Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!: It’s all in the family

Indian culture and Rajshri Productions films are seldom far apart. Twenty-five years ago, writer-director Sooraj Barjatya of the Barjatya family that owns the production house had helmed ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!. HAHK is a family film that celebrates romance, music and traditional values and stars Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan.

Salman Khan was the second choice for the male lead after Aamir Khan had turned it down because he didn’t like the script. The film became a money-minting machine, surprising many industry insiders who had initially felt that it would not be a long-distance runner at the box-office.

HAHK was loosely adapted from ‘Nadiya Ke Paar,’ another Rajshri film starring Sachin and Sadhana Singh released in 1982, which had become a sleeper hit. While 'Nadiya Ke Paar' was set in rural surroundings and modestly budgeted, HAHK was a lavishly mounted extravaganza with the same basic story.

Madhuri and Salman found countless new fans nationwide after HAHK was released. The film has 14 songs composed by Raam Laxman, 11 of which feature Lata Mangeshkar. Among the actors is an Indian Spitz, who is called Tuffy in the film. Even the small white dog became widely popular.

HAHK was released on August 5, 1994. The story centres around two families, one of them consisting of Professor Siddharth Chaudhary (Anupam Kher), his wife Mrs Chaudhary (Reema Lagoo) and their two daughters, Pooja and Nisha (Renuka Shahane and Madhuri Dixit, respectively). The head of the other family is the affluent industrialist Kailash Nath (Alok Nath), who has two nephews, Rajesh and Prem (Mohnish Bahl and Salman, respectively).

Rajesh (Bahl) gets married to Pooja (Shahane). The professor’s younger daughter Nisha (Madhuri) and the industrialist’s younger nephew Prem (Salman) interact, flirt and fall in love. There is a tragedy in the Nath residence when Pooja misses a step, falls down the stairs and dies.

Nobody in the two families is aware that Prem and Nisha are in love, and the families arrive at the decision that Rajesh will marry Nisha. Of course, that doesn’t happen and the romance gets revealed – thanks to Tuffy’s goof-up. What follows is a predictable happy ending.

Pooja’s death is the only unhappy moment in HAHK. Songs are generously sprinkled throughout, which the viewers enjoyed whole-heartedly. Fourteen is far more than the average number of songs in a film, but nobody complained. HAHK doesn’t even have a negative character. But then, a villain would have been out of place in a story whose highlights are grand Indian wedding ceremonies.

HAHK stormed its way into the hearts of viewers. Apart from a song for every occasion which surprisingly clicked, the film endeared itself to the viewers because the characters are good human beings and the actors appeared to have enjoyed working in the film.

Madhuri dazzles as the tomboyish Nisha. Salman’s Prem has a mischievous side, and the actor makes his character enjoyable to watch. Bahl is excellent as the mild-mannered and level-headed brother, and Shahane as his wife is better than competent, too. Kher, Lagoo and Alok Nath’s characters are relatable, which also strengthens the film. Laxmikant Berde as the domestic help is funny, and Tuffy leaves a distinct mark with his tiny paws, too.

HAHK grossed more than ₹200 crore globally way back in 1994, making it one of the biggest blockbusters of Hindi cinema. The film doesn't have a layered plot. But you might enjoy it even today – if you are a fan of a young Madhuri or a young Salman and wish to watch a film that makes you smile.