'Gunda' Turns 25: How This Infamous Mithun's Film Earned Cult Status?

'Gunda' is a Hindi action film from 1998, with a screenplay written by Bashir Babbar and directed by Kanti Shah. The movie features a cast including Mithun Chakraborty, Mukesh Rishi, and Shakti Kapoor, with production overseen by Anil Shah and music composed by Anand Raj Anand.

The storyline follows the journey of a coolie who is determined to seek vengeance against a crime lord and his associates following the tragic loss of his loved ones.

The movie has attained a cult status although the actors, on several occasions, claimed that they did not want to be part of the movie.

The Journey Of 'Gunda'
Upon its release on September 4, everyone believed that it was just another film of Mithun Chakraborty. However, the movie drew significant media attention when it was abruptly pulled from screens the very next day after a group of college girls lodged a police complaint, alleging that the film contained overly explicit scenes. It was re-released a few weeks later, with those controversial scenes supposedly muted. However, it went without a trace from theatres.

A few years later, the movie started getting recognised in its unabashed unedited avatar. The film attained the status of 'Sholay' of C-grade cinema which deserved a cult status just like all classics do. Bulla, Pote, Chutiya, Ibu Hatela, Lambu Aata, Kafanchor Neta were not just mere characters - each one of them got a bizarre rhyming introduction in a unique manner.

"Mera naam hai bulla. Rakhta hoon main khulla", "Mera naam hai Pote. Jo apne baap ke bhi nahi hote", "Mera naam hai Ibu hatela. Maa meri chudail ki beti, Baap mera shaitaan ka chelaa. Khayegaa kela" - These dialogues became rage among youths and 'Gunda' finally found its audience.

What really captured the audience's attention in 'Gunda' were the villains and the way they were portrayed. Take the character of the Lucky Chikna, portrayed by the late Razzak Khan. His brothel is depicted as an open space where cots or 'khatiyas' seem to hang freely in the air, with sex workers openly soliciting clients from them. It's surreal and creative at the same time.

Articles popped up in elite Economic Times as to how this obscure movie with a done-to-dust action plot of retributive violence was getting popular by the day. Rest is history.

Over the years, it has become a favourite movie of meme creators and the digital revolution in India has helped the flick to become a hit flick on YouTube. Yes, the movie has garnered over 50 million views.

On September 4, the movie turned 25 and remains one of cult classic film.