Gangs of Wasseypur(2012) – Overview
Gangs of Wasseypur is a 2012 Indian Hindi epic crime drama, written and directed by Anurag Kashyap and produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures. It stars an ensemble cast led by Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Richa Chadha. The film is set in the coal mining city of Dhanbad, and follows the gang wars, power and inter-generational vengeance between three criminal families.
The film, set between the 1940s and the 1990s, offers a realistic and raw depiction of rural Indian power dynamics. The film was initially released as a single version, and then split into two parts.
Gangs of Wasseypur Info
Directed by: Anurag Kashyap
Written by: Anurag Kashyap, Zeishan Quadri, Akhilesh Jaiswal, Sachin K. Ladia
Produced by: Anurag Kashyap, Sunil Bohra, Viacom18 Motion Pictures
Starring: Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadha, Tigmanshu Dhulia
Cinematography: Rajeev Ravi
Edited by: Shweta Venkat Matthew
Music by Songs: Sneha Khanwalkar, Piyush Mishra
Score: G. V. Prakash Kumar
Production company: Viacom18 Motion Pictures, Phantom Films
Release date: 22 June 2012
Awards and Nominations
The film was critically acclaimed and was awarded numerous prizes. It won several National Film Awards, including for Best Audiography, and numerous Filmfare Awards, including Critics’ awards for Best Film and Best Actress.
It was also showcased at festivals including Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and Sundance Film Festival, and has been distributed internationally.
Background Information
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Director | Anurag Kashyap |
| Lead Actors | Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui |
| Music Composer | Sneha Khanwalkar |
| Background Score | G. V. Prakash Kumar |
| Cinematography | Rajeev Ravi |
| Editor | Shweta Venkat Matthew |
| Budget | ₹9.2 crore |
| Worldwide Gross | ₹35+ Crore |
| Distributor Share | N/A |
| Release Date | 22 June 2012 |
| Filming Locations | Varanasi, Bihar, Chunar |
| Awards & Nominations | National Film Awards winner, multiple Filmfare Awards |
| Remakes | N/A |
Plot
The movie is a violent family drama set against a backdrop of coal mining at Dhanbad. It is placed during the British period in which Shahid Khan is sent out of Wasseypur due to masquerading as a bandit. He emigrates with his family and starts to work in the mines, gaining strength. However, his ascendancy to power clashes with local gang leader Ramadhir Singh who later on orders Shahid to be murdered.
Shahid leaves behind a son, Sardar Khan, who is left alive and grows into a young man, a thirsty avenger. He becomes a part of the crime world, finding his gang and rivalry with Ramadhir. Sardar gains strength and power by smuggling coal, trading and gun battles illegally, but also has downfalls and enemies.
It tells its history across decades, as the political landscape evolves, and other gangs appear, like the Qureshi. The personal relationships and family life of Sardar make his character even more realistic. His strength brings about his downfall as time goes by.
This is then changed to his son Faizal Khan, who picks up the revenge mantle. Overall, the story of the movie shows how the violence, ambitions and betrayals of one generation are passed onto another generation, making Wasseypur a violent place.
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