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Kohram (1999) Review – Rating, Verdict & Box Office | Tollybo

Last updated: 8 May 2026

Kohram (1999) Review

Kohram (1999) is a Hindi action, comedy, drama film directed by Mehul Kumar, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Nana Patekar, Tabu. Major Balbir Singh Sodhi (Amitabh Bachchan) attempts to kill the Indian Home Minister Veer Bhadra Singh (Danny Denzongpa) but is unsuccessful. He has been identified, and the army is on the look-out for him to court-martial him. They suspect that he has assumed a new identity, that of Devraj Hathoda... Our Rating: 2.25/5. Verdict: FLOP. Released: 13 Aug 1999. Runtime: 2h 30m.

Kohram
FLOP

Kohram(1999)

The Explosion

Hindi · Action, Comedy, Drama

2h 30m · 13 Aug 1999

Writer: N/A

ActionDramaThrillerCrime

Ratings

IMDbIMDb5.4
LetterboxdLetterboxd0
Metacritic UserMetacritic User0
TMDBTMDB66
Rotten Tomatoes AudienceRotten Tomatoes Audience9

Our Rating

2.25

📖 Story

Colonel Balbir Singh Sodhi is a decorated army officer who is presumed dead after a mission to eliminate a terrorist. However, he resurfaces as 'Dada Bhai', a vigilante operating in Mumbai to dismantle a nexus between terrorists and corrupt politicians. Major Ajit Arya is sent undercover to investigate and capture Sodhi, but upon discovering the truth, the two join forces to take down the villainous Minister Virbhadra Singh.

🔍 Analysis

Kohram is a typical Mehul Kumar directorial that relies heavily on loud dialogues, high-pitched patriotism, and the star power of its lead actors. The film's primary selling point was the first-ever collaboration between Amitabh Bachchan and Nana Patekar. While their chemistry and verbal duels provide some sparks, the screenplay is dated and follows a predictable path seen in the director's previous hits like Krantiveer and Tirangaa.

The first half focuses on the mystery of Dada Bhai and Ajit Arya's investigation, which moves at a decent pace but is often interrupted by unnecessary subplots. The second half shifts into a full-blown action-revenge drama that feels stretched. The pacing suffers due to a long runtime and a script that prioritizes melodrama over logic.

Musically, the film is weak. The songs by Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen are forgettable and act as speed breakers in the narrative. The background score is loud and repetitive, typical of 90s masala entertainers. Technically, the cinematography and editing are functional but do not offer anything groundbreaking for the era.

🎭 Performances

Amitabh Bachchan: Amitabh delivers a commanding performance, especially in the scenes where he plays the older, authoritative Dada Bhai. His screen presence remains unmatched, though the role didn't offer much new territory for him.

Nana Patekar: Nana Patekar is the life of the movie, bringing his signature eccentric style and sharp dialogue delivery. His comic timing in the first half provides much-needed relief.

Danny Denzongpa: Danny plays the antagonist with his usual sophistication, though the character of Virbhadra Singh is a one-dimensional villain.

Tabu: Tabu is largely wasted in a role that doesn't require her immense talent, serving mostly as a supporting character to Nana Patekar.

Jaya Prada: Jaya Prada has a limited role as Amitabh's wife, appearing mostly in flashbacks and emotional sequences.

💪 Strengths & Weaknesses

✅

Strengths

  • ✓The chemistry and face-off scenes between Amitabh Bachchan and Nana Patekar
  • ✓Powerful dialogue delivery by the lead duo
  • ✓Strong patriotic themes that appealed to the masses
❌

Weaknesses

  • ✕Dated and predictable storyline
  • ✕Poor music and forgettable songs
  • ✕Excessive length and uneven pacing
  • ✕Loud and over-the-top execution

🎬 Direction & Writing

Mehul Kumar sticks to his established formula of 'loud patriotism'. While he succeeds in extracting good performances from his leads, his direction lacks subtlety and the narrative feels like a rehash of his earlier works. The writing is heavy on rhetoric but light on logic.

📰 Critic Reviews

Gathering critic reviews…

📰 Ratings Sources

SourceRating
IMDbIMDb
5.4
LetterboxdLetterboxd
0
Metacritic UserMetacritic User
0
TMDBTMDB
66
Rotten Tomatoes AudienceRotten Tomatoes Audience
9

Our Rating

2.25/5
★★★★★★★★

💰 Box Office Collection

No collection data available yet.

🏛️ Centers & 🏅 Awards

No centers data available.

AwardCategoryNotes
N/AN/AThe film did not win any major mainstream awards.

🏆 Records & Box Office

  • - The film had a decent opening due to the star cast but failed to sustain at the box office.

😊 Sentiment Breakdown & 🧠 Critics

TypeValue
Positive35%
Neutral25%
Negative40%

Critics

Critics at the time gave the film mixed to negative reviews. While the pairing of Bachchan and Patekar was praised, the film was criticized for its '90s clichés' and loud treatment. Rediff noted that the film felt like a 'loud, noisy affair' that wasted its stellar cast.

Final Box-Office Result

FLOP

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When did Kohram release in theatres?▾

Kohram released on 13 August 1999 (1999).

Is Kohram a hit or flop?▾

Kohram is declared a FLOP at the box office.

What is the budget of Kohram?▾

Budget of Kohram is approximately ₹9.5 Crore.

Where to watch Kohram online? OTT release date?▾

Kohram is available on YouTube (Shemaroo / Goldmines). OTT date will be updated soon.

Who directed Kohram?▾

Kohram directed by Mehul Kumar.

Who are the main cast members of Kohram?▾

Kohram stars Amitabh Bachchan, Nana Patekar, Tabu, Jaya Prada, Danny Denzongpa.

What is the Tollybo rating for Kohram?▾

Tollybo rates Kohram 2.25/5. Verdict: FLOP.

What is the genre and runtime of Kohram?▾

Kohram — Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Runtime: 150 minutes, Language: Hindi.

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