Bandit Queen - 1994

The thrilling biopic Bandit Queen, written by Mala Sen and directed by Shekhar Kapur, explores the turbulent life of Phoolan Devi, a legendary character in Indian history. Based on Mala Sen's book India's Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi, this motion picture takes audiences on an exciting trip through Devi's incredible life, which is characterised by her transformation from a persecuted person to a dreaded bandit queen. Bandit Queen delivers an uncompromising picture of Devi's difficulties, tenacity, and ultimate change while seamlessly fusing aspects of action and adventure. With outstanding performances from Seema Biswas and Nirmal Pandey, the film Bandit Queen brilliantly captures Phoolan Devi's unwavering spirit.

Table of Content

• Details
• Plot
• Release
• Reviews
• Casting
• Crew
• Character Analysis
• Songs
• Controversy
• Box Office Collection
• Awards
• Interesting Facts
• How to Book a Personalised Celebrity Message from a Tring?

Details

Plot

The summer of 1968 starts the movie in a tiny Uttar Pradeshi hamlet. Puttilal, a guy in his twenties, is the husband of Phoolan. Even though child weddings were common at the period, Phoolan's mother Moola is against the match's date. In keeping with his tradition, Phoolan's elderly father Devideen unhappily disagrees, and Puttilal is sent out with Phoolan.

The caste system and other forms of sexual and economic exploitation are practised against Phoolan. Phoolan finally flees and comes home because Puttilal is physically and sexually abusive. Phoolan has incidences of groping and fondling from the Thakur males as she gets older. The panchayat uses its patriarchal power to expel Phoolan from the hamlet at the following town meeting because she refuses to submit to the sexual advances of the men from the higher castes, who treat her like a piece of property. Phoolan therefore resides with her cousin Kailash. She comes into a group of dakus from the Babu Gujjar gang, commanded by Vikram Mallah Mastana, while travelling to another hamlet. Phoolan initially stays with Kailash, but she is ultimately forced to leave. Phoolan, frustrated and despondent, goes to the neighbourhood police to ask to have her ban revoked. However, the police beat, harass, and imprison her, and while she is in detention, they rape her. The Thakurs secured her freedom by posting bail. She is unaware that the bail is a bribe, and Babu Gujjar shows up to get his reward.

Phoolan was kidnapped by Babu Gujjar in May 1979. Gujjar is a powerfully built guy who also doubles as a vicious, predatory mercenary. Despite his sympathies for Phoolan, Gujjar's lieutenant Vikram continues to brutalise and degrade her till one day Vikram witnesses him raping her and kills him in the head. After taking over the gang, Vikram develops a mutually respected mature adult relationship with Phoolan out of his initial empathy. Everything is fine up till Thakur Shri Ram gets let out of jail. The actual gang boss is Thakur Shri Ram. While Vikram welcomes Shri Ram back to his group with respect, Shri Ram resents Vikram's egalitarian leadership style and covets Phoolan. Around this time, Phoolan returns to her ex-husband Puttilal; with Vikram's assistance, she kidnaps him and beats him to seek revenge for his rape and cruelty. She talks to Vikram about her resolution. 

Shri Ram kidnaps Phoolan and brings her to the hamlet of Behmai in August 1980 while planning the murder of Vikram. Shri Ram and the other gang members continuously rape and beat Phoolan as retaliation for her disrespect for his earlier approaches and for having the courage to treat them on an equal footing. She is stripped nude, paraded through Behmai, beaten, and then given the startling and distressing ultimate humiliation and punishment of being made to get water from the well.

Phoolan, who has experienced significant trauma, visits her cousin Kailash. As she progressively gets better, she goes in search of Man Singh, an old acquaintance of Vikram Mallah. She is brought by Man Singh to another sizable gang headed by Baba Mustakim. She tells Baba about her past and begs him for some guys and guns so they may start a gang. Baba Mustakim concurs, and Man Singh and Phoolan take over as the new gang's commanders. With bravery, kindness, compassion, humility, and cunning, Phoolan is the leader of her new group. Her collection and reputation both expand. She becomes renowned as the bandit queen Phoolan Devi. She learns about a sizable wedding that Thakur Shri Ram will be attending in Behmai in February 1981 from Baba Mustakim. Baba Mustakim cautions Phoolan to maintain her low profile when she leaves. Attacking the wedding party and exacting retribution on the whole Thakur clan of Behmai is Phoolan and her gang. The men are rounded up and beaten. Finally, many of the guys are shot. She is brought to the notice of the federal law enforcement agencies by this act of retaliation. Thakur Shri Ram appreciates the chance to assist the senior police authorities as they launch a big manhunt for Phoolan.

In Phoolan's group, the manhunt has taken a heavy toll. They are finally compelled to remain unfed and unhydrated while hiding out in Chambal's rocky ravines. Phoolan weighs her choices before deciding to give up. Her demands include protection for and provision for her surviving mates. Phoolan's surrender in February 1983 marks the conclusion of the movie. According to the end credits, she was released in 1994 after all allegations against her were dropped.

Release

Bandit Queen grabbed viewers when it was released on January 26, 1994, marking a key milestone in Indian film. This much-anticipated movie, which was based on a book by Mala Sen and was directed by Shekhar Kapur, took the country by storm with its gripping story and strong acting. The release date is important because it happened on a day when the whole country praised growth and unity. People rushed to theatres to see Bandit Queen, which showed Phoolan Devi's life in a raw, unedited way. This made Bandit Queen a defining moment in the history of Indian film.

Reviews

In Bandit Queen, the life of Phoolan Devi, a woman who went against social rules and became a figure of resistance in India, is shown in a compelling and honest way. The movie takes us on a rough ride. It starts in a small village in Uttar Pradesh in the summer of 1968, where Seema Biswas plays Phoolan, whose life is full of sexual and economic abuse. As she faces abuse and discrimination, her strength is tried, and she ends up joining a group of criminals led by Nirmal Pandey as Vikram Mallah Mastana. The movie doesn't shy away from the harsh facts of caste abuse, the power differences between men and women, and the strong will of a woman who wants justice.

The story of Bandit Queen is powerful and full of strong feelings. It shows how hard life was for Phoolan Devi. The movie shows how a young woman goes from being weak and helpless to becoming a strong leader because she wants revenge. Seema Biswas gives a strong and detailed performance. She shows how complicated Phoolan's character is in a way that feels real. The story covers themes of injustice, resilience, and the search for justice in a way that keeps the audience's attention and makes them care about Phoolan's trip.

Bandit Queen is a gripping and thought-provoking movie because of how well director Shekhar Kapur tells the story and how well the actors play their parts. The raw and honest way the movie shows Phoolan's problems and victories is a powerful reminder of how strong the human spirit is. It shows how marginalised groups are treated unfairly by the system as a whole. It also questions social rules by looking at gender-based violence and caste discrimination in a straight-forward way. Bandit Queen is a strong biopic that will stay with you because it shows Phoolan Devi's unbreakable spirit and her fight against injustice. It shows how strong the human will is and how brave it is to go against what society says is right. Bandit Queen has a great story, great acting, and themes that make you think. It is an important addition to Indian film and deserves the praise and attention it has received.

Casting

• Seema Biswas as Phoolan Devi - Seema Biswas is an actress who has worked in Bollywood as well as theatres. She gained popularity through movies like Bandit Queen, Khamoshi: The Musical, Bhoot, Vivah, and Half Girlfriend.
• Nirmal Pandey as Vikram Mallah - Actor Nirmal Pandey is most remembered for his roles in the films Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Bandit Queen, and Auzaar.
• Aditya Srivastava as Puttilal - Black Friday, Haseen Dillruba, and C.I.D. are some of the films in which Aditya Srivastav has acted. Since 1985, he has been married to his wife, Manasi Verma. They are the parents of four children.
• Raghuvir Yadav as Madho - Raghubir Yadav is a multi-talented artist who works in the Hindi cinema industry as an actor, music composer, vocalist, and set designer. Panchayat, Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India, and Dil Se are some of the films that he is famous for.
• Rajesh Vivek as Baba Mustakim - Rajesh Vivek was an actor best known for his work in bollywood movies and shows like  Lagaan, Swades, Mahabharat, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Bunty Aur Babli.
• Gajraj Rao as Ashok Chand Thakur - Gajraj Rao is an Renowned actor who mostly worked in Indian cinemas and Web Shows like Bandit Queen, Dil Se.. , Black Friday,  Bhoothnath Returns, Talvar, Badhaai Ho, Bang Baaja Baaraat and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. 
• Saurabh Shukla as Kailash - Actor, screenwriter, and director Saurabh Shukla has won national awards for his efforts in Hindi and a few Tamil and Telugu films. His performances in Satya, Nayak: The Real Hero, Yuva, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, Barfi!, Jolly LLB, Kick, PK, Jolly LLB 2 and Raid made him well known.
• Manoj Bajpayee as Maan Singh - Manoj Bajpayee debuted on the acting scene. He also played a dacoit in Bandit Queen that same year in a minor role.  Bajpayee's extensive filmography includes both mainstream and indie films. From his filmography, a number of noteworthy films include  Satya, Shool, Pinjar, Special 26, Aligarh, and Sonchiriya. The actor starred in The Family Man, a well-known online series. His other notable works include Shootout at Wadala, Raajneeti, LOC: Kargil and Gangs of Wasseypur.
• Govind Namdev as Thakur Shri Ram - Satya, Johnny Gaddaar, and Sarfarosh are some of Govind Namdeo's most well-known movies. He has been wed to Sudha Namdev for many years.

Crew

• Director - Shekhar Kapur
• Writer - Mala Sen
• Producer - Bobby Bedi
• Musician - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
• Cinematographer - Ashok Mehta
• Editor - Renu Saluja
• Art Direction - Ashok Bhagat
• Additional Crew - Mike Higgins, Pauline Hume, Kannan Iyer

Character Analysis

Seema Biswas as Phoolan Devi

The protagonist of the narrative, Phoolan Devi, is represented by Seema Biswas. She begins as a young woman married to Puttilal in the summer of 1968 in a small Uttar Pradeshi village. She encounters difficulty right away as a result of the current caste system and various types of exploitation. Phoolan displays fortitude and bravery while suffering abuse and torture, refusing to accept her fate as a simple object to be manipulated by others. Phoolan's character develops and changes significantly over the story. She struggles with physical and sexual abuse in her marriage to Puttilal as well as harassment and exploitation from men of higher castes outside of her house. Phoolan is shunned by the patriarchal panchayat for turning down their approaches, but she's still determined to stand up for her independence and dignity.

Nirmal Pandey as Vikram Mallah

Nirmal Pandey plays the role of Vikram Mallah, a pivotal supporting figure in the narrative. At first, Vikram is a member of the Babu Gujjar gang, which is run by Babu Gujjar. Despite the gang's brutality, he expresses sympathy for Phoolan. Phoolan is being raped by Babu Gujjar until Vikram steps in, kills him, and seizes control. Vikram goes through his own character growth as the new leader. He establishes a mature, mutually respecting connection with Phoolan, displaying his aptitude for understanding and sympathy. Vikram, in contrast to the past leaders, respects Phoolan as a person instead of an object, treating her as an equal.

Songs

Controversy

Despite her portrayal as a heroic figure, Phoolan Devi battled hard to get the film banned in India because she believed it to be inaccurate. She went so far as to say she would set herself on fire in front of a movie theatre if the film wasn't pulled. After being offered 40,000 by the show's producers, she dropped her reservations. In her review of Shekhar Kapur's film, The Great Indian Rape Trick, author and activist Arundhati Roy questions whether or not it is appropriate to restage the rape of a living woman without her permission. Roy also accuses Kapur of distorting Phoolan Devi's life and its significance.

Box Office Collection

The film made 206.7 million in India. The movie made a lot of money in North America. The worldwide total for the film's earnings is close to 221 million.

Awards

Interesting Facts

• The explicit sex and violence scenes in this book led to its prohibition by the Indian government. It also angered Phoolan Devi, who took offence at not having received an invitation to attend the movie about her. It was inaccurate, according to Devi, who claimed it.
• Manoj Bajpai desired to take on the role of Nirmal Pandey. Manoj was confident Shekhar Kapur would choose Nirmal when he visited the theatre to scout potential actors for the movie.
• Sanjay Khan had previously stated his intention to produce a biopic on Phoolan Devi. This happened in 1981.
• As there was a lot of obscenity in the movie and women would not feel comfortable viewing it with males, Chandan cinema in Mumbai set up special afternoon shows for women for a week.
• To prepare for his part, Manoj Bajpai would go with former dacoit Maan Singh.Maan Singh constantly scans the sides of the road as he travels to make sure that none of his previous enemies are planning to ambush him.

The film illuminates both the incredible resilience of people who resist social standards and the hard reality that marginalised groups in India must contend with through its stunning storytelling. Bandit Queen is a monument to the strength of resiliency and the quest of justice thanks to its raw intensity, thought-provoking story, and dramatic representation of Devi's life. This biography is still essential viewing for anybody who enjoys suspenseful films or wants to learn more about the intricacies of the human condition.

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