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Ta Ra Rum Pum

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Ta Ra Rum Pum
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySiddharth Anand
Written byHabib Faisal
Story bySiddharth Anand
Produced byAditya Chopra
Starring
Narrated byAngelina Idnani
CinematographyBinod Pradhan
Edited by
  • Rameshwar S. Bhagat
  • Ritesh Soni
Music by
Distributed byYash Raj Films
Release date
  • 27 April 2007 (2007-04-27)
Running time
153 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹28 crore[1]
Box office₹72 crore[1]

Ta Ra Rum Pum is a 2007 Indian Hindi-language sports drama film directed by Siddharth Anand and written by Habib Faisal. Produced by Aditya Chopra under the Yash Raj Films banner, the film stars Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji, alongside Angelina Idnani, Ali Haji, and Jaaved Jaaferi in supporting roles. Set in the United States, the narrative follows Rajveer Singh, a professional stock car racer whose career takes a downturn following an accident, and his journey of personal and professional redemption with the support of his wife Radhika and their two children.[2]

The film marked Anand’s second directorial collaboration with Khan after Salaam Namaste (2005). Principal photography began in May 2006 and concluded in June, with filming taking place across locations such as the Milwaukee Mile in Wisconsin, Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina, and on sets in Mumbai. The music was composed by Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar.

Ta Ra Rum Pum was released theatrically on 27 April 2007 and received mixed reviews from critics. While Khan and Mukerji’s performances, as well as the film’s production values and setting, were praised, its screenplay and pacing were met with criticism. The film emerged as a moderate commercial success, grossing ₹70 crore (US$8.3 million) worldwide, and ranked as the tenth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.[3]

Plot

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Rajveer "RV" Singh is a cheerful and ambitious race track pit crew member in New York City who dreams of becoming a professional car racer. His skills attract the attention of Harry, a racing team manager, after RV illegally speeds a taxi owned by Harry's team, Speeding Saddles. Impressed, Harry offers RV a contract as a professional stock car racer.

RV quickly rises to prominence in the racing world and marries Radhika "Shona" Shekhar Rai Bannerjee, a pianist studying at Columbia University, despite her father’s disapproval due to RV's lack of formal education. Radhika eventually gives up her career to raise their two children, Priya "Princess" and Rajveer Jr. "Champ," while RV continues his racing career.

A year later, RV is hospitalized following a crash during a race caused by rival racer Rusty Finkelstein. Although he recovers physically, the psychological impact affects his performance, leading to a string of poor finishes. Eventually, the team owner, Billy Bhatia, drops him from the team and replaces him with Rusty.

Unable to find stable employment, and after a failed attempt to form a new team, RV and his family face financial difficulties, resulting in the foreclosure of their home and the loss of most possessions. With limited resources, they move into a modest apartment on the city’s outskirts. To support their children's continued education, RV and Shona take on various odd jobs. RV briefly considers giving up their dog, Bruno, to reduce expenses but ultimately keeps him after encouragement from Harry, who offers RV a taxi license.

Meanwhile, Princess and Champ learn of the family's struggles and secretly begin saving their lunch money, leading to Champ becoming ill from eating discarded food. After a heated argument between RV and Shona over their circumstances, Champ collapses and is hospitalized. Doctors discover a piece of glass in his stomach, requiring expensive surgery. RV seeks financial help from Billy, who refuses, but Harry steps in with an offer to reenter racing by forming an independent team. RV accepts, and his cab driver friends form the new pit crew.

RV returns to the track, facing lingering post-traumatic stress, particularly while competing against Rusty. Drawing strength from his son's condition, he overcomes his fears and wins the race after a final confrontation with Rusty.

In the aftermath, RV resumes full-time racing, Shona restarts her music career, and the family returns to their former home. They occasionally visit their old neighborhood to remain connected to their past. The film ends with RV gifting Shona her original wedding ring.

Cast

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  • Saif Ali Khan as Rajveer "RV" Singh
  • Rani Mukerji as Radhika "Shona" Shekhar Rai Banerjee/ Singh
  • Angelina Idnani as Priya "Princess" Singh, Rajveer and Radhika's daughter
  • Ali Haji as Ranveer "Champ" Singh, Rajveer and Radhika's son
  • Javed Jaffrey as Hariprasad "Harry" Dhirubhai Patel, Rajveer's manager
  • Victor Banerjee as Shubho Shekhar Rai Banerjee, Radhika's father
  • Shruti Seth as Sasha, Radhika's best friend
  • Bharat Dabholkar as Billy "Bill" Bhatia
  • Sujoy Ghosh as Chatto
  • Ronobir Leheri as Pindi
  • Ravi Khote as Pandya
  • Dolly Bindra as Mrs. Pandya
  • Ken Thompson as Rusty Finkelstein

Production

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Development

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Ta Ra Rum Pum was produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films and marked Siddharth Anand’s second directorial venture following Salaam Namaste (2005). The film drew narrative inspiration from several American films, including Days of Thunder (1990), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006), and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), blending elements of motorsport drama with themes of family resilience and financial struggle.

Anand and screenwriter Habib Faisal aimed to create a family-oriented sports drama set against the backdrop of American stock car racing, with a focus on emotional themes and aspirational storytelling. The working title during pre-production was Ta Ra Rum Pum Pum.[4]

Casting

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The film marked the second collaboration between Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji under Anand’s direction, following Salaam Namaste. Khan was cast as Rajveer "RV" Singh, a spirited race car driver, while Mukerji played Radhika "Shona" Shekar Rai Banerjee, a pianist and RV’s eventual wife.[5] The child roles of Priya “Princess” and Rajveer Jr. “Champ” were portrayed by Angelina Idnani and Ali Haji, respectively. According to reports, Haji was selected after three rounds of auditions, while Idnani was cast following four.[6]

Filming

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A major portion of the film was shot at Rockingham Speedway

Principal photography began on 4 May 2006 and concluded on 26 June 2006. The film was primarily shot in the United States, with additional scenes filmed at Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai.[4] Racing sequences were filmed at the Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina and the Milwaukee Mile in Wisconsin. The production featured authentic stock cars and incorporated professional stunt coordination.[6]

Racing cars used in the film were provided by motorsport veteran Andy Hillenburg, who also trained stunt drivers and coordinated the racing scenes. Several drivers from the ARCA Re/Max Series participated in the filming, and decals from the series can be seen on the cars. Hillenburg, who previously supplied cars for Talladega Nights, reportedly reused some vehicles with modified sponsorship decals.[7]

The film’s title song was an animated musical sequence featuring all main characters and four additional animated figures. This segment was developed by Walt Disney Studios as part of their three-film collaboration with Yash Raj Films.[8]

Soundtrack

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Ta Ra Rum Pum
Soundtrack album by
Vishal–Shekhar
Released3 April 2007
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length28:44
LanguageHindi
LabelYRF Music
ProducerVishal–Shekhar
Vishal–Shekhar chronology
Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.
(2007) 		Ta Ra Rum Pum
(2007) 		Om Shanti Om
(2007)

The film's soundtrack was composed by the duo Vishal–Shekhar, with lyrics written by Javed Akhtar.[9] The album features seven tracks and was released on 3 April 2007 by YRF Music. According to the trade website Box Office India, the soundtrack sold approximately 1 million units, making it the fifteenth highest-selling Hindi film album of the year.Box Office India

Song Singer(s)
"Ab To Forever" K.K., Vishal Dadlani, Shreya Ghoshal
"Hey Shona" Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan
"Ta Ra Rum Pum" Ver. 1 Shreya Ghoshal
"Nachle Ve" Sonu Nigam, Sowmya Raoh
"Ta Ra Rum Pum" (Happy) Shaan, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Sneha, Shravan
"Saiyaan Ve" Vishal Dadlani
"Ta Ra Rum Pum" Ver. 2 Shreya Ghoshal

Telugu soundtrack

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Song Singer(s)
"Ta Ra Rum Pum" (Happy) Shaan, Mahalakshmi Iyer
"Hey Shona"
"Chinduley" Vedala Hemachandra, Gayatri Ganjawala
"Ta Ra Ra Ra Tara" (Female) Shreya Ghoshal
"Natho Forever" Shankar Mahadevan, Shreya Ghoshal, Vishal Dadlani
"Vinukora" Vedala Hemachandra

Release and home media

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Ta Ra Rum Pum was theatrically released in India and several international markets on 27 April 2007, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico, and the Netherlands.[8]

The film was subsequently released on DVD by Yash Raj Films on 1 September 2007.[10]

In 2017, Ta Ra Rum Pum became available for digital streaming on Amazon Prime Video.[11]

Reception

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Box office

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Ta Ra Rum Pum opened to strong collections in major metropolitan areas, particularly at multiplexes, though its performance at single-screen cinemas was comparatively moderate. The film collected ₹43.7 million in Mumbai during its opening week and grossed ₹114.3 million across India in the same period.[12][13][14] The release of Spider-Man 3 in the following weeks led to a decline in overall collections; however, the film continued to perform steadily in regions like Mumbai and Delhi.[15]

In international markets, the film had a comparable start. It debuted at number nine on the United Kingdom box office chart, earning approximately £156,000 during its opening weekend.[16] In the United States, it grossed $425,102, while its opening in Australia brought in $90,000.[17] Although these numbers were considered respectable, they fell below expectations for a Yash Raj Films release.[18][19]

By its sixth week, the film had earned ₹377 million in India and was declared a hit by trade analysts.[20] Overseas, Ta Ra Rum Pum accumulated approximately $2 million, with the United Kingdom emerging as its strongest international market.[21]

Critical response

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Ta Ra Rum Pum received mixed-to-positive reviews from Indian critics, with particular praise directed at the performances, emotional themes, and production values, though criticism was aimed at the screenplay and predictability. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 50% based on eight reviews, with an average rating of 5.1/10.[22]

In India, Ta Ra Rum Pum received a range of reviews, with many critics praising the performances and emotional appeal. Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM awarded the film 3.5 out of 5 stars, describing it as "a heartwarming story that touches an emotional chord." He particularly highlighted Saif Ali Khan's likability and Rani Mukerji’s restrained yet effective performance, concluding that the film had "speed, sentiment, and soul."[23] India Today echoed similar sentiments, noting its “glossy packaging,” emotionally resonant themes, and star appeal, though also acknowledging the film’s heavy borrowing from Hollywood templates such as Days of Thunder (1990) and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006).[24]

On the other hand, some Indian reviewers criticized the film’s predictability and emotional excess. Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN criticized the film for its lack of originality, noting that the plot borrows heavily from Life Is Beautiful (1997), In America (2002), and Cinderella Man (2005).[25] Anand Vaishnav of Rediff.com commented that the film “races ahead in the first half” but loses momentum later, making its climax feel underwhelming.4[26] Filmibeat offered a mixed take, praising the soundtrack and visual execution, but noting that the “formulaic and stretched” story undermined its impact.[27] Jeevi of Idlebrain.com called it a "decent one-time watch," particularly for family audiences, though he found little narrative novelty, especially in the second half.[28]

Internationally, the film received a similarly divided response. Rachel Saltz of The New York Times described it as “a sentimental journey powered by formula and emotion.” She acknowledged the film’s sincerity but felt its structure lacked surprises and leaned too heavily on melodrama.[29] Jaspreet Pandohar of the BBC rated the film 2 out of 5 stars, stating that while Khan delivered a spirited performance, the story was weighed down by clichés and an overuse of sentimentality.[30] Nell Minow of Common Sense Media offered a more favorable view, awarding it 3 out of 5 stars and highlighting its uplifting messages about perseverance and family, though cautioning viewers about themes of financial hardship and medical stress.[31]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony[a] Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Screen Awards 10 January 2008 Best Child Artist Ali Haji| style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated [32][33]
style="background: #FFE3E3; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2 notheme"|Nominated
Producers Guild Film Awards[b] 30 March 2008 Best Cinematography Binod Pradhan Nominated [34][35]
Best Special Effects Tata Elxsi - VCL Nominated
Sabsey Favourite Kaun Awards 23 December 2008 Sabsey Favourite Heroine Rani Mukerji Won [36]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Date is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.
  2. ^ Previously known as Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ta Ra Rum Pum – Movie". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 17 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  2. ^ "11 years of Ta Ra Rum Pum: 5 lessons we learned from this family drama". India TV. 27 April 2018. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum - Movie - Box Office India". boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum". Title Changed. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
  5. ^ "Rani models her 'Ta Ra Rum Pum' performance on her mom". The Hindustan Times. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b "10 yrs of Ta Ra Rum Pum: Angelina Idnani recalls fun with Saif uncle and Rani di". The Hindustan Times. 13 June 2017. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Andy Hillenburg's gallery, which includes Ta Ra Rum Pum stunt driving at Rockingham". Archived from the original on 27 June 2007. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
  8. ^ a b "Yash Raj Films". Archived from the original on 5 June 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2007..
  9. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum : Lyrics and video of Songs from the Movie Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007)". Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum DVD DVD with Victor Banerjee, Jaaved Jaaferi, Rani Mukherjee (PG) +Movie Reviews". www.swapadvd.com. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  11. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Amazon Prime Video". Yahoo Entertainment. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Impressive First Week". indiafm.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  13. ^ "Does Great Business in the Multiplexes". indiafm.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  14. ^ "Overall Gross: First Week". indiafm.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  15. ^ "Spider-Man 3 Interrupts!". indiafm.com. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  16. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum overseas report". indiafm.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
  17. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum overseas report". indiafm.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
  18. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum box below expectations". glamsham.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
  19. ^ "Review of first week collections". specials.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
  20. ^ "in India".
  21. ^ "Hit in India!". in.movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 1 June 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  22. ^ Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007), archived from the original on 31 October 2020, retrieved 28 June 2021
  23. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum review from Indiafm.com". indiafm.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
  24. ^ "Movie Review: Tara Rum Pum". India Today. 14 May 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  25. ^ ""Masand's Verdict: Tara Rum Pum"". Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  26. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum makes you feel good". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum - Review". https://www.filmibeat.com. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2025. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  28. ^ "Ta Ra Rum Pum hindi film review - idlebrain.com - Saif Ali Khan & Rani Mukherjee". www.idlebrain.com. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  29. ^ Saltz, Rachel (28 April 2007). "East Coast Bollywood". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  30. ^ "BBC - Movies - review - Ta Ra Rum Pum". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  31. ^ Movie & TV reviews for parents. "Ta Ra Rum Pum Movie Review | Common Sense Media". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved 19 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Winners of 14th Annual Star Screen Awards". Bollywood Hungama. Bollywood Hungama News Network. 11 January 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
  33. ^ "Nominees for 14th Annual Screen Awards". Bollywood Hungama. IndiaFM News Bureau. 2 January 2008. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  34. ^ "'Chak De..' has a field day at Producers Guild Awards". The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 31 March 2008. Archived from the original on 5 April 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
  35. ^ "Nominations for 3rd Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards". Bollywood Hungama. Bollywood Hungama News Network. 14 March 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  36. ^ "indiantelevision.com". Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
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