By Hindustan Times
There is something about gangster films that fascinates Bollywood. There are legendary ones like Amitabh Bachchan's Deewar, (reportedly in response to Haji Mastan), Don, Agneepath, and more recently Satya, Company and Vaastav. And then, there are some forgettable ones like D and Jung.
The underworld saga in Bollywood continues as upcoming flicks like Shootout at Wadala, Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai 2, Sarman Munja's unnamed biopic featuring Sanjay Dutt and Abu Salem's biopic get set to release. Here is a take a look at 5 upcoming and 5 legendary gangster flicks.
UPCOMING
1. Department
After essaying the role of a desi Godfather as Subhash Nagre in Sarkar (2005) and Sarkar Raaj (2008), Amitabh Bachchan is ready to go back to an analogous genre again. The actor plays the role of a gangster called Sarjerao Gaikwad, who has a transformation of heart and becomes a politician, in Ram Gopal Varma’s Department.
And this time, unlike his black outfit in Sarkar, the actor will don a white dhoti-kurta. He'll even be seen wearing a red scarf, dark glasses, coloured threads and bracelets. All that and a ‘kada’ around his right ankle adds numerous colour to this Machiavellian character.
“It took Amitji and me just an hour to mend upon the look, the theory for which emerged from a half-hour-long discussion,” says Ramu, adding that the ‘desi’ gear is apt for the part given Sarjerao’s criminal background, and a past that he still has connections with.
2. Abu Salem's biopic
A film on Dawood Ibrahim's former associate, Abu Salem, is ready to roll, with actor Nikhil Dwivedi playing the role of the feared gangster.
An industry insider reveals that the film have been named Captain, as it’s probably the most aliases utilized by Salem. The project was conceived, written and can be directed by debutant Navneet Behl, and traces the outlaw’s journey from obscurity to notoriety in a brief period of time.
“Unlike other infamous gangsters, who took decades to be where they're today, he became one of the vital dreaded gangsters in Mumbai in only seven years. That’s what I DISCOVERED so fascinating,” the Nikhil told Hindustan Times.
Salem, presently in Arthur Road jail, is serving time for his role within the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, and the murder of music composer and owner of the T-Series music label, Gulshan Kumar, in 1997.
“There was a time when the entire film industry was completely crippled with fear of this man. The film is ready what made him so powerful,” says Nikhil. Ask whether he’s apprehensive about playing a notorious don, and the actor says, “Why should I be nervous? This isn't a movie on Dawood Ibrahim.”
3. Sarman Munja Jadeja’s biopic
He played the underworld don to perfection in films like Aatish (1994), Vaastav (1999), Jung (2000) and Plan (2004). But not many know that Sanjay Dutt has spent the last 15 years discussing and researching real-life gangster Sarman Munja Jadeja’s life. So understandably, he's interested by playing the Gujarati don in Soham Shah and Ashtavinayak’s upcoming film.
“We was engaged on the topic for over a decade. Over the years, Neeraj (writer-director Vora), Paresh (actor Rawal) and i've discussed the topic and worked on it.
Somehow, things never worked out. But now that the film is finally happening, it feels great,” says Dutt, whose character within the film can also be called Sarman Munja. The Munjha family had a robust hold over Porbandar and other places in Saurashtra within the early ’80s. Sarman Munja was often referred to as the Robin Hood of Gujarat.
4. Dawood's first biopic
Though Vivek Oberoi lost the chance to play Dawood in Shootout at Wadala, interestingly, he bagged another film where that's touted to the first-ever biopic of Dawood and is probably going to begin sometime next year.
The actor is adept at bringing underworld dons to the massive screen. He started his career with a gritty portrayal of Chandu Nagre — supposedly in line with don Chhota Rajan — in Ram Gopal Varma’s Company (2002) followed by a menacing Maya Dolas in Shootout At Lokhandwala.
“My character is a gangster, but he’s not within the same bracket as Chandu (Company, 2002) or Maya (Shootout At Lokhandwala, 2007). He's a loveable person, who likes to speak in English even though it’s broken and wrong,” Vivek told Hindustan Times.
5. Manya Surve's biopic
Actor John Abraham says his upcoming movie, Shootout at Wadala, could be a “career defining film.”
"I haven't said yes or no to the film yet. The film is a sensible tackle Abu Salem's character and can be shot in documentary style," Nikhil told IANS.
The actor says, “When people inquire from me what the film means to me, I say that this film is my ‘Vaastav’ (which had actor Sanjay Dutt within the lead). On a major note, this is a career defining film and it’s something that I'VE taken very seriously.” Directed by Sanjay Gupta, Shootout At Wadala also stars actors Anil Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Mahesh Manjrekar, Manoj Bajpayee, Tusshar Kapoor, Ronit Roy and Kangna Ranaut.
The film will dramatise the first-ever registered encounter by Mumbai police, where gangster Manya Surve was shot dead, which came about at Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, Sangam Nagar, Wadala, Mumbai on 1 November 1982. The film is slated to release on 7 December 2012.
Apart from this, Akshay Kumar plays the role of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2. The actor is alleged to be donning three different looks for the film. His first look was revealed on an award-ceremony at Aapka Colors. Emraan Hashmi would also play a component within the film. Sonakshi Sinha have been signed opposite Akshay Kumar.
LEGENDARY
1. Satya
RGV is not any doubt the Sarkar of recent gangster flicks. His Satya can be regarded as one of the crucial memorable crime dramas within the times to return. The film tells the tale of Satya, an immigrant who involves Mumbai seeking his fortune but instead gets sucked into the Mumbai underworld.
The film didn't feature stars but made some. J.D Chakravarthy and Manoj Bajpai shot to limelight with the the movie, and Urmila Matondkar got recognition because the actor of substance. The film was made on a shoestring buget of Rs. 2 crore and went directly to make Rs. 15.5 crore.
2. Vaastav
Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, the film gave a landmark role to Sanjay Dutt who's career was undergoing a coarse patch before the fim. The film is claimed to be loosely in line with the lifetime of Mumbai underworld gangster Chota Rajan. The film also starred Namrata Shirodkar, Sanjay Narvekar, Mohnish Behl, Paresh Rawal, Reema Lagoo and Shivaji Satam.
3. Deewaar
Directed by Yash Chopra and written by Salim-Javed, Deewaar established Amitabh Bachchan because the angry young man of Bollywood. Shashi Kapoor also featured within the movie.
Vijay, played by Amitabh Bachchan who starts out as a boot polisher and becomes a dockyard worker in his youth. He then turns a smuggler and a number one figure of the underworld.
4. Agneepath
Directed by Mukul Anand, Agneepath stars Amitabh Bachchan, Mithun Chakraborty, Madhavi, and Rohini Hattangadi, with Danny Denzongpa because the villain.
It was considered to be a loose adaptation of the 1983 Hollywood film Scarface starring Al Pacino. It was also believed to be in accordance with the lifetime of Mumbai underworld gangster Manya Surve whose talking style and body language were adapted by Amitabh Bachchan as Vijay Deenanath Chauhan.
5. Maqbool
The film is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. The backdrop of the movie however is Mumbai underworld. Maqbool (Irfan Khan) is a right hand man of Jahangir Khan (alias Abba Ji) (Pankaj Kapoor), an impressive underworld don. Maqbool is grateful and feels an in depth connection and private indebtedness to Abba Ji.
Nimmi (Tabu) is Abba Ji's mistress, but she secretly loves Maqbool. Maqbool loves Nimmi, too. Nimmi also encourages Maqbool's ambitions and persuades him to kill Abba Ji as a way to take over as don.
