| Hum Tum | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Promotional poster for the film | |
| Directed by | Kunal Kohli |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Aditya Chopra |
| Starring | Saif Ali Khan Rani Mukerji |
| Cinematography | Sunil Patel |
| Edited by | Ritesh Soni |
| Music by | Songs: Jatin–Lalit Background Score: Salim–Sulaiman |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Yash Raj Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 143 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | ₹8 crore[1] |
| Box office | ₹42.6 crore[1] |
Hum Tum (transl.Me and You) is a 2004 IndianHindi-languageromantic comedy film written and directed byKunal Kohli, and produced byAditya Chopra under theYash Raj Films banner. The film starsSaif Ali Khan andRani Mukerji, with a supporting cast ofRishi Kapoor,Kirron Kher,Rati Agnihotri, andJimmy Sheirgill. Loosely inspired by the American filmWhen Harry Met Sally... (1989), the narrative follows Karan and Rhea, two individuals who repeatedly cross paths over several years and form a complex relationship that evolves from friendship into romance.[2][3]
The film marked Mukerji's third collaboration with Yash Raj Films and featured several animated interludes designed byPrakash Nambiar ofKathaa Animations, with visual effects by Tata Elxsi.Principal photography took place in India, theNetherlands, and the United States, with cinematography by Sunil Patel. The music was composed byJatin–Lalit, with lyrics written byPrasoon Joshi.
Released theatrically on 28 May 2004,Hum Tum received mixed-to-positive reviews. Critics praised its performances, direction, animation sequences, and soundtrack, although some criticism was directed at the screenplay.[2] The film emerged as a commercial success, grossing ₹43.22 million (US$510,000), and ranked as thesixth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.[4]
At the52nd National Film Awards, Saif Ali Khan wonBest Actor in a Leading Role, marking his firstNational Award. The film received eight nominations at the50th Filmfare Awards, winning five—includingBest Director (Kohli),Best Actress (Mukherji),Best Comedian (Khan),Best Female Playback Singer (Alka Yagnik for "Hum Tum"), andBest Scene of the Year.[5] Over time,Hum Tum has been credited for popularising animated elements in Hindi cinema, for establishing Khan's credentials as a solo romantic lead, and for consolidating Mukerji’s standing as one of the leading actresses of her generation.[6][7][8][9]
Karan Kapoor, acartoonist known for hiscomic strip "Hum Tum," which humorously explores gender dynamics, meets Rhea Prakash, a strong-willed and practical woman, on a flight fromDelhi toNew York City. During alayover inAmsterdam, they briefly tour the city together, but their clashing personalities lead to friction. The encounter ends when Karan, misreading the situation, kisses Rhea without consent, prompting her to slap him. Before parting, Karan insists they will meet again.
Six months later in New York, Karan encounters Rhea once more—this time through his girlfriend Shalini, who is revealed to be Rhea’s childhood friend. The awkward situation leads to Karan and Shalini breaking up. Three years later, Karan runs into Rhea in Delhi while assisting his mother with wedding preparations, only to discover Rhea is the bride. She is marrying Sameer, and although their meeting begins with friction, they part amicably.
Another three years pass before they meet unexpectedly inParis, where Karan learns from Rhea’s mother, Parminder "Bobby" Prakash, that Sameer died in a car accident shortly after their first anniversary. Karan, moved by Rhea’s grief, resolves to help her heal.
Back inMumbai, Karan attempts to set Rhea up with his introverted friend Mihir Vora, believing she needs someone stable. However, Mihir falls in love with another woman, Diana Fernandez, and they become engaged. On the engagement night, Rhea discovers Karan’smatchmaking scheme and confronts him. Mihir later helps Rhea realise that she has fallen in love with Karan. That night, she and Karan sleep together.
The next morning, Karan, overwhelmed by guilt, proposes marriage to Rhea to “make things right,” but Rhea is hurt by his framing of their intimacy as a mistake. She leaves him, refusing to marry for the wrong reasons. Karan later realises his error and attempts to reconcile, but is unable to find her.
One year later, Karan’s comic strip has become widely successful, and he publishes a book about "Hum" and "Tum," mirroring his relationship with Rhea. At the book’s launch, Rhea reads the story and realises Karan’s love for her. They reconcile and eventually marry. The film concludes with them as parents to a baby girl, as Karan jokingly laments about a baby boy in the next crib, predicting another future "Hum Tum" romance.
Hum Tum was produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner ofYash Raj Films and markedKunal Kohli's second directorial venture followingMujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002).[10][11] The film was loosely inspired by the 1989 Americanromantic comedyWhen Harry Met Sally....[12] Kohli later revealed that he had initially intended to remake the original, stating, “We approached the studio, which had the rights of the Hollywood film. When we sent our script to them, they said that it has to be at least 70 percent similar to be an official remake. According to them, we were not, so they rejected the remake concept.”[13][14]
Kunal Kohli andAditya Chopra initially approachedAamir Khan for the role of Karan Kapoor, but he declined the offer. The role was subsequently offered toHrithik Roshan andVivek Oberoi, both of whom turned it down.[15] Kohli ultimately castSaif Ali Khan, explaining, “I realised that the role needed a younger man—someone who could present a more youthful picture. Saif has this unique quality; he can play a 21-year-old as well as a 29-year-old.”[16][17] Khan later described the role as one of his “favourite onscreen characters.”[18]
Rani Mukerji was cast as Rhea Prakash. The film marked her third collaboration with Yash Raj Films and second with Kohli, afterMujhse Dosti Karoge!.[17] Kohli noted, “I always wanted to work with Rani and we shared a great equation,” while Mukerji called it a “special film” and said she “loved the script.”[19][20]
Supporting roles includedKirron Kher as Rhea's mother Parminder,Rishi Kapoor andRati Agnihotri as Karan's parents, andJimmy Sheirgill as Mihir Vora.[21][22][23]Abhishek Bachchan made acameo appearance, while two animated characters, Hum (voiced byParzaan Dastur) and Tum (voiced byGayatri Iyer), were integrated into the narrative alongside the leads.[24][25][26][27]
_12.jpg)
Principal photography began in 2003.[28][29] A significant portion of the film was shot inAmsterdam,Netherlands, at locations includingMuseumplein, theNational Maritime Museum,Rijksmuseum, andDam Square. Additional sequences were filmed inParis and in theUnited States, primarilyNew York City, as well as atFilm City inMumbai.[30][31]
Prior to its release,Hum Tum generated anticipation through its soundtrack, stylized promotional material, and narrative format that blended live action with animation.[32] Saif Ali Khan’s character Karan was introduced to audiences via an appearance on the television seriesJassi Jaissi Koi Nahin.[33] Cartoon strips based on the film’s animated characters were featured in theBombay Times. Around the time of its release,India Today published a feature titled “Bollywood's Blockbuster Summer,” highlightingHum Tum among the season’s key releases.[34][35]
| Hum Tum | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 9 April 2004 | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 35:14 | |||
| Language | Hindi English | |||
| Label | YRF Music | |||
| Producer | Aditya Chopra | |||
| Jatin–Lalit chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Hum Tum | ||||
| ||||
The soundtrack forHum Tum was composed primarily by the duoJatin–Lalit, with the exception of the track “U’n’I (Mere Dil Vich Hum Tum),” which was composed byBritish-Indian producerRishi Rich.[36] All lyrics were written byPrasoon Joshi. The album features vocals byShaan,Alka Yagnik,Sonu Nigam,Sadhana Sargam,Babul Supriyo,Udit Narayan,Juggy D, andVeronica Mehta. The lead actors,Saif Ali Khan andRani Mukerji, contributed spoken interludes to the song "Ladki Kyon." Mukerji's singing parts were voiced by Alka Yagnik in all tracks except "Chak De."
The soundtrack album was released on 9 April 2004 byYRF Music.[36][37] The CD and audio cassette editions also featured an instrumental version of the title track "Hum Tum" and a deleted song titled "Yaara Yaara." The melody of "Yaara Yaara" was later reused in Kohli's 2006 filmFanaa, particularly in the songs "Chand Sifarish" and "Chanda Chamke." The composition is reportedly inspired by "Samra We Betha" by the Iraqi band Miami. Similarly, "Chak De" draws inspiration fromRagheb Alama’s Arabic song "Yalla Ya Shabab."[38]
The film additionally includes a cover version of "Main Shayar To Nahin" from the 1973 filmBobby, sung byShailendra Singh and Shaan for the characters portrayed byRishi Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, respectively. This track was not included on the official soundtrack album.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ladki Kyon" | Shaan,Saif Ali Khan,Alka Yagnik,Rani Mukerji | 06:18 |
| 2. | "Chak De" | Sonu Nigam,Sadhana Sargam | 05:46 |
| 3. | "Hum Tum" | Alka Yagnik,Babul Supriyo | 05:29 |
| 4. | "Gore Gore" | Alka Yagnik | 04:57 |
| 5. | "Yaara Yaara" | Alka Yagnik,Udit Narayan | 04:44 |
| 6. | "Hum Tum" (Sad Version) | Alka Yagnik | 02:17 |
| 7. | ""U'n'I" (Mere Dil Vich Hum Tum)" | Juggy D,Veronica Mehta | 03:38 |
| 8. | "Hum Tum" (Instrumental) | 03:25 | |
| Total length: | 35:14 | ||
The soundtrack ofHum Tum received generally positive reviews from critics.Taran Adarsh ofBollywood Hungama wrote, "Jatin–Lalit's music is amongst the high points of the enterprise... the narrative inHum Tum does get a definite push thanks to a lovely score from this talented music director duo." He specifically praised the placement of songs such as "Hum Tum", "Ladki Kyon", "Chak De", and "Gore Gore" within the narrative.[40] Jay Mamtora ofBBC commented that the music had a "been there heard that" quality but acknowledged that "a couple of the tracks are undeniably catchy."[41]
The soundtrack achieved commercial success in India. According toBox Office India, it sold approximately 1.6 million units, ranking as the eighth highest-selling Bollywood album of 2004.[42] Several tracks, including the title song and "Ladki Kyon", performed well on national music charts during the film's theatrical run.
At the50th Filmfare Awards,Jatin–Lalit were nominated forBest Music Director, whileAlka Yagnik wonBest Female Playback Singer for the song "Hum Tum." LyricistPrasoon Joshi received theScreen Award for Best Lyricist for the same track.[43]
Hum Tum was released theatrically in India on 28 May 2004.[44] In 2006,Yash Raj Films released the film on DVD, with premieres in international markets includingFrance andGermany.[45] ABlu-ray edition was subsequently released in August 2011.[46][47] The film was later made available for digital streaming onAmazon Prime Video.[48]
Hum Tum opened to strong box office performance. It collected ₹12.3 million on its opening day and ₹74.9 million during its first week.[4][1][49] The film went on to become a major commercial success, grossing ₹432.2 million domestically, making it thesixth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.[50]
Internationally,Hum Tum earned ₹152.5 million, with notable success in theUnited Kingdom, where it ranked seventh in the top ten box office chart during its opening week.[51] The film was among the top earners of the decade both in India and overseas markets.[52]
Hum Tum received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for the performances, dialogues, and the film's modern take on romance.Taran Adarsh ofBollywood Hungama called the casting "one of the film's strengths" and praisedSaif Ali Khan's "arresting performance" andRani Mukerji’s "flawless" portrayal, adding that she had taken “a giant leap as an actor.” He concluded, "On the whole,Hum Tum is a decent fare, topped with captivating performances and mesmerising music. But a slow and not-too-exciting second half dilutes the impact to an extent."[40]
Tanmay Kumar Nanda ofRediff.com observed that "Hum Tum tugs at your heartstrings, makes you laugh and rejoice in the vagaries of loving and losing without losing itself in that abyss that has claimed many a Hindi film: mushy sentimentalism."[53] Jay Mamtora ofBBC described it as “a decent heart-warming popcorn flick” and noted that while the plot was familiar, directorKunal Kohli's treatment and effective casting made the film “eminently watchable and enjoyable.”[41]
Kaveree Bamzai ofIndia Today appreciated the screenplay and tonal balance, writing, “The witty exchanges don't ring false, the emotional pitch in the melodramatic parts is just right and the cameos are succulent."[54] Archana Vora ofNDTV found the film derivative of “theYash Chopra school of romance” andWhen Harry Met Sally... (1989), but credited Khan with a “savvy and sassy” performance that overshadowed Mukerji.[55]Derek Elley ofVariety described the film as “a couple of notches below the Chopra par,” citing a lack of strong chemistry between the leads and "so-so dialogue."[56]
Chitra Mahesh ofThe Hindu praised the film's tone and direction, writing, "Hum Tum is one of those films where you would walk out with a broad smile on your face... The film with direction, dialogue and story by Kohli, is extremely suave and incredibly charming. Khan and Mukerji excel in their parts."[10]Namrata Joshi ofOutlook India commended the film's conversational structure and performances but noted, “Khan's easy domination of every possible frame” often left Mukerji reacting rather than leading.[57] Udita Jhunjhunwala ofMid-Day found it an improvement over Kohli’s previous filmMujhse Dosti Karoge! (2002) but criticized the styling, editing, and soundtrack. She praised Khan's "comic timing and spontaneous performance," calling him the primary reason to watch the film.[58]
Hum Tum received several accolades, including oneNational Film Award, fiveFilmfare Awards and oneInternational Indian Film Academy Award.Hum Tum also earned twoGlobal Indian Film Awards, onePeople's Choice Awards India, fourScreen Awards, twoStardust Awards, and twoZee Cine Awards.[59][60][61][62]
Hum Tum has been widely regarded as one of the most influential romantic comedies in Hindi cinema. It was named among Bollywood's ten most romantic films byThe Times of India andVogue India.[63][64]Filmfare observed that the film "hasn't ceased to be relatable" over time, whileZee News credited it with setting "a benchmark and [creating] a new genre of romantic comedy for Bollywood," highlighting its departure from the traditional "love at first sight" narrative.[65][66] The film also attracted attention for its exploration of themes such as premarital sex, which were considered unconventional for mainstream Hindi cinema at the time.[67] It was featured inShubhra Gupta’s book50 Films That Changed Bollywood, in which she highlighted its impact on the genre and its lasting relevance.[68][69]
The film markedKunal Kohli’s first directorial success and is often cited as a milestone in the careers of Kohli,Saif Ali Khan, andRani Mukerji.[70][71] For Khan, it was his first major success as a solo lead,[72] while for Mukerji, it marked the first time she won Best Actress at major award ceremonies.[73] Both actors' performances are regarded among their most notable works, with the film credited for consolidating their stature in the industry.[74][75][76]Bollywood Hungama listed Khan and Mukerji among the top ten romantic onscreen couples of the decade,[77] andThe Indian Express referred to them as the "Shah Rukh Khan andKajol of the 2000s."[78]
In 2023,Hum Tum was featured in the Netflix docu-seriesThe Romantics, in the episode titled “The New Guard,” which explored the emergence of a younger generation of romantic leads under theYash Raj Films banner.[79][80]
Mukerji's portrayal of Rhea Prakash received attention for its departure from conventional female characters in Hindi cinema. Reflecting on the role, Mukerji stated, “Hum Tum was a very special and a modern subject. It was definitely ahead of its time... Rhea’s character stood for the modern Indian woman at that time.”[81] Harshita Singh ofScoopWhoop praised the character’s independence, feminism, compassion, and practical outlook, calling her a well-rounded and progressive female lead.[82]
Twographic novels based onHum Tum and its animated characters were published byYomics World in 2012. The first, titledHum Tum: The War Begins!, was a standalone publication centered around the characters Hum and Tum.[83] The second,Ek Tha Tiger: Caught in the Web, was a crossover graphic novel featuring characters from bothHum Tum and the action thrillerEk Tha Tiger (2012).[84]
As of 2004[update], in addition to the graphic novels, a dedicated cartoon series featuring the characters Hum and Tum was reportedly in development.[85]
.svg)
