Karan Arjun (1995)

This exciting super hit of 1995 allowed Shahrukh to demonstrate other facets of his performing talents in this action-packed story of vengeance, reincarnation and ‘faith that makes the impossible possible’.   Intended to be a hard-hitting action adventure about divine retribution, there is less emphasis on characters and Shahrukh’s role in Karan Arjun is very shallow in comparison with his part in Darr, Baazigar and Anjaam.

While Shahrukh’s charismatic performances in these complex character parts attracted a lot of attention, the main features of Karan Arjun are more superficial and focus on the themes of re-birth and the punishment of evildoers, much of it in a traditional Indian style with scenes of sabres and men on horseback, and temples devoted to the Goddess Kali. 

The drawn-out action sequences allow Shahrukh to indulge in more physical and athletic feats as he teams up with another famous Khan, namely Salman Khan, whose popularity rivaled Shahrukh’s during the 1990s.  Although Salman has also demonstrated great talent for diverse roles, he is well-suited to his role in Karan Arjun as the powerful and muscular boxer who discovers that he was Shahrukh’s brother in his past life.

Apart from the many energetic fighting scenes, the subject of reincarnation creates considerable intrigue and fascination for the viewer, and the photography and editing techniques used to create memories of a past life are very effective in helping the audience to understand the story.   

The film begins with a horrific crime against an innocent mother and her two sons perpetrated by a greedy and power-hungry landlord who kills anyone who might threaten his inheritance and wealth.  In the depths of grief and despair, the mother pleads to Goddess Kali for her sons’ lives, and the answer to her prayers is immediately granted:  two boys are born in that moment and are given the souls of her deceased sons. 

Yet twenty years must pass before the young men cross paths and begin to realize that they were brothers in their last lives, and that they are destined to find their mother and execute vengeance on the evil landlord.  At the same time, both of them have found love, which complicates matters especially for Shahrukh’s character, Vijay, who was Arjun in his last life.  His love interest is played by Kajol, with whom Shahrukh has had several very big hits over the years, starting with Baazigar a few years earlier, and most memorably Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

Besides popular stars like Kajol and the two Khans, a good villain also contributes to the success of a film like Karan Arjun, and who better than Amrish Puri, one of Bollywood’s most renowned villains in over 200 roles in his 35-year career, to play the part of the murderous landlord, Dhurjan Singh, who deserves divine judgment and punishment at the hands of the re-born brothers, Karan and Arjun.

Along with the frequent and highly-charged emotions and actions, there are several exciting songs which suit the mood of the film, with music by Rajesh Roshan, the composer of many film scores over past decades.  Most popular of the songs is Jati Hoon Main in which Shahrukh and Kajol enjoy a fun romp around a horse stable, but also quite memorable is the somewhat eerie Jai Maa Kali, set in the sinister-looking temple of the goddess Kali, and which holds foreboding of the evil landlord’s imminent demise.

To contrast the gloomy theme of violence and revenge, there is some light comedy relief by the ever-present Johnny Lever and Singh’s stuttering servant, but on the whole this is an action film with many traditional Indian elements and popular stars in the main roles.  If nothing else, Karan Arjun shows that Shahrukh is a versatile actor who can perform a large range of roles, from psychologically and emotionally demanding, to mostly physically demanding parts, as in this film. 

by Barbara Burkowsky

<< back | top of page