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.
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.