Haré Rama Haré Krishna (1971)

7/10

Great cultural document: bolo subh shaam . . .

VirginiaK_NYC18 November 2002

This one grew on me. I love the R.D. Burman music and in spite of the cruder elements of the story I found much to be moved by as I kept re-watching the movie. The brother-sister plot line is powerful, I thought; there's also more probably obligatory stuff, like bar fights, a loony crime story, etc. that are just distracting. (Though not unfunny from a certain point of view.) Also the English translation is definitely by someone for whom it was a bit of a stretch, and as loony as it is I am grateful to him for doing it.

Like many of the Bollywood movies I've seen, this one is melodramatic and opera-like, including here notably a song sung first by a little boy to cheer up his abused and unhappy sister, and then the same song sung 12 or so years later by the man who has travelled to Kathmandu seeking to re-connect with this girl, grown up and troubled (she had been told her brother and mother were dead), numbing her pain with drugs.

A super thing about this 1971 movie is that it is about the hippie movement, which brought hordes of seekers to India, from an Indian point of view, that sees them as people driven to India by a spiritual hunger aroused by the failings of their own societies, but nonetheless, in India, living only for the pleasures of the moment. The hippie singing-dancing-drugging scenes are truly wonderful, and accurate in their tone (I'm old enough to remember), and I feel pretty sure that the masses of young white zoned-out kids are actual hippie extras, as I remember hearing about kids on the caravan to the East getting this kind of work in Bollywood.

(It is not about the actual Hare Krishna movement, though the movie hippies sing a Krishna/Rama chant, as do a group of actual Indian devotees, unrelated to the hippies, in the opening scene of the movie.)

~Virginia

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8/10

Rarely explored sentiment...

hipriti5 January 2004

We do not come across movies on brother-sister relationship in Indian cinema, or any other language or medium. This relationship has several aspects which have not been exploited in movies or novels. Typically, a sister is depicted as a pile-on who can be used for ransom in the climax. This movie treats the subject in an entirely different light.

It is inspired by George Eliot's novel "The Mill on the Floss". The brother is very prosaic, all-good, the blue-eyed boy who is a conventionally good son and a favorite with his mother. The sister is romantic, wild and defiant of the unwritten rules of the society. In spite of this, the love of the brother-sister is the winner.

This movie is about the love of the two siblings who are separated in childhood and revival of the same feeling when they meet years later. It is also the quest of the subdued brother to reunite with his sister who has chosen to be wild to defy the world.

Although the movie and the novel are set about 3 centuries apart in two distant countries, yet the sentiments are the same and still hold true.

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8/10

Dev introduces Zeenat with this one, with a social message as well !

Queen_of_pentacles17 December 2006

Warning: Spoilers

One must admit, that Dev has an eye for beauty and talent. He gave a break to Zeenat Aman, a successful model, and also former winner of beauty pageant's title, by casting her in a role, which was tailor-made for her debut. Her bespectacled , stoned look, and her swaying at the hypnotizing music, made her an instant darling of the viewers. This movie is a treat to the eyes, with it's scenic locales, ethnic people, those Buddha temples, and chirpy, naughty Mumtaz, who looks quite attractive, in her ethnic wear, and dancing skills. Dev is of course, adorable, and this is one of his commercially successful performance. Hare Rama manages to keep the interest going, with it's carefully written script, editing, and captivating music. Like Des Pardes, his another movie, Anand has handled the topic of youngsters falling in the habit of drug addiction, and the theory of them coming from disturbed families, and troubled childhood, is quite plausible. A good entertainer, this movie retains it's freshness till date !

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10/10

Who can forget Dum Maro Dum?

Pratik1129 November 2006

Hare Rama Hare Krishna was the biggest hit movie of 1971. Filmed almost entirely in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, the movie depicts not only with the theme of a broken family, but also a relationship between a brother and a sister, as well as drugs and the hippie movement, which made many people think that it involved the ISKON - the movement for Krishna consciousness.

The movie begins with scenes of drugs and being informed that the woman dancing in front is the narrator's sister. Going back to the past the brother and sister are happily playing around the house only to hear their parents arguing. This soon leads to a split in the family. The brother goes with the mother and the sister with the father.

As years pass, the brother goes in search of his sister and is informed that she no longer lives with the father and that she has moved to Nepal. Here, Prashant, the brother not only finds love, but he also finds his sister, Janice. But he finds out that she is not only in the wrong company of friends but is also on drugs as she wants to block all memory of her past. With help of Shanti, his love, the brother tries to get his sister away from all this but has to overcome many obstacles, including people who stoop to all sorts of levels to stop him This is a multi cast movie and is led by the director and producer himself, Dev Anand and also stars Zeenat Aman (her first movie), Mumtaz, Rajendranath, Prem Chopra, Jnr Mehmood, A.K. Hangal and Achala Sachdev. The music is superbly provided by the late R.D. Burman, whose last score was "1942 - A Love Story." During the filming, Dev Anand asked Panchamda (R.D. Burman) to compose something special for this film. Days later Panchamda came back with the composition of "Dum Maro Dum." The song was an instant hit.

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9/10

from my point of view

sanjitas17 July 2007

This is one of the movies of Dev Anand who gave great yet distinct movies to Hindi movie industries such as Jewel thief and guide. The story is short (if you ask me what is the story), plot is simple- a brother seeks for his lost sister. Sister has joined the hippies who smoke from pot and chant Hare Rama hare Krishna. Yet the movie portrays few of the significant events that the world experienced in 70's.Hippie culture, their submission to drugs, freedom ,escaping duty, family, and adopting anything new such as eastern (which was new for whites) religion. They have been handled perfectly. Zeenat gave her best and Dev as usual was remarkable. Songs are the best used (unlike they are abused for the sake of having songs) in this movie. They have not been spoiled.One perfect example is 'Dekho o deewano...Ram ka naam badnam na karo'. Each word in the song is very philosophical and meaningful. The end is tragic but that is not the essence of the movie. Overall Devji who does believe in making different movies has been successful in showing what he wanted to show here. A must see to experience hippie culture and beautiful Nepal of 70's.

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10/10

Dev Anand's call to the nation to keep up their values

rujuta_parikh199225 June 2006

Warning: Spoilers

The story for Hare Rama Hare Krishna actually came to Dev Anand's mind when he saw hippies and their fallen values in Kathmandu where he was on a visit after the protests against his previous Prem Pujari in Calcutta. He was low in spirits because his film had been opposed and some had burnt Prem Pujari's posters. But the life of hippies re ignited a story in Dev's mind to be made into a film.

This was Dev Anand's perhaps best directorial effort. The film was a blockbuster super hit at the box office and Zeenat Aman as Dev's sister made a tremendous impact.

This film was Dev Anand's call to the nation to keep up their moral values.

It is about a Montereal based Indian family and the brother's role is a very affectionate one for his sister. But the parents quarrel and separate leaving Prashant(Dev) with mother and Jasbir(Zeenat) with father. She is repeatedly told that her mother and brother are dead and she eventually believes that she will never see Prashant again.

She is ill treated by her step mother and she runs away from home. Dev grows up to be a pilot and he learns that Jasbir is in Kathmandu with certain hippies.

To reunite with his sister, Dev travels to Kathmandu and meets Shanti(Mumtaz) who was to later marry him and also Janice who in reality is Jasbir with a new name and new identity. She has forgotten her childhood and Dev too.

Dev has to get his sister back amongst all other happenings which include his being suspected as a thief in Kathmandu and the people are after his life.

This was a story well directed and acted-both by Dev Anand. We see more of Zeenat Aman than of Mumtaz. But the music by Rahul Dev Burman was well composed. Dev had first offered the music to be composed by Sachin Dev Burman but Burman Da did not want Dev to do the film. He was very close to Dev and his earlier film Prem Pujari, though was good, but had been opposed in Calcutta. Burman Da wanted Dev to try a lighter subject as he thought hippie cultist film might reignite people's anger against Dev. But Dev continued with the film reassuring Burman Da and the film was indeed a success.

R D Burman had Asha Bhosle sing the award winning Dum Maro Dum. Kanchi re Kanchi re was another good number.

Overall it is a good film.

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Great music and good looking actresses but poor story

ds-1222 August 2001

Dev Anand (or Prashant) and Zeenat Aman ( Jasbir/Janice) are siblings brought up in different countries. Because of poor parenting (crudely shown), Zeenat joins the hippie movement and also does drugs. Dev Anand after getting a letter from his father to locate Jasbir in Kathmandu visits that place, falls in love with Mumtaz( Shanti) and is also accused of stealing antiques.

Jasbir has blocked her painful childhood memories and Dev Anand sings the song which he used to sing when he was a kid to jog her memory.

Other than the great R.D.Burman music and Anand Bakshi lyrics and the footage shown about the ISKON movement and the beautiful stars and the Kathmandu location, the movie sucks big time. The story is extremely weak.

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10/10

Bold and Beautiful, one of the Best Bollywood movies with a Beautiful Message

deepa-thejendra28 April 2011

Warning: Spoilers

Who can forget Dum-Maro-Dum? Well, personally I think anybody who heard the song for the first time would never forget it in his/her lifetime. Dev Anand has done a great job in his direction and bringing out the story and message. It's not a typical Indian movie, but to say this film with its story and the actress Zeenat Aman revolutionized Indian Cinema. The movie is all about Sibling love, defects of the modern world i.e. Divorce and Drugs. RD Burman, The legendary music composer is at his VERY BEST! Probably the best ever with Superhit songs such as Dum-Maro-Dum , "Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka", "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" which took the country by the storm.

Fun Facts – Zaheeda was offered the role of Jasbir/Janice in the movie, but she rejected it as it wasn't a typical Indian role, so Zeenat Aman was chosen as a last minute replacement, Zaheeda's simple mistake made Zeenat a Super Star!

-- The song Dum-Maro-Dum was initially rejected by Dev Anand but RD Burman begged Dev to put at least one stanza. Thank God, he accepted!

The movie is about an Indian Family, the Jaiswals settled in Montréal, Canada. The parents just can't stand each other and the brother and sister are totally the opposite, full of love and affection for each other. The sibling love is beautifully shown by the song "Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka" which the brother Prashant sings to his gloomy sister, Jasbir. The parents eventually split and Prashant returns back to India with mother and 8 year Jasbir is left behind with her abusive father and his 2nd wife. The maid, as she didn't want the young girl to feel bad brainwashes Jasbir to believe her brother and mother are dead. Jasbir in the long run runs away from home and changes her name to Janice. As the years pass, Prashant becomes a pilot and receives a letter from his Father that Jasbir is located in Kathmandu. He immediately flies to Kathmandu and goes in search of his long lost sister.

Prashant (Dev Anand) eventually recognizes his sister (Zeenat Aman), however she is totally in a daze, and has become a hippie addicted to drugs, anything to make her forget her dreadful childhood. He also finds the love of his life Shanti, a local Nepalese dancer (Mumtaz). Prashant is also convicted of being a thief. Among all this, Prashant has to get back his sister, who is totally unaware that he is her long lost brother. The song which Young Prashant Sings to Young Jasbir is sung again but in an adult male voice which eventually makes Janice/ Jasbir recognize Prashant. The ending is extremely heartbreaking and tear-jerking, I literally cried watching it, but the message is evergreen-- "Drugs do no good."

The music was perhaps was the best of RD Burman, Dum-Maro-Dum is such a rage, well I wouldn't use the past tense, as it is still a very big rage. Asha Bhosle won the "Filmfare Best Singer for Dum-Maro-Dum". The younger version of the song "Phoolon Ka Taaron Ka" is beautifully sung by Lata Mangeshkar. The Elder version of the song i.e. when the Adult Prashant sings it to Janice to make her remember him is again sung amazingly and expressively by Kishore Kumar. Anand Bakshi, The lyricist was as always amazing in bringing out the real strength of the movie.

Zeenat Aman looks stunningly gorgeous in her westernized hippie costumes and sunglasses. Dev, who has a nick of finding Superstar actresses made Zeenat A STAR right from her first movie. The Film and the Song Dum-Maro-Dum made her a Superstar. She also got a Filmfare for her amazing acting in this movie. Dev with his unparalleled acting was amazing. Mumtaz as usual was Beautiful!

I give this movie a 9/10 for its beautiful story and pioneering actress and fashion and 10/10 for its music, as a million on 10 is impossible.. :P

In all, this was one beautiful movie, with 3 main elements – Sibling love, Romance, and a bit of action. I totally recommend this movie to any Movie Bluff; it's an all age entertainer though it has a little show of drugs.

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5/10

Innovative and bold but not that good a film despite its pluses

Peter_Young12 March 2011

Prashant and Jasbir are siblings. They were separated at childhood when their parents decided to part ways. Prashant remains with his mother and Jasbir -- with her father and his new wife. Years later, Prashant is in search of his sister. To his complete shock he finds out that she is located in Nepal and is a part of a group of young hippies, which includes unemployed drug addicts who spend most of their time at parties. She calls herself Janice and everything she does is in order to forget her past. Hare Rama Hare Krishna is one of the most famous films of Dev Anand, and its popularity comes mainly because of its rather racy presentation of the hippie movement and the modern culture in general. But the film as a film does not really work that much. The concept is very interesting but the script is quite poor and very often it turns into a big melodramatic mess. Anand's direction is quite faulty (well, like in most of his directorial ventures). I never understood the purpose of the film apart from its innovative theme and Anand's willingness to break new ground.

Where acting goes, the movie belongs to Zeenat Aman. With this film, Aman introduced a new heroine to Hindi cinema, characterised by her westernised nature and modern persona. This image was only consolidated by her proceeding films. This role is as bold as the film itself or even more, and Aman does full justice to it. She looks really beautiful and even within the rather messy proceedings manages to create a conflicted and troubled young lady who you end up feeling for. This is a very good debut and sadly she never managed to get many great chances in her career. Dev Anand is terribly miscast as he looks too old for his part. His Prashant is supposed to be 24-25 years old, but Anand himself is at his late forties, which is a total joke. Mumtaz is there to look pretty, and she definitely does. The music is excellent - well, after all it's by master R.D Burman. Asha Bhosle's fantastic rendition of "Dumm Maaro Dumm" is obviously the most memorable. Clearly, an interesting concept, "Dumm Maaro Dumm" and the presence of Zeenat Aman pretty much sum up Hare Rama Hare Krishna.

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8/10

It never was about ISKON

chakrabortyabhishek0723 April 2011

You see the way people in the early seventies blamed ISKON for their radical nature which eventually was the supposed conclusion of being turned into hippies is not at all true and that is why this film is so damn important.

I am surprised that Dev Anand actually thought that a guy in mid forties would look like a guy in mid twenties. Zeenat Aman was stupendous. Mumtaz was good but the real highlighter of this film is the music of the legendary Rahul Dev Burman.........I mean WOW!! Funny thing I read about other reviews is that no one mentioned the song "phoolon ka taaron ka sabka kehna hain" I understand "Dumm Maaro Dumm" was phenomenal, why was it still is even today but the other songs were very good too.

Acting was above average, certain aspects are too melodramatic but then again keeping in mind the 1970s of India it was good, great job by cinematographer and rest of the support staffs.

I give my ratings out of 10:

Acting - 6 Story - 8.5 Screenplay - 8.5 Direction - 8 Music Dept. - 10 (since 100 out of 10 was not possible) Other Aspects - 6

Overall - 7.83 out of 10 so I round it of to 8 out of 10

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8/10

Two siblings lost to each other at a young age try find each another before its too late.

tejaswi-nimmagadda26 July 2006

Dev Anand (or Prashant) and Zeenat Aman ( Jasbir/Janice) are siblings brought up in single parent families. Jasbir (the sister) grows up in an affluent environment but this is not enough to lead her to reject her life and ultimately join a hippie movement that eventually leads her to drugs. Prashant (the brother) on the other hand grows up in a less affluent environment but grows up to be a matured gentleman. The story marks Prashant making efforts to save his little sister (who is perpetually in a trance) from a hostile hippie environment. This movie stands the test of time, commenting that cults and hippie groups are a place for those who give up on their lives when they should instead stand up and be counted in the face of adversity. Great music compositions in this movie that mean different things in different situations and to different people, and the director brings forth an eerie feeling to it.

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8/10

Ahead of its time!

nadkarnisumeet21 January 2023

Hare Rama Hare Krishna review:

At the film's premiere, the guests went to congratulate the legendary Dev Saahab at interval point itself to which he laughed and said "Abhi toh aadhi picture hi dekhi hai. Watch the entire film guys..!!". Indeed, Hare Rama Hare Krishna (HRHK) was an instant connect for the '70s audience who were mesmerized by its three main factors:

First and foremost, the boldly depicted hippie culture of that era which thrived on drugs and sex. Dev Saahab loved Nepal and he based his plot in that beautiful country which enticed the audience for repeat viewings. Infact, Nepal came on my wishlist in the '80s itself when I watched HRHK on video. I went there much later with my family in 2019 and visited the same locations shown in the film. Surprisingly, it hasn't changed at all..

Secondly, for Zeenat Aman who played Dev Anand's sister in the movie but ended up overshadowing his heroine Mumtaz in it. The screenplay was centered on a brother travelling to Nepal to search for his estranged sister and discovering her high on dope amongst a bunch of vagabond hippies. Zaheeda was Dev's first choice but she refused the sister's role and Zeenat got lucky.

Last but not the least, for Pancham da's awesome music particularly 'Dum maro dum' which became an anthem of sorts. The song was remixed for Rohan Sippy's 2011 movie titled Dum Maaro Dum which also dealt with drugs and sex. Imagine how ahead of the times Dev Saahab was!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

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10/10

Hare Rama Hare Krishna is one of the best of DA

shazidamain27 March 2012

Evergreen Actor Dev Anand has acted a lots of movies.But Hare Rama Hare Krishna is one of the best of Dev Anand.Zeenat Aman also doing her excellent performance as a Nepali Girl.It was one of the biggest hits of all time.Evergreen Anand's direction is quite faulty(like in most of his directorial ventures).I never understood the purpose of the film apart from its innovative theme.Anand's willingness to break new ground.Specially i like the O Re Ghungroo Ka Bole Sung By Voice Of Asia Lata Mangeskar For Mumtaz & Dev Anand in Hare Rama Hare Krishna.This super hit movie was released in 1971 and the highest grosser of the year.It was starring Kishore Sahu,Achla Sachdev,Mumtaz,Dev Anand,Zeenat Aman,Prem Chopra and Rajendranath and all were doing their best.

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5/10

Dang hippies!!

planktonrules10 March 2014

I have seen a lot of Indian films compared to most Americans--which means I still haven't seen that many compared to the average Indian! I realize that this film is considered a classic by many Indians, but since I don't have a sentimental attitude towards Dev Anand and his films (he is considered a genius by many from his native land), I think this might account for my lower score for this one than most reviews.

Dev Anand starred, wrote and directed the film. It's a film about the evils of hippies who gravitated towards the Krishnas mostly so they could do drugs, bum money, steal and do nothing with their lives. It seems a lot like a reaction of the establishment to the very popular appeal of the Indian religions due to their pop culture appeal.

The film begins with two parents divorcing and, oddly, each taking one of the children. Prashant is raised by his mother and Jasbir by the father. However, Jasbir has HUGE troubles adjusting and after years of this, she steals money from her father and step-mother and takes off from their home in Montreal to hang with the hippies in Nepal. Although Prashant hasn't seen his sister in many years, when he learns what's happened with his sister, he heads to Nepal to rescue her from her dirt-bag friends and reunite her with her family. However, Jasbir has renamed herself Janice and is now a drug-addict and terrible person. Prashant's in for a VERY difficult time--and bets beaten up, robbed and framed for a crime all by Janice's 'friends'! Can they rescue her from this crazy subculture?

Although I found the story interesting, there were also a lot of problems with it--namely, it just didn't seem worth all the trouble to rescue a lady who is just bad. You are who you hang out with and so I had a hard time caring about Janice/Jasbir. Additionally, Prashant seemed like an idiot because so many bad things happened to him yet he kept opening himself up for more! This is a great film to demonstrate bizarre co-dependency, that's for sure. Additionally, I really thought Anand did a terrible job playing an action hero. I think Liberace or Pee Wee Herman would have done a better job and seeing Anand trying to be tough and fight was unintentionally funny and I cannot imagine him beating up anyone--and the fight scenes were just awful. All in all, some decent ideas but the film came off, at times, as a bit amateurish--and not nearly as good or polished as later Indian films.

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5/10

Local color and degenerate hippies

davo25 May 2008

This is the first complete Dev Anand film I've watched, and I hope it is not one of his better ones, because it didn't particularly impress me. (I am still looking forward to seeing Jewel Thief and Guide.) He is obviously a good looking guy with a jaunty style, a recognized giant in the industry, but he just doesn't do it for me. The story is not great, nor did Dev's direction impress, including his direction of himself. However, the local color provided by the Nepalese location was interesting, and there is kitschy pleasure in the depiction of the evil dreg hippies. The fight scenes are unintentionally funny -- I can't imagine Dev kicking anyone's ass: he hits like a girl! We do, however, have to thank him for bringing the lovely Zeenat Aman into films. And the music is not bad.

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