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{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
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{{Infobox film
| name = Gulaal
| image = gulaal.jpg
| caption = Poster
| director = [[Anurag Kashyap]]
| producer =
| writer = [[Raj Singh Chaudhary]] Anurag Kashyap
| starring = Raj Singh Chaudhary [[Kay Kay Menon]] [[Deepak Dobriyal]] [[Mahi Gill]] Ayesha Mohan [[Jesse Randhawa]] [[Aditya Srivastava]] [[Piyush Mishra]] [[Abhimanyu Singh]] Savi Sidhhu
| music = [[Piyush Mishra]]
| cinematography = [[Rajeev Ravi]]
| editing = [[Aarti Bajaj]]
| distributor = [[Zee Limelight]]
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2009|3|13}}
| runtime = 140 minutes
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget = 
| gross = 
}}

'''''Gulaal''''' ([[gulal]], Crimson) is a 2009 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[Political cinema|political]] [[drama film]] directed by [[Anurag Kashyap]], starring [[Raj Singh Chaudhary]], [[Kay Kay Menon]], [[Abhimanyu Singh]], [[Deepak Dobriyal]], Ayesha Mohan, [[Jesse Randhawa]], [[Piyush Mishra]] and [[Aditya Srivastava]]. It explores themes such as pursuit of power, quest for legitimacy, perceived injustices and hypocrisy of the powerful. The film is set in present-day [[Rajasthan]], a state in northwestern India. The plot is provided by student politics of a university and a fictitious [[Separatist movements of India|secessionist movement]] consisting of former [[Rajput]] leaders who have become present-day elite. ''Gulaal'' was initially stalled due to financial concerns but was later released with support from [[Zee Limelight]].

==Plot==
In the fictional town of Rajpur, Dilip ([[Raj Singh Chaudhary]]), a law student who is a Rajput from [[Bikaner]], secures housing in an old, run-down British-era pub. There, Dilip meets Rananjay Singh “Ransa” ([[Abhimanyu Singh]]), a prince who despises the ideologies of his father and the aristocracy. Ransa's fiery and fearless personality makes an impression on the mild-mannered Dilip.

Dilip visits the university hostel where he is [[Ragging|ragged]] by a gang of university thugs, led by Jadwal ([[Pankaj Jha]]). They strip him and lock him in a room with Anuja ([[Jesse Randhawa]]), a young lecturer in the same university. Dilip and Anuja are released naked. Dilip's brother advises him to let it go, but Ransa disagrees and encourages Dilip to seek revenge. Initially reluctant, Dilip gives in and goes with Ransa to attack Jadwal, but the tables are turned and Dilip and Ransa are beaten, ragged, and thrown out of the hostel. Ransa meets Dukey Banna ([[Kay Kay Menon]]), a local leader who is gathering support for the [[Rajputana]] separatist movement, who promises protection from Jadwal. When Ransa and Dilip find themselves outnumbered by Jadwal's gang, Dukey intervenes and rescues them. Dukey convinces Ransa to contest the General Secretary elections at the university, where his opponent is Kiran, his (out-of-wedlock) half-sister.

Ransa is kidnapped by Kiran's brother Karan ([[Aditya Srivastava]]), who asks him to withdraw from the elections. When Ransa refuses and mocks him, Karan kills him. Dukey forces Dilip to take Ransa's place in the election, and bribes the electoral panel to rig the count in Dilip's favour. Dilip wins the election to become the general secretary. Kiran then seduces Dilip and convinces him to allow her to become the cultural secretary. Dukey starts using university funds for the Rajputana movement, which Dilip ostensibly controls. When Dilip discovers the funds being siphoned out, he confronts Dukey, who tells Dilip about the separatist movement. Dilip tries to reason with Dukey but realizes that he holds no leverage in the situation.

Dukey's gang kills Jadwal and Dukey shows the body to Dilip to intimidate him and keep him in line. Anuja is thrown out of the hostel and moves in with Dilip, who is also pursuing a relationship with Kiran. When Kiran accidentally gets pregnant, she gets an abortion and ends her relationship with Dilip. Anuja tries to explain to Dilip that Kiran has no interest in him or in traditional married life. A frustrated Dilip resigns from his post, allowing Kiran steps in. An irate Dukey threatens Karan and Kiran by telling them that the only reason they're alive is because they are the king's offspring. Kiran tries to seduce Dukey, but they are interrupted by Dukey's second-in-command, Bhati.

Dilip, blinded by his love for Kiran, becomes violent and aggressive. He finds out about Kiran and Dukey's relationship from Dukey's mistress Madhuri. In a fit of rage, he goes to Banna's house and shoots him. While dying, Banna tells him that Kiran used Dilip to get to him. Karan reveals his masterplan: once Dukey Banna is eliminated, the Rajputana movement will choose him as their leader and legitimize him. Karan's gang decide to eliminate Bhati so that Dukey's defenses will be weakened. Dilip wants to hear the truth from Kiran, but she refuses to answer his calls. When Bhati goes off to find her, he is killed by Karan's gang. Dilip finds Kiran, who confirms that she used him, but he cannot bring himself to kill her. In his indecision, he is shot and mortally wounded by Karan's gang. He manages to drag himself home and dies there, alone. The film ends with Karan as the head of the Rajputana movement, while Kiran sheds a tear as one of the loyal faithful.

==Cast==
* [[Raj Singh Chaudhary]] as Dilip Singh
* [[Kay Kay Menon]] as Dukey Banna
* [[Aditya Srivastava]] as Karan
* [[Abhimanyu Singh]] as Rananjay Singh "Ransa"
* [[Deepak Dobriyal]] as Rajendra Bhati
* [[imdbname:1201151|Mukesh S Bhatt]] as Bhanwar Singh
* [[Jesse Randhawa]] as Anuja
* [[Pankaj Jha]] as Jarhwal
* Ayesha Mohan as Kiran
* [[Mahi Gill]] as Madhuri
* [[Piyush Mishra]] as Prithvi Banna
* Jyoti Dogra as Dukey Banna's wife
* [[Teddy Maurya]] as Bahrupiya, Ardhnareshwar
* Sanjay Kumar as Adarsh
* [[Chittaranjan Giri]] as Police Inspector
* Murari Kumar as Murari
* [[Neil Bhatt]] as Kesar
* [[Anurag Kashyap]] as Man at the party

==Production==
Production on ''Gulaal'' began in 2001, when [[Anurag Kashyap]] was listening to songs from ''[[Pyaasa]]'' and his film ''[[Paanch]]'' was struggling with censors.

Inspired by [[Mohammad Rafi]] songs from ''[[Pyaasa]]'' ("Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai") and ''Zeenat'' ("Haye re duniya") the film is a dedication to [[Sahir Ludhianvi]], the lyricist of the song and all other poets who had a vision of India. The story was partially based on a story idea by [[Raj Singh Chaudhary]] who eventually played the role of Dilip Singh in the film.<ref>{{cite news | last= Jha | first= Sumit | title= 'Anurag is more than Godfather to me' | url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-27/news-interviews/28023489_1_raj-singh-chaudhary-first-film-godfather | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110811034656/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-27/news-interviews/28023489_1_raj-singh-chaudhary-first-film-godfather | url-status= dead | archive-date= 11 August 2011 | date= 27 March 2009 | work= [[The Times of India]] | access-date=2009-06-12 }}</ref> The film was delayed for three years. It was released in March 2009.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Varsha Pillai|title=Anurag Kashyap's Gulaal to release after 5-yr delay|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anurag-kashyaps-gulaal-to-release-after-5yr-delay/83929-8.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202085620/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/anurag-kashyaps-gulaal-to-release-after-5yr-delay/83929-8.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2009|work=[[CNN-IBN]]|publisher=ibnlive.in.com|date=29 January 2009|access-date=2009-02-13}}</ref> The first trailer was released with the director's other movie ''[[Dev D]]''.

==Critical reception==
''Gulaal'' received positive reviews from critics. Anupama Chopra of NDTV gave three stars and referred to Anurag Kashyap as Anti-Yash Chopra.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://movies.ndtv.com/reviews.asp?lang=hindi&id=383 |title= Gulaal |author= Anupama Chopra |publisher= NDTV |access-date= 2009-12-02 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Raja Sen of Rediff.com gave it three stars and said that "fantastically watchable film that scores high on moments."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.rediff.com/movies/2009/mar/13review-gulaal.htm |title= Gulaal is a compelling watch |author= Raja Sen |date= 13 March 2009 |publisher=Rediff |access-date=2009-12-02}}</ref> Nikhat Kazmi gave three stars and said that "the film scores in having taut performances and a gritty screenplay as well."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/movie-reviews/hindi/Gulaal/movie-review/4257105.cms |title= Gulaal |author= Nikhat Kazmi |date= 12 March 2009 |work= Times of India |access-date=2009-12-02}}</ref> Noyon Jyoti Parasara of AOL.in gave the film 3.5 stars and said "Anurag scripts every character cleverly providing an identity to even the smallest characters and also a contrast in form of another character – true playwright style. He even has the jesters coming in to bring some comic relief but also more importantly they bring in a message."{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}}

It was screened at the 2009 [[London Film Festival]]. Since then, the film has gained significant cult following.

''Gulaal'' is one of the films featured in Avijit Ghosh's book ''40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed''.

==Box office==
Although the critics' reviews were favourable, the movie opened to only 30 percent capacity during its first week in theatres across India. In addition, word of mouth was poor, which could lead to slowdown at the box office for its runs in the weeks that followed.<ref name="boxoffice">{{cite web |url=http://www.realbollywood.com/news/2009/03/gulal-box-office.html |title='Gulal doesn't spray color at the box office' |publisher=Bollywoodnews.com |date=19 March 2009 |access-date=2009-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323045109/http://www.realbollywood.com/news/2009/03/gulal-box-office.html |archive-date=23 March 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Box Office India]] stated that ''Gulaal'' netted {{INRConvert|7.8|c}} in its first week, which was below expectations.<ref name="boxofficeindia">{{cite web |url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/boxdetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=851&nCat=box_office_report |title='New Releases Dull Jai Veeru And Gulaal Poor' |website=[[Box Office India]] |date=21 March 2009 |access-date=2009-03-23}}</ref> The opening, at around 30% occupancy, was poor, though marginally better than some other recent films.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-18/box-office/28013882_1_single-screens-weekly-box-office-report-mirchi-movies | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216075322/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-18/box-office/28013882_1_single-screens-weekly-box-office-report-mirchi-movies | url-status=dead | archive-date=2013-02-16 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Weekly Box-Office Report: Gulaal and Zizou find little colour at BO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2009/mar/16box.htm|title=rediff.com Movies: Gulaal, Little Zizou flop|website=specials.rediff.com}}</ref>

==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Award !! Category !! Nominee !! Result
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Stardust Awards]]
| [[Stardust Award for Breakthrough Performance – Male|Best Breakthrough Performance – Male]]
| [[Abhimanyu Singh]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Standout Performance by a Music Director]]
| [[Piyush Mishra]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[IIFA Awards]]
| [[IIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| [[Abhimanyu Singh]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[IIFA Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role|Best Performance in Negative Role]]
| [[Kay Kay Menon]]
| {{nom}}
|}

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Gulaal
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Piyush Mishra]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 13 March 2009
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Performer(s)
| title1 = Ranaji | extra1 = [[Rekha Bhardwaj]] | length1 = 5:50
| title2 = Yaara Maula | extra2 = [[Rahul Ram]], [[Asheem Chakravarty]] | length2 = 3:09
| title3 = Aarambh | extra3 = [[Piyush Mishra]] | length3 = 4:59
| title4 = Aisi Sazaa | extra4 = [[Shilpa Rao]] | length4 = 4:53
| title5 = Sheher | extra5 = [[Swanand Kirkire]], Piyush Mishra | length5 = 7:34
| title6 = Beedo | extra6 = Rekha Bhardwaj | length6 = 5:03
| title7 = Duniya | extra7 = Piyush Mishra | length7 = 6:49
| title8 = Raat Ke Musafir | extra8 = Rahul Ram | length8 = 4:29
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb movie}}
* {{BH movie|gulaal}}

{{Anurag Kashyap}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2009 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian political drama films]]
[[Category:Indian crime drama films]]
[[Category:2000s political drama films]]
[[Category:2009 crime drama films]]
[[Category:Films about organised crime in India]]
[[Category:Films directed by Anurag Kashyap]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Anurag Kashyap]]

Gulaal (film) - Revision history

Abhijit: minor enhance formatting for clarity and cleaned formatting

>Citation bot: Alter: title. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | Category:2009 films | #UCB_Category 622/2994