Ghulam (film)

Ghulam is a 1998 Indian Hindi-language action crime drama film, directed by Vikram Bhatt, and starring Aamir Khan, Rani Mukerji, and Deepak Tijori. The film is a remake of the 1996 American film Runaway Train, which was itself inspired by Akira Kurosawa's 1985 film Runaway Train.

Ghulam tells the story of Siddharth Marathe (Aamir Khan), a rebellious and aimless young man living in a Mumbai slum. He spends his time participating in street fights and engaging in petty crimes with his friends. He lacks ambition and is generally irresponsible.

His life takes a turn when he meets Alisha (Rani Mukerji), a free-spirited woman, and falls in love. Simultaneously, he becomes entangled with a ruthless local gangster, Raunak (Sharad Kapoor), who exploits the slum dwellers. Witnessing Raunak's brutality and influenced by Alisha's positive outlook, Siddharth begins to question his life choices and seeks to break free from the cycle of violence and exploitation. He finds the courage to stand up to Raunak and fight for the rights of his community, ultimately becoming a symbol of rebellion ("Ghulam," meaning slave, turning into someone who breaks free from slavery).

The film is notable for its action sequences, particularly the climactic train sequence, as well as its musical score. The songs, composed by Jatin-Lalit, were popular and contributed to the film's commercial success. Key themes explored in the film include social injustice, redemption, and the fight against oppression.