Zakhm


Zakhm is a 1998 Indian Hindi-language drama film produced by Mukesh Bhatt for Pooja Bhatt Productions and directed by Mahesh Bhatt. The lead roles are played by Ajay Devgn, Pooja Bhatt, Sonali Bendre, Kunal Khemu and Nagarjuna, with music composed by M. M. Keeravani. The film won the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. The film is a commercial success at the box office and is critically acclaimed.

Plot

Music director Ajay argues with his wife, Sonia over whether to give birth to their child in a foreign country or in India.
Ajay soon learns that his mother has been burned by a group of Muslim rioters while leaving a temple and is in critical condition. In flashback, the struggles which his mother had to undergo to raise her children are shown. She was in love with a Hindu film producer Raman Desai but was not allowed to marry him on account of her Muslim faith. He marries her but does not document or acknowledge their marriage as it was done without any traditional upholdings. The fact that she had children with a Hindu man forces her to hide her faith and live her life as a Hindu, even in front of her son.
After his father's sudden death caused by an accident on the day Ajay's younger brother is born, Ajay realises his mother is a Muslim. She makes him promise to bury her according to her faith when she dies, for it is only through a proper burial that she will be able to find herself reunited with her lover in heaven. She also takes a promise from Ajay that he will never tell his brother about her real identity. Ajay's mother succumbs to the burns. Sonia learns about her mother-in-law's past life and decides not to leave Ajay. She stands by him and supports his decision to bury his mother. However, Ajay's task is impeded by a fundamentalist leader Subodhbhai, who wanted to make this a political issue and encouraged the Hindu youth to kill Muslims. Anand happens to be a youth leader and Ajay's younger brother. But when Anand comes to know of Subodhbhai's intentions, he stands by his brother's side to bury their mom according to Islamic custom. Her body is buried as she had desired, and she reunites with Raman in heaven. At last, Ajay is seen floating his mother's Mangalsutra in the sea, indicating the end of her struggleful life and meeting with her husband.

Cast

The music was composed by M. M. Keeravani with lyrics by Anand Bakshi. The soundtrack was released by the HMV Audio Company. The composer selected Chitra for " Gali main aaj Chand nikala " but due to date issues the song was later sung by Alka Yagnik.

Awards

;National Film Awards
;Screen Awards
The story has been adapted into a TV series, named Naamkarann, airing on STAR Plus from September 2016.