Gangster (2014 film)

Gangster

Theatrical poster
Directed by Aashiq Abu
Produced by OPo
Written by Ahmed Sidhique
Abhilash Kumar
Starring Mammootty
Nyla Usha
Aparna Gopinath
T. G. Ravi
Sekhar Menon
Kunchan
Alexx O'Nell
Hareesh Peradi
Dileesh Pothan
Music by Deepak Dev
Cinematography Alby
Edited by Saiju Sreedharan
Distributed by Aan Mega Media (India)
Singapore Coliseum (Singapore)
Release dates
  • 11 April 2014
Country India
Language Malayalam
Budget INR9 crore (US$1.4 million)[1]

Gangster is a Malayalam gangster film directed by Aashiq Abu.[2] Mammootty plays the lead role as Akbar Ali Khan,[3] along with Nyla Usha[4] and Aparna Gopinath[5] as the female leads. The movie also features John Paul, T. G. Ravi, Sekhar Menon, Kunchan, Alexx O'Nell, Hareesh Peradi and Dileesh Pothan in supporting roles. The movie was written by Ahmed Sidhique and Abhilash Kumar, with music by Deepak Dev and cinematography by Alby. The film is produced by OPM and distributed by Aan Mega Media. In an online poll, Gangster was voted as the most awaited Malayalam film of the year.[6] The film released on 11 April 2014 with the date being adjusted due to national elections.[7][8]

Cast

Casting

The film was expected to have Fahadh Faasil[10] and Meera Jasmine[11] or Rima Kallingal[12] to play major roles with Mammootty, along with rumors that Tamil actors Vijay or Ajith will feature in cameo roles.[13][14] Later, these reports proved to be untrue, as Abhilash S Kumar, the scriptwriter of the film, clarified that "[Gangster] is a simple movie with a very simple story line. These rumors are baseless and we will surely divulge the details of the movies in the right time."[15][16][17][18]

Later, Nyla Usha was cast to play the female lead opposite Mammootty, yet again after Kunjananthante Kada.[4] Also, Aparna Gopinath of ABCD fame was roped in to play another female lead.[5] Mammootty lost 10 kg. to play the role of Akbar Ali Khan in the film.[3] The film also features John Paul,[19] T. G. Ravi, Sekhar Menon, Kunchan, Hareesh Peradi, Dileesh Pothan and Alexx O'Nell in supporting roles.[2]

Production and release

Gangster was scheduled to be shot after the completion of Aashiq Abu's Salt N' Pepper,[20] but was postponed several times[21] to finally start shooting from 15 December 2013.[22] The movie completed shooting in 50 days in the locations of Kochi, Mangalore, Goa, and Rajasthan,[23] at a budget of INR8 crore (US$1.3 million).[1]

The film was released on 11 April as a Vishu release.[24]

Reception

Critical reception

The film received negative reviews from critics,[8][25] criticising the script which was described as "poor" and "unimpressive",[8] with positive comments about the background score and cinematography.[8]

Veeyen of Nowrunning.com rated the film 2 out of 5 and said, "The even sag that painfully persists throughout, the mindless gunshots and blood splatter and the sodden predictability together blow up this film beyond recognition. And no amount of crashing and crunching can salvage an entertainer from the massive debris that it leaves behind.""[26] Raj Vikram of Metromatinee.com said, "Gangster proves to be a half baked, shoddily made and unimaginative film. Without a speck of novelty it ends up as a routine revenge drama devoid of thrills. Painfully paced and lacking in an engaging plot the film huffs and puffs into a disappointing end".[27]

Padmakumar of Malayala Manorama rated the film 1.5 out of 5 and concluded his review saying, "With all its thunderous background score, dramatic slow motions, white-skinned cons, wowing locations, flamboyant frames and sleek cars, the film never fails from disappointing you to the core."[28] Tony Mathew, also from Malayala Manorama, gave the movie a negative review and said that "Gangster is a disaster".[29]

Ajin Krishna of Oneindia.in said, "The movie Gangster works only for its different style, performances, music, visuals and the engaging climax sequences. Rest is pretty much average."[30] Sify.com's reviewer said, "Gangster is perhaps an act of impudence, with scant regard for the time and money of the viewer. It's not easy to sit through this boring film even for a hardcore Mammootty fan."[31]

Box office

After a strong opening day, the response from critics and social media resulted in a very high steep drop in box office collections. [32] Sify stated their overview as, the film was torn to shreds by the critics and slammed in the social media and could not attract the youth or family audiences.[32]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Mr Fraud Costs Rs 7 Crores, Gangster Rs 8 Crores". OneIndia. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Gangster (2014)". NowRunning. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Mammootty Loses Weight for Gangster". IndiaGlitz. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Nyla Usha again with Mammootty". NowRunning. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Aparna Gopinath in 'Gangster'". NowRunning. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  6. ↑ "The Gangster – The Most Awaited Movie For 2014". OneIndia. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Vishu – Easter line up!". Sify. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Sangeetha Seshagiri (13 April 2014). "'Gangster' Review Roundup: Disappointing Fare, Avoid It". International Business Times. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "നായകന്റെ പേര് അക്ബര്‍ ശശി ഖാന്‍ എന്നല്ല". Manorama online. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Fahad with Mammootty in Ashiq Abu's 'Gangster'". NowRunning. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  11. ↑ "Meera Jasmine to join Mammootty and Fahad". NowRunning. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Rima replaced Meera in Mammootty's Gangster?". OneIndia. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "Vijay to shake a leg in Mammootty’s next?". The Times of India. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  14. ↑ "Ajith in Mammooty’s movie?". The Times of India. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  15. ↑ "മമ്മൂട്ടിയുടെ ഗ്യാങ്സ്റ്ററില്‍ നിന്ന് ഫഹദ് ഔട്ട്". OneIndia. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Meera Jasmine not in `Gangster'". The Times of India. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  17. ↑ "The Gangster has neither Rima nor Meera!". OneIndia. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  18. ↑ "No Ajith or Vijay in 'Gangster'". Sify. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  19. ↑ "John Paul in Gangster". IndiaGlitz. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "Mammootty – Aashiq Abu's 'Gangster' to start soon". NowRunning. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  21. ↑ "'Gangster' again postponed". NowRunning. 3 November 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  22. ↑ "The Gangster to start soon". NowRunning. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  23. ↑ "'Gangster' shooting completed". NowRunning. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  24. ↑ "'Mammootty's Gangster Releasing Today!'". oneindia. 11 April 2013.
  25. ↑ "ഫെയ്‌സ്ബുക്കിലെ തെറിവിളി റിസ്‌കില്ലാത്ത തൊഴിലെന്ന് ഗാങ്സ്റ്റര്‍ തിരക്കഥാകൃത്ത്". DC Books. 13 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  26. ↑ "Gangster Movie Review by Veeyen". Nowrunning.com. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  27. ↑ "Gangster Movie Review'". Metromatinee.com. 11 April 2013.
  28. ↑ "Gangster: A comic relief for gangsters". Manorama online. 11 April 2013.
  29. ↑ "ഗാംഗ്സ്റ്റര്‍ എന്ന ഡിസാസ്റ്റര്‍'". Manorama online. 11 April 2013.
  30. ↑ "Gangster Movie Review – Another Experiment From Aashiq Abu". Oneindia.in. 11 April 2013.
  31. ↑ "Movie Review: Gangster". Sify.com. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Kerala Box-Office: April - Vishu /Easter". Sify. May 5, 2014.

External links