Rangeela (1995 film)
| Rangeela | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Ram Gopal Varma |
| Written by | Ram Gopal Varma |
| Dialogues by | Neeraj Vora Sanjay Chhel |
| Produced by | Jhamu Sughand Ram Gopal Varma |
| Starring | Aamir Khan Urmila Matondkar Jackie Shroff |
| Cinematography | W. B. Rao |
| Edited by | Eeshwar Nivas |
| Music by | A. R. Rahman |
Production company | Varma Creations |
Release date |
|
Running time | 150 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹4.5 crore[1] |
| Box office | ₹33.4 crore[1] |
Rangeela (transl. Colourful) is a 1995 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film written, directed and co-produced by Ram Gopal Varma. It stars Aamir Khan, Urmila Matondkar and Jackie Shroff. The film was A. R. Rahman's first Hindi film with an original score and soundtrack, as his previous Hindi releases were simultaneously shot in Tamil films.[2]
Rangeela released on 8 September 1995 and proved to be a major box office success. The film received critical acclaim upon release, with particular praise directed towards the film's soundtrack and Matondkar's performance, thus proving to be a breakthrough for her. It was screened at the mainstream section of the International Film Festival of India.[3]
At the 41st Filmfare Awards, Rangeela received a leading 14 nominations – Best Film, Best Director (Varma), Best Actor (Khan) and Best Actress (Matondkar), and won 7 awards, including Best Supporting Actor (Shroff), Best Music Director (Rahman) and Special Jury Award (Asha Bhosle for "Tanha Tanha").[3]
Plot
[edit]A street-toughened orphan by the name of Munna (Aamir Khan) is befriended by some kind folks, whose effervescent daughter Mili (Urmila Matondkar) soon grows to be his best buddy. Both gravitate toward the Mumbai movie industry. While Mili finds occupation as a movie extra, Munna earns his livelihood selling movie tickets in the black market.
Mili has ambitions of becoming an actress. Fortune glances her way when she dances her way into a movie star's attention. This actor, Raj Kamal (Jackie Shroff), arranges for her to be auditioned for the heroine's role in his upcoming film called Rangeela. Mili's shortcomings amount to distractions, but thanks in no small way to Munna and Raj, she lands the role.
Raj and Munna both fall for Mili, but Mili is too busy making the movie to notice any of this. She starts spending a lot of time with Raj during the filming. Munna tries many times to tell Mili that he loves her, but he is unable to, or Raj gets in the way. Eventually, feeling inferior, Munna decides to leave Mili to Raj, who can give her a better life than he can. The matter is not resolved though, as Mili learns of this on the film's opening night after reading the letter that Munna left for her. After learning that Munna is also leaving the town, she emotionally runs out of the function to find Munna. Raj is initially angry at Mili for leaving the function midway. Mili tells Raj that Munna has written in the letter that he loves her but has misunderstood their relationship and left the town for good. Raj is taken aback when Mili tearfully tells him that she too loves Munna and can't think of a life without him. Having realized his mistake, Raj decides to reunite Mili and Munna.
Mili and Raj manage to stop Munna midway. All the misunderstandings get cleared up. Finally, Mili and Munna reunite with a hug.
Cast
[edit]- Aamir Khan as Munna
- Urmila Matondkar as Mili Joshi
- Jackie Shroff as Raj Kamal
- Gulshan Grover as Steven Kapoor
- Avtar Gill as P.C.
- Reema Lagoo as Mrs. Joshi (Mili's mother)
- Achyut Potdar as Mr. Joshi (Mili's father)
- Rajesh Joshi as Pakya
- Neeraj Vora as Drunk party guest (bluffer)
- Rajeev Mehta as Restaurant Steward
- Nitin Chandrakant Desai
- Ram Mohan as Make-Up Dada
- Shammi as Gulbadan's mother
- Tarun as Tough guy at the shooting
- Suman as Motilal
- Himanshu
- Aditya Narayan as child singing
- Saroj Khan as herself (choreographer)
- Remo D'Souza as a background dancer in title song
- Shefali Shah as Heroine Gulbadan (special appearance)
- Madhur Bhandarkar in a special appearance.
Production
[edit]Ram Gopal Varma once loved a woman named Satya Polavarapu, who he claims did not love him back since she preferred a wealthier, better-looking man; this inspired him to write Rangeela.[4]
Soundtrack
[edit]| Rangeela | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 14 May 1995 | |||
| Recorded | Panchathan Record Inn | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 44:05 | |||
| Label | Tips Music | |||
| Producer | A. R. Rahman | |||
| A. R. Rahman chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| PlanetBollywood.com |  [5] |
Rangeela's soundtrack featured 7 songs composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics penned by Mehboob and an instrumental theme song. The audio was released in 14 May 1995 by Rahman's mother Kareema. It is listed in almost all lists of best Bollywood soundtracks.[citation needed] According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 32,00,000 units sold the soundtrack became the third highest-selling album of the year.[6]
The soundtrack fetched Rahman two Filmfare Awards – Best Music Director and R. D. Burman Award for New Music Talent. Mehboob got two nominations for Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist, for the tracks "Kya Kare" and "Tanha Tanha". Swarnalatha, Shweta Shetty and Kavita Krishnamurthy were nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer for their respective tracks.
Asha Bhosle received the Filmfare Special Award that year for her rendition of the song "Tanha Tanha".
The song "Yaaro Sun Lo Zara" was originally composed for a Telugu film Super Police (1994) as "Baabu Love Cheyyara". The soundtrack was also released in Tamil, with title, Rangeela itself and lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. However, the reused track "Yaaro Sun Lo Zara" was not included in the Tamil version. The soundtrack rights are now acquired by Tips Music Company.
Hindi
[edit]All lyrics are written by Mehboob.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rangeela Re" | Asha Bhosle & Aditya Narayan | 5:25 |
| 2. | "Pyaar Yeh Jaane Kaise" | Suresh Wadkar & Kavita Krishnamurthy | 5:05 |
| 3. | "Mangta Hai Kya" | A.R. Rahman & Shwetha Shetty | 6:46 |
| 4. | "Tanha Tanha Yahan Pe Jeena" | Asha Bhosle | 5:36 |
| 5. | "Hai Rama" | Hariharan & Swarnalatha | 6:47 |
| 6. | "Yaaron Sun Lo Zara" | Udit Narayan, K.S. Chithra | 5:53 |
| 7. | "Kya Kare Kya Na Kare" | Udit Narayan | 5:43 |
| 8. | "Spirit of Rangeela" | Instrumental | 3:02 |
| Total length: | 44:05 | ||
Telugu (dubbed version)
[edit]All tracks are written by Sirivennela Seetharama Sastry.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yaayire" | S. Janaki | 5:25 |
| 2. | "Aiyayo" | A. R. Rahman, Anupama | 6:45 |
| 3. | "Yemito Yemo" | Hariharan, Kavita Krishnamurthy | 4:59 |
| 4. | "Yepudokapudu Kalanthu" | S. Janaki | 5:36 |
| 5. | "Yemi Cheyyavachu" | Mano | 5:42 |
| 6. | "Hai Rama" | Hariharan, Swarnalatha | 5:14 |
| 7. | "Dinakatha" | Anupama | 3:02 |
| 8. | "Spirit of Rangeela" | Instrumental , Annupamaa | 3:02 |
Tamil (dubbed version)
[edit]All the tracks were written by Vairamuthu.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rangeela Rangeela" | Sujatha Mohan | 5:25 |
| 2. | "Aiyayo Kanava" | A. R. Rahman, Anupama | 6:45 |
| 3. | "Ai Raama" | Hariharan, Swarnalatha | 5:14 |
| 4. | "Taniye Taniye" | S. Janaki | 5:36 |
| 5. | "Kadhali Nee Enna Seivai" | Unnikrishnan, Kavita Krishnamurthy | 4:59 |
| 6. | "Kamban Shelly" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 5:42 |
| 7. | "Spirit of Rangeela" | Instrumental, Annupamaa | 3:02 |
Reception
[edit]Rangeela opened to critical acclaim and was declared a blockbuster at the box office, grossing ₹33.4 crore.[7] It was the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of 1995. The film marked a major turning point in the careers of several individuals associated with it.
Urmila Matondkar became an overnight sensation and established herself as a leading actress in the industry. Her performance, along with chart-topping songs like "Tanha Tanha" and "Rangeela Re," significantly contributed to her newfound stardom. Costume designer Manish Malhotra also rose to fame for his contemporary styling of Matondkar, influencing fashion trends in Bollywood.
The film also proved pivotal for Aamir Khan, with critics and audiences appreciating his chemistry with Matondkar. The choreography, led by Ahmed Khan and Saroj Khan, was especially praised for its vibrant and innovative sequences. Ahmed Khan won the Filmfare Award for Best Choreography for "Rangeela Re," though some critics and Saroj Khan herself believed that her work on "Tanha Tanha" was more deserving.
Saroj Khan reportedly faced disputes with the producers regarding credit, as she was listed as a guest choreographer despite having choreographed four songs in the film.
The film’s soundtrack, composed by A. R. Rahman, achieved immense popularity and was credited with significantly contributing to the film’s commercial success. Rangeela's music was notable for outperforming the soundtrack of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge at several major award ceremonies.
Cultural significance
[edit]Rangeela is widely regarded as a landmark film in Hindi cinema, often credited with ushering in a modern sensibility in Bollywood during the mid-1990s.[8][9] Its narrative style, vibrant visuals, and contemporary music marked a departure from the melodramatic and formulaic storytelling common at the time.[10]
Urmila Matondkar’s portrayal of Mili redefined the Bollywood heroine, blending sensuality with independence. Her styling, designed by Manish Malhotra, became iconic and influenced fashion trends in Indian cinema.[11] The film is considered instrumental in launching Matondkar into stardom and reshaping the portrayal of female leads in mainstream films.[12]
Aamir Khan’s role as Munna, a street-smart tapori from Mumbai, was a significant departure from his earlier romantic roles and is regarded as a turning point in his career.[13]
The soundtrack, composed by A. R. Rahman, was his first original score for a Hindi film. It became one of the highest-selling Bollywood albums of 1995 and is credited with modernizing the sound of Hindi film music.[14][15] Songs like "Rangeela Re" and "Tanha Tanha" showcased Rahman's signature blend of Indian and Western elements and remain popular decades later.[16]
The film also launched or elevated several careers behind the scenes. Choreographer Ahmed Khan won the Filmfare Award for Best Choreography for "Rangeela Re," while costume designer Manish Malhotra became one of the most sought-after stylists in the industry.[12]
Rangeela's success and stylistic innovations have led critics and filmmakers to consider it ahead of its time, with director Shekhar Kapur describing it as “the film of the 21st century.”
Accolades
[edit]| Award | Date of the ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filmfare Awards | March 1996 | Best Film | Rangeela | Nominated | [17] |
| Best Director | Ram Gopal Varma | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Aamir Khan | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Urmila Matondkar | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Jackie Shroff | Won | |||
| Best Music Director | A. R. Rahman | Won | |||
| Best Lyricist | Mehboob for "Kya Kare Kya Na Kare" | Nominated | |||
| Mehboob for "Tanha Tanha" | Nominated | ||||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Swarnalatha for "Hai Rama" | Nominated | |||
| Kavita Krishnamurthy for "Pyaar Yeh Jaane" | Nominated | ||||
| Shweta Shetty for "Mangta Hai Kya" | Nominated | ||||
| Best Story | Ram Gopal Varma | Won | |||
| Best Costume Design | Manish Malhotra | Won | |||
| Best Choreography | Ahmed Khan for "Rangeela Re" | Won | |||
| Special Award | Asha Bhosle for "Tanha Tanha" | Won | |||
| Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | 1996 | Best Actor (Hindi) | Aamir Khan | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Rangeela – Movie – Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ "Box Office 1995". BoxOfficeIndia.Com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ a b "Filmfare Winners 1995". IndiaTimes.Com. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ "Ram Gopal Varma shares pics of woman who inspired Rangeela and Satya's title: 'My first ever love'". Hindustan Times. 26 August 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ "Music Review: Rangeela". PlanetBollywood.com. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
- ^ "BoxOffice India.com". 2 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Rangeela – Movie – Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ CE, Team (28 August 2020). "Revisiting Rangeela: 50 facts about Bollywood's cult musical". Cinema Express. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "Soundtrack of Rangeela was an experiment: AR Rahman". The Indian Express. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "Indian Cinema – Rangeela".
- ^ "Bollywood's most iconic outfits that became fashion trends". India Today. 27 June 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Filmfare Awards 1996 Winners". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Dubey, Komal Panchamatia and Shubha. "'Rangeela was made to capture Urmila's beauty'". Rediff. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "BoxOffice India.com". web.archive.org. 2 January 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "When Bollywood saw AR Rahman's success as 'fluke' but he turned out to be the first successful pan-Indian artist". The Indian Express. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Nair, Vipin (23 September 2017). "#47 Rangeela: Top 100 Bollywood Albums". www.filmcompanion.in. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "Filmfare Awards 1996 Winners". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
