Kaante
Encyclopedia
Kaante is a 2002 Bollywood
action film
directed by Sanjay Gupta
and starring Amitabh Bachchan
, Sanjay Dutt
, Sunil Shetty, Mahesh Manjrekar
, Lucky Ali
, Kumar Gaurav
, Namrata Singh Gujral
, Rati Agnihotri
, Malaika Arora and Isha Koppikar in the lead roles. The film's plot is based on Quentin Tarantino
's film Reservoir Dogs
. However, Tarantino has been quoted as saying that Kaante is his favourite among the many rip-offs of his film.
, as Mak. The six main characters are detained by the LAPD
, and interrogated about stealing a truck full of laptops and its whereabouts. All six are detained for about a day, where their deep antipathy towards the police department, for arresting them without any apparent evidence against all of them, and just because the witnesses had seen a South Asian at work, grows into a daring plot. Sparked by "Major" and blown up by "Ajju", who asks them to meet him in his club, they all hatch a plan to rob the bank in which lie the fundings for the LAPD. In return, Ajju reveals that he was the truck stealer and splits the money with all. Everyone goes about their normal life after that, in which it is revealed the personal troubles all face. Marc is a bouncer who hates the way his love of life, a club-dancer, has to live and decides to rescue her from the club owner Cyrus, by paying him the required money.
Ajju is a club owner who is facing his own problems handling the club and has to lease it over. He also has an ongoing spat with Marc about his girlfriend. Major has a sick wife who he has to look after by supplying her with medicines and injections. Andy is a young, intelligent, software engineer who is having divorce and custody troubles, as his wife won't let him meet their child. He also has troubles with his job. Major knows that Andy is the most important member of the group as he is the only one who can hack out the bank system. Mak and Bali are two drug-peddlers who live off the street selling and buying illicit drugs under a drug lord. They meet when Bali is being chased by some undercover policemen and meets Mak in alley where he is adjusting something in his car. He agrees to save him only if he splits his loot. They agree to work on this method from that time on.
They meet on a hotel roof-top where they construct their plan and arrange for arms, ammunition, vehicles and gadgets. They do some reconnaissance around the bank and two days before the robbery, Major calls up everyone to surprise them that the robbery was to take place the next day. Their arrangement on the rooftop, makes for some hilarious scenes. Once they meet a grenade-supplier who is a Kashmiri. He reveals that he is the one who supplies bombs and ammunition that burns Kashmir. On hearing this, Marc and Andy throw him off the hotel roof off which he dies. On the day of the robbery, they meet unexpected visitors in a SWAT team waiting for them outside the bank. They are engaged in gunfight on which, Mak is hit by a bullet off saving Major. They all escape and meet at their hideout. They realize that someone might have informed police and realize that the police might reach their hideout as well. Mak, who was hit, is not allowed to be taken to the hospital, and Major treats his wound with some alcohol. They all have verbal scuffle after which, Ajju, reveals he had kidnapped the Police Chief. They interrogate him and get to know that one among them, was an undercover cop. This strikes terror among them and they all decide to bring the whole stolen amount to their hideout. On the process, they meet a number of surprises. Major finds out that his wife had died. Ajju befriends Marc and tells him to elope with his girlfriend. Marc finds out that Ajju was feigning his inability to speak English. When they return, they find Bali dead, killed by Mak because Bali was being inhuman in his interrogation of the Police Chief. Ajju realizes Mak to be the informer. Major defends Mak because he saved him during the gunfight at the bank. They all arrive at a Mexican stand-off, with Andy as the viewer. He retreats and runs away with the bags. They all kill each other, during which Major apologizes to Mak, for not saving him. In reply, Mak apologizes saying he was just doing his duty. Major realizes his mistake and shoots the already dying Mak in the head. Marc's girlfriend is shown waiting for him at the airport and Andy is shown at the end driving off the highway pursued by a Police helicopter. It is ascertained that he also died as all of them are, narrated by Mak, to have met in hell.
, Sanjay Dutt
, Sunil Shetty, Akshaye Khanna
, Mahesh Manjrekar
, Kumar Gaurav
, Shilpa Shetty
and Lisa Ray
initially. Akshaye Khanna
opted out of the project subsequently and was replaced by Lucky Ali
, while Malaika Arora stepped in Lisa Ray
's shoes and Namrata Singh Gujral
was cast opposite Kumar Gaurav
in lieu of Shilpa Shetty.
The character of Renu Mathur (played by Namrata Singh Gujral
) was the only role cast in Hollywood from the entire principal cast. All other principals including Amitabh Bachchan
were flown in from Mumbai for the Hollywood shoot.
The film was the first Bollywood film to be completely shot in Los Angeles
. The film's production team used Hollywood technicians. The filming was completed in 31 days. Rohit Roy
(from Shootout at Lokhandwala
and a popular television actor) makes an appearance in the song "Ishq Samandar".
, Anand Raj Anand
and Vishal-Shekhar
. Lyrics are penned by Dev Kohli, Lucky Ali
and Vishal Dadlani.
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
directed by Sanjay Gupta
Sanjay Gupta (Director)
Sanjay Gupta is a Bollywood writer-director known for his dark thrillersSanjay Gupta comes from an affluent business family of South Mumbai. He completed his studies at Palm Beach School at Napean Sea Road and Sydenham College at Churchgate in Mumbai. He has frequently worked with Sanjay Dutt. The...
and starring Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
, Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt is an Indian Hindi film actor and politician. Dutt, son of Hindi film actors Sunil and Nargis Dutt, made his acting debut in 1981.-Personal life:...
, Sunil Shetty, Mahesh Manjrekar
Mahesh Manjrekar
Mahesh Manjrekar is an Indian director, actor, writer and producer. He is credited with directing the critically acclaimed films Vaastav: The Reality , Astitva and Viruddh... Family Comes First . He has won a National Film Award and two Star Screen Awards...
, Lucky Ali
Lucky Ali
Lucky Ali , born as Maqsood Mehmood Ali , is an Indian singer songwriter, composer and actor. Lucky is best known for his soulful but strikingly simple ballad-style singing and melodious voice.-Biography:...
, Kumar Gaurav
Kumar Gaurav
Kumar Gaurav is an Indian film actor and son of late actor Rajendra Kumar.-Career:He made his film debut with Love Story produced by his father and directed by Rahul Rawail which was a blockbuster. Many youngsters began to emulate him...
, Namrata Singh Gujral
Namrata Singh Gujral
Namrata Singh Gujral born 26 February 1976 is an American actress.She is of Sikh faith and Indian as well as Tibetan descent. She was born in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh and is a 1998 graduate from the University of West Florida.-Roles:...
, Rati Agnihotri
Rati Agnihotri
Rati Agnihotri is a veteran Indian actress. Her portfolio mainly includes films in Hindi-Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. She was born to a Sikh family.-Film career:...
, Malaika Arora and Isha Koppikar in the lead roles. The film's plot is based on Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Jerome Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and actor. In the early 1990s, he began his career as an independent filmmaker with films employing nonlinear storylines and the aestheticization of violence...
's film Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs is an American crime film marking debut of director and writer Quentin Tarantino. It depicts the events before and after a botched diamond heist, but not the heist itself. Reservoir Dogs stars an ensemble cast: Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, and...
. However, Tarantino has been quoted as saying that Kaante is his favourite among the many rip-offs of his film.
Plot
The movie is narrated by Lucky AliLucky Ali
Lucky Ali , born as Maqsood Mehmood Ali , is an Indian singer songwriter, composer and actor. Lucky is best known for his soulful but strikingly simple ballad-style singing and melodious voice.-Biography:...
, as Mak. The six main characters are detained by the LAPD
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
, and interrogated about stealing a truck full of laptops and its whereabouts. All six are detained for about a day, where their deep antipathy towards the police department, for arresting them without any apparent evidence against all of them, and just because the witnesses had seen a South Asian at work, grows into a daring plot. Sparked by "Major" and blown up by "Ajju", who asks them to meet him in his club, they all hatch a plan to rob the bank in which lie the fundings for the LAPD. In return, Ajju reveals that he was the truck stealer and splits the money with all. Everyone goes about their normal life after that, in which it is revealed the personal troubles all face. Marc is a bouncer who hates the way his love of life, a club-dancer, has to live and decides to rescue her from the club owner Cyrus, by paying him the required money.
Ajju is a club owner who is facing his own problems handling the club and has to lease it over. He also has an ongoing spat with Marc about his girlfriend. Major has a sick wife who he has to look after by supplying her with medicines and injections. Andy is a young, intelligent, software engineer who is having divorce and custody troubles, as his wife won't let him meet their child. He also has troubles with his job. Major knows that Andy is the most important member of the group as he is the only one who can hack out the bank system. Mak and Bali are two drug-peddlers who live off the street selling and buying illicit drugs under a drug lord. They meet when Bali is being chased by some undercover policemen and meets Mak in alley where he is adjusting something in his car. He agrees to save him only if he splits his loot. They agree to work on this method from that time on.
They meet on a hotel roof-top where they construct their plan and arrange for arms, ammunition, vehicles and gadgets. They do some reconnaissance around the bank and two days before the robbery, Major calls up everyone to surprise them that the robbery was to take place the next day. Their arrangement on the rooftop, makes for some hilarious scenes. Once they meet a grenade-supplier who is a Kashmiri. He reveals that he is the one who supplies bombs and ammunition that burns Kashmir. On hearing this, Marc and Andy throw him off the hotel roof off which he dies. On the day of the robbery, they meet unexpected visitors in a SWAT team waiting for them outside the bank. They are engaged in gunfight on which, Mak is hit by a bullet off saving Major. They all escape and meet at their hideout. They realize that someone might have informed police and realize that the police might reach their hideout as well. Mak, who was hit, is not allowed to be taken to the hospital, and Major treats his wound with some alcohol. They all have verbal scuffle after which, Ajju, reveals he had kidnapped the Police Chief. They interrogate him and get to know that one among them, was an undercover cop. This strikes terror among them and they all decide to bring the whole stolen amount to their hideout. On the process, they meet a number of surprises. Major finds out that his wife had died. Ajju befriends Marc and tells him to elope with his girlfriend. Marc finds out that Ajju was feigning his inability to speak English. When they return, they find Bali dead, killed by Mak because Bali was being inhuman in his interrogation of the Police Chief. Ajju realizes Mak to be the informer. Major defends Mak because he saved him during the gunfight at the bank. They all arrive at a Mexican stand-off, with Andy as the viewer. He retreats and runs away with the bags. They all kill each other, during which Major apologizes to Mak, for not saving him. In reply, Mak apologizes saying he was just doing his duty. Major realizes his mistake and shoots the already dying Mak in the head. Marc's girlfriend is shown waiting for him at the airport and Andy is shown at the end driving off the highway pursued by a Police helicopter. It is ascertained that he also died as all of them are, narrated by Mak, to have met in hell.
Cast
- Amitabh BachchanAmitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
as Yashvardhan Rampal 'Major' - Sanjay DuttSanjay DuttSanjay Dutt is an Indian Hindi film actor and politician. Dutt, son of Hindi film actors Sunil and Nargis Dutt, made his acting debut in 1981.-Personal life:...
as Jay Rehan 'Ajju' - Suniel ShettySuniel ShettySunil Shetty is an Indian film actor, producer, hotelier and liquor and fashion boutique owner. He is mainly active in Bollywood.-Career:Shetty made his acting debut in the 1992.His film Balwaan which was a moderate success. He gave 2 hit films in 1993 Pehchaan and Waqt Hamara Hai. His first...
as Marc Issak - Mahesh ManjrekarMahesh ManjrekarMahesh Manjrekar is an Indian director, actor, writer and producer. He is credited with directing the critically acclaimed films Vaastav: The Reality , Astitva and Viruddh... Family Comes First . He has won a National Film Award and two Star Screen Awards...
as Raj Yadav 'Baali' - Lucky AliLucky AliLucky Ali , born as Maqsood Mehmood Ali , is an Indian singer songwriter, composer and actor. Lucky is best known for his soulful but strikingly simple ballad-style singing and melodious voice.-Biography:...
as Maqbool Haider 'Mak' - Kumar GauravKumar GauravKumar Gaurav is an Indian film actor and son of late actor Rajendra Kumar.-Career:He made his film debut with Love Story produced by his father and directed by Rahul Rawail which was a blockbuster. Many youngsters began to emulate him...
as Anand Mathur 'Andy' - Malaika Arora as Lisa
- Ranjit Choudhary as McQuarrie's partner
- Sanjay Sippy as Mr. Adler
- Rati AgnihotriRati AgnihotriRati Agnihotri is a veteran Indian actress. Her portfolio mainly includes films in Hindi-Urdu, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. She was born to a Sikh family.-Film career:...
as Major's wife - Aslam Khan as Pathan
- Gulshan GroverGulshan GroverGulshan Grover is an Indian actor, who has acted in over 400 films through a career spanning over 30 years.Gulshan Grover is one of the first Indian actors to have made a successful transition from Bollywood into Hollywood and international Cinema....
as Cyrus - Jeff DavisJeff Davis- People :*Jeff B. Davis , American actor, comedian and singer*Jeff Davis , professional NFL football player, member of Clemson's 1981 national championship team...
as Det. MacQuarrie - Eesha Koppikhar in a Special Appearance in song, "Ishq Samundar"
Production
The film was to star Amitabh BachchanAmitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
, Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt is an Indian Hindi film actor and politician. Dutt, son of Hindi film actors Sunil and Nargis Dutt, made his acting debut in 1981.-Personal life:...
, Sunil Shetty, Akshaye Khanna
Akshaye Khanna
Akshaye Khanna is a critically acclaimed Indian film actor who works in Hindi cinema. Known for his impeccable acting talent and flawless diction, Khanna has worked with the best names in Indian cinema.- Background :...
, Mahesh Manjrekar
Mahesh Manjrekar
Mahesh Manjrekar is an Indian director, actor, writer and producer. He is credited with directing the critically acclaimed films Vaastav: The Reality , Astitva and Viruddh... Family Comes First . He has won a National Film Award and two Star Screen Awards...
, Kumar Gaurav
Kumar Gaurav
Kumar Gaurav is an Indian film actor and son of late actor Rajendra Kumar.-Career:He made his film debut with Love Story produced by his father and directed by Rahul Rawail which was a blockbuster. Many youngsters began to emulate him...
, Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty is an Indian film actress and model. Since making her debut in the film Baazigar , she has appeared in nearly 40 Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films, her first leading role being in the 1994 Aag. Although she has been through years of decline during her career, Shetty has been...
and Lisa Ray
Lisa Ray
Lisa Ray , born 4 April 1972, is a Canadian actress and former model.-Early life:Lisa Ray was born in Toronto to a Bengali Indian father and a Polish mother and grew up in the suburb of Etobicoke...
initially. Akshaye Khanna
Akshaye Khanna
Akshaye Khanna is a critically acclaimed Indian film actor who works in Hindi cinema. Known for his impeccable acting talent and flawless diction, Khanna has worked with the best names in Indian cinema.- Background :...
opted out of the project subsequently and was replaced by Lucky Ali
Lucky Ali
Lucky Ali , born as Maqsood Mehmood Ali , is an Indian singer songwriter, composer and actor. Lucky is best known for his soulful but strikingly simple ballad-style singing and melodious voice.-Biography:...
, while Malaika Arora stepped in Lisa Ray
Lisa Ray
Lisa Ray , born 4 April 1972, is a Canadian actress and former model.-Early life:Lisa Ray was born in Toronto to a Bengali Indian father and a Polish mother and grew up in the suburb of Etobicoke...
's shoes and Namrata Singh Gujral
Namrata Singh Gujral
Namrata Singh Gujral born 26 February 1976 is an American actress.She is of Sikh faith and Indian as well as Tibetan descent. She was born in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh and is a 1998 graduate from the University of West Florida.-Roles:...
was cast opposite Kumar Gaurav
Kumar Gaurav
Kumar Gaurav is an Indian film actor and son of late actor Rajendra Kumar.-Career:He made his film debut with Love Story produced by his father and directed by Rahul Rawail which was a blockbuster. Many youngsters began to emulate him...
in lieu of Shilpa Shetty.
The character of Renu Mathur (played by Namrata Singh Gujral
Namrata Singh Gujral
Namrata Singh Gujral born 26 February 1976 is an American actress.She is of Sikh faith and Indian as well as Tibetan descent. She was born in Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh and is a 1998 graduate from the University of West Florida.-Roles:...
) was the only role cast in Hollywood from the entire principal cast. All other principals including Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
were flown in from Mumbai for the Hollywood shoot.
The film was the first Bollywood film to be completely shot in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The film's production team used Hollywood technicians. The filming was completed in 31 days. Rohit Roy
Rohit Roy
Rohit Roy is an Indian television star known for his role in Hindi television serials, such as Des Mein Niklla Hoga Chand and Swabhimaan. Besides working in television series, Rohit has also acted in some of the Bollywood movies, such as Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena, Plan, etc...
(from Shootout at Lokhandwala
Shootout at Lokhandwala
Shootout at Lokhandwala is a 2007 Hindi feature film directed by Apoorva Lakhia. It is based upon the 1991 Lokhandwala Complex shootout, a real-life gun battle between gangsters and Mumbai Police....
and a popular television actor) makes an appearance in the song "Ishq Samandar".
Soundtrack
The music is composed by Lucky AliLucky Ali
Lucky Ali , born as Maqsood Mehmood Ali , is an Indian singer songwriter, composer and actor. Lucky is best known for his soulful but strikingly simple ballad-style singing and melodious voice.-Biography:...
, Anand Raj Anand
Anand Raj Anand
Anand Raj Anand is an Indian music director, composer, lyricist and playback singer in the Hindi film industry.-Early life:Anand was born in Delhi to a family of jewellers...
and Vishal-Shekhar
Vishal-Shekhar
Vishal-Shekhar are a music directing duo for Hindi films and are among the leading music directors in the industry today...
. Lyrics are penned by Dev Kohli, Lucky Ali
Lucky Ali
Lucky Ali , born as Maqsood Mehmood Ali , is an Indian singer songwriter, composer and actor. Lucky is best known for his soulful but strikingly simple ballad-style singing and melodious voice.-Biography:...
and Vishal Dadlani.