{ "id": "epzx4y2nxf", "slug": "khamoshi-1996-film", "title": "Khamoshi (1996 film)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s", "label": "Hindi films of the 1990s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.comedy-and-musical-films", "label": "Comedy and musical films", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.comedy-and-musical-films" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Hindi films of the 1990s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s", "label": "Hindi films of the 1990s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Khamoshi: The Musical (खामोशी), 1996 Hindi musical romantic drama, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial debut, starring Manisha Koirala, Nana Patekar, Salman Khan, Seema Biswas; box office flop that won five Filmfare Awards and cult status.", "snippet": "Khamoshi: The Musical (खामोशी), 1996 Hindi musical romantic drama, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial debut, starring Manisha Koirala, Nana Patekar, Salman Khan, Seema Biswas; box office flop that won five Filmfare Awards and cult status.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1990s.comedy-and-musical-films", "markdown": "# Khamoshi (1996 film)\n\n**Khamoshi: The Musical** (खामोशी) is a 1996 Hindi-language musical romantic drama written and directed by [Sanjay Leela Bhansali](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-leela-bhansali) in his directorial debut, starring [Nana Patekar](https://www.edgepedia.org/nana-patekar), Manisha Koirala, Salman Khan, and [Seema Biswas](https://www.edgepedia.org/seema-biswas). Set in Goa, it follows Annie Braganza, the only hearing child of a deaf and mute couple, as she struggles to reconcile her duty to her parents with her passion for music. A commercial failure on release, the film later won critical acclaim, five awards at the 42nd Filmfare Awards, and a lasting reputation as one of Bhansali's finest works.[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 9 August 1996, in Hindi[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/khamoshi-the-musical/box-office/) |\n| Director / writer | Sanjay Leela Bhansali, his directorial debut[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996) |\n| Lead cast | Manisha Koirala (Annie), Nana Patekar (Joseph), Seema Biswas (Flavy), Salman Khan (Raj), Helen (Maria)[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/khamoshi-the-musical/cast/) |\n| Music | Jatin–Lalit, lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri; the soundtrack topped Indian music charts[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996) |\n| Box office | India net 69 million (6.90 crore) against a 60 million (6 crore) budget; worldwide gross 122.4 million (12.24 crore); verdict flop[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/khamoshi-the-musical/box-office/) • [4](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Khamoshi%3A_The_Musical_1996?hl=en) |\n| Awards | Five wins at the 42nd Filmfare Awards, including Critics Award for Best Film and Best Female Playback Singer[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996) |\n| Production | PolyGram Filmed Entertainment; producer Sibte Hassan Rizvi[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/khamoshi-the-musical) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot and characters\n\nThe story follows Annie Braganza ([Manisha Koirala](https://www.edgepedia.org/manisha-koirala)), the sole child of Joseph (Nana Patekar) and Flavy Braganza (Seema Biswas) who can hear and speak, her parents being a Goa-based couple unable to hear or speak. Raised between her sense of responsibility toward her parents and her deep passion for music, Annie falls in love with Raj ([Salman Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/salman-khan)), an aspiring musician who encourages her artistic ambitions. Their relationship meets strong opposition from Joseph, whose fear of losing his daughter and anxiety about societal prejudice drive the central conflict. The film explores love, sacrifice, disability, communication, and identity, and its empathetic portrayal of deafness was considered progressive for its time.[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996)\n\nAnnie opens the film by describing her \"impossible dream\": to hear her deaf parents call out her name. The story is largely told in flashback, tracing her relationship with her parents and her ambition to become a singer.[6](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-cdm1db/khamoshi-the-musical/) • [7](https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/119084/1/Block-2.pdf) Annie begins her days as the voice of her father as he goes door to door selling soaps.[8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sanjay-leela-bhansali-debut-khamoshi-the-musical-best-film-nana-patekar-manisha-koirala-salman-khan-9177881/)\n\n## Production\n\nKhamoshi was produced by Sibte Hassan Rizvi through [PolyGram Filmed Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/polygram-filmed-entertainment), with Bhansali writing and directing. The crew included editor Bela Sehgal, the director's sister, cinematographer Anil Mehta, and art director [Nitin Chandrakant Desai](https://www.edgepedia.org/nitin-chandrakant-desai); choreography was by [Saroj Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/saroj-khan), Ganesh Hegde, and Bhushan Lakhandri, with costumes by Shabina Khan and Manish Malhotra.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/khamoshi-the-musical) • [3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/khamoshi-the-musical/cast/) The supporting cast included Helen as Maria Braganza, Raghubir Yadav as Willie, Himani Shivpuri as Raj's mother, and Sunil Shende as Raj's father.[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/khamoshi-the-musical/cast/)\n\nReported running times differ by source and version: Rotten Tomatoes lists 1h 40m, the [British Board of Film Classification](https://www.edgepedia.org/british-board-of-film-classification) certified a cinema version of 166m 32s with an approximate running time of 159 minutes, and Box Office India lists 163 minutes.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/khamoshi-the-musical) • [9](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/khamoshi-the-musical-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zndk4mzi) • [10](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2772) In the United Kingdom the film was distributed by Spark Entertainment and classified for cinema on 7 August 1996, with a home entertainment version classified on 13 February 1998.[9](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/khamoshi-the-musical-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zndk4mzi)\n\n## Music\n\nThe soundtrack was composed by the duo [Jatin–Lalit](https://www.edgepedia.org/jatin-lalit) with lyrics by [Majrooh Sultanpuri](https://www.edgepedia.org/majrooh-sultanpuri), and it was both a critical and commercial success, topping Indian music charts. \"Bahon Ke Darmiyan\", rendered by Hariharan and [Alka Yagnik](https://www.edgepedia.org/alka-yagnik), is celebrated among Hindi cinema's romantic ballads, and \"Aaj Main Upar\", sung by Kavita Krishnamurthy and Kumar Sanu, earned Krishnamurthy the Filmfare Award for Best Female Playback Singer. The soundtrack has been included in Planet Bollywood's list of the 100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks of All Time.[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996) Playback singers on the film also included Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik.[3](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/khamoshi-the-musical/cast/)\n\n## Box office\n\nThe film underperformed commercially. Bollywood Hungama records an opening day of 5.4 million (0.54 crore), a first week of 29.3 million (2.93 crore), and a total India net collection of 69 million (6.90 crore), with a worldwide gross of 122.4 million (12.24 crore) including 26.6 million (2.66 crore) from overseas.[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/khamoshi-the-musical/box-office/) Box Office India gives slightly different totals: a first day of 54,00,000, a total nett gross of 68,950,000 against a budget of 6,00,00,000, an India gross of 11,58,00,000, overseas gross of $750,000, and a worldwide gross of 14,26,12,500, with a verdict of Flop.[10](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2772) Sacnilk likewise lists a 60 million (6 crore) budget, an India net of 68.8 million (6.88 crore), and a flop verdict.[4](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Khamoshi%3A_The_Musical_1996?hl=en)\n\n**The failure's effect on Bhansali.** On the morning of 9 August 1996, producer Sibte Hassan Rizvi called Bhansali and said, \"Picture baith gayee hai.\" Not understanding the phrase, Bhansali went with his editor-sister Bela Sehgal and cinematographer Anil Mehta to Liberty Cinema in Mumbai, where they found scattered, restless audiences. Bhansali later described the film as a box office disaster that left him shattered, and recalled that trade magazines called it the \"Razia Sultan of the Decade\". He said the experience made him cautious: \"I decided I will ensure the audiences' approval in my future films\", a resolve that pushed him toward the extravagant, larger-than-life cinema of his later career.[8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sanjay-leela-bhansali-debut-khamoshi-the-musical-best-film-nana-patekar-manisha-koirala-salman-khan-9177881/)\n\n## Reception and awards\n\nAlthough it flopped at the box office, the film received widespread critical acclaim and has since attained cult status. Critics praised Bhansali's sensitive direction and the film's emotional depth, and a Firstpost retrospective in 2023 noted that it \"held up well\" and \"grew better with age\".[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/khamoshi-the-musical)\n\nAt the 42nd [Filmfare Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards) the film won five awards: Critics Award for Best Film, Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress (Manisha Koirala), Best Art Direction, Best Sound Design, and Best Female Playback Singer, while receiving nominations in major categories such as Best Film and Best Actor.[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996) IMDb's awards record confirms Kavita Krishnamurthy's Filmfare win for \"Aaj mein upar\", Koirala's Critics Award for Best Performer, and nominations for Best Actress (Koirala) and Best Actor (Nana Patekar); at the Screen Awards, Koirala won Best Actress and Seema Biswas won Best Supporting Actress.[11](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116763/awards/) The Indian Express noted that Patekar, despite his performance, won no award for the film.[8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sanjay-leela-bhansali-debut-khamoshi-the-musical-best-film-nana-patekar-manisha-koirala-salman-khan-9177881/) Koirala's performance was later included in Filmfare magazine's list of the Top 80 Iconic Performances.[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996)\n\n## Legacy\n\nThe film marked the emergence of Bhansali's distinctive style, characterized by emotional intensity, visual lyricism, and the integration of music into narrative, and it incorporated autobiographical elements from his own life.[1](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996) Its premise invites comparison with [Sian Heder](https://www.edgepedia.org/sian-heder)'s CODA, which won Best Picture at the 2022 Academy Awards and also tells of the only hearing child of deaf parents, but Bhansali dismissed any connection: \"A good story can be interpreted in many ways. CODA is a different film from mine.\"[8](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sanjay-leela-bhansali-debut-khamoshi-the-musical-best-film-nana-patekar-manisha-koirala-salman-khan-9177881/) The film is available on streaming services including Hulu in the United States and Amazon Prime Video in India.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/khamoshi-the-musical) • [12](https://www.justwatch.com/eg/movie/khamoshi-the-musical)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Khamoshi (1996), Tuli Research Centre for India Studies](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/khamoshi-1996)\n2. [Khamoshi The Musical Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/khamoshi-the-musical/box-office/)\n3. [Khamoshi The Musical Cast List, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/khamoshi-the-musical/cast/)\n4. [Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) Box Office, Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Khamoshi%3A_The_Musical_1996?hl=en)\n5. [Khamoshi, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/khamoshi-the-musical)\n6. [Khamoshi - the Musical (1996), Radio Times](https://tollbit.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-cdm1db/khamoshi-the-musical/)\n7. [Disability and Indian cinema course material, eGyanKosh](https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/119084/1/Block-2.pdf)\n8. [Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut Khamoshi: The Musical sank without a trace, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/sanjay-leela-bhansali-debut-khamoshi-the-musical-best-film-nana-patekar-manisha-koirala-salman-khan-9177881/)\n9. [Khamoshi - The Musical, British Board of Film Classification](https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/khamoshi-the-musical-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zndk4mzi)\n10. [Khamoshi, Box Office India](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=2772)\n11. [Khamoshi the Musical (1996) Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116763/awards/)\n12. [Khamoshi: The Musical, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/eg/movie/khamoshi-the-musical)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 1990s › Comedy and musical films*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/khamoshi-1996-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/khamoshi-1996-film.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Khamoshi (1996 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/khamoshi-1996-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Khamoshi (1996 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/khamoshi-1996-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/khamoshi-1996-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/khamoshi-1996-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Khamoshi (1996 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/khamoshi-1996-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Khamoshi: The Musical, 1996 Hindi musical romantic drama, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial debut, starring Manisha Koirala, Nana Patekar, Salman Khan, Seema Biswas; box office flop that won five Filmfare Awards and cult status." }