User Reviews

Hrishikesh Mukherjee after ANAND(1971) and BAWARCHI(1972) 2 superhits with Rajesh Khanna returned with NAMAK HARAAM(1973). When Anand(1971) had released Amitabh was a newcomer whose career was going through bad phase and RK was the king. But when NH released Amitabh had suddenly gained stardom with ZANJEER(1973) and Rajesh Khanna's career started going downhill. It seems that Rajesh Khanna was scared of Big B's career heights and it seems used his power to change the ending of the film and there were lot of clashes between the 2 personally and after this film the two never acted together, while Big B went on to become the numero uno superstar Rajesh Khanna's career never was the same ever more and went downhill. Back to the movie.... NAMAK HARAAM is based on capitalism versus common man, A superb concept which shows how the bureaucrats dominate over the poor common man. The film deals with issues of common labourers who work in a factory owned by Om Shivpuri. The main concept is on the friendship between Khanna and Big B. The film starts off in present time just like ANAND(1971) with a spectacled Big B in shawl coming out of jail and then we go into flashback mode when he sees Rajesh Khanna's frame. The first half has more of fun scenes like Amitabh and Khanna both wearing same clothes, the scene at the lawyer's office, The drunk scene between AB and RK is funny too, with Big B showing the spark of drunk scenes which he was going to be known for much later. The story takes a turn when Big B has a clash with Vipinlal(A K Hangal) which results in RK taking a job as a labourer. The scene where Big B asks for forgiveness is superb, The bonding between friends is superbly handled too. There are several touching scenes like Amitabh's scenes with Om Shivpuri, Raza Murad's scenes with RK, The manner in which Khanna starts feeling for the workers, The clash between Amitabh and Khanna. The climax is superb too Direction by Hrishida is superb, his penchant for dramatic and emotional scenes is evident Music by RD Burman is superb too, All songs were picturised on Rajesh Khanna and sung by Kishore Kumar except for Vote Na Usko Dena and their pairing together is superb, Diye Jalte Hai picturised on Khanna and Amitabh is a superb song on friendship, while Nadiya Se Dariya is superb too and also Main Shayar Badnaam which is very emotional Dialogues are superb Amongst actors In ANAND Rajesh Khanna was the main role and Big B had a smaller role, but here their screen space was almost equal though Rajesh Khanna still is in the lead, He does an awesome job, Hrishida always brought out the best in his actors and it's evident here too, He does a superb job Amitabh Bachchan too is superb as Vicky the spoilt brat, it seems Hrishida cast both as he wanted them to play opposite roles then ANAND where Khanna had the outspoken character and Big B was subdued, here Amitabh is shown as a hotheaded Angry Young Man, while Khanna is subdued. Amitabh Bachchan delivers a credible performance, and this was an indication of things to come,though he tends to get loud in the film but it suits the character Rekha is unrecognisable and does an average job in a small role Simi Garewal is superb Om Shivpuri is excellent, A K Hangal who was a regular in Hrishida films does a superb job too, Asrani another regular does a good job too Amongst rest Raza Murad in a distinct role of an alcoholic poet is awesome, Durga Khote is as usual, rest are okay

Strangely after this film which was an average at the box office, Hrishida worked more with Big B in CHUPKE CHUPKE, MILI, AlAAP.etc and did only one film with Khanna NAUKRI(1978) which flopped NAMAK HARAAM is a superb film to watch even today

Namak Haram is a communist film. If Karl Marx had seen it he would have been proud of Hrishida and Gulzar sahib for understanding the class difference so correctly. The film doesn't only talk about bourgeoisie and proletariat conflict but also give a realistic insight into the the lives in both classes. The story is simple and brilliant. Amitabh and Rajesh Khanna are best friends. Amitabh (Vicky) is rich kid and Rajesh Khanna (Somu) is doing not so well. Somu lives off his friend shamelessly as they are best of pals. Domestic complications beget Vicky to run his father's big company. He has a foolish fight with the union leader (AK Hangal) and is made to apologize in public. He can't handle the embarrassment and decides to secretly plant his friend in the union to avenge his humiliation. The friend does every thing right for him until he wins the election. Here Somu sees the other side of the world to which he actually belongs. He removes his hand from the scheme hence 'Namak Haram'.

I have seen this movie more than 25 times and always love it at some or the other level. During his conversion Somu meets a drunkard 'Raza Murad' who is a poet and sells kites. This probably is Raza Murads best performance. He calls Somu 'Bandhu' and he is the one who shows Somu dark side of the society. The scenes after scenes are heart breaking and heavily sentimental. Poverty, flesh trade, medical problems, black-marketing, treachery and forgery you name it and movie talks about it directly. The range of the movie is wide. Story and Script overshadows the brilliant music of the movie given by RD Burman. There are a very few political song writers in India and Gulzar sahib is one of them. "Wo Jhoonta Hai" is a fantastic song done on stage in the film when Somu is campaigning against the Union leader played by veteran legendary actor AK Hangal. The best of the dialogs are delivered by Om Shivpuri who plays Vicky's father and represent "haute "bourgeoisie. My favorite scene in the movie is where Bacchan says to his father "Dad Daal Ka Bhav Kitna Badh Gaya Hai" and his father says "Tumhe Kisne Daal Ka Bhav Bataya?" That's the essence of the movie. Manmohan does a fantastic job like Aradhna.

The movie was made during the rise of Amitabh and downfall of Rajesh Khanna and so it seems there were conflicts about the end of the movie. Rajesh Khanna used his stardom and changed the end of the movie. Hrishida told Bacchan "Don't worry you will be a bigger star before the release of this movie". Indeed. Great entertainment, great music, great acting, great message. 10 on 10.

Hat tip to Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Gulzar for pulling off a meaningful film based on friendship and betrayal, against the backdrop of capitalism vs. trade unionism, sans overt romancing and singing that was the hallmark of the early 70's, all with some top commercial stars of the era! Flawless in execution, tracing the emotional arc of the two protagonists, Vicky and Somu.

Amitabh as Vicky is intense and possessive. Rajesh as Somu/ Chander is exuberant and people-friendly. The emotional bond between them transcends mellow understanding of each others needs, it covers the gamut. It would be insultingly incestuous to call this bond 'brotherly'. If this movie were made in contemporary times high voltage passion bordering on obsession would be central to the Vicky-Somu relationship!

Vicky has faced the biggest humiliation of his life to date from the union leader Hangal. He flies from Bombay to Delhi and waits in Chander's bedroom to unburden. And Chander, stricken to see Vicky in tears, decides to 'infiltrate' the trade union and dethrone the leader. Later, one night, covered in an old blanket, Vicky pays Somu a visit in his basti. His fleeting reactions on seeing Somu flirt with the neighbor's girl (Rekha) should be seen to understand the depth of his feelings. The most poignant yet understated scene comes towards the end of the movie, where Vicky is grateful to his friend (Simi) for her ability to understand the transformation in Somu while he himself is unable to grapple with it!

If all of the above is not obsessive love, what is? When movies of those times shied away from showing kissing/ bedroom scenes even between a man-woman how could they have shown one between two men? Plus a man-man relationship had full societal sanction as long as any sexual attraction was shrouded in 'total denial'. While we know not if this was the director's intention there is more than mere sub-text in this movie, to suggest deep love transcending teh platonic between the two characters. And I say this in a noble way not judgmental, not fantasizing.

In contrast, Vicky's feelings for Simi are unshakably platonic, even though she harbors a romantic interest. Somu's flirting with Rekha does not culminate in any more intimacy either. It was the height of irony to watch the two scenes where both Amitabh and Rekha (who reportedly engaged in a real life romantic relationship a few years later!) grief strickenly watch their common object of love (Rajesh) who is in pain!

Asrani, Hangal, Manmohan, Raza Murad and Om Shivpuri lend strong support, making their characters credible. RD Burman's music has 3 chartbusters sung by Kishore and picturized on Rajesh Khanna. The mujra song however is utterly forgettable. The sequence was unnecessary as well, and probably added on for commercial reasons only. One of the reasons why I did not give the movie a 10 star rating.

Both Amitabh and Rajesh have 'lead' roles. Since Rajesh was a bigger star at the time, Amitabh was billed a supporting actor. While both give flawless performances, Amitabh does make the bigger impact of the two. His brooding role tinged with sorrow, the lower expectations attached to him at the time, that he was present in both the first and last frames of the movie, may all have contributed to this impact.