Criminal
Film poster (Telugu Version)
Directed byMahesh Bhatt
Screenplay byMahesh Bhatt
Story byDavid Twohy
Dialogue bySainath Thotapalli (Telugu)
Jay Dixit (Hindi)
Based onThe Fugitive
by Roy Huggins
Produced byK. S. Rama Rao (Telugu)
Mukesh Bhatt (Hindi)
StarringNagarjuna
Ramya Krishna
Manisha Koirala
CinematographyS. Gopal Reddy
Edited byG. G. Krishna Rao (Telugu)
Sanjay Sankla (Hindi)
Music byM. M. Keeravani
(credited as M. M. Kreem in Hindi)
Production
companies
Distributed byT-Series Films
Release dates
  • 14 October 1994 (1994-10-14)
(Telugu)
  • 21 July 1995 (1995-07-21)
(Hindi)
Running time
142 mins
CountryIndia
LanguagesTelugu
Hindi

Criminal is a 1994 Indian action thriller film directed by Mahesh Bhatt, starring Nagarjuna, Ramya Krishna and Manisha Koirala. Shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi languages, the film was 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). Criminal was inspired by the 1993 American film The Fugitive.[1][2]

The Telugu version released on 14 October 1994, while the Hindi version released on 21 July 1995. Criminal was the last film of the Hindi film actor Ajit Khan.

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 with the police. The court finds Ajay guilty, and he 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

All the music is composed by M. M. Keeravani. The song "Paapki Paapki/Keemti Keemti" is inspired by Lonely Monday Morning from 12 Inches of Snow (1993) by the Canadian musician Snow. The track "Thelusa Manasa" (Only humming portion) was inspired from the English album Age of Loneliness performed by Carly. K. S. Chithra took 4 days to practice & replicate the same humming in her style.

Telugu Version

Criminal
Film score by
M. M. Keeravani
Released1994
GenreSoundtrack
Length25:50
LabelANAND AUDIO
ProducerM. M. Keeravani
M. M. Keeravani chronology
Major Chandrakanth
(1993)		 Criminal
(1994)		 Allari Premikudu
(1994)

All music is composed by M. M. Keeravani[3]

Track list[3]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Mudante Vadante"VennelakantiS. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra4:57
2."Paapki Paapki"Sirivennela SitaramasastriK. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, M. M. Keeravani4:58
3."Hello Guru"VennelakantiK. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam4:48
4."Thelusa Manasa"Sirivennela SitaramasastriK. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam6:13
5."Jama Jama Jama"Sirivennela SitaramasastriK. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha5:04
6."Thelusa Manasa - 1"Sirivennela SitaramasastriM. M. Keeravani, K. S. Chithra (Humming)6:11
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. Original audio was released on HMV audio. At first the tracks of "Tu Mile Dil Khile- All versions" were recorded in the voice of K. S. Chithra but due to some unforeseen reasons all the tracks sung by Chithra were replaced by Alka Yagnik, but still Keeravani managed to keep the humming portion sung by Chithra intact in all the tracks.

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Tu Mile Dil Khile (Included in the film)"Kumar Sanu, Chitra6:03
2."Tu Mile Dil Khile (Only Cassette version)"Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik, 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"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra, Alka Yagnik5:01
8."Tu Mile Dil Khile (Female)"Alka Yagnik, Chitra - (Humming)5:57
Total length:38:16

Tamil version

The soundtrack was released in Tamil as Ellame En Kadhali. The lyrics for songs were written by Piraisoodan.

All music is composed by Maragathamani

Track list[4]
No.TitleLyricsSinger(s)Length
1."Muthathin"PiraisoodanMano, K. S. Chithra4:57
2."Party Party"PiraisoodanK. S. Chithra, Mano4:58
3."Anbe Thodu"PiraisoodanK. S. Chithra, Mano4:48
4."Uyire Uyire"PiraisoodanK. S. Chithra, Mano6:13
5."Jama Jama Jama"PiraisoodanK. S. Chithra, Mano5:04
Total length:32:11

Release and reception

Alluru Rahim of Zamin Ryot, 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.[5]

After the film's success, it was later dubbed and released in Tamil as Ellame En Kadhali. K. Vijiyan reviewing this version for New Straits Times on 3 July 1995, opined that Bhatt had made a faithful remake of The Fugitive (1993).[6]

References

  1. ↑ "No ripoffs, please". The Telegraph. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Copycats in Tollywood". Deccan Chronicle. 30 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Criminal". JioSaavn. 8 April 1996. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "Ellame En Kadhali". Raaga. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  5. ↑ Alluru, Rahim (21 October 1994). "చిత్ర సమీక్ష: క్రిమినల్" [Film review: Criminal] (PDF). Zamin Ryot (in Telugu). p. 9.
  6. ↑ Vijiyan, K. (3 July 1995). "Indian version of 'The Fugitive'". New Straits Times. p. 26.
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