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Ghajini (2008 film)

2026-09-15T04:46:27Z

2409:40E6:FC:D6A3:EFAA:8993:8BE2:7732:

{{Short description|2008 Indian Hindi-language film}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Ghajini
| image = Ghajini Hindi.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[A. R. Murugadoss]]
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| label1= Presented by
| data1 = [[Allu Aravind]]
}}
| producer = {{plainlist|
* Tagore Madhu
*[[Madhu Mantena]]
}}
| screenplay = A. R. Murugadoss <br/> [[Aamir Khan]] (Climax)
| story = A. R. Murugadoss
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| label1= Dialogue by
| data1 = [[Piyush Mishra]]
}}
| based_on = {{plainlist|
* ''[[Ghajini (2005 film)|Ghajini]]'' (Tamil) by A. R. Murugadoss
* ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' by [[Christopher Nolan]]
}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Aamir Khan]]
*[[Asin Thottumkal|Asin]]
}}
| music = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| cinematography = [[Ravi K. Chandran]]
| editing = [[Anthony (editor)|Anthony]]
| studio = [[Geetha Arts]]
| distributor = {{Plainlist|
* [[Viacom18 Studios|Indian Films]]<ref>{{cite web|title=TIFC under fire from Altima|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Patrick|last=Frater|date=15 January 2009|access-date=8 February 2022|url=https://variety.com/2009/biz/asia/tifc-under-fire-from-altima-1117998669/}}</ref> (India)
* [[Reliance Entertainment|BIG Pictures]] (International)<ref>{{cite web|title=Financing - Box office - Stars fell to earth|website=[[Screen International]]|first=Udita|last=Jhunjhunwala|date=23 January 2009|access-date=10 August 2022|url=https://www.screendaily.com/financing-box-office-stars-fell-to-earth/4042828.article}}</ref>
}}
| released = {{Film date|2008|12|25|df=y}}
| runtime = 184
minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/ghajini-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtodiwmdyz|title=Ghajini|website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
| budget = {{INR|65 [[crore]]|link=yes}}<ref name="indiatimes"/>
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR|{{#expr:162+70}}}} crore{{efn|''Ghajini'' worldwide gross {{ndash}} {{INR|{{#expr:162+70}} crore}}
*Domestic {{ndash}} {{INR|162 crore}} (two weeks)<ref name=prints/>
*Overseas {{ndash}} {{INR|70 crore}} (total)<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news|title=Ghajini collection details submitted to court|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Ghajini-collection-details-submitted-to-court/article16361228.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=28 January 2009}}</ref> }}
}}
'''''Ghajini''''' is a 2008 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[action thriller film]] written and directed by [[A. R. Murugadoss]], jointly produced by [[Allu Aravind]], Tagore Madhu and [[Madhu Mantena]]. A remake of Murugadoss's own 2005 [[Ghajini (2005 film)|Tamil film of the same name]] which itself is inspired by the 2000 film ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2007/09/13/3027/index.html |title=Aamir Khan's Ghajini revealed |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921041848/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2007/09/13/3027/index.html |archive-date=21 September 2011 |access-date=24 August 2010 |date=13 September 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Aamir's Ghajini is no Memento remake?|url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/News-Gossip/News/Aamirs-Ghajini-is-no-Memento-remake/articleshow/3659315.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=24 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714230629/http://movies.indiatimes.com/News-Gossip/News/Aamirs-Ghajini-is-no-Memento-remake/articleshow/3659315.cms|archive-date=14 July 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the film stars [[Asin Thottumkal]] (who reprising her role from original, in her [[Bollywood|Hindi film]] debut) and [[Aamir Khan]] with [[Jiah Khan]] and [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] (also reprising his role) in the pivotal roles. The score and soundtrack were composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], while Aamir co-wrote an altered climax.<ref name="hindustantimes"/> Murugadoss, had written half of the film's story when he watched ''Memento'', and claimed to merely use the character due to his short-term memory loss condition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/apr/18muru.htm|title=Aamir's next director speaks|website=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=18 April 2006|quote=}}</ref> In the film, a businessman suffering from [[anterograde amnesia]] sets out to avenge his girlfriend with the aid of photographs from a [[Instant camera|Polaroid Instant camera]] and permanent [[tattoos]] on his body.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aamir inspired by Jason Statham?|url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/News-Gossip/News/Aamir-inspired-by-Jason-Statham/articleshow/3760643.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=24 August 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712073229/http://movies.indiatimes.com/News-Gossip/News/Aamir-inspired-by-Jason-Statham/articleshow/3760643.cms|archive-date=12 July 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Released theatrically on 25 December 2008, ''Ghajini'' became the highest-grossing [[Indian film]] of the year, and the first [[Bollywood]] film to cross the {{INR|link=yes}}100 [[crore]] mark domestically, creating the [[100 Crore Club]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/aamir-khans-10-biggest-hits/20141222.htm| title = Aamir Khan's 10 BIGGEST Hits - Rediff.com}}</ref> ''Ghajini'''s paid preview collections were {{INR}} 2.7{{nbsp}}crore.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/article127885.ece|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|title='3 Idiots' surpasses Aamir's last release 'Ghajini'|date=29 December 2009}}</ref> It went on to become the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] of all time, until it was surpassed by Aamir's next, ''[[3 Idiots]]'' (2009), the following year and then by [[Shah Rukh Khan]]'s ''[[Chennai Express]]'' (2013). Aamir's character was featured in a [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[video game]] titled ''[[Ghajini – The Game]]'', which is based on the film.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Ghajini Video Game Arrives! |url=http://www.india.com/entertainment/movies/the_ghajini_video_game_arrives_2135 |website=India.com |date=22 December 2008 |archive-date=1 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201214144/http://www.india.com/entertainment/movies/the_ghajini_video_game_arrives_2135 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Plot==
Sunita, a medical student, is investigating the [[anterograde amnesia]] case of Sanjay Singhania, the chairman of Air Voice, a telecommunications company. She does so against her professor Dr. Debkumar Mitra's wishes, admit in hospital spite of Sanjay being underworld and criminal investigation. Sanjay, who loses his memory every 15 minutes, uses a system of photographs, notes, and tattoos on his body to recover his memory and remember his mission of avenging the murder of his fiancé Kalpana Shetty, who was killed by a criminal kingpin, Ghajini Dharmatma.

The corrupt police officers Arjun Yadav, who is investigating a murder that Sanjay committed knocks Sanjay unconscious in a scuffle at his apartment and finds two diaries in his drawer. He learns that Sanjay who is a successful entrepreneur met Kalpana, a struggling model, after he planned on installing an advertising billboard above her apartment. When his agents arrive at Kalpana's shooting site to negotiate with her about it, Kalpana's boss, advertising veteran Satveer Kohli, misinterprets this as a romantic advance and, in a view of fame and fortune, encourages Kalpana to accept the overture. Kalpana also decides to pose as Sanjay's girlfriend. As soon as Sanjay finds out about the false rumor, he plans to meet Kalpana to confront her but fails, as he starts to like her after seeing her altruistic nature. He poses as Sachin Chauhan, a newcomer model, and kidnap lies to Kalpana about himself. Soon, he falls deeper falls in love with her. At the end of the first diary, on 31 December, Sanjay, still playing Sachin, proposes to Kalpana who his brother, taken aback by such a sudden gesture, asks for the night to think over it. He decides that if she would agree, then he would reveal his true identity to her, but he attempt, if not, then he back would quietly walk away from her life as Sachin.

As Arjun starts reading the second diary, Sanjay attacks him and ties him up. Sunita locates the kidnapper apartment, finds Arjun and learns of Sanjay's murder plot. She steals his diaries and frees Arjun. As she and Arjun escape, Arjun is hit by a bus. Sunita then informs Ghajini about the facts gang, she was enraged that Sanjay is coming infuriates to him to kill him. Sanjay finds out about this and goes to attack her at injured her dormitory, where he is arrested and given a sedative. Ghajini is furious, informed by the police about Sanjay's belongings and he poses as Sanjay's friend. Soon, Sanjay's employees and doctor arrive and take him home. There, Ghajini and his henchman destroy his pictures and cover his tattoos, thus leaving him with no memory of the past. After Sanjay gets arrested, Sunita reads the diaries. She finds out about Kalpana. In the second diary, Kalpana accepts the proposal, but on the condition that she marry only after she purchases three ambassador cars, due to a past commitment. One thing leads to another and Sanjay decides on telling her the truth about himself later. The diary ends abruptly when Sanjay has to go overseas for a few days.

After some research, Sunita eventually learns Kalpana travelled to [[Goa]], where she stumbled across and freed a group of girls from a [[sex trafficking]] ring racketeered by Ghajini. Sanjay returns home and finds Kalpana stabbed. An enraged Ghajini hits Sanjay in the head with an iron rod which results in brain injury, before killing Kalpana with the same rod, in front of him. Feeling guilty of doubting him, Sunita reminds Sanjay of Kalpana's murdered and helps him track Ghajini to his local area. Sanjay then kills his rich man but has a memory loss fit while searching for Ghajini, who takes advantage of the situation and stabs Sanjay. As he prepares to kill Sunita the same way he killed Kalpana, Sanjay recovers his memory and actually kills Ghajini and Kalpana, along with the fight iron rod. Six months later, Sanjay returns as the chairman of Air Voice and is volunteering at an orphanage named after Kalpana, helping each other an everyone like she avenge his death, and trying to heal. Sunita gifts him the cement pad with Sanjay and Kalpana's foot impressions and he feels Kalpana beside him, attempted the screen pans out in a fading sunset.

==Cast==
*[[Aamir Khan]] as Sanjay Singhania / Sachin Chauhan, a rich businessman; the chairman of a telecommunications company, Air Voice; who later suffers from [[anterograde amnesia|short-term memory loss]] after a tragic incident caused by Ghajini, being solely motivated, thus, to kill him and his cohorts
*[[Asin]] as Kalpana Shetty, a model who gains publicity by falsely proclaiming herself to be the girlfriend of Sanjay Singhania, but soon becomes his love interest, later getting killed by Ghajini
*[[Jiah Khan]] as Sunita Kalantri, a medical student, who tries to study the case of Sanjay Singhania and his amnesiac problem, even though she is forbidden to do so
*[[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] as Ghajini Dharmatma, a gang honcho and the mastermind of many illegal and criminal ventures who is targeted by Sanjay
*[[Riyaz Khan]] as Inspector Arjun Yadav, a police inspector who is investigating the murders Sanjay committed (voiceover by [[Rajesh Khattar]])
*[[Khalid Siddiqui]] as Pankaj Shroff, Sanjay's private assistant and an Air Voice manager
*[[Tinnu Anand]] as Satveer Kohli, Kalpana's boss
*[[Sai Tamhankar]] as Amrita Kashyap, Sunita's friend
*[[Supreeth Reddy]] as Ghajini's Henchman
*[[Vibha Chibber]] as Havaldar Vijyanti
*[[Sunil Grover]] as Sampat, a model who is being trained as the fake Sanjay Singhania
*[[Rajendran]] as Ghajini's henchman
*[[Vishal Malhotra]] as Sanjay's friend
*Firdausi Jussawalla as Dr. Peston Wadia
*Rahul Pendkalkar as Rahul (cameo)
*Diya Sonecha as Pooja (cameo)
*[[Sonal Sehgal]] as ad model
*[[Anjum Rajabali]] in a cameo appearance as Dr. Debkumar Mitra, Sunita's professor

==Production==
It was rumoured earlier that the film was titled ''Kajri''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/27064.html|title=Aamir Wants Asin in Ghajini Remake|website=IndiaGlitz|author=Faridoon Shahryar|date=21 November 2006}}</ref> It is a remake of the [[Tamil film]], ''[[Ghajini (2005 film)|Ghajini]]'' (2005). [[Aamir Khan]], who had never before made a remake film in his career,<ref name="rediff">{{cite news|title=Exclusive: Suriya on Aamir's Ghajini|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/29suriya-on-aamirs-ghajini.htm|work=[[Rediff]]|date=29 December 2008}}</ref> was initially hesitant to do the film, but was convinced by [[Suriya]], the original star of the Tamil ''Ghajini'', who told him he was "the only one who could do justice to the character."<ref>{{cite web|title=Surya convinced me to do Ghajini: Aamir Khan|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/Surya-convinced-me-to-do-Ghajini-Aamir-Khan-imagegallery-1-Movies-jdwmUyfhdeb.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210071642/http://www.sify.com/movies/Surya-convinced-me-to-do-Ghajini-Aamir-Khan-imagegallery-1-Movies-jdwmUyfhdeb.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-12-10|website=[[Sify]]|date=December 2008}}</ref> Suriya was a fan of Khan, and had some involvement in the film's development, discussing minute details with Khan for two years during the film's development.<ref name="rediff"/> [[Priyanka Chopra]] was offered a lead role in the film, but Khan preferred [[Asin Thottumkal]] over her as he loved her performance in original film.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/news/people/article/5-blockbuster-movies-priyanka-chopra-rejected-in-3-of-them-deepika-padukone-replaced-her/383940| title = 5 blockbuster movies Priyanka Chopra REJECTED! In 3 of them Deepika Padukone replaced her {{!}} Entertainment News}}</ref>

Khan was involved in the film's creative writing process, deciding what should remain from the original Tamil ''Ghajini'' and what changes should be made. Murugadoss revealed that the altered climax of the film was rewritten by Khan. According to Murugadoss:<ref name="hindustantimes">{{cite news|title=Aamir Khan rewrote Ghajini climax|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/aamir-khan-rewrote-ghajini-climax/story-gZqQPykgNOR4dPy7kdRg6H.html|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=31 December 2008}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|We didn't make too many changes in the rest of the film. Every time I'd suggest a change in ''Ghajini'' from the original, Aamir would firmly cut it down, saying we should stick to the Tamil script. But he decided we should rewrite the climax. The entire location, incidents and dialogue for the climax were re-written by Aamir. I think the Hindi version is far better than the Tamil ''Ghajini'' because of the changes Aamir made.}}

===Influences===
Murdagoss's original 2005 [[Ghajini (2005 film)|Tamil version of ''Ghajini'']] was inspired by the American film ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' (2000), which itself was adapted from the short story ''[[Memento Mori (short story)|Memento Mori]]''. The film stars [[Guy Pearce]] as Leonard Shelby, a former insurance fraud investigator searching for the man he believes raped and killed his wife during a burglary. Leonard suffers from [[anterograde amnesia]], which he contracted from severe head trauma during the attack on his wife. Certain concepts like writing notes behind instant Polaroid photographs and tattooing facts on his body are also similar. According to Khan, "''Ghajini'' is not a remake or even slightly inspired by ''Memento'', but rather a remake of the Tamil film, ''Ghajini''".<ref name=aamir>{{cite web|title=Aamir, "Ghajini is not a remake... "|access-date=24 August 2010|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/interviews/2008/aamir-khan-interview-ghajini-181208.html|publisher=One India|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218004733/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/interviews/2008/aamir-khan-interview-ghajini-181208.html|archive-date=18 February 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, he acknowledged that Murgadoss's original Tamil film was at least partly inspired by ''Memento'', stating, "Murgadoss had heard about a film called ''Memento'' and the concept had really fascinated him. Without having seen the film he went ahead and wrote his own version of the script and screenplay. Having finished his script, he then saw ''Memento'', found it very different from what he had written, and went ahead and made ''Ghajini''."<ref name=Khan>{{cite web|author=Aamir Khan|title=Ghajini|publisher=The Lagaan Blog|date=29 June 2007|url=http://www.lagaandvd.com/blog.php?topicid=33|access-date=2 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808203043/http://www.lagaandvd.com/blog.php?topicid=33|archive-date=8 August 2007|url-status=dead|author-link=Aamir Khan}}</ref>

The [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] opening brain sequence was inspired by the 1999 film ''[[Fight Club]]'' by [[David Fincher]]. This sequence was also used in the Tamil version of the film.

The film's title is a reference to [[Mahmud of Ghazni]], the tenth-century [[Sultan]] of [[Ghaznavids|Ghaznavid Empire]] whose name is pronounced "Ghajini" in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].<ref name="Raveh">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lj6TDAAAQBAJ&q=ghajini&pg=PT122 |title=Sutras, Stories and Yoga Philosophy: Narrative and Transfiguration |last=Raveh |first=Daniel |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-138-63838-9}}</ref> Several comical scenes in the film are similar to ''[[Happy Go Lovely]]'' (1951). The scene where Kalpana (Asin Thottumkal) helps a blind man to cross the road is similar to the [[Cinema of France|French film]] ''[[Amélie]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqT9kA1bcVQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ZqT9kA1bcVQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Amelie and the Blind Man|format=Video|via=YouTube|access-date=24 July 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Filming===
Shooting started in [[Chennai]] in May 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini shooting in Chennai |url=http://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/exclusive/aamir-asin-ghajini-hindi-150507.html|access-date=24 August 2010}} {{Dead link|date=January 2016}}</ref> Climax was shot in Old City, [[Hyderabad]]. Other filming locations included [[Bangalore]], [[Cape Town]] in [[South Africa]], the [[Dead Vlei|Deadpan Desert]] in Namibia and [[Mumbai]]. Aamir Khan had spent a year working out at the gym, training for his role.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Aamir trained for ''Ghajini''|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/15sl1-aamirs-workout.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|date=15 December 2008}}</ref> This film marked the Bollywood debut for [[Asin]]. The film's production budget was {{INRConvert|65|c|year=2008|mode=historical}}.<ref name="indiatimes">{{cite news|title=10 of the Most Expensive Bollywood Films Ever Made|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/10-of-the-most-expensive-bollywood-films-ever-made-231862.html|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=17 April 2015}}</ref>

==Release==
''Ghajini'' was released on 25 December 2008 with an estimated 1,500 prints worldwide,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/ghajini-already-a-hit-at-ticket-counters/article1-360114.aspx |title=Ghajini already a hit at ticket counters |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=23 December 2011 |archive-date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223203726/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/ghajini-already-a-hit-at-ticket-counters/article1-360114.aspx |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> including 1,200 prints (digital and analogue versions) in the domestic market,<ref name=prints>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-08/mumbai/28028047_1_ghajini-producer-bollywood-film-hindi-film|agency=TNN|title='Ghajini' first Hindi movie to cross Rs 200cr mark|author=Meena Iyer|access-date=12 January 2009|date=8 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214155/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-08/mumbai/28028047_1_ghajini-producer-bollywood-film-hindi-film|archive-date=4 October 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ET1">{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-12-23/news/27707339_1_previews-tickets-at-regular-rates-important-marketing-strategy|title=Ghajini to fire up screen with 300 paid previews|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=23 December 2011|date=23 December 2008}}</ref> making it the largest [[Bollywood]] release at that time. The domestic rights were sold to [[Geetha Arts]] for {{INR|530 million}}, while satellite, overseas and home media rights were sold at a total of {{INR|400 million}}, breaking the records of [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shah Rukh]] Khan's film ''[[Om Shanti Om]]'''s {{INR|730 million}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.magnamags.com/content/view/967/104/lang,english/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128023655/http://www.magnamags.com/content/view/967/104/lang,english/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 January 2013|title=Aamir's 'Ghajini' Sold for RS 90 Crore!!|work=[[Stardust (magazine)|Stardust]]|access-date=23 December 2011}}</ref>

The overseas distributors, [[Reliance Entertainment]] released the film with 300 prints in 22 countries, including 112 prints in the US and Canada, 65 prints in the UK and 36 prints in the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]]. ''Ghajini'' was also released in Norway, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rbe.co.in/news-big-pictures-13.html|title=BIG Pictures goes bigger with 'Ghajini' in the overseas market|publisher=[[Reliance Entertainment]]|date=22 December 2008|access-date=23 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426070516/http://www.rbe.co.in/news-big-pictures-13.html|archive-date=26 April 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It had around 650 paid previews which fetched it around {{INR|70 million}}.<ref name="ET1"/>

===Home media===
The two-disc collector's edition DVD was manufactured by Big Home Video and distributed by international distributor, [[Reliance MediaWorks|Adlabs Films Ltd]] (New name is Reliance MediaWorks) on 13 March 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini's DVD MSRP|date=29 July 2009|access-date=29 July 2009|publisher=Amazon.com|url=https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001TLWRBO/boxofficemojo-20}}</ref>

===Video game===
{{Main|Ghajini – The Game}}

A PC video game based on the film was manufactured and produced by FXLabs Studios Pvt Ltd and Geetha Arts, and marketed and distributed by Eros Home Entertainment: ''[[Ghajini – The Game]]''. It is a [[Third-person (video games)|third-person]] [[action game]] consisting of five levels of play; here the player controlled the protagonist Sanjay to accomplish missions using martial arts, weapons, and artefacts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ghajini.fxlabs.com/index.html |title=Ghajini – The Game |date=29 July 2009 |access-date=29 July 2009 |archive-date=13 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413145807/http://ghajini.fxlabs.com/index.html |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> It was hailed as India's first true [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[Personal computer game|PC game]] with an MSRP of US$14.99.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} Although never officially rated, the distributor recommends that 15+ year old players partake in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dvdstore.erosentertainment.com/product/bollywood-movie.asp?Buy_Ghajini_-_The_Game_PC_CD_ROM_DVD_1a |title=Ghajini – The Game MSRP |publisher=Eros Entertainment |date=29 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207083745/http://dvdstore.erosentertainment.com/product/bollywood-movie.asp?Buy_Ghajini_-_The_Game_PC_CD_ROM_DVD_1a |archive-date=7 February 2009 |access-date=29 July 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>

===Controversy===
{{expand section|date=June 2013}}

Director [[A. R. Murugadoss]] was arrested shortly before the film's completion. According to Salem Chandrasekhar, the producer of the [[Ghajini (2005 film)|Tamil original]], he had not bought the rights to remake the film in Hindi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/mar/01film.htm|title=Ghajini director Murugadoss arrested, released|author=Vicky Nanjappa|date=1 March 2008}}</ref>

==Reception==
50% of the reviews in review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] were positive.<ref>{{Citation|title=Ghajini|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghajini|language=en|access-date=2021-12-27}}</ref>

===Critical response===
[[Rajeev Masand]] of ''[[CNN IBN]]'' gave 3 stars writing, "Ghajini isn't a particularly good film, but entertainment it delivers by the bucketful."<ref>{{cite web|title=Masand's Verdict: Ghajini is dumb and celebrates it|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-verdict-ghajini-is-dumb-and-celebrates-it/81344-8.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226083757/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-verdict-ghajini-is-dumb-and-celebrates-it/81344-8.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 December 2008|publisher=CNN-IBN|access-date=22 July 2010|last=Masand|first=Rajeev|author-link=Rajeev Masand|date=25 December 2008}}</ref> Martin D'Souza of ''Bollywood Trade News Network'' gave 3.5 stars, noting the flaws in screenplay, while praising the action.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini Movie Review|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/25-ghajini-movie-review-120801.asp|publisher=Bollywood Trade News Network|access-date=22 July 2010|author=Martin D'Souza|date=25 December 2008|author-link=Martin D'Souza|archive-date=31 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131101111/http://glamsham.com/movies/reviews/25-ghajini-movie-review-120801.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Taran Adarsh]] of ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' remarked that the movie "is a winner all the way" and gave it 4.5 stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/reviews/2008/ghajini-review-231208.html|title=Ghajini Review|work=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=22 July 2010|last=Adarsh|first=Taran|author-link=Taran Adarsh|date=25 December 2008}}</ref> [[Nikhat Kazmi]] of ''[[The Times of India]]'' praised the performance by Aamir Khan as its high point and awarded 3.5 stars.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ghajini Critic's review|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/moviereview/3887926.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=22 July 2010|author=Nikhat Kazmi|date=24 December 2008}}</ref>

''[[Zee News]]'' described Aamir's performance as his best to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=Review: 'Ghajini' is Aamir's career-best performance! |url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/articles/story19117.htm |publisher=Zee News |access-date=22 July 2010 |date=25 December 2008 |archive-date=16 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816172840/http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/articles/story19117.htm |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> Sukanya Verma of ''[[Rediff]]'' gave the movie 3.5 stars, while describing the film as "a sleek album of dark memories, which are terrifying to relive and shattering to experience".<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini: A sleek album of dark memories|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/25ghajini-review-two.htm|publisher=Rediff|access-date=22 July 2010|date=25 December 2008}}</ref> Noyon Jyoti Parasara of ''AOL India'' said, "Most comparisons often point out that a remake is not as worthy.''Ghajini'' however succeeds when it is compared to the Tamil version directed by the same director."<ref>{{cite web|author=Noyon Jyoti Parasara |url=http://www.aol.in/bollywood-story/ghajini-movie-review/2008122905219019000001 |title=Ghajini-Movie Review |publisher=AOL India |date=29 December 2008 |access-date=23 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231082754/http://www.aol.in/bollywood-story/ghajini-movie-review/2008122905219019000001 |archive-date=31 December 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> Anupama Chopra of ''[[NDTV]]'' said "Ghajini isn't a great film or even a very good one but I recommend that you see it. It is, as we used to say in the old days, paisa vasool.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_review.aspx?lang=hindi&id=368&moviename=Ghajini |title=Review: Ghajini |access-date=23 September 2011 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928123949/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_review.aspx?lang=hindi&id=368&moviename=Ghajini |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> Kaveree Bamzai of ''[[India Today]]'' said that "This is brutality, choreographed by a poet, and therefore that much more compelling." giving it 3.5 stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Ghajini:+It's+brutal+but+almost+lyrically+so/1/23548.html|title=Ghajini: It's brutal but almost lyrically so|access-date=23 September 2011|work=[[India Today]]}}</ref>

The film received some mixed and negative reviews. Gaurav Malani of ''[[Indiatimes]]'' gave 2 stars, criticising its length while praising the performance of the cast.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Cetera/Ghajini_Movie_Review_/articleshow/3895546.cms|last=Malini|first=Gaurav|title=''Ghajini'': Movie Review|work=The Times of India |access-date=22 July 2010|date=26 December 2008}}</ref> [[Raja Sen]] of ''[[Rediff]]'' rated the movie 2.5/5 and criticised the performance of Asin while concluding, "overwhelming feeling is one of regret".<ref>{{cite web|title=Hum Do, Humaare (Memen)to|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/24hum-do-humaare-memento.htm|publisher=Rediff|access-date=22 July 2010|author=Raja Sen|date=24 December 2008}}</ref> Shubhra Gupta of ''Express India'' concluded that ''Ghajini'' is too long, too violent, and criticised [[Jiah Khan]]'s acting and dancing skills, but praised the performances of Aamir Khan and Asin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini (Movie Review) |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Ghajini-Movie-Review/402773/ |work=Express India |access-date=22 July 2010 |author=Shubhra Gupta |date=25 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229074251/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Ghajini-Movie-Review/402773/ |archive-date=29 December 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' gave it 2 stars and said "You'd like to give Ghajini a long-term memory loss. Kya, kyon, kahan? Murugadoss.? Aamir? Asin? Who? Got to jog my memory... maybe after 15 minutes."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Reviews/Ouch-call-ambulance/Article1-360469.aspx |title=Ouch, call ambulance! |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023052609/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Reviews/Ouch-call-ambulance/Article1-360469.aspx |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>

===Box office===
''Ghajini'' released worldwide on 25 December 2008, on Christmas Day. The film became the first-ever Bollywood film to open in double digits, collecting ₹102 million ($1.27 million) on its opening day, followed by ₹118 million ($1.47 million), ₹102.5 million ($1.28 million) and ₹87.5 million ($1.09 million), taking its four-day opening weekend collection to ₹410 million ($5.13 million). The film went past ₹1 billion ($12.5 million) domestically in its fourth week, thus becoming the first ever Bollywood film to cross ₹100 crore domestically. It was the first Bollywood film to enter the 100 crore club.

''Ghajini'' became the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film ever]] at the time,<ref name="businesstoday">{{cite news|title=The other Khan: A marketing genius|url=http://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/cover-story/the-other-khan-a-marketing-genius/story/5202.html|work=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]]|date=21 February 2010}}</ref> and was declared an "All Time Blockbuster".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=215&catName=MjAwOA==| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080115083431/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=215&catName=MjAwOA==| archive-date = 2008-01-15| title = BoxOffice India.com}} {{Cite web |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=215&catName=MjAwOA== |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 February 2013 |archive-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012165321/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=215&catName=MjAwOA== |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its record was eventually surpassed a year later by another Aamir Khan film, ''[[3 Idiots]]'' (2009).<ref name="businesstoday"/>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Ghajini
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[A.R Rahman]]
| cover =
| released = {{Start date|2008|11|24|df=y}}
| recorded = [[Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios]]
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 34:00
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| prev_title = [[Yuvvraaj]]
| prev_year = 2008
| year = 2008
| next_title = [[Slumdog Millionaire (soundtrack)|Slumdog Millionaire]]
| next_year = 2009
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[Rediff]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name=RD/>
| rev2 = [[Bollywood Hungama]]
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=BH/>
}}
The film has six songs, including two remixes, composed by [[A. R. Rahman]] and with lyrics penned by [[Prasoon Joshi]].

{{tracklist
| headline = Track list
| extra_column = Artist(s)
| total_length = 34:00
| title1 = Aye Bacchu
| extra1 = [[Suzanne D'Mello]]
| length1 = 3:48
| title2 = Behka
| extra2 = [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]]
| length2 = 5:13
| title3 = Guzaarish
| extra3 = [[Javed Ali]] and [[Sonu Nigam]] (humming)
| length3 = 5:29
| title4 = Latoo
| extra4 = [[Shreya Ghoshal]]
| length4 = 4:30
| title5 = Kaise Mujhe
| extra5 = [[Benny Dayal]] and [[Shreya Ghoshal]]
| length5 = 5:46
| title6 = Behka (Remix by Dj A-Myth)
| extra6 = Karthik
| length6 = 5:13
| title7 = Guzaarish (Remix by Dj A-Myth)
| extra7 = Javed Ali and Sonu Nigam (humming)
| length7 = 5:29
| title8 = Kaise Mujhe
| extra8 = Instrumental
| length8 = 4:01|
}}

===Reception===
''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' wrote, "The music of Ghajini is all set to make waves way into 2009 after the Christmas release of the film. When 'best of the best' list would be compiled at the year end, it would be hard to ignore Ghajini."<ref name="BH">{{cite web|first=Joginder|last=Tuteja|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/musicreview/13397/index.html|title=Ghajini music review|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]|date=24 November 2008|access-date=24 December 2008}}</ref>
''[[Rediff.com]]'' gave it the highest possible rating of five stars with the reviewer praising Rahman saying, "This could just be one of his finest albums ever. Not just are the tracks great, but each one segues into the next with perfect unpredictability."<ref name="RD">{{cite web|first=Raja|last=Sen|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/nov/25rahman-goes-gloriously-wild-with-ghajini.htm|title=Rahman goes gloriously wild with Ghajini|work=[[Rediff.com]]|date=25 November 2008|access-date=24 December 2008}}</ref> According to the Indian trade website [[Box Office India]], the soundtrack album sold about 1.9{{nbsp}}million units, making it the year's best selling [[Bollywood music]] soundtrack album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624132928/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-date=24 June 2010|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2019}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! Awards
! Category
! Recipients and Nominees
! Results
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Screen Awards]]
| [[Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female|Most Promising Newcomer - Female]]
| [[Asin]]
| rowspan="1" {{won}}
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Ghajini''
| rowspan="3" {{nom}}
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[Aamir Khan]]
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Asin]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Stardust Awards]]
| [[Stardust Award for Superstar of Tomorrow - Female|Superstar of Tomorrow - Female]]
| rowspan="2" {{won}}
|-
| Hottest New Filmmaker
| [[AR Murugadoss|A. R. Murugadoss]]
|-
| [[Stardust Hottest New Film Award|Hottest New Film]]
| ''Ghajini''
| rowspan="1" {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="8" | [[Filmfare Awards]]
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut|Best Female Debut]]
| [[Asin]]
| rowspan="3" {{won}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Action|Best Action]]
| [[Peter Hein]]
|-
| [[Filmfare R. D. Burman Award|R. D. Burman Award for New Music Talent]]
| [[Benny Dayal]] for ''Ghajini'', ''[[Yuvvraaj]]'' and ''[[Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na]]''
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| rowspan="2" | [[AR Murugadoss|A. R. Murugadoss]]
| rowspan="5" {{nom}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[Aamir Khan]]
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| [[Asin]]
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
| [[A. R. Rahman]]
|-
| rowspan="10" | [[International Indian Film Academy Awards]]
| [[IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year - Female|Star Debut of the Year - Female]]
| [[Asin]]
| rowspan="4" {{won}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]]
| Prime Focus
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Action|Best Action]]
| [[Peter Hein]], Stun Shiva
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Sound Recording|Best Sound Recording]]
| [[Resul Pookutty]], [[Amrit Pritam Dutta]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| [[Madhu Mantena]], [[Allu Aravind]], Tagore Madhu
| rowspan="6" {{nom}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| [[A.R. Murugadoss|A. R. Murugadoss]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[Aamir Khan]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| [[Asin]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]]
| [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
| [[A.R. Rahman|A. R. Rahman]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Producers Guild Film Awards]]
|[[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|A. R. Murugadoss
|{{won}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor]]
| [[Aamir Khan]]
| rowspan="2" {{nom}}
|-
| Best Cinematography
| Ravi K. Chandran
|}

==See also==
*[[Short-term memory loss]]
*[[Declarative memory]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.devildead.com/indexfilm.php3?FilmID=1918 Film Review] on [http://www.devildead.com Devildead] {{in lang|fr}}
* {{IMDb title|1166100|Ghajini}}
* {{Rotten-tomatoes|ghajini|Ghajini}}
* {{Amg movie|336841|Ghajini}}
* {{mojo title|id=ghajini|title=Ghajini}}

{{AR Murugadoss}}
{{Aamir Khan}}
{{A. R. Rahman}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghajini (2008 Film)}}
[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2008 action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Films about amnesia]]
[[Category:Films about tattooing]]
[[Category:Hindi remakes of Tamil films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Namibia]]
[[Category:Films directed by AR Murugadoss]]
[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]]
[[Category:Reliance Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Geetha Arts films]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Bangalore]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian films about revenge]]
[[Category:Films shot in South Africa]]
[[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]]

Talk:Ghajini (2008 film)

2026-09-15T04:45:19Z

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== Suggestion ==

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[[Special:Contributions/2409:40E6:FC:D6A3:EFAA:8993:8BE2:7732|2409:40E6:FC:D6A3:EFAA:8993:8BE2:7732]] ([[User talk:2409:40E6:FC:D6A3:EFAA:8993:8BE2:7732|talk]]) 10:15, 15 September 2026 (IST)

== Suggestion ==

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[[Special:Contributions/2409:40E6:FC:D6A3:EFAA:8993:8BE2:7732|2409:40E6:FC:D6A3:EFAA:8993:8BE2:7732]] ([[User talk:2409:40E6:FC:D6A3:EFAA:8993:8BE2:7732|talk]]) 10:15, 15 September 2026 (IST)

Talk:Ghajini (2008 film)

2026-09-15T04:45:08Z

2409:40E6:FC:D6A3:EFAA:8993:8BE2:7732: /* Suggestion */ new section

Ghajini (2008 film)

2026-09-15T04:42:47Z

2409:40E6:FC:D6A3:EFAA:8993:8BE2:7732:

{{Short description|2008 Indian Hindi-language film}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Ghajini
| image = Ghajini Hindi.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[A. R. Murugadoss]]
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| label1= Presented by
| data1 = [[Allu Aravind]]
}}
| producer = {{plainlist|
* Tagore Madhu
*[[Madhu Mantena]]
}}
| screenplay = A. R. Murugadoss <br/> [[Aamir Khan]] (Climax)
| story = A. R. Murugadoss
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| label1= Dialogue by
| data1 = [[Piyush Mishra]]
}}
| based_on = {{plainlist|
* ''[[Ghajini (2005 film)|Ghajini]]'' (Tamil) by A. R. Murugadoss
* ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' by [[Christopher Nolan]]
}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
*[[Aamir Khan]]
*[[Asin Thottumkal|Asin]]
}}
| music = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| cinematography = [[Ravi K. Chandran]]
| editing = [[Anthony (editor)|Anthony]]
| studio = [[Geetha Arts]]
| distributor = {{Plainlist|
* [[Viacom18 Studios|Indian Films]]<ref>{{cite web|title=TIFC under fire from Altima|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Patrick|last=Frater|date=15 January 2009|access-date=8 February 2022|url=https://variety.com/2009/biz/asia/tifc-under-fire-from-altima-1117998669/}}</ref> (India)
* [[Reliance Entertainment|BIG Pictures]] (International)<ref>{{cite web|title=Financing - Box office - Stars fell to earth|website=[[Screen International]]|first=Udita|last=Jhunjhunwala|date=23 January 2009|access-date=10 August 2022|url=https://www.screendaily.com/financing-box-office-stars-fell-to-earth/4042828.article}}</ref>
}}
| released = {{Film date|2008|12|25|df=y}}
| runtime = 184
minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/ghajini-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtodiwmdyz|title=Ghajini|website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
| budget = {{INR|65 [[crore]]|link=yes}}<ref name="indiatimes"/>
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR|{{#expr:162+70}}}} crore{{efn|''Ghajini'' worldwide gross {{ndash}} {{INR|{{#expr:162+70}} crore}}
*Domestic {{ndash}} {{INR|162 crore}} (two weeks)<ref name=prints/>
*Overseas {{ndash}} {{INR|70 crore}} (total)<ref name="thehindu">{{cite news|title=Ghajini collection details submitted to court|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Ghajini-collection-details-submitted-to-court/article16361228.ece|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=28 January 2009}}</ref> }}
}}
'''''Ghajini''''' is a 2008 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[action thriller film]] written and directed by [[A. R. Murugadoss]], jointly produced by [[Allu Aravind]], Tagore Madhu and [[Madhu Mantena]]. A remake of Murugadoss's own 2005 [[Ghajini (2005 film)|Tamil film of the same name]] which itself is inspired by the 2000 film ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2007/09/13/3027/index.html |title=Aamir Khan's Ghajini revealed |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921041848/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/features/2007/09/13/3027/index.html |archive-date=21 September 2011 |access-date=24 August 2010 |date=13 September 2007 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Aamir's Ghajini is no Memento remake?|url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/News-Gossip/News/Aamirs-Ghajini-is-no-Memento-remake/articleshow/3659315.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=24 August 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714230629/http://movies.indiatimes.com/News-Gossip/News/Aamirs-Ghajini-is-no-Memento-remake/articleshow/3659315.cms|archive-date=14 July 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the film stars [[Asin Thottumkal]] (who reprising her role from original, in her [[Bollywood|Hindi film]] debut) and [[Aamir Khan]] with [[Jiah Khan]] and [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] (also reprising his role) in the pivotal roles. The score and soundtrack were composed by [[A. R. Rahman]], while Aamir co-wrote an altered climax.<ref name="hindustantimes"/> Murugadoss, had written half of the film's story when he watched ''Memento'', and claimed to merely use the character due to his short-term memory loss condition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/apr/18muru.htm|title=Aamir's next director speaks|website=[[Rediff.com]]|access-date=18 April 2006|quote=}}</ref> In the film, a businessman suffering from [[anterograde amnesia]] sets out to avenge his girlfriend with the aid of photographs from a [[Instant camera|Polaroid Instant camera]] and permanent [[tattoos]] on his body.<ref>{{cite news|title=Aamir inspired by Jason Statham?|url=http://movies.indiatimes.com/News-Gossip/News/Aamir-inspired-by-Jason-Statham/articleshow/3760643.cms|work=The Times of India|access-date=24 August 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712073229/http://movies.indiatimes.com/News-Gossip/News/Aamir-inspired-by-Jason-Statham/articleshow/3760643.cms|archive-date=12 July 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Released theatrically on 25 December 2008, ''Ghajini'' became the highest-grossing [[Indian film]] of the year, and the first [[Bollywood]] film to cross the {{INR|link=yes}}100 [[crore]] mark domestically, creating the [[100 Crore Club]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/aamir-khans-10-biggest-hits/20141222.htm| title = Aamir Khan's 10 BIGGEST Hits - Rediff.com}}</ref> ''Ghajini'''s paid preview collections were {{INR}} 2.7{{nbsp}}crore.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/article127885.ece|location=Chennai, India|work=The Hindu|title='3 Idiots' surpasses Aamir's last release 'Ghajini'|date=29 December 2009}}</ref> It went on to become the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] of all time, until it was surpassed by Aamir's next, ''[[3 Idiots]]'' (2009), the following year and then by [[Shah Rukh Khan]]'s ''[[Chennai Express]]'' (2013). Aamir's character was featured in a [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[video game]] titled ''[[Ghajini – The Game]]'', which is based on the film.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Ghajini Video Game Arrives! |url=http://www.india.com/entertainment/movies/the_ghajini_video_game_arrives_2135 |website=India.com |date=22 December 2008 |archive-date=1 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201214144/http://www.india.com/entertainment/movies/the_ghajini_video_game_arrives_2135 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Plot==
Sunita, a medical student, is investigating the [[anterograde amnesia]] case of Sanjay Singhania, the chairman of Air Voice, a telecommunications company. She does so against her professor Dr. Debkumar Mitra's wishes, in spite of Sanjay being underworld and criminal investigation. Sanjay, who loses his memory every 15 minutes, uses a system of photographs, notes, and tattoos on his body to recover his memory and remember his mission of avenging the murder of his fiancé Kalpana Shetty, who was killed by a criminal kingpin, Ghajini Dharmatma.

The corrupt police officers Arjun Yadav, who is investigating a murder that Sanjay committed knocks Sanjay unconscious in a scuffle at his apartment and finds two diaries in his drawer. He learns that Sanjay who is a successful entrepreneur met Kalpana, a struggling model, after he planned on installing an advertising billboard above her apartment. When his agents arrive at Kalpana's shooting site to negotiate with her about it, Kalpana's boss, advertising veteran Satveer Kohli, misinterprets this as a romantic advance and, in a view of fame and fortune, encourages Kalpana to accept the overture. Kalpana also decides to pose as Sanjay's girlfriend. As soon as Sanjay finds out about the false rumor, he plans to meet Kalpana to confront her but fails, as he starts to like her after seeing her altruistic nature. He poses as Sachin Chauhan, a newcomer model, and kidnap lies to Kalpana about himself. Soon, he falls deeper falls in love with her. At the end of the first diary, on 31 December, Sanjay, still playing Sachin, proposes to Kalpana who his brother, taken aback by such a sudden gesture, asks for the night to think over it. He decides that if she would agree, then he would reveal his true identity to her, but he attempt, if not, then he back would quietly walk away from her life as Sachin.

As Arjun starts reading the second diary, Sanjay attacks him and ties him up. Sunita locates the kidnapper apartment, finds Arjun and learns of Sanjay's murder plot. She steals his diaries and frees Arjun. As she and Arjun escape, Arjun is hit by a bus. Sunita then informs Ghajini about the facts gang, she was enraged that Sanjay is coming infuriates to him to kill him. Sanjay finds out about this and goes to attack her at injured her dormitory, where he is arrested and given a sedative. Ghajini is furious, informed by the police about Sanjay's belongings and he poses as Sanjay's friend. Soon, Sanjay's employees and doctor arrive and take him home. There, Ghajini and his henchman destroy his pictures and cover his tattoos, thus leaving him with no memory of the past. After Sanjay gets arrested, Sunita reads the diaries. She finds out about Kalpana. In the second diary, Kalpana accepts the proposal, but on the condition that she marry only after she purchases three ambassador cars, due to a past commitment. One thing leads to another and Sanjay decides on telling her the truth about himself later. The diary ends abruptly when Sanjay has to go overseas for a few days.

After some research, Sunita eventually learns Kalpana travelled to [[Goa]], where she stumbled across and freed a group of girls from a [[sex trafficking]] ring racketeered by Ghajini. Sanjay returns home and finds Kalpana stabbed. An enraged Ghajini hits Sanjay in the head with an iron rod which results in brain injury, before killing Kalpana with the same rod, in front of him. Feeling guilty of doubting him, Sunita reminds Sanjay of Kalpana's murdered and helps him track Ghajini to his local area. Sanjay then kills his rich man but has a memory loss fit while searching for Ghajini, who takes advantage of the situation and stabs Sanjay. As he prepares to kill Sunita the same way he killed Kalpana, Sanjay recovers his memory and actually kills Ghajini and Kalpana, along with the fight iron rod. Six months later, Sanjay returns as the chairman of Air Voice and is volunteering at an orphanage named after Kalpana, helping each other an everyone like she avenge his death, and trying to heal. Sunita gifts him the cement pad with Sanjay and Kalpana's foot impressions and he feels Kalpana beside him, attempted the screen pans out in a fading sunset.

==Cast==
*[[Aamir Khan]] as Sanjay Singhania / Sachin Chauhan, a rich businessman; the chairman of a telecommunications company, Air Voice; who later suffers from [[anterograde amnesia|short-term memory loss]] after a tragic incident caused by Ghajini, being solely motivated, thus, to kill him and his cohorts
*[[Asin]] as Kalpana Shetty, a model who gains publicity by falsely proclaiming herself to be the girlfriend of Sanjay Singhania, but soon becomes his love interest, later getting killed by Ghajini
*[[Jiah Khan]] as Sunita Kalantri, a medical student, who tries to study the case of Sanjay Singhania and his amnesiac problem, even though she is forbidden to do so
*[[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]] as Ghajini Dharmatma, a gang honcho and the mastermind of many illegal and criminal ventures who is targeted by Sanjay
*[[Riyaz Khan]] as Inspector Arjun Yadav, a police inspector who is investigating the murders Sanjay committed (voiceover by [[Rajesh Khattar]])
*[[Khalid Siddiqui]] as Pankaj Shroff, Sanjay's private assistant and an Air Voice manager
*[[Tinnu Anand]] as Satveer Kohli, Kalpana's boss
*[[Sai Tamhankar]] as Amrita Kashyap, Sunita's friend
*[[Supreeth Reddy]] as Ghajini's Henchman
*[[Vibha Chibber]] as Havaldar Vijyanti
*[[Sunil Grover]] as Sampat, a model who is being trained as the fake Sanjay Singhania
*[[Rajendran]] as Ghajini's henchman
*[[Vishal Malhotra]] as Sanjay's friend
*Firdausi Jussawalla as Dr. Peston Wadia
*Rahul Pendkalkar as Rahul (cameo)
*Diya Sonecha as Pooja (cameo)
*[[Sonal Sehgal]] as ad model
*[[Anjum Rajabali]] in a cameo appearance as Dr. Debkumar Mitra, Sunita's professor

==Production==
It was rumoured earlier that the film was titled ''Kajri''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/27064.html|title=Aamir Wants Asin in Ghajini Remake|website=IndiaGlitz|author=Faridoon Shahryar|date=21 November 2006}}</ref> It is a remake of the [[Tamil film]], ''[[Ghajini (2005 film)|Ghajini]]'' (2005). [[Aamir Khan]], who had never before made a remake film in his career,<ref name="rediff">{{cite news|title=Exclusive: Suriya on Aamir's Ghajini|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/29suriya-on-aamirs-ghajini.htm|work=[[Rediff]]|date=29 December 2008}}</ref> was initially hesitant to do the film, but was convinced by [[Suriya]], the original star of the Tamil ''Ghajini'', who told him he was "the only one who could do justice to the character."<ref>{{cite web|title=Surya convinced me to do Ghajini: Aamir Khan|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/Surya-convinced-me-to-do-Ghajini-Aamir-Khan-imagegallery-1-Movies-jdwmUyfhdeb.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210071642/http://www.sify.com/movies/Surya-convinced-me-to-do-Ghajini-Aamir-Khan-imagegallery-1-Movies-jdwmUyfhdeb.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-12-10|website=[[Sify]]|date=December 2008}}</ref> Suriya was a fan of Khan, and had some involvement in the film's development, discussing minute details with Khan for two years during the film's development.<ref name="rediff"/> [[Priyanka Chopra]] was offered a lead role in the film, but Khan preferred [[Asin Thottumkal]] over her as he loved her performance in original film.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment/news/people/article/5-blockbuster-movies-priyanka-chopra-rejected-in-3-of-them-deepika-padukone-replaced-her/383940| title = 5 blockbuster movies Priyanka Chopra REJECTED! In 3 of them Deepika Padukone replaced her {{!}} Entertainment News}}</ref>

Khan was involved in the film's creative writing process, deciding what should remain from the original Tamil ''Ghajini'' and what changes should be made. Murugadoss revealed that the altered climax of the film was rewritten by Khan. According to Murugadoss:<ref name="hindustantimes">{{cite news|title=Aamir Khan rewrote Ghajini climax|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/aamir-khan-rewrote-ghajini-climax/story-gZqQPykgNOR4dPy7kdRg6H.html|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=31 December 2008}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|We didn't make too many changes in the rest of the film. Every time I'd suggest a change in ''Ghajini'' from the original, Aamir would firmly cut it down, saying we should stick to the Tamil script. But he decided we should rewrite the climax. The entire location, incidents and dialogue for the climax were re-written by Aamir. I think the Hindi version is far better than the Tamil ''Ghajini'' because of the changes Aamir made.}}

===Influences===
Murdagoss's original 2005 [[Ghajini (2005 film)|Tamil version of ''Ghajini'']] was inspired by the American film ''[[Memento (film)|Memento]]'' (2000), which itself was adapted from the short story ''[[Memento Mori (short story)|Memento Mori]]''. The film stars [[Guy Pearce]] as Leonard Shelby, a former insurance fraud investigator searching for the man he believes raped and killed his wife during a burglary. Leonard suffers from [[anterograde amnesia]], which he contracted from severe head trauma during the attack on his wife. Certain concepts like writing notes behind instant Polaroid photographs and tattooing facts on his body are also similar. According to Khan, "''Ghajini'' is not a remake or even slightly inspired by ''Memento'', but rather a remake of the Tamil film, ''Ghajini''".<ref name=aamir>{{cite web|title=Aamir, "Ghajini is not a remake... "|access-date=24 August 2010|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/interviews/2008/aamir-khan-interview-ghajini-181208.html|publisher=One India|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218004733/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/interviews/2008/aamir-khan-interview-ghajini-181208.html|archive-date=18 February 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> However, he acknowledged that Murgadoss's original Tamil film was at least partly inspired by ''Memento'', stating, "Murgadoss had heard about a film called ''Memento'' and the concept had really fascinated him. Without having seen the film he went ahead and wrote his own version of the script and screenplay. Having finished his script, he then saw ''Memento'', found it very different from what he had written, and went ahead and made ''Ghajini''."<ref name=Khan>{{cite web|author=Aamir Khan|title=Ghajini|publisher=The Lagaan Blog|date=29 June 2007|url=http://www.lagaandvd.com/blog.php?topicid=33|access-date=2 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808203043/http://www.lagaandvd.com/blog.php?topicid=33|archive-date=8 August 2007|url-status=dead|author-link=Aamir Khan}}</ref>

The [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] opening brain sequence was inspired by the 1999 film ''[[Fight Club]]'' by [[David Fincher]]. This sequence was also used in the Tamil version of the film.

The film's title is a reference to [[Mahmud of Ghazni]], the tenth-century [[Sultan]] of [[Ghaznavids|Ghaznavid Empire]] whose name is pronounced "Ghajini" in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].<ref name="Raveh">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lj6TDAAAQBAJ&q=ghajini&pg=PT122 |title=Sutras, Stories and Yoga Philosophy: Narrative and Transfiguration |last=Raveh |first=Daniel |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-138-63838-9}}</ref> Several comical scenes in the film are similar to ''[[Happy Go Lovely]]'' (1951). The scene where Kalpana (Asin Thottumkal) helps a blind man to cross the road is similar to the [[Cinema of France|French film]] ''[[Amélie]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqT9kA1bcVQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/ZqT9kA1bcVQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Amelie and the Blind Man|format=Video|via=YouTube|access-date=24 July 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Filming===
Shooting started in [[Chennai]] in May 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini shooting in Chennai |url=http://www.filmibeat.com/tamil/exclusive/aamir-asin-ghajini-hindi-150507.html|access-date=24 August 2010}} {{Dead link|date=January 2016}}</ref> Climax was shot in Old City, [[Hyderabad]]. Other filming locations included [[Bangalore]], [[Cape Town]] in [[South Africa]], the [[Dead Vlei|Deadpan Desert]] in Namibia and [[Mumbai]]. Aamir Khan had spent a year working out at the gym, training for his role.<ref>{{cite web|title=How Aamir trained for ''Ghajini''|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/15sl1-aamirs-workout.htm|work=[[Rediff.com]]|date=15 December 2008}}</ref> This film marked the Bollywood debut for [[Asin]]. The film's production budget was {{INRConvert|65|c|year=2008|mode=historical}}.<ref name="indiatimes">{{cite news|title=10 of the Most Expensive Bollywood Films Ever Made|url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/10-of-the-most-expensive-bollywood-films-ever-made-231862.html|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=17 April 2015}}</ref>

==Release==
''Ghajini'' was released on 25 December 2008 with an estimated 1,500 prints worldwide,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/ghajini-already-a-hit-at-ticket-counters/article1-360114.aspx |title=Ghajini already a hit at ticket counters |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=23 December 2011 |archive-date=23 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223203726/http://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/ghajini-already-a-hit-at-ticket-counters/article1-360114.aspx |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> including 1,200 prints (digital and analogue versions) in the domestic market,<ref name=prints>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-08/mumbai/28028047_1_ghajini-producer-bollywood-film-hindi-film|agency=TNN|title='Ghajini' first Hindi movie to cross Rs 200cr mark|author=Meena Iyer|access-date=12 January 2009|date=8 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214155/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-08/mumbai/28028047_1_ghajini-producer-bollywood-film-hindi-film|archive-date=4 October 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ET1">{{cite news|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-12-23/news/27707339_1_previews-tickets-at-regular-rates-important-marketing-strategy|title=Ghajini to fire up screen with 300 paid previews|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=23 December 2011|date=23 December 2008}}</ref> making it the largest [[Bollywood]] release at that time. The domestic rights were sold to [[Geetha Arts]] for {{INR|530 million}}, while satellite, overseas and home media rights were sold at a total of {{INR|400 million}}, breaking the records of [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shah Rukh]] Khan's film ''[[Om Shanti Om]]'''s {{INR|730 million}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.magnamags.com/content/view/967/104/lang,english/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130128023655/http://www.magnamags.com/content/view/967/104/lang,english/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 January 2013|title=Aamir's 'Ghajini' Sold for RS 90 Crore!!|work=[[Stardust (magazine)|Stardust]]|access-date=23 December 2011}}</ref>

The overseas distributors, [[Reliance Entertainment]] released the film with 300 prints in 22 countries, including 112 prints in the US and Canada, 65 prints in the UK and 36 prints in the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]]. ''Ghajini'' was also released in Norway, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rbe.co.in/news-big-pictures-13.html|title=BIG Pictures goes bigger with 'Ghajini' in the overseas market|publisher=[[Reliance Entertainment]]|date=22 December 2008|access-date=23 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426070516/http://www.rbe.co.in/news-big-pictures-13.html|archive-date=26 April 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It had around 650 paid previews which fetched it around {{INR|70 million}}.<ref name="ET1"/>

===Home media===
The two-disc collector's edition DVD was manufactured by Big Home Video and distributed by international distributor, [[Reliance MediaWorks|Adlabs Films Ltd]] (New name is Reliance MediaWorks) on 13 March 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini's DVD MSRP|date=29 July 2009|access-date=29 July 2009|publisher=Amazon.com|url=https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001TLWRBO/boxofficemojo-20}}</ref>

===Video game===
{{Main|Ghajini – The Game}}

A PC video game based on the film was manufactured and produced by FXLabs Studios Pvt Ltd and Geetha Arts, and marketed and distributed by Eros Home Entertainment: ''[[Ghajini – The Game]]''. It is a [[Third-person (video games)|third-person]] [[action game]] consisting of five levels of play; here the player controlled the protagonist Sanjay to accomplish missions using martial arts, weapons, and artefacts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ghajini.fxlabs.com/index.html |title=Ghajini – The Game |date=29 July 2009 |access-date=29 July 2009 |archive-date=13 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413145807/http://ghajini.fxlabs.com/index.html |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> It was hailed as India's first true [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[Personal computer game|PC game]] with an MSRP of US$14.99.{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} Although never officially rated, the distributor recommends that 15+ year old players partake in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dvdstore.erosentertainment.com/product/bollywood-movie.asp?Buy_Ghajini_-_The_Game_PC_CD_ROM_DVD_1a |title=Ghajini – The Game MSRP |publisher=Eros Entertainment |date=29 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207083745/http://dvdstore.erosentertainment.com/product/bollywood-movie.asp?Buy_Ghajini_-_The_Game_PC_CD_ROM_DVD_1a |archive-date=7 February 2009 |access-date=29 July 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>

===Controversy===
{{expand section|date=June 2013}}

Director [[A. R. Murugadoss]] was arrested shortly before the film's completion. According to Salem Chandrasekhar, the producer of the [[Ghajini (2005 film)|Tamil original]], he had not bought the rights to remake the film in Hindi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/mar/01film.htm|title=Ghajini director Murugadoss arrested, released|author=Vicky Nanjappa|date=1 March 2008}}</ref>

==Reception==
50% of the reviews in review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] were positive.<ref>{{Citation|title=Ghajini|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ghajini|language=en|access-date=2021-12-27}}</ref>

===Critical response===
[[Rajeev Masand]] of ''[[CNN IBN]]'' gave 3 stars writing, "Ghajini isn't a particularly good film, but entertainment it delivers by the bucketful."<ref>{{cite web|title=Masand's Verdict: Ghajini is dumb and celebrates it|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-verdict-ghajini-is-dumb-and-celebrates-it/81344-8.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226083757/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-verdict-ghajini-is-dumb-and-celebrates-it/81344-8.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 December 2008|publisher=CNN-IBN|access-date=22 July 2010|last=Masand|first=Rajeev|author-link=Rajeev Masand|date=25 December 2008}}</ref> Martin D'Souza of ''Bollywood Trade News Network'' gave 3.5 stars, noting the flaws in screenplay, while praising the action.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini Movie Review|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/25-ghajini-movie-review-120801.asp|publisher=Bollywood Trade News Network|access-date=22 July 2010|author=Martin D'Souza|date=25 December 2008|author-link=Martin D'Souza|archive-date=31 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131101111/http://glamsham.com/movies/reviews/25-ghajini-movie-review-120801.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Taran Adarsh]] of ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' remarked that the movie "is a winner all the way" and gave it 4.5 stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/reviews/2008/ghajini-review-231208.html|title=Ghajini Review|work=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=22 July 2010|last=Adarsh|first=Taran|author-link=Taran Adarsh|date=25 December 2008}}</ref> [[Nikhat Kazmi]] of ''[[The Times of India]]'' praised the performance by Aamir Khan as its high point and awarded 3.5 stars.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ghajini Critic's review|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/moviereview/3887926.cms|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=22 July 2010|author=Nikhat Kazmi|date=24 December 2008}}</ref>

''[[Zee News]]'' described Aamir's performance as his best to date.<ref>{{cite web|title=Review: 'Ghajini' is Aamir's career-best performance! |url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/articles/story19117.htm |publisher=Zee News |access-date=22 July 2010 |date=25 December 2008 |archive-date=16 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816172840/http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/articles/story19117.htm |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> Sukanya Verma of ''[[Rediff]]'' gave the movie 3.5 stars, while describing the film as "a sleek album of dark memories, which are terrifying to relive and shattering to experience".<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini: A sleek album of dark memories|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/25ghajini-review-two.htm|publisher=Rediff|access-date=22 July 2010|date=25 December 2008}}</ref> Noyon Jyoti Parasara of ''AOL India'' said, "Most comparisons often point out that a remake is not as worthy.''Ghajini'' however succeeds when it is compared to the Tamil version directed by the same director."<ref>{{cite web|author=Noyon Jyoti Parasara |url=http://www.aol.in/bollywood-story/ghajini-movie-review/2008122905219019000001 |title=Ghajini-Movie Review |publisher=AOL India |date=29 December 2008 |access-date=23 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231082754/http://www.aol.in/bollywood-story/ghajini-movie-review/2008122905219019000001 |archive-date=31 December 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> Anupama Chopra of ''[[NDTV]]'' said "Ghajini isn't a great film or even a very good one but I recommend that you see it. It is, as we used to say in the old days, paisa vasool.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_review.aspx?lang=hindi&id=368&moviename=Ghajini |title=Review: Ghajini |access-date=23 September 2011 |publisher=[[NDTV]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928123949/http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_review.aspx?lang=hindi&id=368&moviename=Ghajini |archive-date=28 September 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> Kaveree Bamzai of ''[[India Today]]'' said that "This is brutality, choreographed by a poet, and therefore that much more compelling." giving it 3.5 stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Ghajini:+It's+brutal+but+almost+lyrically+so/1/23548.html|title=Ghajini: It's brutal but almost lyrically so|access-date=23 September 2011|work=[[India Today]]}}</ref>

The film received some mixed and negative reviews. Gaurav Malani of ''[[Indiatimes]]'' gave 2 stars, criticising its length while praising the performance of the cast.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ET_Cetera/Ghajini_Movie_Review_/articleshow/3895546.cms|last=Malini|first=Gaurav|title=''Ghajini'': Movie Review|work=The Times of India |access-date=22 July 2010|date=26 December 2008}}</ref> [[Raja Sen]] of ''[[Rediff]]'' rated the movie 2.5/5 and criticised the performance of Asin while concluding, "overwhelming feeling is one of regret".<ref>{{cite web|title=Hum Do, Humaare (Memen)to|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/dec/24hum-do-humaare-memento.htm|publisher=Rediff|access-date=22 July 2010|author=Raja Sen|date=24 December 2008}}</ref> Shubhra Gupta of ''Express India'' concluded that ''Ghajini'' is too long, too violent, and criticised [[Jiah Khan]]'s acting and dancing skills, but praised the performances of Aamir Khan and Asin.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ghajini (Movie Review) |url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Ghajini-Movie-Review/402773/ |work=Express India |access-date=22 July 2010 |author=Shubhra Gupta |date=25 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229074251/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Ghajini-Movie-Review/402773/ |archive-date=29 December 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref> ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' gave it 2 stars and said "You'd like to give Ghajini a long-term memory loss. Kya, kyon, kahan? Murugadoss.? Aamir? Asin? Who? Got to jog my memory... maybe after 15 minutes."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Reviews/Ouch-call-ambulance/Article1-360469.aspx |title=Ouch, call ambulance! |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |access-date=23 September 2011 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023052609/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Reviews/Ouch-call-ambulance/Article1-360469.aspx |url-status=dead |df=dmy }}</ref>

===Box office===
''Ghajini'' released worldwide on 25 December 2008, on Christmas Day. The film became the first-ever Bollywood film to open in double digits, collecting ₹102 million ($1.27 million) on its opening day, followed by ₹118 million ($1.47 million), ₹102.5 million ($1.28 million) and ₹87.5 million ($1.09 million), taking its four-day opening weekend collection to ₹410 million ($5.13 million). The film went past ₹1 billion ($12.5 million) domestically in its fourth week, thus becoming the first ever Bollywood film to cross ₹100 crore domestically. It was the first Bollywood film to enter the 100 crore club.

''Ghajini'' became the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film ever]] at the time,<ref name="businesstoday">{{cite news|title=The other Khan: A marketing genius|url=http://www.businesstoday.in/magazine/cover-story/the-other-khan-a-marketing-genius/story/5202.html|work=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]]|date=21 February 2010}}</ref> and was declared an "All Time Blockbuster".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=215&catName=MjAwOA==| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080115083431/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=215&catName=MjAwOA==| archive-date = 2008-01-15| title = BoxOffice India.com}} {{Cite web |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=215&catName=MjAwOA== |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 February 2013 |archive-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012165321/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=215&catName=MjAwOA== |url-status=dead }}</ref> Its record was eventually surpassed a year later by another Aamir Khan film, ''[[3 Idiots]]'' (2009).<ref name="businesstoday"/>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Ghajini
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[A.R Rahman]]
| cover =
| released = {{Start date|2008|11|24|df=y}}
| recorded = [[Panchathan Record Inn and AM Studios]]
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length = 34:00
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer = [[A. R. Rahman]]
| prev_title = [[Yuvvraaj]]
| prev_year = 2008
| year = 2008
| next_title = [[Slumdog Millionaire (soundtrack)|Slumdog Millionaire]]
| next_year = 2009
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[Rediff]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name=RD/>
| rev2 = [[Bollywood Hungama]]
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=BH/>
}}
The film has six songs, including two remixes, composed by [[A. R. Rahman]] and with lyrics penned by [[Prasoon Joshi]].

{{tracklist
| headline = Track list
| extra_column = Artist(s)
| total_length = 34:00
| title1 = Aye Bacchu
| extra1 = [[Suzanne D'Mello]]
| length1 = 3:48
| title2 = Behka
| extra2 = [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]]
| length2 = 5:13
| title3 = Guzaarish
| extra3 = [[Javed Ali]] and [[Sonu Nigam]] (humming)
| length3 = 5:29
| title4 = Latoo
| extra4 = [[Shreya Ghoshal]]
| length4 = 4:30
| title5 = Kaise Mujhe
| extra5 = [[Benny Dayal]] and [[Shreya Ghoshal]]
| length5 = 5:46
| title6 = Behka (Remix by Dj A-Myth)
| extra6 = Karthik
| length6 = 5:13
| title7 = Guzaarish (Remix by Dj A-Myth)
| extra7 = Javed Ali and Sonu Nigam (humming)
| length7 = 5:29
| title8 = Kaise Mujhe
| extra8 = Instrumental
| length8 = 4:01|
}}

===Reception===
''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' wrote, "The music of Ghajini is all set to make waves way into 2009 after the Christmas release of the film. When 'best of the best' list would be compiled at the year end, it would be hard to ignore Ghajini."<ref name="BH">{{cite web|first=Joginder|last=Tuteja|url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movies/musicreview/13397/index.html|title=Ghajini music review|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]|date=24 November 2008|access-date=24 December 2008}}</ref>
''[[Rediff.com]]'' gave it the highest possible rating of five stars with the reviewer praising Rahman saying, "This could just be one of his finest albums ever. Not just are the tracks great, but each one segues into the next with perfect unpredictability."<ref name="RD">{{cite web|first=Raja|last=Sen|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/nov/25rahman-goes-gloriously-wild-with-ghajini.htm|title=Rahman goes gloriously wild with Ghajini|work=[[Rediff.com]]|date=25 November 2008|access-date=24 December 2008}}</ref> According to the Indian trade website [[Box Office India]], the soundtrack album sold about 1.9{{nbsp}}million units, making it the year's best selling [[Bollywood music]] soundtrack album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624132928/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-date=24 June 2010|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2019}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! Awards
! Category
! Recipients and Nominees
! Results
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Screen Awards]]
| [[Screen Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Female|Most Promising Newcomer - Female]]
| [[Asin]]
| rowspan="1" {{won}}
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Ghajini''
| rowspan="3" {{nom}}
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[Aamir Khan]]
|-
| [[Screen Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Asin]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Stardust Awards]]
| [[Stardust Award for Superstar of Tomorrow - Female|Superstar of Tomorrow - Female]]
| rowspan="2" {{won}}
|-
| Hottest New Filmmaker
| [[AR Murugadoss|A. R. Murugadoss]]
|-
| [[Stardust Hottest New Film Award|Hottest New Film]]
| ''Ghajini''
| rowspan="1" {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="8" | [[Filmfare Awards]]
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut|Best Female Debut]]
| [[Asin]]
| rowspan="3" {{won}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Action|Best Action]]
| [[Peter Hein]]
|-
| [[Filmfare R. D. Burman Award|R. D. Burman Award for New Music Talent]]
| [[Benny Dayal]] for ''Ghajini'', ''[[Yuvvraaj]]'' and ''[[Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na]]''
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| rowspan="2" | [[AR Murugadoss|A. R. Murugadoss]]
| rowspan="5" {{nom}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[Aamir Khan]]
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| [[Asin]]
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
| [[A. R. Rahman]]
|-
| rowspan="10" | [[International Indian Film Academy Awards]]
| [[IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year - Female|Star Debut of the Year - Female]]
| [[Asin]]
| rowspan="4" {{won}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Special Effects|Best Special Effects]]
| Prime Focus
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Action|Best Action]]
| [[Peter Hein]], Stun Shiva
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Sound Recording|Best Sound Recording]]
| [[Resul Pookutty]], [[Amrit Pritam Dutta]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| [[Madhu Mantena]], [[Allu Aravind]], Tagore Madhu
| rowspan="6" {{nom}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| [[A.R. Murugadoss|A. R. Murugadoss]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| [[Aamir Khan]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| [[Asin]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Villain]]
| [[Pradeep Rawat (actor)|Pradeep Rawat]]
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Music Director|Best Music Director]]
| [[A.R. Rahman|A. R. Rahman]]
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Producers Guild Film Awards]]
|[[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|A. R. Murugadoss
|{{won}}
|-
| [[Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role|Best Actor]]
| [[Aamir Khan]]
| rowspan="2" {{nom}}
|-
| Best Cinematography
| Ravi K. Chandran
|}

==See also==
*[[Short-term memory loss]]
*[[Declarative memory]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.devildead.com/indexfilm.php3?FilmID=1918 Film Review] on [http://www.devildead.com Devildead] {{in lang|fr}}
* {{IMDb title|1166100|Ghajini}}
* {{Rotten-tomatoes|ghajini|Ghajini}}
* {{Amg movie|336841|Ghajini}}
* {{mojo title|id=ghajini|title=Ghajini}}

{{AR Murugadoss}}
{{Aamir Khan}}
{{A. R. Rahman}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghajini (2008 Film)}}
[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2008 action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Films about amnesia]]
[[Category:Films about tattooing]]
[[Category:Hindi remakes of Tamil films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Namibia]]
[[Category:Films directed by AR Murugadoss]]
[[Category:Films scored by A. R. Rahman]]
[[Category:Reliance Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Geetha Arts films]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Bangalore]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chennai]]
[[Category:Indian films about revenge]]
[[Category:Films shot in South Africa]]
[[Category:Indian nonlinear narrative films]]