Casting
Rakhee - Durga Singh
Shahrukh Khan - Vijay (Arjun)
Kajol - Sonia Saxena
Salman Khan - Ajay (Karan)
Mamta Kulkarni - Bindiya
Amrish Puri - Thakur Durjan Singh
Johnny Lever - Lenghaiya
Ashok Saraf - Munshiji
This was the first film in which Salman and Shah Rukh worked together. It is as good as Amitabh - Dharmendra on-screen chemistry. One of the best in Bollywood till date. Both performed very nicely in the movie. For initial part of their career Both Khans were not that good at acting but this movie has seen the best of their performances. Salman was at his peak at this time. With solid hit like Hum Aapke Hai kaun he was on seventh heaven. He was also looking great, perhaps the best ever.
Performance by Rakhee was too good. She is one of the best Modern day Mothers. Like 70s and 80s, she is not helpless anytime.
Both Kajol and Mamata were not having much role to play in movie but they have peroformed their part good as well.
Bad guy - Amrish Puri with his totally Thakur looks had also performed good in movie. He was favorite villain of many directors in Bollywood like Rakesh Roshan, Subhash Ghai etc.
Jhonny Lever and Ashok Saraf were good in this movie as usual for their comic sequence. ’’Thakur to Gyo’’ very famous dialogue from the film.
Behind the Secene work
Director - Rakesh Rosha. We can say that this was a comeback movie for Rakesh Roashan. His last hit was Khoon Bhari Maang in 1988. There after he had made 3 movies Kala Bazaar, Kishan Kanhaiya and King Uncle but only Kishan Kanhaiya performed average on box office. He was looking for a success and Karan Arjun was the one which brought a success from him.
Story was written by Sachin Bhowmick and Ravi Kapoor. Though not any exceptional story but it made a huge impact on box office.
Music was as usual from Rajesh Roshan and Lyricist by Indeevar. There were many songs by I remember three very well Suraj kab door gagan se, Jaati hoon main, Bhangada Pale. Jaati Hoon main was one of the biggest hit of the year. Bhangada pale was the best dance sequence where Choreographer Chinni Prakash & Rekha Chinni Prakash has performed very well.
Action sequences were directed by Bhiku Verma, I still remember some flying punches by Shahrukh. They were very nicely taken.
The Story
The story starts in a village where two brothers Karan (Salman) and Arjun (Shahrukh) and their mother Durga (Rakhee) living. They were living
a poor life eventhough they are the grandsons of the rich Thakur. But thakur is under the influence of his nephew Dhurjan Singh (Amrish Puri). Durga told her sons that Dhurjan Singh killed their father. With Karan Arun were thiking about the revenge Dhurjan murders both Karan and Arjun. Durga, a helpless and old mother sought help of biggest mother - Maa Kali. She asked for revenge and justice. She asked Maa Kali to restore her dead sons,
Maa Kali accepted her request. Both of her sons were reborn. One (Arjun) born at a place where his father is a drunker. Father hits the child all the time and kept child at the mercy of God and people. Thus child (Arjun) learned how to live in this tough world and protect himself. Other Child (Karan) is brought up by managing the horse stable. This indeed asks for a big physical and mental strength. Thus he also had grown up as a strong man. On the other hand Durga was waiting for her Children. Both Karan and Arjun came to village and they reminded about everything. They fought with Durjan Singh and finished his era.
This is a movie which gives you a perfect combination of no only Salman - Shahrukh but also a combination of Ma Durga (Rakhee) and Maa Kali. It was a request of Maa Durga and blessing of Maa Kali which made the rebirth possible to see of the evil of Durjan singh.
Trivia
Initially Ajay Devgan was supposed to play role of Karan (SalmanKhan) but some how he opted out and Salman was in.
The name of the movie was ’’Kaynaat’’ but later on Rakesh planned to give a simple name and come to conclusion of ’’Karan Arjun’’.
This movie kicks of friendship of Salman - Shahrukh which later on ended on Devdaas set.
This movie was also beginning of friendship of Rakesh - Shahrukh which was ended after big hit Kaho na pyar hai.
I read somewhere that Rakhee used to cook for Sharukh & Salman on the sets to keep them away from Non Veg items.
This was the first movie where Hrithik say how star work by working on the sets with his father. His second look was Koyala where he saw Shahrukh working again.
Karan Arjun is one of the all time biggest hits with Sholay, HAKHK, DDLH
Last words - With this review, I found that how difficult it is to write a review on a topic which is foreced by other.