Hum (film) explained

Hum
Director:Mukul S. Anand
Producer:Romesh Sharma
Story:Ravi Kapoor
Mohan Kaul
Kader Khan (Dialogue)
Screenplay:Ravi Kapoor
Mohan Kaul
Starring:Amitabh Bachchan
Rajinikanth
Govinda
Kimi Katkar
Deepa Sahi
Shilpa Shirodkar
Danny Denzongpa
Anupam Kher
Kader Khan
Music:Laxmikant–Pyarelal
Cinematography:W. B. Rao
Editing:Kuldeep Mehan
K. Ravi Kumar
Runtime:171 minutes
Country:India
Language:Hindi

Hum is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language action crime film directed by Mukul S. Anand. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Govinda, Kimi Katkar, Deepa Sahi, Shilpa Shirodkar, Danny Denzongpa, Anupam Kher and Kader Khan. At the 37th Filmfare Awards, the film received 7 nominations and won 4 awards including Best Actor for Bachchan and Best Choreographer for Chinni Prakash for the song "Jumma Chumma De De". The film was the second highest-grossing Indian film of 1991 at the box office. The film was an inspiration for the cult hit Tamil film Baashha (1995).[1]

Plot

In 1975, Bhaktawar (Danny Denzongpa) rules over the docks in Mumbai, treating his workers like slaves. Despite his general dissatisfaction with this regime, Tiger (Amitabh Bachchan) extorts money from the dock workers for his father Pratap (Deepak Shirke), who in turn works as an enforcer for Bhaktawar.

Tiger is in love with Jumma (Kimi Katkar), the sister of his best friend Gonsalves (Romesh Sharma). Gonsalves is against Bhaktawar's policies and is killed by Bhaktawar and in the subsequent fallout, Tiger's father and stepmother also die, leaving his two young half-brothers, Kumar and Vijay, with Tiger.

Tiger immediately sets out to kill Bhaktawar but is stopped by Inspector Girdhar (Anupam Kher). Girdhar reminds Tiger to fulfil his dying stepmother's wish and take care of his brothers while leaving the police to deal with Bhaktawar. Girdhar and his faithful sidekick Havaldar Arjun Singh (Annu Kapoor) steal money from Bhaktawar's safe and set fire to Bhaktawar's house to destroy any evidence, murdering Bhaktawar's wife and his daughter. Police later arrest Bhaktawar for killing Tiger's family and sends him to jail. Tiger escapes in a train and Jumma refuses to leave with Tiger, as his brothers should be his priority. Jumma and Tiger promise to reunite in the future. Girdhar bombs the train carrying Tiger and his brothers to eliminate any possible witnesses of his crime, but they escape.

16 years later, in 1991, Tiger has renamed himself Shekhar and is a respectable farmer and timber merchant in Ooty. Kumar (Rajnikanth) is a police officer married to Aarti (Deepa Sahi), and they have a young daughter Jyoti (Sanjana). The youngest brother, Vijay (Govinda), is a college student. Vijay is in love with Anita (Shilpa Shirodkar), daughter of General Rana Pratap Singh (Kader Khan), who wants his daughter to marry a military officer. Shekhar and his brothers lead a happy family life. Neither of the two youngest brothers seems to have any memory of their time in Mumbai and both regard Shekhar as their elder brother. Jumma is now a successful actress, while Girdhar and Havaldar are leading a luxurious life off the money they stole from Bhaktawar.

Bhaktawar is released from jail and is manipulated by Giridhar into believing that Tiger killed Bhaktawar's family. To seek revenge, Bhaktawar tracks down Tiger in Ooty. He kidnaps Aarti and Jyothi in Bangalore and tells them the truth about Shekhar. Meanwhile, Kumar also learns Shekhar's true identity and blames him for his wife and child's kidnapping. However, all misunderstandings are cleared by Jumma when she explains Vijay and Kumar about their past and the sacrifices made by Shekhar for them to lead a respectable life.

Later Tiger, along with Kumar and Vijay, rescue Aarti and Jyoti and explain to Bhaktawar that it was Giridhar who had murdered his family. Bhaktawar then ties himself along with Giridhar to a bomb and they both die due to the explosion. The film ends with the family happily united.

Production

Hum was shot in various locations including Mumbai,[2] Ooty,[3] and Mauritius.[4] Mukul S. Anand had considered and discussed a potential scene for this film with Rajinikanth, where Amitabh Bachchan's character would help Govinda get a seat in the Police Academy. Anand discarded the scene, because he did not find it suitable. But Rajinikanth felt the scene had the potential to develop into a script for a possible feature film, which resulted into the 1995 Tamil film Baashha.[5]

In 1990 at Wembley stadium London, Amitabh Bachchan performed and danced to the song "Jumma Chumma De De" with Sridevi even before the film and song were released.[6]

Soundtrack

Hum
Type:soundtrack
Artist:Laxmikant–Pyarelal
Released:25 January 1991
Recorded:1990
Genre:Film soundtrack, Bollywood music
Length:34:41
Language:Hindi
Label:Saregama

The soundtrack was composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal. Two songs were inspired by Guinean singer Mory Kanté's 1987 album Akwaba Beach, with "Jumma Chumma De De" being based on Kante's "Tama", while "Ek Doosre Se" was based on Kanté's "Inch Allah".[7]

Lyrics are written by Anand Bakshi.

The film's soundtrack album sold 3million units.[8] However, the music rights were sold for only [8] .[9]

Reception

N. Krishnaswamy of The Indian Express wrote that "‘Hum’ is a formula film of vendetta that tries to renew itself with a lush visual feel and expansiveness, which qualities to give some credibility to the rhetoric of poor against rich and the oppressed against tyranny that the film bandies".[10]

Box office

The film grossed in India, including a net income of 9.25crore. It was the year's second highest-grossing Indian film at the box office.[11]

Accolades

AwardCategoryRecipients and NomineesResults
Filmfare AwardsBest ActorAmitabh Bachchanrowspan="3"
Best ChoreographerChinni Prakash for "Jumma Chumma De De"
R. Verman Shetty
Best Supporting ActressDeepa Sahirowspan="4"
Best ComedianKader Khan
Best VillainDanny Denzongpa
Best Male Playback SingerSudesh Bhosle for "Jumma Chumma De De"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: February 2021 . 'Hum' turns 30: 4 reasons why the Amitabh Bachchan-Rajinikanth starrer is worth its weight in gold . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230421145602/https://www.deccanherald.com/amp/entertainment/hum-turns-30-4-reasons-why-the-amitabh-bachchan-rajinikanth-starrer-is-worth-its-weight-in-gold-945682.html . 21 April 2023 . 21 April 2023 . Deccan Herald.
  2. News: When I first met Amitabh Bachchan: 5 young Bollywood actors recall how they reacted. 11 October 2017. Hindustan Times. 10 April 2018. en. 10 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180410202138/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/when-i-first-met-amitabh-bachchan-5-young-bollywood-actors-recall-how-they-reacted/story-cptTwJ5CyFE17KU12YDfpN.html. live.
  3. Web site: With usual locales like Kashmir closed for film makers, Ooty becomes the ideal alternative. 30 November 1991. India Today. en. 10 April 2018. 24 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624210330/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19911130-with-usual-locales-like-kashmir-closed-for-film-makers-ooty-becomes-the-ideal-alternative-815120-1991-11-30. live.
  4. Web site: Mauritius pulls out all stops for Jumma Chumma megastar Amitabh Bachchan. 15 September 1990. India Today. en. 10 April 2018. 10 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180410201712/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19900915-mauritius-pulls-out-all-stops-for-jumma-chumma-megastar-amitabh-bachchan-813010-1990-09-15. live.
  5. Book: My Days with Baasha . Krissna . Suresh . Rangarajan . Malathi . Westland Ltd. . 2012 . 978-93-8162-629-0 . 132 . Suresh Krissna.
  6. Web site: When Amitabh Bachchan danced to Jumma Chumma with Sridevi. Mumbai Mirror. 3 July 2020. 4 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704142349/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/when-amitabh-bachchan-danced-to-jumma-chumma-with-sridevi/articleshow/62040042.cms. live.
  7. Web site: Srinivasan . Karthik . Karthik Srinivasan . 16 October 2018 . How Guinean Singer Mory Kanté's Music Was Lifted To Create 'Tamma Tamma Loge' and 'Jumma Chumma De De' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200606090031/https://www.filmcompanion.in/music/how-guinean-singer-mory-kantes-music-was-lifted-to-create-tamma-tamma-loge-and-jumma-chumma-de-de/ . 6 June 2020 . 16 October 2018 . Film Companion.
  8. News: Rahman . M. . Hindi films: There's now big bucks in audio rights . 26 July 2013 . . 21 May 1992 . 10 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181210111219/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/19921231-hindi-films-there-is-now-big-bucks-in-audio-rights-767332-2013-05-21 . live .
  9. Web site: Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) . . 1990 . 9 December 2018 . 10 March 2020 . https://archive.today/20200310042058/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=1991&locations=IN&start=1990 . live .
  10. News: Krishnaswamy . N. . 15 February 1991 . Hum . 7 . . 4 September 2023 . 3 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220303093715/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19910215&printsec=frontpage&hl=en . live .
  11. Web site: Box Office 1991 . . 10 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130115230117/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=197&catName=MTk5MQ%3D%3D . 15 January 2013 . dead . dmy .