Ek Hasina Thi (film): Difference between revisions

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{{About|the 2004 film|the 2014 TV series|Ek Hasina Thi (TV series)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name          = Ek Hasina Thi
| name          = Ek Hasina Thi
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| cinematography = [[C. K. Muraleedharan]]
| cinematography = [[C. K. Muraleedharan]]
| editing        = Sanjib Datta
| editing        = Sanjib Datta
| distributor    = [[Fox Star Studios]] [[R. R. Movie Makers]]  
| studio        = [[K Sera Sera Limited|K Sera Sera Productions]]<br />[[R. R. Movie Makers]]
| distributor    = [[20th Century Fox]]<ref>{{cite web|title=20th Century Fox to leave India|website=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=29 January 2005|access-date=25 May 2022|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/20th-century-fox-to-leave-india/story-s9XnDyy1vZc4iRsfWgj3XP.html|archive-date=25 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525005437/https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/20th-century-fox-to-leave-india/story-s9XnDyy1vZc4iRsfWgj3XP_amp.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| released      = {{Film date|df=y|2004|01|16}}
| released      = {{Film date|df=y|2004|01|16}}
| runtime        = 137 minutes
| runtime        = 139 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/ek-hasina-thi-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zndg5ntk|title=Ek Hasina Thi|website=[[British Board of Film Classification]]}}</ref>
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = Hindi
| language      = Hindi
| budget        = {{INR}}42.50 million<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=478|title=Ek Hasina Thi&nbsp;– Movie&nbsp;– Box Office India|website=boxofficeindia.com|access-date=18 May 2018}}</ref>
| budget        = {{INR}}4 crore<ref name="boxofficeindia.com">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=478|title=Ek Hasina Thi&nbsp;– Movie&nbsp;– Box Office India|website=boxofficeindia.com|access-date=18 May 2018|archive-date=22 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822221030/https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=478|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = {{INR}}68.80 million<ref name="boxofficeindia.com" />
| gross          = {{INR}}10 crore<ref name="boxofficeindia.com" />
}}
}}


'''''Ek Hasina Thi''''' (English: ''There Was A Beautiful Woman'') is a 2004 Indian [[neo-noir]] [[thriller film]] directed by [[Sriram Raghavan]], produced by [[Ram Gopal Varma]], and starring [[Urmila Matondkar]] and [[Saif Ali Khan]] in the lead roles. The screenplay was by Sriram Raghavan and Pooja Ladha Surti. The film borrows elements from the [[Sidney Sheldon]] story ''[[If Tomorrow Comes (novel)|If Tomorrow Comes]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2004/01/22/review-ek-hasina-thi-bhoot/|title=Review: Ek Hasina Thi / Bhoot|last=Rangan|first=Baradwaj|date=22 January 2004|work=Baradwaj Rangan|access-date=18 May 2018|author-link=Baradwaj Rangan}}</ref> In her review, critic Ronjita Kulkarni says that it's "loosely based" on ''[[Double Jeopardy (1999 film)|Double Jeopardy]]'', while "the film also adapts a scene from ''[[The Bone Collector]]''."<ref>Ronjita Kulkarni (15 January 2004), [https://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jan/15ek.htm "Who's better: Urmila or Saif?"], ''Rediff''. Retrieved 30 March 2019.</ref> The film was premiered at the [[New York Asian Film Festival]].<ref name=David>{{cite web|author=David |title=The Films of Ram Gopal Varma&nbsp;– An Overview |publisher=Cinema Strikes Back |date=16 June 2006 |url=http://www.cinemastrikesback.com/?p=1202 |access-date=22 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725153007/http://www.cinemastrikesback.com/?p=1202 |archive-date=25 July 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref> The film is usually considered one of the best works of Urmila Matondkar, Saif Ali Khan and Director Sriram Raghavan.
'''''Ek Hasina Thi''''' (English: ''There Was A Beautiful Woman'') is a 2004 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[neo-noir]] [[action thriller film]] directed by [[Sriram Raghavan]] in his directorial debut and produced by [[Ram Gopal Varma]]. It stars [[Urmila Matondkar]] and [[Saif Ali Khan]] in the lead roles.
 
The film borrows elements from the [[Sidney Sheldon]] novel ''[[If Tomorrow Comes (novel)|If Tomorrow Comes]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2004/01/22/review-ek-hasina-thi-bhoot/|title=Review: Ek Hasina Thi / Bhoot|last=Rangan|first=Baradwaj|date=22 January 2004|work=Baradwaj Rangan|access-date=18 May 2018|author-link=Baradwaj Rangan|archive-date=18 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180518084142/https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2004/01/22/review-ek-hasina-thi-bhoot/|url-status=live}}</ref> Critic Ronjita Kulkarni said it's "loosely based" on ''[[Double Jeopardy (1999 film)|Double Jeopardy]]'', while "the film also adapts a scene from ''[[The Bone Collector]]''."<ref>Ronjita Kulkarni (15 January 2004), [https://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jan/15ek.htm "Who's better: Urmila or Saif?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020020749/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2004/jan/15ek.htm|date=20 October 2018}}, ''Rediff''. Retrieved 30 March 2019.</ref> The film premiered at the [[New York Asian Film Festival]] and was released in India on 16 January 2004.<ref name="David">{{cite web|author=David |title=The Films of Ram Gopal Varma&nbsp;– An Overview |publisher=Cinema Strikes Back |date=16 June 2006 |url=http://www.cinemastrikesback.com/?p=1202 |access-date=22 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725153007/http://www.cinemastrikesback.com/?p=1202 |archive-date=25 July 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref> Although a [[box-office bomb|commercial failure]] upon its release, the film is considered one of the best works of Matondkar, Khan and Raghavan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ek-hasina-thi-2004-truth-disguised-as-lies/article28196823.ece|title='Ek Hasina Thi' (2004): Truth, disguised as lies|first=Jai Arjun|last=Singh|work=The Hindu|date=28 July 2019|access-date=13 December 2022|archive-date=13 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213225039/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ek-hasina-thi-2004-truth-disguised-as-lies/article28196823.ece|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Anvita |date=2025-01-16 |title=Ek Hasina Thi is 21: The twisted Saif-Urmila classic which gave us Sriram Raghavan |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/ek-hasina-thi-is-21-saif-ali-khan-and-urmila-matondkar-classic-sriram-raghavan-2665658-2025-01-16 |access-date=2025-10-13 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Karan ([[Saif Ali Khan]]) is a rich and suave Man. But he can also be very possessive of Sarika ([[Urmila Matondkar]]) the woman he seemingly loves. His temper can flare at the slightest pretext. After Karan involves Sarika in looking after a suitcase full of illegal [[firearms]] belonging to his friend, a hitman, she is arrested for having links with the underworld and is remanded to judicial custody. Karan claims innocence to her and sends her a defence attorney to fight her case. The attorney advises her to confess the crime, arguing that there is no proof exonerating her.
{{Long plot|date=July 2025}}
Sarika is a single woman who lives alone in Mumbai and works at a travel agency. She meets Karan and initially resists his romantic advances, but the two eventually sleep together and begin a relationship. One day, Karan asks Sarika to host one of his friends for 2 hours as he is new to the city, and she agrees. Karan's friend arrives at Sarika's home. When he receives a phone call he asks if he can leave his suitcase there to be picked up later before his flight, Sarika agrees and he leaves. That evening, Sarika sees on the news that the man is a wanted criminal. Sarika is shocked and calls Karan, who tells her to get rid of the suitcase. Sarika steps out with the suitcase and is intercepted by police officers who arrest her. Karan asks her to speak to his lawyer, Kamlesh Mathur, and not to mention his name anywhere in this investigation as that could damage his reputation in his business. After losing the initial hearing and being denied bail, the attorney advises her to confess to the crime, convincing her that since she has no criminal record and no prior convictions, the judge will release her.


After being convinced that the judge will give her a light sentence and might even set her free for co-operation, Sarika complies. But, the judge sentences her to seven years hard labour without parole. Sarika then realises that Karan is an associate to the underworld and that he had her framed to keep police eyes away from him. This realisation is soon followed by the death of her father, the ongoing ordeal of prison life and hatred towards Karan. She beats up an abusive inmate Gomati who constantly bullies her. An elder inmate Pramila ([[Pratima Kazmi]]), who has contacts outside the prison, decides to help her. Sarika undergoes a complete change of appearance.
Sarika complies after being convinced that the judge will give her a light sentence after the attorney tells her this is the Judge's idea since he is working alongside Karan. However, the judge sentences her to seven years in prison without parole. Sarika then realises that Karan and his attorney have cheated her. Karan is a criminal who framed her to keep the police away from him. Soon after this realisation, Sarika's father dies. In prison, Sarika's hatred for Karan grows. Pramila, an inmate who has contacts outside prison, decides to help Sarika.


Sarika changes from inside and outside which begins with her getting rid of her fear of rats. ACP Malti Vaidya ([[Seema Biswas]]) sets out to find Sarika after she escapes from prison. Sarika first confronts Mathur, killing him after learning Karan's whereabouts. She is angered to see Karan enjoying his life with a new girl. With the news of Mathur's mysterious death, Karan becomes a suspect. Karan soon learns that Sarika has escaped but is not able to put two and two together. Sarika learns that Karan is working for a businessman (Abhay Bhargava) who has many illegal operations under his garb.
Sarika begins a journey of self-transformation, which she starts by conquering her fear of rats. She beats up an abusive inmate, Gomati, who had bullied her. Sarika then escapes from prison, along with a few other inmates after starting a fire in the kitchen. Karan is notified of her escape by Kamlesh Mathur but does not think much of it. ACP Malti Vaidya sets out to find Sarika. Sarika finds Mathur and kills him after learning Karan's whereabouts, working for a gangster in Delhi.


After she kills the businessman's brother, Karan gets trapped as he was the last man to see the person alive. Karan is shocked at the development but chalks it to the work of rival gang. Meanwhile, Sarika pretends to run into him. She pretends to have sympathy for him. Seeing that she still has not seen through his game, Karan decides to play with her for some time. Karan confronts a man whom he suspects to be a traitor, but he believes that somebody else could have sneaked in after Karan went out. Before the man can say anything, Karan kills him, too.
Sarika finds Karan in Delhi with his new girlfriend. She takes a room right opposite Karan's so that she can observe him. She trails him day and night, without arousing suspicion. ACP Malti Vaidya finds Sarika when Sarika calls her mother from a prepaid phone in Delhi. Karan, in the meantime, is in trouble with a local gangster, Sanjeev, to whom he owes money. He is kidnapped from a nightclub by Sanjeev's henchmen, who threaten him. Karan is taken to Bilal, Sanjeev's partner who alerts him Sanjeev is ready to meet him, Sarika secretly observes the incident and as soon as Karan leaves the room, Sanjeev is found dead, and suspicion falls on Karan.


Sarika is amused as Karan gets entangled in a cat-and-mouse game. She steals money from Karan's boss, for which Karan is again made a patsy. However, Karan soon realises the plot. After he confronts and assaults her, she shocks him by telling him that she has burnt the money. Karan takes her to his boss and makes her confess at gunpoint. But she feigns ignorance and claims that Karan made her say so. As Karan is attacked by his boss's goons, he breaks into a fight. Just then, the ACP enters with the police.
Karan and his girlfriend are attacked in the hotel, leaving his girlfriend and a few henchmen dead. Karan escapes as ACP Malti reaches his hotel suite in pursuit of Sarika. Karan is bewildered at Sanjeev's death and the attack and wonders if a rival gang murdered Sanjeev.


In a shootout, the ACP succeeds in killing Karan's boss. The gang is either killed or apprehended. While the ACP herself gets shot, Karan succeeds in escaping. His success is short-lived: suddenly, Sarika emerges from his back and holds him at gunpoint and makes him drive to a secluded spot. After knocking him out, she chains him in a cavern infested with rats. As Karan regains consciousness, Sarika tells him how she used to be scared of rats and she chose this spot because she wanted him to go through the pain and suffering that she went through while she was in prison. Karan is baffled at her talk, but she leaves him in the cavern, with light from a flashlight pointing towards him.
Meanwhile, Sarika pretends to meet Karan accidentally. She pretends to have sympathy for him, and Karan believes her. Karan confronts a man whom he suspects to be a traitor, but the man can say anything; Karan kills him.


Karan screams, but nobody hears as he is in a secluded place. Soon the flashlight goes out and Karan loses strength. A pack of rats attack and kill him brutally (shown by dimming of lights and screams). Karan dies a long and painful death. With her mission of exacting revenge from Karan accomplished, Sarika eventually surrenders to the police, turning in the bag of money that she stole from Karan's boss to the ACP. The film ends showing Sarika looking at inmates in a prison and leaves as if she finds her life's purpose.
Sarika is amused at Karan's confusion. She steals money from Karan's boss, for which Karan is suspected. Realizing she has framed him after ACP Malti's questioning, Karan confronts and assaults Sarika, who tells him she has burned the money. Karan takes Sarika to his boss and makes her confess at gunpoint. But she feigns ignorance and claims that Karan forced her to confess. A fight begins between Karan and his boss's henchman as the ACP enters with the police.
 
In a shootout, the ACP kills Karan's boss, and the ACP herself is shot. Karan briefly escapes before Sarika catches him, holds him at gunpoint, and makes him drive to a secluded spot. After knocking Karan unconscious, Sarika chains him in a cavern infested with rats. As Karan regains consciousness, Sarika tells him how she used to be scared of rats, and she chose this spot because she wanted him to go through the pain and suffering that she went through while she was in prison. Sarika leaves Karan in the cavern.
 
Karan screams, but no one hears him. A pack of rats slowly start crawling all over him and eventually kill him. Sarika surrenders to the ACP, turning in the bag of money that she stole from Karan's boss to the ACP.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
{{Colbegin}}
* [[Urmila Matondkar]] as Sarika Vartak
* [[Urmila Matondkar]] as Sarika Vartak
* [[Saif Ali Khan]] as Karan Singh Rathod
* [[Saif Ali Khan]] as Karan Singh Rathod
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* [[Aditya Srivastava]] as Advocate Kamlesh Mathur
* [[Aditya Srivastava]] as Advocate Kamlesh Mathur
* [[Pratima Kazmi]] as Prisoner Pramila
* [[Pratima Kazmi]] as Prisoner Pramila
* [[Kavita Kaushik]] as Karan's Girlfriend in Delhi
* [[Kavita Kaushik]] as Karan's girlfriend in Delhi
* [[Zakir Hussain (actor)|Zakir Hussain]] as Sanjiv Nanda
* [[Zakir Hussain (actor)|Zakir Hussain]] as Sanjiv Nanda
* [[Seema Adhikari]] as Dolly
* Seema Adhikari as Dolly
* [[Rajendra Sethi]] as Sarika's Neighbour
* Rajendra Sethi as Sarika's neighbour
* [[Gopal K Singh]] as Abhijeet
* [[Gopal K Singh]] as Abhijeet
* [[Madan Joshi]]
* Madan Joshi as Bilal
* [[Murali Sharma]] as Lawyer
* [[Murali Sharma]] as Lawyer
* [[Ravi Kale]] as S.I.
* [[Ravi Kale]] as S.I.
* [[Abhay Bhargav]] as Karan's boss
* Abhay Bhargav as Nanda, Karan's boss
* [[Rasika Joshi]] as Prisoner Gomati
* [[Rasika Joshi]] as Prisoner Gomati
* [[Sheeba Chaddha]] as Anita
* [[Sheeba Chaddha]] as Anita
{{Colend}}
==Production ==
Saif Ali Khan was initially unsure about accepting the role of Karan as he was unaccustomed to portraying such a ruthless character, though the filmmakers convinced him to accept the role. For his first role as a villain, he received a lot of appreciation for his performance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/top-10-saif-ali-khan-performances-15113.html|title=Top 10 Saif Ali Khan performances|website=filmfare.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626235900/https://www.filmfare.com/features/top-10-saif-ali-khan-performances-15113.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sriram-raghavan-ek-hasina-thi-throwback-5384586/|title=Ahead of Andhadhun, here's looking at Sriram Raghavan's debut film Ek Hasina Thi|date=2018-10-04|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-06-26|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626235902/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sriram-raghavan-ek-hasina-thi-throwback-5384586/|url-status=live}}</ref>


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
The film's soundtrack and background score was composed by [[Amar Mohile]]. There are two songs that play mainly in the narrative. The first song 'Neend Na Aaye' that plays at the beginning of the film has been sung by [[Pandit Jasraj]]. The Title song 'Ek Hasina Thi' plays in the second half of the movie.
The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by [[Amar Mohile]]. The first song 'Neend Na Aaye' that plays at the beginning of the film has been sung by [[Pandit Jasraj]].<ref>{{cite tweet|user=phanishankar|number=1123422054907355137|title=yeah, in the titles also it is mentioned as background score -Amar Mohile and there is Pandit Jasraj's 'Neend Na Aaye' song in the background during the titles}}</ref> The title song 'Ek Hasina Thi' plays in the second half of the film.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hindigeetmala.net/movie/ek_hasina_thi.htm | title=Ek Hasina Thi : Lyrics and video of Songs from the Movie Ek Hasina Thi (2004) | access-date=13 December 2022 | archive-date=13 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213225041/https://www.hindigeetmala.net/movie/ek_hasina_thi.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>
 
== Reception ==
[[Taran Adarsh]] of [[IndiaFM]] gave the film a 3 out of 5, writing, "On the whole, ''EK HASINA THI'', in the spirit of RGV's other movies, has some fresh things to say about love, passion, deceit and destiny".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/ek-hasina-thi/critic-review/ek-hasina-thi-movie-review/|title=Ek Hasina Thi Movie Review|last=Adarsh|first=Taran|author-link=Taran Adarsh|date=14 January 2004|work=[[Bollywood Hungama]]|access-date=13 December 2022|archive-date=13 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213225038/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/ek-hasina-thi/critic-review/ek-hasina-thi-movie-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> K. Kavitha of ''[[Deccan Herald]]'' wrote that "His [Ram Gopal Varma's] ‘K Sera Sera Productions’ conjures up yet another superbly crafted movie; yet another promising director — Sriram Raghavan and yet another virtuoso performance by his muse, Urmila".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan182004/mr1.asp|title=Ek Hasina Thi - Hindi|last=K.|first=Kavitha|date=18 January 2004|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705145704/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan182004/mr1.asp|archive-date=5 July 2017}}</ref>


== Trivia ==
Urmila Matondkar received high praise for her role as a merciless avenger. ''Ek Hasina Thi'' is considered one of the finest performances in her career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Heres-A-List-10-Best-Performances-Of-Urmila-Matondkar/|title=As She Turns A Year Older, Here Are 10 Standout Performances By Urmila Matondkar|last=Patel|first=Dipali|date=2017-02-04|website=ScoopWhoop|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626235859/https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Heres-A-List-10-Best-Performances-Of-Urmila-Matondkar/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/feb/4/18479|title=From Masoom to Ek Hasina Thi: 5 best performances of Urmila Matondkar|last=Thombare|first=Suparna|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2019-06-26|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626235900/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/feb/4/18479|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desimartini.com/news/martini-shots/entertainment/remembering-6-best-performances-of-urmila-matondkar-on-her-44th-birthday-article75596.htm|title=RANKED: 6 Best Performances of Urmila Matondkar in Bollywood|date=2018-02-04|website=Desimartini|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26|archive-date=26 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626235903/https://www.desimartini.com/news/martini-shots/entertainment/remembering-6-best-performances-of-urmila-matondkar-on-her-44th-birthday-article75596.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*The film was released without much of publicity and marketing but eventually went on to do good business at the box office. The film grossed 10 crores lifetime on the budget of 4 crores.
*The rats that were used to kill Saif Ali Khan's character in the end were animatronic rats. This was revealed by the Director Sriram Raghavan in a special video Interview.
*Urmila Matondkar received high praise for her role of a merciless avenger and went on to win nominations at all major film award events. Ek Hasina Thi is considered one of the finest performances in her career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scoopwhoop.com/Heres-A-List-10-Best-Performances-Of-Urmila-Matondkar/|title=As She Turns A Year Older, Here Are 10 Standout Performances By Urmila Matondkar|last=Patel|first=Dipali|date=2017-02-04|website=ScoopWhoop|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/feb/4/18479|title=From Masoom to Ek Hasina Thi: 5 best performances of Urmila Matondkar|last=Thombare|first=Suparna|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.desimartini.com/news/martini-shots/entertainment/remembering-6-best-performances-of-urmila-matondkar-on-her-44th-birthday-article75596.htm|title=RANKED: 6 Best Performances of Urmila Matondkar in Bollywood|date=2018-02-04|website=Desimartini|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/features/2019/happy-birthday-urmila-matondkar-7-times-the-rangeela-girl-impressed-us-with-her-brilliant-act-282337.html|title=Happy Birthday Urmila Matondkar: 7 Times The 'Rangeela' Girl Impressed Us With Her Brilliant Act!|date=2019-02-04|website=FilmiBeat|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://madeinatlantis.com/urmila_matondkar/career_milestones.htm|title=Urmila Matondkar Career Milestones|website=madeinatlantis.com|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref>
*Saif Ali Khan was not sure about doing the project and especially portraying such a cunning and ruthless character. But the makers convinced him and he ultimately signed the film. For his first role as a villain, he received a lot of appreciation for his performance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/top-10-saif-ali-khan-performances-15113.html|title=Top 10 Saif Ali Khan performances|website=filmfare.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sriram-raghavan-ek-hasina-thi-throwback-5384586/|title=Ahead of Andhadhun, here's looking at Sriram Raghavan's debut film Ek Hasina Thi|date=2018-10-04|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-06-26}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0352314|Ek Hasina Thi}}
* {{IMDb title|0352314|Ek Hasina Thi}}
* {{AllRovi movie|301969|Ek Hasina Thi}}
{{Sriram Raghavan}}
{{Sriram Raghavan}}


{{Ram Gopal Varma}}
{{Ram Gopal Varma}}


[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:2004 films]]
[[Category:2004 action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian avant-garde and experimental films]]
[[Category:Indian avant-garde and experimental films]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2004 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:2000s avant-garde and experimental films]]
[[Category:2000s avant-garde and experimental films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Sriram Raghavan]]
[[Category:Films directed by Sriram Raghavan]]
[[Category:Fox Star Studios films]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]]
[[Category:Sony Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films about mice and rats]]
[[Category:Films about mice and rats]]

Latest revision as of 07:25, 3 March 2026

Ek Hasina Thi
Poster
Directed bySriram Raghavan
Produced byRam Gopal Varma
R. R. Venkat
Written bySriram Raghavan
Pooja Ladha Surti
StarringUrmila Matondkar
Saif Ali Khan
Aditya Srivastava
Seema Biswas
Music byAmar Mohile
CinematographyC. K. Muraleedharan
Edited bySanjib Datta
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox[1]
Release date
  • 16 January 2004 (2004-01-16)
Running time
139 minutes[2]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹4 crore[3]
Box office₹10 crore[3]

Ek Hasina Thi (English: There Was A Beautiful Woman) is a 2004 Indian Hindi-language neo-noir action thriller film directed by Sriram Raghavan in his directorial debut and produced by Ram Gopal Varma. It stars Urmila Matondkar and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles.

The film borrows elements from the Sidney Sheldon novel If Tomorrow Comes.[4] Critic Ronjita Kulkarni said it's "loosely based" on Double Jeopardy, while "the film also adapts a scene from The Bone Collector."[5] The film premiered at the New York Asian Film Festival and was released in India on 16 January 2004.[6] Although a commercial failure upon its release, the film is considered one of the best works of Matondkar, Khan and Raghavan.[7][8]

Plot[edit | edit source]

Sarika is a single woman who lives alone in Mumbai and works at a travel agency. She meets Karan and initially resists his romantic advances, but the two eventually sleep together and begin a relationship. One day, Karan asks Sarika to host one of his friends for 2 hours as he is new to the city, and she agrees. Karan's friend arrives at Sarika's home. When he receives a phone call he asks if he can leave his suitcase there to be picked up later before his flight, Sarika agrees and he leaves. That evening, Sarika sees on the news that the man is a wanted criminal. Sarika is shocked and calls Karan, who tells her to get rid of the suitcase. Sarika steps out with the suitcase and is intercepted by police officers who arrest her. Karan asks her to speak to his lawyer, Kamlesh Mathur, and not to mention his name anywhere in this investigation as that could damage his reputation in his business. After losing the initial hearing and being denied bail, the attorney advises her to confess to the crime, convincing her that since she has no criminal record and no prior convictions, the judge will release her.

Sarika complies after being convinced that the judge will give her a light sentence after the attorney tells her this is the Judge's idea since he is working alongside Karan. However, the judge sentences her to seven years in prison without parole. Sarika then realises that Karan and his attorney have cheated her. Karan is a criminal who framed her to keep the police away from him. Soon after this realisation, Sarika's father dies. In prison, Sarika's hatred for Karan grows. Pramila, an inmate who has contacts outside prison, decides to help Sarika.

Sarika begins a journey of self-transformation, which she starts by conquering her fear of rats. She beats up an abusive inmate, Gomati, who had bullied her. Sarika then escapes from prison, along with a few other inmates after starting a fire in the kitchen. Karan is notified of her escape by Kamlesh Mathur but does not think much of it. ACP Malti Vaidya sets out to find Sarika. Sarika finds Mathur and kills him after learning Karan's whereabouts, working for a gangster in Delhi.

Sarika finds Karan in Delhi with his new girlfriend. She takes a room right opposite Karan's so that she can observe him. She trails him day and night, without arousing suspicion. ACP Malti Vaidya finds Sarika when Sarika calls her mother from a prepaid phone in Delhi. Karan, in the meantime, is in trouble with a local gangster, Sanjeev, to whom he owes money. He is kidnapped from a nightclub by Sanjeev's henchmen, who threaten him. Karan is taken to Bilal, Sanjeev's partner who alerts him Sanjeev is ready to meet him, Sarika secretly observes the incident and as soon as Karan leaves the room, Sanjeev is found dead, and suspicion falls on Karan.

Karan and his girlfriend are attacked in the hotel, leaving his girlfriend and a few henchmen dead. Karan escapes as ACP Malti reaches his hotel suite in pursuit of Sarika. Karan is bewildered at Sanjeev's death and the attack and wonders if a rival gang murdered Sanjeev.

Meanwhile, Sarika pretends to meet Karan accidentally. She pretends to have sympathy for him, and Karan believes her. Karan confronts a man whom he suspects to be a traitor, but the man can say anything; Karan kills him.

Sarika is amused at Karan's confusion. She steals money from Karan's boss, for which Karan is suspected. Realizing she has framed him after ACP Malti's questioning, Karan confronts and assaults Sarika, who tells him she has burned the money. Karan takes Sarika to his boss and makes her confess at gunpoint. But she feigns ignorance and claims that Karan forced her to confess. A fight begins between Karan and his boss's henchman as the ACP enters with the police.

In a shootout, the ACP kills Karan's boss, and the ACP herself is shot. Karan briefly escapes before Sarika catches him, holds him at gunpoint, and makes him drive to a secluded spot. After knocking Karan unconscious, Sarika chains him in a cavern infested with rats. As Karan regains consciousness, Sarika tells him how she used to be scared of rats, and she chose this spot because she wanted him to go through the pain and suffering that she went through while she was in prison. Sarika leaves Karan in the cavern.

Karan screams, but no one hears him. A pack of rats slowly start crawling all over him and eventually kill him. Sarika surrenders to the ACP, turning in the bag of money that she stole from Karan's boss to the ACP.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Production[edit | edit source]

Saif Ali Khan was initially unsure about accepting the role of Karan as he was unaccustomed to portraying such a ruthless character, though the filmmakers convinced him to accept the role. For his first role as a villain, he received a lot of appreciation for his performance.[9][10]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by Amar Mohile. The first song 'Neend Na Aaye' that plays at the beginning of the film has been sung by Pandit Jasraj.[11] The title song 'Ek Hasina Thi' plays in the second half of the film.[12]

Reception[edit | edit source]

Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM gave the film a 3 out of 5, writing, "On the whole, EK HASINA THI, in the spirit of RGV's other movies, has some fresh things to say about love, passion, deceit and destiny".[13] K. Kavitha of Deccan Herald wrote that "His [Ram Gopal Varma's] ‘K Sera Sera Productions’ conjures up yet another superbly crafted movie; yet another promising director — Sriram Raghavan and yet another virtuoso performance by his muse, Urmila".[14]

Urmila Matondkar received high praise for her role as a merciless avenger. Ek Hasina Thi is considered one of the finest performances in her career.[15][16][17]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "20th Century Fox to leave India". Hindustan Times. 29 January 2005. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Ek Hasina Thi". British Board of Film Classification.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ek Hasina Thi – Movie – Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. ↑ Rangan, Baradwaj (22 January 2004). "Review: Ek Hasina Thi / Bhoot". Baradwaj Rangan. Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  5. ↑ Ronjita Kulkarni (15 January 2004), "Who's better: Urmila or Saif?" Archived 20 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Rediff. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  6. ↑ David (16 June 2006). "The Films of Ram Gopal Varma – An Overview". Cinema Strikes Back. Archived from the original on 25 July 2009. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  7. ↑ Singh, Jai Arjun (28 July 2019). "'Ek Hasina Thi' (2004): Truth, disguised as lies". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  8. ↑ Singh, Anvita (16 January 2025). "Ek Hasina Thi is 21: The twisted Saif-Urmila classic which gave us Sriram Raghavan". India Today. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Top 10 Saif Ali Khan performances". filmfare.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  10. ↑ "Ahead of Andhadhun, here's looking at Sriram Raghavan's debut film Ek Hasina Thi". The Indian Express. 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  11. ↑ @phanishankar (1 May 2019). "yeah, in the titles also it is mentioned as background score -Amar Mohile and there is Pandit Jasraj's 'Neend Na Aaye' song in the background during the titles" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ↑ "Ek Hasina Thi : Lyrics and video of Songs from the Movie Ek Hasina Thi (2004)". Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  13. ↑ Adarsh, Taran (14 January 2004). "Ek Hasina Thi Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  14. ↑ K., Kavitha (18 January 2004). "Ek Hasina Thi - Hindi". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017.
  15. ↑ Patel, Dipali (4 February 2017). "As She Turns A Year Older, Here Are 10 Standout Performances By Urmila Matondkar". ScoopWhoop. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  16. ↑ Thombare, Suparna. "From Masoom to Ek Hasina Thi: 5 best performances of Urmila Matondkar". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  17. ↑ "RANKED: 6 Best Performances of Urmila Matondkar in Bollywood". Desimartini. 4 February 2018. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.

External links[edit | edit source]

Template:Sriram Raghavan

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