Janam (1985 film)

Janam ("Birth") is a 1985 Indian television film directed and written by Mahesh Bhatt. It is one of the autobiographical films Bhatt created in the early part of his career. The film was remade in Telugu as Aakasamantha. The film premiered on 4 December 1985 on DD National.

Plot
Rahul (Kumar Gaurav) is a struggling filmmaker who spends his nights in empty theatres and his friend Asghar (Akash Khurana)'s restaurant. Asghar tries to convince many financers and producers to invest in Rahul's script. He mostly roams around the city and avoids going home because of his tumultuous  relationship with his father Virendra Desai(Anupam Kher), who is a fading filmmaker. Rahul is Virendra's illegitimate son and always argues with his mother Nalini (Anita Kanwar) about the insults he faces at Virendra's house  with Virendra's family hurling insults every time he visits their home. He also falls in love with an orphan Rohini (Shernaz Patel). When Virendra's mother dies, Nalini forces Rahul to visit their house, but Vilas (Madan Jain) Virendra's legitimate son insults and heckles him out, Fed up of being insulted he asks Nalini that why is she putting up with Virendra's double life, She explains that Virendra fell in love with her Being a small junior artist Virendra's mother opposed Nalini and Virendra's marriage and forced him to marry a girl of her choice. After this revelation Rahul angrily goes to Virendra's house to take him into Nalini's house but Virendra refuses to come and says that Rahul is illegitimate for him and Vilas will light the funeral pyre if he dies. Engraged by this decision Rahul leaves the house and tries to stay at Rohini's hostel but is caught by the hostel authorities. Rohini is expelled from the hostel and now Rahul brings Rohini in their house to stay with him, but Virendra being present there heckles both of them out of the house. After that incident they marry and settle in a house provided by Asghar. To meet the house expenses Rohini starts to work. When Rahul decides to narrate a script to a producer he sees Virendra there, Virendra chides Rahul for living under his wife's salary and dissuades him to take up filmmaking since Virendra's films off the late have started flopping. Irritated by the constant insults Rahul behaves rudely with Rohini the following night. Rohini not taking offense motivates Rahul to be more focused on his work. Asghar finally convinces a producer to finance Rahul's film. When Rahul reads his old script he decides not to make a film on it. He decides to make a film on his hardships and struggles as an illegitimate child. This news spreads like wildfire and Virendra fearing his reputation tries to stop Rahul's film by pressuring him and threatening him with defamation cases. Virendra also influences Rahul's producer to drop the finance in between the making, While shooting for the film he notices his step sister Varsha being mishandled by Vilas's friends. Angry at him Rahul saves Varsha's life since Vilas is drunk and chides Virendra to handle his legitimate son's life. Struggling again Asghar decides to sell his restaurant without telling Rahul to arrange the film's budget. The film releases and becomes a commercial and a critical success, with Rahul winning awards for his work. At an awards show Virendra decides to arrest Rahul with the help of police but is moved by Rahul's speech at the show where in he understands Rahul's love for him,with Rahul requesting Virendra to give him the award. Virendra realizing his mistakes accepts Nalini as his wife and Rahul as his son.The film ends when Virendra and Rahul embrace each other publicly.

Overview
Janam was created after Bhatt's acclaimed early films Arth (1982) and Saaransh (1984), and established him as a promising new director of the Indian film industry, long before he ventured into more commercial endeavours.

This film was followed by other films with similar themes from Bhatt's personal life, including Naam (1986), Zakhm (1998) and Woh Lamhe (2006), films for which he provided the story.

Cast

 * Kumar Gaurav as Rahul Desai
 * Anupam Kher as Virendra Desai
 * Shernaz Patel as Rohini Rahul Desai
 * Kitu Gidwani
 * Anita Kanwar as Nalini
 * Akash Khurana as Asghar Ali
 * Madan Jain as Vilas Desai

Awards

 * 33rd Filmfare Awards :

Nominated


 * Best Director – Mahesh Bhatt
 * Best Actor – Kumar Gaurav
 * Best Supporting Actor – Anupam Kher
 * Best Supporting Actress – Anita Kanwar
 * Best Story – Mahesh Bhatt