Hey Ram

Hey Ram (translation: Oh Ram! or Oh God!) is a 2000 Indian period crime drama film simultaneously made in Tamil and Hindi language. The film was written, directed and produced by Kamal Haasan and he also starred as the protagonist in the film. The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The semi-fictional plot centres on India's Partition and the murder of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse. The film was selected by India as the its submission to the Oscars in the year 2000, but was not nominated.

Synopsis

The film is about a protagonist's journey from religious hatred to love with the theme of the partition of Bengal in the background. Its relevance in the present Indian environment clouded by religious extremism was widely unrecognised. This is the story of Saket Ram, as narrated by his grandson. The film takes place as Ram, a retired archaeologist, lies on the deathbed, on 6 December 1999, the 7th anniversary of the destruction of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya.