Movie: This song appeared in 1995 action rebirth drama Karan-Arjun (2 names) produced and directed by Rakesh Roshan under the banner of Filmkraft Productions. The movie starred Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Mamta Kulkarni, Rakhi, late Amrish Puri, Asif Sheikh, Ranjeet, Johnny Lever, Dinesh Hingoo, Ashok Saraf, etc.
Durga (Rakhi) is a poor woman with her 2 beloved sons Karan (Salman Khan) and Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan). The sons soon learn that their father is dead and their mother also reveals that their father was the Thakur’s son, who had married her against the Thakur’s wishes. She adds that Durjan Singh (Amrish Puri), a relative of Thakur, killed Durga’s husband to prevent him, Durga and her sons from inheriting the estate. The Thakur is dying and wanted to transfer the estate to his grandchildren before dying as it was their birthright.
Durjan kills the Thakur, as well, when he gets to know that the estate is going to be transferred to Karan and Arjun. Then, Karan and Arjun are brutally killed with the help of his brothers-in-law (Nahar) (Arjun) and Shamsheer (Jack Gaud) in front of their mother. Durga does not accept that her sons are dead and prays to Goddess Kali to bring them back. Miraculously, Durga’s prayers are answered and her sons are reborn in separate families, with no knowledge of their past lives. For 20 years, she keeps convincing the people of her village that her children will return. Durjan and his family mock her and give her garlands to place on the pictures of Karan and Arjun. Durga takes the vow to place the garlands on their dead bodies.
Arjun reincarnates as Vijay (Shah Rukh Khan again) and falls in love with the wealthy Sonia (Kajol). However, neither of them knows that she is expected to marry Durjan Singh’s son Suraj (Asif Sheikh). Karan reincarnates as Ajay (Salman Khan again) and takes up work with Saxena (Ranjeet), Sonia’s father and Durjan’s partner in his illegal arms business. Vijay and Ajay get nightmares of how they were killed in their previous births. Suraj learns about Vijay and tries to kill him, but ends up burning the farm of Vijay’s Uncle (Dinesh Hingoo). During Sonia’s engagement with Suraj, Vijay arrives to attack the groom. Ajay is let loose to kill Vijay and both start fighting with each other.
Durga is informed about this when the picture of her sons falls down. She runs to the temple and prays to Goddess Kali. A bolt of lightning strikes Vijay and Ajay and they stop fighting. Saxena tries to shoot Vijay but Ajay stops him and shouts, “Run, Arjun, run.” This was said by Karan to Arjun in their previous birth, while he was being attacked by Nahar. Ajay is sent to prison and Vijay escapes. Vijay is confused about the incident mostly because he has had dreams where someone was saying the very same words. Sonia is forced to go to Durjan’s house with her father to marry Suraj. She writes to Vijay to come and rescue her.
Vijay and his friend Linghaiyya (Johnny Lever) travel to Malakhera, Rajasthan to save Sonia. Everybody is stunned when they see him and call him Arjun. The travel to the village from the railway station helps him remember his past life and reunites him with Durga. He gets to know about his brother Karan, who is now Ajay. Vijay travels back to Mumbai when Ajay is being taken to Yerwada Jail. On the way, Vijay causes an accident to the police jeep and rescues him. Vijay, Ajay and his girlfriend Bindiya (Mamta Kulkarni) travel to the village by the night train. During the travel, Vijay explains about their rebirth and the issue connected to their death in their previous lives.
Initially, Ajay does not believe it. But when Durjan’s brothers-in-law attack Durga, he remembers his past life and soon together with Vijay chases them away. To celebrate the return of Karan and Arjun a musical get-together is organized in the village, where they sing this song.
Song: The award-winning music of this song was composed by Rajesh Roshan and lyrics were penned by late Indeewar.
This song is a celebration of the return of 2 men, who have emerged victorious from death’s very jaws.
Video: Cinematography is by Kaka Thakur. Dance choreography is by Chinni Prakash–Rekha Chinni Prakash.
The video opens with Rakhi applying a teeka of her blood on the foreheads of Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. Mamta Kulkarni and Johnny Lever begin to dance on the music that has already begun. Rakhi is holding the hands of Shah Rukh Khan as well as Salman Khan, as she sits on a seat.
Johnny Lever pulls Shah Rukh Khan into the dance area and the latter begins to dance. Johnny Lever pulls Salman Khan as well into the dance area. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Mamta Kulkarni dance with other dancers. Salman Khan and Mamta Kulkarni dance together and Shah Rukh Khan remembers how close he was with Kajol. Shah Rukh Khan is missing Kajol.
Salman Khan notices that Shah Rukh Khan is daydreaming and he flicks him out of his reverie. Both Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan begin to dance with swords in their hands. They move close to Rakhi and place their heads on her lap. They remember how they would compete with each other to touch their mother’s feet in their previous births.
Shah Rukh Khan brings Rakhi into the dancing area. Salman Khan and Mamta Kulkarni come together with Shah Rukh Khan to encircle Rakhi, with the other dancers making larger circles around them. The video ends as the song reaches a crescendo toward its completion.
Artists: The playback singers of this song are Mohammed Aziz, Sudesh Bhosle, Sadhana Sargam and Alka Yagnik and the onscreen performances are by Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Mamta Kulkarni, Johnny Lever and Rakhi among others.
Cultural Influence: This is a Bhangra song. However, I find it odd that a Bhangra has been presented in a Rajasthani setting. But, the song and the artists are good and the video is watchable.
