China Gate (1998 film)

China Gate
Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi
Produced by Rajkumar Santoshi
Starring Samir Soni
Om Puri
Amrish Puri
Naseeruddin Shah
Danny Denzongpa
Mamta Kulkarni
Gaurav Purohit
Kulbhushan Kharbanda
Paresh Rawal
Tinu Anand
Music by Vanraj Bhatia
Anu Malik
Cinematography Piyush Shah
Edited by V.N. Mayekar
Release dates
November 27, 1998
Country India
Language Hindi

China Gate is a 1998 Bollywood film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. It is a "humble tribute to the late Akira Kurosawa", crediting Seven Samurai (1954) as its inspiration and starred Samir Soni in his film debut. It was partly influenced by Ramesh Sippy's Sholay (1975).[1]

The film is famous for the song "Chamma Chamma", sung by Alka Yagnik, composed by Anu Malik, and featuring Urmila Matondkar dancing to it. The song was subsequently used in Baz Luhrmann's Hollywood musical film, Moulin Rouge! (2001). The role played by Mukesh Tiwari as cruel Jageera was well appreciated.

Plot

The story begins with Col. Krishnakant and his ten men who were sacked from the Indian army as they failed in the China Gate mission. After witnessing the brutal slaying of her Forest Officer father, Sunder Rajan, at the hands of dreaded dacoit Jageera, Sandhya goes to Col. and asks for his assistance in bringing an end to Jageera's rule in the Devdurg region. Krishnakant agrees to assist her and summons ten of his fellow officers and subordinates to assist him in this mission. They assemble at Devdurg with the necessary ammunitions and arms to combat Jageera, not realizing that Jageera has influence over the local police detachment, who will prevent Krishnakant and his men to possess any guns and weapons. This does not deter the men, and they continue to stay on in Devdurg and gain the confidence of the villagers. What the villagers do not know that Krishnakant and his men had all been dishonorably discharged from the army for cowardice and retreating when attacked by the enemy.

Cast

Box office

The film was received moderately by critics and people. In terms of collections, China Gate was declared an average grosser at the box office. However, it did a good business in Rajasthan.

References

  1. Grossman, Andrew (February 2001), "Film Reviews: China Gate", Scope - An Online Journal of Film and Television Studies, retrieved 2009-05-31

External links