Director: Rakesh Roshan
Starring: Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Amrish Puri
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors in India have created comedies as beloved as Salman Khan. Ever since his 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 comic timing. Khan has always excelled at making comedies with a sense of humour. Through his abilities to portray characters which are compelling, Khan has established a legacy which has proven to be compelling. Despite having reached age of retirement, Khan has never lost his strong passion for producing iconic entertainment. An iconic legend in India, Khan has become a strong legend in Bollywood Cinema. Throughout a groundbreaking career, Khan has created several strong movies that are absolutely worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Khan and admire all the films he has made in his career. However, “Karan Arjun” definitely stand out as his most underrated film. Released in 1995, Rakesh Roshan’s movie offered a strong portrait of brothers. Packed with stunning music, engaging storytelling and powerful acting, it’s an exceptional Bollywood drama about brothers. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance by Salman Khan, who embodies a man sharing a powerful bond with a brother. Although “Karan Arjun” is a brilliant Bollywood drama, it isn’t a flawless film. It suffers from a melodramatic conclusion without resolution. Nevertheless, it offers spellbinding entertainment for fans of Salman Khan.
“Karan Arjun” the story of a pair of brothers which face reincarnation. Shah Rukh Khan plays Arjun Singh, a young Indian man with strong devotion to his family. Arjun shares a strong bond with his brother Karan (Salman Khan), whom he loves. However, Arjun’s life forever changes when he becomes victim of a gruesome murder. Arjun’s dreams become shattered when he and his brother become murdered by their greedy uncle. Faced with dilemma, Arjun is given a second shot at life when he reincarnates in India. Searching for vengeance, Arjun and his brother attempt to overcome a sad past that has been defined by grim violence.
Rakesh Roshan is fascinated with the tales of brothers that face tension. His iconic film “Kishen Kangaiya” offered a strong portrait of brothers which face trauma in India. With “Karan Arjun”, however, Roshan crafted his first ever reincarnation drama. It marked the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture lives of reincarnated brothers facing tragedy but he succeeded. Evoking Subhash Gha’s “Karz”, Roshan expertly uses montages to convey hardships faced by brothers that experience reincarnation. For instance, the montages elevate the brother bond scene. During this unforgettable scene, Karan and Arjun spend valuable time together before they become victims of murder. Using stunning montage, Roshan creates a portrait of brothers that’s compelling. Montages are tricky techniques to use in Bollywood films. As Karan Johar’s “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” demonstrated, montages elevate Bollywood movies about broken families. Nevertheless, it works well in this film. Using stunning visuals, Roshan captures the tension reincarnated brothers are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Karan Arjun” that merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the best Bollywood movies you will ever watch. Roshan has always excelled at constructing engaging musical sequences in his movies, and “Karan Arjun” showcased his strengths as a director. Roshan effectively uses cross-cutting to create musical sequences about brothers which are engaging. For instance, cross-cutting elevates the Yeh Bandhan Toh song. During this memorable scene, Karan and Arjun bond together through delivering a melody. Using bold cross-cutting, Roshan crafts a strong portrait of brotherhood that is compelling. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. It gives the movie an engaging atmosphere capturing a heavy burden that brothers bear. Using engrossing production, Roshan captures struggles of brothers that face reincarnation.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Karan Arjun” is a Bollywood film which is engaging. The film is extremely well written, and effectively uses silence to capture the hardships brothers torn apart by violence experience. Inspired by Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull”, Roshan deftly uses silence to capture separations of brothers which are stressful. For instance, silence enhances the farewell scene. During this emotional scene, Karan and Arjun bid heartbreaking farewell to each other following separation. Through silence, Roshan crafts a portrait of brothers audiences easily relate to. Silence is a tricky technique to use in Bollywood movies. As Karan Johar’s “My Name is Khan” claimed, silence enhances Bollywood movies about terrorism. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a brilliant screenplay, Roshan captures brothers that experience a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Salman Khan delivers one of his best career performances as Karan. Khan first achieved appreciation for portraying action heroes in Bollywood. With “Karan Arjun”, however, the actor took on his most complex role. It isn’t easy to portray a man seeking reincarnation causing tragedies but he succeeds. This is the actor unlike you have ever seen him in the past before: bold, emotional and funny in his most iconic role. Through spellbinding expressions, he captures the angst, bravery and strong spirit of a man seeking to pull off reincarnations. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors in Bollywood.
While the movie is mainly a bold showcase for Khan, the supporting cast is also great and worthy of recognition. Shah Rukh Khan is spectacular, capturing charismatic nature of a young man that shares a strong bond with a brother. Kajol is captivaging, bringing heart and soul towards the role of a woman whose love life spirals out of control. Lastly, Amrish Puri is worthy of appreciation. As a menacing uncle, he brings tensions to the movie.
Despite its strong performances, however, “Karan Arjun” can’t quite capture struggle faced by brothers that face reincarnation. If there is a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks an engaging ending. It’s an over the top ending that lacks a satisfying closure. Whereas this conclusion enhanced Barry Levinson’s “Rain Man”, it clashes with the tone of this movie. At worst, it perpetuates myths about reincarnation that aren’t true to reality. Therefore, “Karan Arjun” is one of those Bollywood films which not everyone will adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Salman Khan would absolutely enjoy “Karan Arjun” and so will audiences seeking heartfelt entertainment. A brilliant Bollywood classic, it celebrated an Indian actor that’s iconic.
Nearly 30 years following the release of an iconic Bollywood film about brothers which create bonds through reincarnation, it’s an awe-inspiring reminder of a beloved Indian actor that has built an enduring reputation through his uncanny abilities to play strong characters in unforgettable movies that are without a single doubt absolutely worthy of appreciation.
4.5/5 stars
