Trouble begins for Saket Ram, when he saves a Sikh girl from an angry Muslim mob. To avenge this, the mob led by, ironically, wife Aparna's tailor-Altaf, breaks into Saket's house, assaults him, ties him and very gruesomely rapes and murders his wife.

This makes Saket Ram mad and he decides to avenge his wife's disgrace and starts killing every possible Muslim he comes across. During this he meets some right-wing Hindu fundamentalists, led by Abhyankar. Abhyankar preaches Saket about the need of the Hindus to come together and save their brethren from the Islamists who, according to them, are mere intruders.

There are several scathing attacks on Mahatma Gandhi. Naseeruddin Shah has played Gandhi quite well in this film, though his voice does not match that of the Mahatma. Gandhi is portrayed as endorsing the Muslim demand for a separate state.

Meanwhile Saket Ram gets married a second time to a girl, another light-eyed beauty. Saket Ram does not love her and consummates the marriage only when he is under the influence of alcohol.

Saket Ram is entrusted the task of killing Mahatma Gandhi, after his friend Abhyankar is left paralyzed in a freak accident. He has a change of heart only when he falls prey to a bunch of Muslims. There he meets his old friend Amjad Khan, who is an ardent Gandhi admirer. Both friends get trapped in crossfire between the warring communities. Amjad Khan finally falls prey to a bullet.

Kamal Hasan is good as Saket Ram. Shahrukh Khan looks fresh in a different kind of role. Naseer is brilliant as Mahatama Gandhi. Rani Muhkerjee looks very pretty as the Bengali wife who loves to eat. In fact, Rani had to put on weight to look natural.

The film had it share of controversy for having some steamy scenes. And, also for portraying Gandhi in bad light. In fact even Hindu organizations may not like it that much as they have also been portrayed as communal

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