Director: Vikram Bhatt
Starring: Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji and Ashutosh Rana
Ghulam
Few actors in Bollywood are as celebrated today as Aamir Khan. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Khan has proven to be one of the greatest actors in Bollywood. Whether it’s star-crossed lovers, terrorists in danger or professional wrestlers, Khan has suggested he can portray many characters. Arguably, Khan’s strength as an actor is his bravery. Khan has never been afraid to take risks in his career through tackling subjects that prove controversial. Through abilities to play characters which are compelling, Khan has established a legacy which has proven to be compelling. Despite reaching the age of retirement, Khan has never lost his strong passion for producing iconic entertainment. An iconic legend in India, Khan has become a celebrated legend in Bollywood Cinema. Throughout a groundbreaking career, Khan has created several strong movies that are worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Khan and adore all movies which he has made in his career. However, “Ghulam” definitely stands out as his most underrated work. Released in 1998, Vikram Bhatt’s movie offered a powerful portrait of menacing gangsters. Packed with stunning production design, strong storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s a brilliant Bollywood crime drama. At a centre of it all is a strong performance by Aamir Khan, who embodies a ruthless gangster facing tension. Although “Ghulam” is a captivating Bollywood drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from uneven pacing which often tests viewers’ patience. Nevertheless, it offers strong entertainment for fans of Aamir Khan.
“Ghulam” tells the story of a gangster that faces a serious problem. Aamir Khan plays Sidharth, a boxing champion that engages in a life of crime. Sidharth has always been careful to keep his lifestyle of crime a huge secret from people. However, Sidharth’s life forever changes when he falls in love with a woman in a gang causing disasters. Alisha (Rani Mukerji) is a beautiful woman seeking romantic relationships in India. Faced with a serious dilemma, Sidharth questions if it is possible for him to truly become a gangster in India. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Sidharth wonders whether it truly is possible for him to become a celebrated gangster.
Vikram Bhatt has always been fascinated with the themes of crime. An extraordinary Indian filmmaker, Bhatt has often created engaging movies about criminals facing a disasters. With “Ghulam”, however, Bhatt created his first gangster drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture intense hardships faced by gangsters experiencing adversity but he succeeded. Using strong cinematography, Bhatt captures a boxing champion embarking on a journey. Evoking Elia Kazan’s “On the Waterfront”, Bhatt uses montages to capture tensions experienced by prizefighters that have obstacles which they must confront. For instance, montages enhance the crime scene. During this tense scene, Sidharth faces tension when he must confront gangster leaders. Using montages, Bhatt creates a portrayal of gangs which is compelling. Montages are tricky techniques to employ in movies. As Rajkumar Hirani’s “3 Idiots” suggested, montages elevate movies on college students. Nevertheless, it works in this movie. Using stunning visuals, Bhatt captures the hardships that gangsters are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Ghulam” that merits appreciation is that production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood movies you will ever see. Evoking Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs of New York”, the filmmaker expertly uses costumes to convey hardship endured by gangsters. Throughout the movie, Sidharth’s costumes illustrate his transformations into a formidable gangster. For instance, the costumes elevate the Aati Kya Khandala song. During this engrossing scene, Sidharth has romantic confrontation with a woman he loves dearly. Using strong costumes, Bhatt creates a portrait of gangs that’s engaging. Moreover, the music score is magnificent. It gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing the burden gangsters bear. Through compelling production, Bhatt captures gangsters that experience serious tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Ghulam” is a Bollywood film about gangs that’s compelling. The film is extremely well written, and effectively uses monologues to capture the hardships that gangsters often experience. Evoking Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather”, Bhatt effectively employs monologues to gangsters whose lives are in danger. For instance, monologues enhance the gangs fight scene. During this engaging scene. Sidharth expresses his strong views on criminals through dramatic monologues. Through stunning monologues, Bhatt crafts a strong portrait of gangs which audiences can relate to. Monologues are complicated techniques. As Farhan Akhtar’s “Dil Chahta Hai” suggested, monologues often elevate Indian movies about friendships. However, it works immensely. Using a bold screenplay, Bhatt captures gangsters which experience a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Aamir Khan delivers one of his best career performances as Sidharth. Khan earned appreciation for playing romantic heroes in Bollywood movies. With “Ghulam”, however, he took on his most complex role. It’s tricky to play a gangster that faces adversity but he succeeds tremendously. This is the actor unlike you have seen him before: charming, emotional and vulnerable in his most iconic role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, grief and resentment endured by a gangster. It’s a powerful performance by one of the most commemorated actors that is working in Bollywood today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Aamir Khan, the supporting cast is superb. Rani Mukerji is remarkable, capturing the feisty personality of a woman that falls in love with a gangster causing an adversity. Sharat Saxena is spectacular, capturing a strong nature of a police officer seeking to catch criminals causing a disaster. Lastly, Rajit Kapoor merits appreciation. As a bold gang leader, he is unforgettable.
Although “Ghulam” is a brilliant Bollywood drama, it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks strong pacing. Bhatt’s choice to integrate political subplots into the movie is clever but doesn’t entirely succeed. Due towards this faulty technique, scenes capturing politics of gangs aren’t as engaging as Sidharth’s journey. As Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” suggested, subplots about gang politicians enhance classic crime movies. Therefore, “Ghulam” can’t quite capture gangs that audiences adore
Nevertheless, fans of Aamir Khan will truly enjoy “Ghulam” and so would audiences seeking meaningful entertainment. A bold crime drama, it honours an actor showing charisma in India.
Nearly 30 years following the release of a groundbreaking Bollywood movie about a notorious gangster under pressure, it’s a remarkable reminder of a legendary Indian actor that has built a lasting legacy playing compelling characters in memorable movies audiences treasure.
4/5 stars
The Film Buff 