Gunda (1998) User Reviews

Naam Hai Mera Bulla, Rakhta Hu Mai Khulla

[arpitjawa · 8/10 · 19 October 2009]

If Dr. Strangelove brought social satire into the mainstream, Citizen Kane pioneered political consciousness, Roshomon deconstructed the myth of authentic observation, Dekalog tweaked social mores, One flew over a cuckoo's nest overturned insanity on its head, and Kill Bill celebrated the aesthetics of gut-spilling revenge, then there exists ONLY ONE Hindi movie that pays tribute to all these traditions without compromising on the inheritance of a typically Indian narration.

Needless to say, Gunda discards several of the rules, conventions and concessions to tastefulness that plague many Hindi films. The characters speak in rhyming couplets, laden with double entendre for around 99% of the film. Mithun Da plays a coolie equally at home on airport runways and docks, where he has frequent run-ins with the villains as they take their pet leopard for a stroll or organize fighting contests. ... Read More It is high on absurdity and the surreal — in a particularly a memorable fight sequence, Mithun wreaks havoc in a brothel, pile-driving thugs through coir khathiyas (cots) that are suspended at various levels, several feet above ground.

Consider reading this review as a rare connoisseur to connoisseur moment, one that's almost impossible to explain in words & needs to be experienced. Go, get a copy of this masterpiece from your shady neighborhood CD/VHS shop owner now! This film has my highest recommendations.

This movie is SO BAD that its AWESOME

[captainandy14-389-939291 · 8/10 · 25 May 2016]

please watch this movie with alcohol in your hand and chips by your side with your buddies. You wont stop laughing for one minute. Of course the directors and actors wanted to make a serious action movie which never happened but if you watch it as a comedy..its as good as naked gun or hot shots. This movie makes absolutely no sense. Direction and acting is so horrid that you will have tears in your eyes with laughter. It seems like script was written by some horny teenagers and dialogues by some mentally challenged person. All that said so many years later if you really want to have a good laugh with your friends on a boring night, its a great way to spend your time laughing. The double meaning sentences are just too much. Of course you need to understand Hindi for it as otherwise the duplicity will not be understood. Don't take my word it... got watch it.

Its So Bad that its a Masterpiece of Epic Proportions

[BecauseIAmBATMAN · 6/10 · 17 September 2014]

Review for Gunda(1998) This film is a pure and simple masterpiece. In this classic tale of revenge, Mithun plays a wannabe Gunda(Thug) who can defy physics. Watch Mithun crash a car by shooting the back window, watch him Summersault, catch babies, throw a baby towards a monkey, use rocket launcher on autos and avenge the people he loves.

Its a film with classic and exciting villains like Bhulla, Chuttiya, Ibu Hatela etc who introduce themselves with poetic and fabulous dialogs. This film is a bold and violent masterpiece which will hurt your guts with incredible laughter. Watch this film for its incredible screen writing dialogs like 'Mera naam hai Bhulla aur rakhta hoon mai khulla'(My name is Bhulla and I always let it open). This line is a symbol for how open we should be with our actions. Its incredibly deep and meaningful with dialogs like 'khaega kela'(eat a banana). Its a social commentary on how females live in this patriarchal society, on how corrupt this country is and how blind the people are to violent crimes in public.

The random change in the background scenes, like being in an airport in one, a truck depot and then dessert in the same symbolizes the constant change of state in our mind and body. This film has surreal images which are hypnotic and visually artistic and there is an beautiful scene of a baby found crying with terror. Its a symbol of how terrified we are of the unknown, and how helpless and lonely we are in this world. This film questions the meaning of our life and the reason for our existence as we question the existence of this film.

A mere number cannot be used to rate this work of art.

Dare To Defy Newtonian Laws !! Then Watch This Antiphysical Exuberance at its Best !!!

[rockthegod · 10/10 · 27 March 2006]

Two words to describe it.. awesome and hearth robbing. This movie led to the development of Mithunda Fan Club at IIT Kharagpur. What brilliant action and tremendous screenplay !!(including random but dazzling background change). This is sure to lure out the best of Newtonian scientists out from their grave to reanalyze the natural laws which they had flawed. This movie depicts how common men can reach heights of wealth (like Mithun, who is a common dock worker, and his sister wearing fancy micro-skirts and mini tops to a college located in the mountainous terrains and Jungles). This movie also generates the option of creating an Indian video game on the likes of serious Sam, but the only changes will be auto loading Rocket launchers (whose 1 fire can cause 5 blasts) taken out from the Dickie of a Maruti Esteem and randomly fired at 1000s of random moving Auto-Rickshaws, but the obvious random factor coming into play and no rocket can hit its target. Coupled with this, enormous number of AK4x's firing enormous number of red bullets. This movie has everything: from Rape of the Century to The War of the Century. With amazing and absorbing story, brilliant direction, amazing dialogs (DI-a-LOGUES in real meaning), godly cast, and tremendous Mithun ACtion, Its a must watch for every movie fan out thr !!!!!

Piece of Mind, Mithunda Style

[Sauvik · 10/10 · 28 June 2007]

Director Kanti Shah is a genius. He doesn't belong with the mortals. His methods can be only compared to the likes of Quentin Tarantino. With that said, let me give you a fair idea about the movie.

This movie is more complex than Donnie Darko. Apparently, the entire plot occurs in a parallel universe where via Space-time warps, anyone can commute between shipyard/dock, airport/runway, desert/construction site, etc. in split seconds. The viewer must be aware of the fact that the time progression of the parallel universe is quite different from this universe as suggested by the rapid moving events. It must be also mentioned that the Newtonian laws of physics that holds true in this universe cannot be applied elsewhere. I am no authority over Newtonian physics but I believe Kanti Shah wanted to tell us that there exists no inertial frame of reference.

The acting is superb. In fact superb will be the understatement of the century. It is essentially the caliber of Mithunda that he's brilliantly able to take this movie from being an average to being a good movie and it is the sheer effort by the villains that takes this movie from being good to being great.

This review will remain incomplete and unjust if I don't mention the hard work put by Mr. Bashir Babar. He, as a scriptwriter, is at the top of his game. It takes great guts to write a script with every other line rhyming. The last time I found one was by Satyajit Ray - Hirok Rajar Deshe(1980).

The beauty of the movie lies in the fact that director Kanti Shah has not stated anything explicitly but stated things with explicit content. A movie on similar lines would be Loha (1997).

This movie is a must-watch classic piece of art.

Not about only Mithun

[adheesh-sharma · 10/10 · 24 March 2006]

This film is not about Lord Mithun himself. This is the saga of all the divine characters with their divine introductions and dialogs, with Lambu Atta topping the list. The brute intensity of every single soliloquy from Lambu Atta and the regiment leaves you stunned with tears in your eyes and your guts aching. This is not just a movie; Its a celebration of emotions, love, family ties, clichés, political satires and the biggest of all - objectivity of death and forced fornication.

Its still debated whether this movie was meant to be this funny or its just a co-incidence. I don't know what did the actors have in their mind when they were delivering their lines. They must be suppressing their laughter so hard that it reflects on a subconscious level. A very serious warning though; don't watch for more than 20 minutes at a stretch. You might even die of over-dose.

Amazing performances with THE best storyline

[gambit_india · 10/10 · 21 March 2006]

Man...Words are not enough to describe "Gunda"...This movie is guaranteed to have a profound impact on the viewers. Be it Mithun's acting, or the entire army of Baddies, this movie has got it all. Surely some people may dismiss the movie as any other "B" grade movie, but the kind of thinking that has gone into writing the story, screenplay, dialogs, and creation of characters is unparalleled.

My personal Fav. scene is where Mithun's sister is going on a "walk" in hot pants, and is saved from molestation by a guy who wants to molest her eventually. Isn't that something. And not to mention the entire gang of Villains..it just isn't possible to describe how much effort each guy has put in his acting...

Watch this for its full entertainment value...You won't regret it.

Cult movie of the millennium

[sangamitrasingh · 20 October 2011]

"Gunda", One of my all time favorites, stress buster, with amazing storyline, "bole sachmuch deeemag ki ghanti bajegi" Boss, "ek se ek dialogues", and amazing costumes, and choreography. The naming convention of each character(ex:Lambu Aatta,Bachubhai Bhigona,Bulla,Natte,Ibu Hatela,Pote, Chuttiya ) will make you sit and think as to what can be better names than this.

Mithun as always rocks, and looks well chiseled with little hanging tummy yet sober and a decent GUNDA.You will fall in love with him , trust me head over heals not forget to mention it is better than his other all time classics "Maa kasam", "Cheetah (this is again my all time favorite)" Barood and "Chandaal", the must collections in your video library.

Every dialogue by Mithun is memorable and sure all of them are punchlines for the generations to come, I am sure I am not just the only one who is an ardent fan of this ultimate SAGA, you will sure have tears of happiness while watching this movie, and it is the ZENITH for any movie standard.

Happy watching.....

Lord of The Rings Was My Favorite Movie but Then I Watched This Masterpiece

[the_horned_owl · 1/10 · 11 December 2014]

I am a great fan of The lord of the rings trilogy and it is my all time favorite movie. Some of my favorite movies are 12 Angry men, Witness for the Prosecution, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest and Forrest Gump. I came across this movie and I loved it. I loved every single thing about this masterpiece. Now it has replaced The Lord of The Rings as my favorite film. The actors are wonderful, direction is brilliant. What to say about the screenplay and cinematography..It is a rare gem..Why doesn't bollywood produce more movies like this. Mithunda is in the film and plays his role wonderfully. Every character writes poems in their free time . teaches us many things. Gandhiji used to remember Gita and shlokas while brushing his teeth. These guys in the movie work on poems and how to introduce themselves. They do it in their free time (it teaches us how to manage time). This movie also led to the invention of Vitamin S*x. Interstellar helped in astrophysics and this movie helped in Bio medical field. So 10/10 from my side

Excellent movie - awesome story

[myuglylady · 10/10 · 22 August 2006]

Leave the problems of your daily lives behind you. Join this awesome movie and its magical script where Mithun puts one of the best shows on camera.

This ride is full of twists and adventurous. Leave all reasonings behind. Close your eyes (ofcourse keep them opened while watching the movie). Don't ask questions. See what the director wants you to see.. And you'll know why this movie is a 10/10. Mithus is as always the God. Accompanied by equally talented side actors. But hail the script writer.

Awesome is a understatement.

7.3 ????

[WorldMovie99 · 1/10 · 6 November 2020]

This movie deserves to be in the IMDb bottom 100 list. Those who are rating it 10 are really perverts and need serious mental examinations. I mean really what are they trying to point ? Its rating as 7.3 is unjust and are works of some mindless intellectual. The rating is heavily flawed. Its really a horror show. I want to rate it zero but unable. Its important to keep Indian movie mindset at high, not low. So try for that.

Don't see this. You will be grasped by the spirit of dullness and bad mood. All the performers and crew are wasted here. The dialogs are delivered seriously but are funnily meaningless. Anybody who wants to review it write anything you like but atleast be honest in rating it. Somebody said it right about googling its pretentious reviews. The movie is irrational at peak and vulgarity at the pinnacle. Death of logic and lacks story plus characterization. If you want still to see it, sit for first 30 minutes to grasp its content. Then decide. A 9/100.

Awesome!! Watch it to believe it!!

[aayush-shrivastava · 10/10 · 20 March 2006]

Wow!! no words can define this wonderful movie. Its direction, music, acting are perfect to the core. Be it its couplet laced dialogues or creative storyline or the mind-blowing performances by the greatest stalwarts of Bollywood (including Mithun Da)..... it is a movie worth infinite viewing. Every time you see it, you find a new meaning to the dialogues, a new dimension to the portrayal, a new perspective for research. Everyone who has watched the movie has felt an intellectual upliftment. Regarding the story, it revolves around a coolie (played brilliantly by the god Mithun himself) who fights for the sake of his honour. My favourite scene is when the second tier villain in the starting finds the corpse of his raped sister. The scene is so tragic that you will laugh until you have tears in your eyes.... (no hidden meanings n puns intended!!)

Undoubtedly, its the most crafted movie of all times. Kanti Shah and Mithun Da have outdone themselves once more. Enjoi!!

Mildly Entertaining

[opghuniyal · 7/10 · 1 March 2021]

Can be used for narcolepsy, won't let you sleep. Obviosuly my review is short like your..

Awfully stupid

[ariforu · 1/10 · 8 July 2010]

This movie sucks big time. The reviewers that gave good ratings to this movie want you to watch it and then curse your day :-). Though it's a stupid movie, but we ended up watching the full film just to see what more they have. Believe me every scene is worse than the previous one. Every actor(incl Mithun) had delivered their worst in this movie. The dialog writer was alcoholic. The dress designer was probably suffering from hormonal imbalance(come on!!! no normal person could be that idiot). The director of this movie was either out of his mind or purposefully wanted to mess with the viewers. This movie will definitely outperform any 3rd grade movie in the world.

I watched the movie years before I read the reviews but those are surely written by some school/college student using different ids in different times to make the reviews look real.

excellent movie

[ashex_143 · 10/10 · 25 March 2006]

Gunda is a must watch movie It is a movie which epitomizes Indian cinema mithun is like god and he can even kill whole world's population in this movie if they all charge towards him collectively just like the neo of matrix. Dialoges are best and hilarious Bulla is my favourite character in movie and his performance is the best. Mithun's sister is hot and the aerodrum scene is god-like which brings out emotions from heart and soul from the death of a brother.This movie clearly depicts what cinema is all about and it provides with you with sheer entertainment and pleasure and sometime you think that how someone that too from India can make such an unbeatable movie.This movie is greater than the lotr trilogy or the matrix.This movie should have been nominated for Oscars from Indian side and i am pretty sure that its a worthy contender of the appreciation it deserves. All IN All this movie is worth going as the GREATEST MOVIE EVER MADE in the annals of film history.

Gunda - this is what i call a "legend in its own right:"

[abu_salem · 10/10 · 18 April 2006]

wow !! amazing!! Mithunda at his best!! with breathtaking cinematography ( the background undergoes a split second change in a single scene from a shipping yard to an airport to a desert without the actors knowing about it !!) and awesome dialog writing as well as dialog delivery well this is pure Oscar MATERIAL...and well, y should it not be considering that its star cast involves some of the most legendary actors this world has ever produced...hold your breath...SHAKTI KAPOOR HIMSELF and MITHUNDA Of course....the death scenes in this movie are absolutely cool.. ALL IN ALL...A NEVER SEEN BEFORE MOVIE..DON'T MISS IT FOR ANYTHING

best possible montage of B-grade Bollywood cinema

[jain-vijit · 10/10 · 20 March 2006]

This film epitomizes the brand of Movie making that has generated quite a lot of wealth to its makers, particularly from the Eastern Hindi speaking belt of India. Starring the irrepressible Mithun Chakravarty along with a host of well known character actors from the B-grade movies this movie is a riot in the first half but does sag towards the end. The dialogs of the movie are truly memorable. No emotion, no relation is spared the satire. The reason for the movie gaining a cult status in India is the absolute absurdity that reaches heights never quite seen or dreamed of. the cardboard caricatures that any Indian movie goer is readily familiar with are all employed in full force and do full justice to the traditions of Bollywood.

The movie's status in Indian cinema is probably the equivalent of Plan 9 from outer space or show girls in Hollywood.

The Standard

[neeraj-sane · 10/10 · 15 May 2007]

What do I say that hasn't already been said? Just the fact that I feel the urge to do so should give the reader an indication of the sheer power of this movie.

It is a cinematic masterpiece which has reached the annals of Indian cinema through it's anals.

Let it be said at the outset that the true star of this movie is the scriptwriter. The dialogs have to be heard and understood to be believed. Gunda effortlessly picks up every Z-Grade (Not like the security) Hindi movie cliché, adds its own brand of shine and chucks the resulting shitty lump of Goompah square in your face with an ease and aplomb that would win it an Olympic Gold under....well...contrived circumstances.

Evocative stools-inducing dialogue like "Main Roz Husn Ki Peti Khol Ke Hawas Ki Seeti Bajata Hoon" will have you reaching for the nearest bottle of Isabgol (or Himesh CD...depending on your digestive makeup).

If Sooraj Barjatya thinks he has the low-down on why evolution from animals to man wasn't such a good idea....be a monkey's uncle and take a look at the next superlative simian. He/she/it escorts sisters to their suhaag-rape-raats, commiserates with suspiciously wealthy coolies (probably on how the "billa" on their left arm ought to be made of platinum) and also catches airborne babies with ease.

James Bond???? Saving the World? The Hinterland of India and it's warped, twisted imagination saves it for you time and again with such movies. But Baap re Baap.....this has to be the benchmark which all future unmentionable-grade Hindi or English movies will have to better to earn a name in the lexicon of mediocrity.

My rating of 10/10 isn't a frivolity. I mean it from the heart of my bottom. Why wouldn't you want to watch a movie that will forever define its genre?

The Quintessential Cult Classic

[CinemaClown · 9 March 2015]

There are only two kinds of people in the world. Those who have seen Gunda & those who shall! The most epic of all epics, the very pinnacle of quality filmmaking & an unprecedented work of art that will remain in a league of its own for eternity, Gunda is the singular reason why filmmaking camera was invented, why cinema industry was born & why Hindi language came into existence.

Gunda opens on a rousing note by introducing the various antagonists inhabiting this holy picture followed by a gangwar between two leaders of the underworld who keep settling scores until only one triumphs. The story then follows Shankar; a coolie at the airport who inadvertently crosses their path, pays the price for doing so but when they kill his family, he goes on a killing rampage to eliminate all of them.

Directed by Kanti Shah, the movie casts its spell from its opening moments & within the first 10 minutes, you feel like you're witnessing history in the making & as soon as it ends, you know deep inside that you'll never be able to experience something like this ever again. The script is an absolute gem it itself as well for the dialogues spoken throughout this cinema is nothing but pure poetry, both literally & metaphorically.

And then there is this ensemble of a star-studded cast spearheaded by Mithun Chakraborty who attains a God-like status for his work in this movie. The supporting cast comprises of many well-known Bollywood personalities & all of them chip in with fabulous performances which made their characters immortal. Add to that, the themes it deals with plus the various innuendos in its dialogues only make it all the more appealing from an artistic standpoint.

Despite its B-grade production, the meticulous attention Gunda pays to smallest of details on the screen is another reason why it is a lesson in filmmaking. The brilliance can be seen many times in the switching backgrounds, the multi-layered dialogues that always rhyme, its carefully paced & cleverly edited narration, and how well-rounded every single character in the film is. It also deals with various themes like corruption, economy, crime & justice.

On an overall scale, Gunda is Kanti Shah's magnum opus that has inspired a cult following which continues to grow every passing moment. The record holder for the most watched film in boys hostels all over India, Gunda is cinematic perfection in every sense of the word for it covers so many socio-political issues, has more sexual innuendos than all Kubrick films combined & a narration that unfolds like a great poetry. One of the greatest films ever made, the quintessential cult classic comes strongly recommended.

Gunda is the Mother of All Crap Movies.

[hs_jha · 1/10 · 19 October 2008]

I was looking for a rating below 1 but option was not given but assigning 1 vote for gunda is insulting the digit 1.

The movie which has been highly rated here is full of double meaning and coarse slangs.Some had written that it reflects human value , what human value ? It is just down grading the Hindi films which have produced some quality movies like Mother India , Swadesh and lagaan.

The movie's budget is dangerously low and all scenes seems to be taken either at some Chennai Airport or nearby.There is no story ,script and logic at all.I they managed to gather such incompetent movie crew.

It was total wastage of time and money.I curse the day i got the CD.

No doubt the false rating and reviews have been created by spammers.

If you still like to enjoy this third grade Hindi movie , god bless you !

Movie of a lifetime

[sanket_dash · 10/10 · 8 November 2007]

Like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, Gunda is a symbol of Indian culture. Like them, it appeals to all people - from the age of nine to ninety, from the intellectual to the rustic. The movie combines the old Indian tradition of poetic narrative with social satire of Dr. Strangeglove, the drama of ordinary life as portrayed by Satyajit Ray , the spiritual realism of Abbas Kiriastami and the high entertainment quotient of films like Sholay. This movie describes the revenge story of Shankar. It deals with age-old issues of good vs evil. The epic movie takes into its span all issues like cause of woman oppression, heredity vs upbringing etc. This movie talks very subtly about the issues confronting the modern India.The film is full of personifications - Bulla of Khulla fame standing for laissez fare robber capitalism, Kale standing for the dark relationship between police and criminals.Pote standing for the lack of concern for one's parents, chutiya standing for the emasculating forces . Lambu Atta stands for the compulsive lying and boasting . Ibu Hatela stands for the inordinate sexual desires. Mithun Chakravarty , acts as Shankar , the very personification of Lord Shiva, the destroyer, who destroys the evil forces. The last dialog of the film- Tera naam he Bulla , marte marte tera muha raha jaayega khula indicates the fact that when the so-called free economy will collapse, people will know its reality, its shady non-free nature ( the open mouth indicates a peep into its inside as well as transmission of actual news about self).

So silly that its good

[prashant-84050 · 4/10 · 4 November 2017]

For an objective movie goer, this is a nightmare. Dialogues in couplets, crazy names, crazy revenge stories - all of it so so silly that it might make up for the lack of plot and rest of the stuff that makes a movie a movie. After you watch this movie, please please please google 'Pretentious Reviews" of this movie. You would realize what a cult you have witnessed :D

One of the few Indian movies which are different from any other movie in this world. One of the most entertaining I have ever seen!

[monikkhare · 10/10 · 20 April 2006]

This movie stars Mithun, but still is so different from the "Mithun Movies". I quoted that because in "Mithun Movies", its Mithun who has to do everything. Bad people, good people, innocent people, wicked people, each and every one is connected to Mithun and contributes to the script just to create/shape the character that Mithun is playing in the movie. And what happens at the end of such movies is something that the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger aka Terminator, Sylvester Stallon aka Rambo, Sunny Deol aka Sunny Paaji can just dream of. And that is why this movie, Gunda, is so amazing. It doesn't try to focus on any one character, but at the same time makes you pay attention to even the most insignificant character in the movie. Of course, at the end, Mithun changes course of the complete movie, but still the other characters have already done enough to impress the viewers.

People judge movies on many criteria and even the best of movies are lacking in some criteria. But this is one movie which you would rate highly whatever criterion you can think of. To enjoy the movie you don't even need to watch it in one go. Even if you watch the clips, you can enjoy them at the fullest. I wish I could mention dialogues, scenes, characters etc from the movie here in much more detail, but its even better if you watch the movie without knowing any of these. Probably, its going to take a good effort to get a copy of this movie, but if you get it, you are going to have the time of your life watching it!

WORST MOVIE IN THE WORLD

[mohammadsaifali-71808 · 1/10 · 16 July 2020]

Worst movie of Bollywood I please I request you guys don't watch this please it's just vulgarity and vulgarity only

mera naam hai bulla !!!

[prawns_1991 · 10/10 · 7 July 2009]

i was very very fortunate to have come across a movie like this in my lifetime...don't be frightened by the cast.i know there aren't too many famous people, but a movie like this really tests an actor and in my opinion they have all come out with flying colors..there is not one moment in this movie which leaves me unentertained...the villains in this movie beat the likes of gabbar singh by light years and take the word villain to a whole new level except for the fact that there are only 5 members in the deadliest gang ever..

technology is so advance in this futuristic film , that 5 people manage to drive 25 cars and then totally vanish once the cars are parked... the dialogues in this movie cross all borders of awesomeness and the writer is now my idle in life and i will not rest till i am able to meet him...

i love this movie for what it is..as i had a smile in face when it got over..it has the sweetest ending,a breathtaking start and an enthralling story line..

all in all, this movie is 30 years ahead of its time , and even though people don't recognize its importance now, i am sure it will get its due credit in times to come. this is must watch for everyone..