Criminal (1994 film)

Criminal is a 1995 Indian action thriller film directed by Mahesh Bhatt, starring Akkineni Nagarjuna, Ramya Krishna and Manisha Koirala. Shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi, the produced by K. S. Rama Rao under the Creative Commercials banner in Telugu, and by Mukesh Bhatt under the Vishesh Films banner in Hindi with the music composed by M. M. Keeravani (credited as MM Kreem in Hindi). The film was inspired by the American film, The Fugitive (1993).[1] Telugu version was released in 1994, while the Hindi version was released in 1995. This is the last film of the Hindi actor Ajit Khan.

Criminal
Movie Poster
Directed byMahesh Bhatt
Produced byK. S. Rama Rao (Telugu)
Mukesh Bhatt (Hindi)
Written bySainath Thotapalli
(Telugu dialogues)
Jay Dixit
(Hindi dialogues)
Screenplay byMahesh Bhatt
Story byDavid Twohy
Based onThe Fugitive
by Roy Huggins
StarringAkkineni Nagarjuna
Ramya Krishna
Manisha Koirala
Music byM. M. Keeravani
(credited as M. M. Kreem in Hindi)
CinematographyS. Gopal Reddy
Edited byG. G. Krishna Rao (Telugu)
Sanjay Sankla (Hindi)
Production
company
Distributed byT-Series Films
Release date
  • 15 October 1994 (1994-10-15)
(Telugu)
  • 21 July 1995 (1995-07-21)
(Hindi)
Running time
142 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageTelugu
Hindi

Plot

After witnessing the unfortunate death of a woman, who was unable to afford hospital treatment, Dr. Ajay Kumar cancels his planned immigration to the U.S. and instead sets out to develop a plan to open a hospital that will be accessible to people who cannot afford treatment in regular hospitals, called "Amma Hospital". This draws quite a lot of attention, and he becomes popular, especially with two young women, Dr. Swetha and ACP Ramya. He falls in love with Swetha and both get married, breaking Ramya's heart in the process. Shortly thereafter, much to their delight, Swetha becomes pregnant.

When Swetha discovers a frightening organ-smuggling operation in her hospital while going through a friend's diagnostic report, she calls Ramya. Soon after, Swetha is attacked by a killer and rings the police. Ajay enters their home to find Swetha who soon succumbs to her injuries. The police arrive to find her dead body and arrest Ajay for murder. They deduce that Ajay's motive for killing Swetha was money, as Swetha was a wealthy heiress. Furthermore, she shouted Ajay's name as she was on the phone to the police. The court finds Ajay guilty and is sentenced to death. While being transported to the jail for the sentence to be carried out, the police bus meets with an accident as the other prisoners have staged a riot. Ajay escapes and changes his appearance. The police launch a manhunt for him but are unable to catch him. Ajay goes to Ramya's house to prove his innocence, meanwhile, he used to know Ramya had a crush on him. Ajay catches the real killer and discovers the man behind everything - including the smuggling - was Ajay's friend Dr. Pratap. Finally, he reopens the hospital and puts garland on Swetha's picture. He and Ramya remain as friends.

Cast

Telugu version

Hindi version

The lead cast and the characters portrayed by Grover, Nassar, Babu, Subramanyam, Kanakala, Visweswara Rao, Husain and Jenny were retained from the Telugu version in the Hindi version. Trishna performed an item number in both versions.

Soundtrack

Telugu Version
Criminal
Film score by
M. M. Keeravani
Released1994
GenreSoundtrack
Length25:50
LabelAKASH Audio
ProducerM. M. Keeravani
M. M. Keeravani chronology
Major Chandrakanth
(1993)		 Criminal
(1994)		 Allari Premikudu
(1994)

All music is composed by M. M. Keeravani[2].

Track list[2]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Mudante Vadante"VennelakantiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra4:57
2."Papiki Papiki"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra, M. M. Keeravani4:58
3."Hello Guru"VennelakantiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra4:48
4."Thelusa Manasa"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra6:13
5."Jama Jama Jama"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha5:04
6."Thelusa Manasa - 1"Sirivennela Seetharama SastryM. M. Keeravani6:11
Total length:32:11

Hindi Version
Criminal
Film score by
M. M. Kreem
Released1995
GenreSoundtrack
Length38:16
LabelHMV Audio
ProducerM. M. Kreem
M. M. Kreem chronology
Lady Boss
(1995)		 Criminal
(1995)		 Mounam
(1995)

Hindi lyrics were written by Indeevar. Alka Yagnik dubbed Chitra's song. Original audio was released on HMV audio.

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Tu Mile Dil Khile"Kumar Sanu, Chitra (in movie)6:03
2."Tu Mile Dil Khile"Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik (audio), Chitra (Humming)6:03
3."Janu Janu Janu"Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik5:10
4."Tu Mile Dil Khile (Male)"Kumar Sanu, Chitra (Humming)6:13
5."Mujhko Chhupa Le"Kumar Sanu, Alisha Chinai4:49
6."Kisi Ka Tu Hoja"Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Chitra5:00
7."Keemti Keemti Keemti Hai Zindagi"SP Balu, Chitra, Alka Yagnik5:01
8."Tu Mile Dil Khile (Female)"Alka Yagnik, Chitra (Humming), Sonu Nigam5:57
Total length:38:16

Release and reception

Alluru Rahim of Zamin Riot reviewing the Telugu version of the film on 21 October 1994, described it as "the film which drives the audience out the theatres [sic]." While appreciating the Nagarjuna's performance and the soundtrack by Keeravani, Rahim opined that the film lacked good story and screenplay.[3]

After the film's success it was later dubbed and released in Tamil as Ellame En Kadhali. K. Vijayan reviewing the Tamil dubbed version for New Straits Times on 3 July 1995 opined that Bhatt had made a faithful remake of The Fugitive (1993).[4]

References
  1. "No ripoffs, please". The Telegraph. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  2. "Criminal". JioSaavn. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. Alluru, Rahim (21 October 1994). "చిత్ర సమీక్ష: క్రిమినల్" [Film review: Criminal] (PDF). Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). p. 9.
  4. Vijiyin, K. (3 July 1995). "Indian version of 'The Fugitive'". New Straits Times. p. 26.
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