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{{Short description|2002 film by Mani Shankar}}
{{short description|2002 film by Mani Shankar}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2018}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
 
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| location = India
| name          = 16 December
| name          = 16 December
| image =  
| image         = 16December.jpg
| director      = [[Mani Shankar]]
| director      = [[Mani Shankar]]
| producer      = Anjali Joshi<br /> Arunima Roy<br />iDream Production
| producer      = Anjali Joshi<br /> Arunima Roy
| writer        = Mani Shankar
| writer        = Mani Shankar
| cinematography   =[[Ajayan Vincent]]
| cinematography = [[Ajayan Vincent]]
| starring      = [[Danny Denzongpa]]<br />[[Gulshan Grover]]<br />[[Milind Soman]]<br />[[Dipannita Sharma]]<br />[[Sushant Singh]]<br />[[Aditi Govitrikar]]
| editing        = Mani Shankar
| released      = {{Film date|2002|12|16|df=y}}
| starring      = [[Milind Soman]]<br/>[[Danny Denzongpa]]<br/>[[Gulshan Grover]]<br/>[[Dipannita Sharma]]<br/>[[Sushant Singh]]<br/>[[Aditi Govitrikar]]
| studio        = [[Shripal Morakhia|iDream Production]]
| distributor    = iDream Production<ref>{{cite web|title=Columbia and Fox trot into masala land|website=[[The Times of India]]|first=Meenakshi|last=Shedde|date=20 April 2003|access-date=31 July 2022|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/columbia-and-fox-trot-into-masala-land/articleshow/43903908.cms}}</ref>
| music          = [[Karthik Raja]]<br />[[Vikesh Mehta]]<br />
| released      = {{Film date|2002|03|22|df=y}}
| runtime        = 158 minutes
| runtime        = 158 minutes
| country        = India
| country        = India
| language      = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| language      = Hindi
| music          = [[Karthik Raja]]
}}
}}
'''''16 December''''' is a 2002 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[action thriller film]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/16-december-v335795 |title=16 December (2002) – Mani Shankar |publisher=[[AllMovie]]}}</ref> directed by [[Mani Shankar]], based on a plot to destroy the capital city of India, [[New Delhi]] with a [[nuclear bomb]] on 16 December 2001 – 30 years after the surrender of Pakistan at the end of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].  
 
The film's title comes from the historical date of 16 December 1971 (which is also Bangladesh's [[Victory Day (Bangladesh)|Victory Day]]), commemorating the day Pakistan signed the document of [[Liberation of Bangladesh]].
'''''16 December''''' is a 2002 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[action thriller film]] directed by [[Mani Shankar]], based on a plot to destroy the capital city of India, [[New Delhi]] with a nuclear bomb on 16 December 2001 – 30 years after the surrender of Pakistan at the end of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].<ref>{{Cite news| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/photo-features/must-watch-espionage-movies-of-bollywood/must-watch-espionage-movies-of-bollywood/photostory/64079091.cms | title=Must watch espionage movies of Bollywood | newspaper=[[The Times of India]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/mar/22dec16.htm|title=rediff.com, Movies: The Rediff Review: 16 December|website=Rediff.com|access-date=29 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://movies.fullhyderabad.com/16-december/hindi/16-december-movie-reviews-201-2.html|title=16 December review: 16 December (Hindi) Movie Review|website=Fullhyderabad.com|access-date=29 May 2022}}</ref> The film stars [[Milind Soman]], [[Danny Denzongpa]], [[Gulshan Grover]], [[Dipannita Sharma|Dippannita Sharma]], [[Sushant Singh]], and [[Aditi Govitrikar]]. It was released on 22 March 2002, and received positive reviews from critics. [http://vgm.one/VGMTimeline/ Vikesh G. Mehta] from the UK had previously worked with Mani Shankar, and composed and directed music on Chim Chimiya, and the Hit Song by KK, Dil Ye Tera
 
The film's title comes from the historical date of 16 December 1971 (which is also Bangladesh's [[Victory Day (Bangladesh)|Victory Day]]), commemorating the day Pakistan signed the document of [[Liberation of Bangladesh]].  


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
'''Major General Vir Vijay Singh''' ([[Danny Denzongpa]]), '''Vikram''' ([[Milind Soman]]), '''Sheeba''' ([[Dipannita Sharma]]), and '''Victor''' ([[Sushant Singh]]), who are [[Indian Revenue Service]] officers belonging to the [[Directorate of Revenue Intelligence|Department of Revenue Intelligence]], and have been wrongly implicated in the killing of their corrupt superior officer and removed from service, are hired by the Chief of the same agency to investigate a series of large [[Money Laundering]]s. Vikram and Sheeba share some romance between them. The team is equipped with hi-tech equipment such as mini spy cameras, computers, the internet and other communication devices. Through various encounters, they discover that the money is being transferred to a [[Swiss Bank]] account. By means of an Indian employee, '''Sonal Joshi''' ([[Aditi Govitrikar]]) working in the Auckland, [[New Zealand]] branch of the same bank, they investigate the account in New Zealand and, with her help, find that the money is being transferred to an international terrorist organization named '''''KAALA KHANJAR'''''. This organization, working in conjunction with terrorist '''Dost Khan''' ([[Gulshan Grover]]), manages to smuggle a Russian-made nuclear bomb into India. Dost Khan plans to explode the nuclear uvva on the same day, '16 December'.
Vikram, Sheeba and Victor are [[Indian Revenue Service]] officers belonging to the [[Directorate of Revenue Intelligence|Department of Revenue Intelligence]] and have been removed from service, owing to their killing of a corrupt senior officer. They are hired back by their chief Vir Vijay Singh to investigate a series of large money launderings. Through the use of modern technology, they discover that the money is being transferred to a [[Swiss Bank]] account. One of their agents tracks down MP Shyam Manohar Kalia, from whose account the money is being transferred. Before the MP can reveal any name, his account is hacked, and all his money is transferred, seeing which the MP dies of heart failure.  


Although the ruling dictator of Pakistan surrendered unconditionally to India during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], some of the hard-lined Pakistani soldiers were bitter and angry at the surrender, as they wanted to continue fighting the Indians until their last breath. They retreated in silence and later came together to form their own groups of communal soldiers to carry out terrorists attacks against neighboring India.
The team travels to New Zealand, where Vikram honey-traps a Swiss Bank employee Sonal Joshi to find the details of the transactions. They come to know that the money has been transferred to an international terrorist organization named Kaala Khanjar. This organization has sold a Russian-made nuclear bomb to Pakistani army general turned terrorist, Dost Khan.


Led by Dost Khan, a hardliner Pakistani army officer, who, against his wishes, had to surrender after the end of the 1971 war, the terrorists planned to take an act of revenge by having a nuclear explosion in the heart of [[New Delhi]]. They transport it into a music competition disguised as a musical instrument. When Vir Vijay Singh comes to know about the plan, he plans to find out the location of the nuclear bomb as soon as possible by taking the help of Remote Radiation Sensors in satellites and innumerable beggars in the city. This helps the team zero in on the location.
Dost Khan orchestrates an attack on Vir Vijay Singh through his subordinate Mir Zafar's men. However, Vir Vijay Singh is saved, and one of the attackers is caught. On interrogating him, the group learns that the bomb has already reached Delhi, and that Dost Khan plans to explode the bomb on 16 December, the same day on which Pakistan surrendered unconditionally to India during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].


After they overpower most of the terrorists in a commando operation, Dost Khan comes to know about it and sets the nuclear bomb to explode in a few minutes. This creates a lot of problem for Vijay Vir Singh, as the bomb can be defused only by the exclusive voice command of Dost Khan saying: ''Dulhan Ki Vidaai Ka Waqt Badalna Hai''. They adopt a novel way to do it by speaking to Dost Khan and making him say fragments of this sentence without making him realize that it was being done to defuse the bomb. After the conversation is over, they synthesize the sentence to defuse the bomb just in time.
By taking help from the innumerable number of beggars in the city and by using advanced radiation sensors, the exact location of the bomb is revealed. Vir Vijay Singh's men secretly kill all the terrorists guarding the bomb. However, Dost Khan is alerted, and he sets the bomb to explode. It can be diffused only by the code "Dulhan Ki Vidaai Ka Waqt Badalna Hai" exclusively in Dost Khan's voice. The group synthesizes this code by joining bits and fragments of Dost Khan's speech. Ultimately, the bomb is diffused and Dost Khan is arrested. The film ends on the note that this is only the beginning, and there is still a long way to go in the fight against terrorism.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Shah Rukh Khan]] (Special Cameo)
* [[Milind Soman]] as Vikram [[Indian Revenue Service|IRS]] / Vijay Chauhan
* [[Danny Denzongpa]] as Major General Vir Vijay Singh IRS
* [[Danny Denzongpa]] as [[Major general|Major General]] Vir Vijay Singh IRS
* [[Milind Soman]] as Vikram IRS / Vijay Chauhan
* [[Gulshan Grover]] as Dost Khan
* [[Dipannita Sharma]] as Sheeba
* [[Dipannita Sharma]] as Sheeba
* [[Sushant Singh]] as Victor
* [[Sushant Singh]] as Victor
* [[Aditi Gowitrikar]] as Sonal Joshi
* [[Aditi Gowitrikar]] as Sonal Joshi
* [[Gulshan Grover]] as Dost Khan
* [[Vinay Varma]] as Shiv Charan Shukla
* [[Vinay Varma]] as Shiv Charan Shukla
* Reza as Irfan
* [[Sajeel]] Parakh
* Sohil Mathur as Pappu (Informer)


==Critical reception==
==Reception==
16 December received mostly positive reviews from critics in India and abroad. Ronjita Kulkarni of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' gave the movie 5/5 stars and wrote, "For a first-timer, director [[Mani Shankar]] does a valiant job with 16 December. It has four songs, three of which appear in the background, but it certainly does not follow the routine song-and-dance formula. 16 December entertains as well makes you think".  
Ronjita Kulkarni of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' gave the movie 5/5 stars and wrote, "For a first-timer, director [[Mani Shankar]] does a valiant job with 16 December. It has four songs, three of which appear in the background, but it certainly does not follow the routine song-and-dance formula. 16 December entertains as well makes you think".  
[[Taran Adarsh]] of ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' gave the movie 4/5 stars and wrote, "The film does have a love angle though there is no undue focus on the romantic couple. Now for the film. In 16 December, Mani Shankar has tried to explore white-collar crime. The premise being, millions of rupees leave the Indian shores daily to Swiss bank accounts. The account holders always remain a secret. What the director tries to do is trace this movement of money from the grass-roots level".
[[Taran Adarsh]] of ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' gave the movie 4/5 stars and wrote, "The film does have a love angle though there is no undue focus on the romantic couple. Now for the film. In 16 December, Mani Shankar has tried to explore white-collar crime. The premise being, millions of rupees leave the Indian shores daily to Swiss bank accounts. The account holders always remain a secret. What the director tries to do is trace this movement of money from the grass-roots level".
Rachit Gupta of ''[[Filmfare]]'' rated the movie −4/5 stars, stating, "16 December moves at a brisk pace. Mani Shankar does not waste time on unnecessary details. The film requires a fair amount of concentration to understand the chain of events".
Rachit Gupta of ''[[Filmfare]]'' rated the movie 4/5 stars, stating, "16 December moves at a brisk pace. Mani Shankar does not waste time on unnecessary details. The film requires a fair amount of concentration to understand the chain of events".
''[[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]]'' gave the movie 5/5 stars and said that, one of the best Hindi spy films that had ever come out, it is India's equivalent to [[Brian De Palma]]'s ''[[Mission: Impossible (film)|Mission: Impossible]]''.
''[[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]]'' gave the movie 5/5 stars and said that, one of the best Hindi spy films that had ever come out, it is India's equivalent to [[Brian De Palma]]'s ''[[Mission: Impossible (film)|Mission: Impossible]]''.{{Citation needed|date=November 2025}}
 
===Overseas===
Rachel Saltz of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote, "16 December may not be a box office hit. But it is definitely different from the usual love stories that we are subjected to."
Sneha May Francis of ''[[Emirates 24/7]]'' wrote, "After his debut in [[Tarkieb]], [[Milind Soman]] gives a composed and good performance in this film. Debutante [[Dipannita Sharma]] lends some freshness to the film. There is no helplessness at any point of time."
Simon Foster of the ''[[Special Broadcasting Service]]'' gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and described it as "thrilling, fast-paced and loud a movie that catches Hollywood standard".
Robert Abele of Los Angeles Times "16 December has all merits to strike a chord with the youth", praising Danny's 'bravura' performance, the film's 'Hollywood style' look and action sequences, as well as the music.


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name        = 16 December
| type        = soundtrack
| artist      = [[Karthik Raja]] & Vikesh Mehta
| cover        =
| alt          =
| released    = 16 December 2001
| recorded    = Vikesh Recorded his parts in Hyderabad yrar 2000,
| venue        = Banjara Hill Hyd
| studio      =
| genre        = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length      =
| label        = [[Universal Music Group]]
| producer    = Karthik Raja, Vikesh Mehta
| prev_title  = [[Mitr, My Friend]]
| prev_year    = 2001
| next_title  = [[Album (2002 film)|Album]]
| next_year    = 2002
}}
The music was composed by [[Karthik Raja]] and Vikesh Mehta. In the credits, only Karthik Raja is credited while in audio soundtrack releases, both are listed.
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! # !! Title !! Singer(s)
! # !! Title !! Singer(s)
!Notes
|-
|-
| 1
| 1
| "Dil Mera Ek Tara"  
| "Dil Mera Ek Tara"  
| [[Sadhana Sargam]]
| [[Sadhana Sargam]]
|
|-
|-
| 2
| 2
| "Main Cheez Badi Hoon Chaalu"
| "Main Cheez Badi Hoon Chaalu"
| [[Shaan (singer)|Shaan]]
| [[Shaan (singer)|Shaan]]
|
|-
|-
| 3
| 3
| "I Am A Cool Cat"
| "I Am A Cool Cat"
| Shaan, Subhiksha
| Shaan, Subhiksha
|
|-
|4
|"Title Music"
|
|
|-
|-
| 4
| 5
| " Dil Ye Tera"
| "Dil Ye Tera"
| [[KK (singer)|KK]]
| [[KK (singer)|KK]]
|Music by Vikesh Mehta
|-
|-
| 5
| 6
| "Dhuan Dhuan Sa"
| "Dhuan Dhuan Sa"
| [[Milind Soman]], [[Chitra Iyer|Chitra Sivaraman]]
| [[Milind Soman]], [[Chitra Iyer|Chitra Sivaraman]]
|
|-
|-
| 6
| 7
| "Chim Chimiya"
| "Chim Chimiya"
| [[Sapna Awasthi]]
| [[Sapna Awasthi]]
|Music by Vikesh Mehta
|}
|}


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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=0313844|title=16 December}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0313844|title=16 December}}
* {{Amg movie|335795|16 December}}
{{#seo:
|keywords=2002 films, 2002 action thriller films, 2000s spy thriller films, Apocalyptic films, Films about intelligence agencies, Indian action thriller films, Indian spy thriller films, Films about criminals, India–Pakistan relations in popular culture, Films about nuclear war and weapons, Films about organised crime in India, 2000s Hindi-language films, Indian films, Military of Pakistan in films
|description=
}}


[[Category:2002 films]]
[[Category:2002 films]]
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[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian spy thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian spy thriller films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Karthik Raja]]
[[Category:Films about criminals]]
[[Category:Films about criminals]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan relations in popular culture]]
[[Category:India–Pakistan relations in popular culture]]
[[Category:Films about nuclear war and weapons]]
[[Category:Films about nuclear war and weapons]]
[[Category:Films about organised crime in India]]
[[Category:Films about organised crime in India]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2002 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Military of Pakistan in films]]
[[Category:Military of Pakistan in films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mani Shankar]]
[[Category:Films based on the Bangladesh Liberation War]]

Latest revision as of 06:04, 13 March 2026


16 December
Directed byMani Shankar
Produced byAnjali Joshi
Arunima Roy
Written byMani Shankar
StarringMilind Soman
Danny Denzongpa
Gulshan Grover
Dipannita Sharma
Sushant Singh
Aditi Govitrikar
Music byKarthik Raja
Vikesh Mehta
CinematographyAjayan Vincent
Edited byMani Shankar
Production
company
Distributed byiDream Production[1]
Release date
  • 22 March 2002 (2002-03-22)
Running time
158 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

16 December is a 2002 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Mani Shankar, based on a plot to destroy the capital city of India, New Delhi with a nuclear bomb on 16 December 2001 – 30 years after the surrender of Pakistan at the end of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[2][3][4] The film stars Milind Soman, Danny Denzongpa, Gulshan Grover, Dippannita Sharma, Sushant Singh, and Aditi Govitrikar. It was released on 22 March 2002, and received positive reviews from critics. Vikesh G. Mehta from the UK had previously worked with Mani Shankar, and composed and directed music on Chim Chimiya, and the Hit Song by KK, Dil Ye Tera

The film's title comes from the historical date of 16 December 1971 (which is also Bangladesh's Victory Day), commemorating the day Pakistan signed the document of Liberation of Bangladesh.

Plot[edit | edit source]

Vikram, Sheeba and Victor are Indian Revenue Service officers belonging to the Department of Revenue Intelligence and have been removed from service, owing to their killing of a corrupt senior officer. They are hired back by their chief Vir Vijay Singh to investigate a series of large money launderings. Through the use of modern technology, they discover that the money is being transferred to a Swiss Bank account. One of their agents tracks down MP Shyam Manohar Kalia, from whose account the money is being transferred. Before the MP can reveal any name, his account is hacked, and all his money is transferred, seeing which the MP dies of heart failure.

The team travels to New Zealand, where Vikram honey-traps a Swiss Bank employee Sonal Joshi to find the details of the transactions. They come to know that the money has been transferred to an international terrorist organization named Kaala Khanjar. This organization has sold a Russian-made nuclear bomb to Pakistani army general turned terrorist, Dost Khan.

Dost Khan orchestrates an attack on Vir Vijay Singh through his subordinate Mir Zafar's men. However, Vir Vijay Singh is saved, and one of the attackers is caught. On interrogating him, the group learns that the bomb has already reached Delhi, and that Dost Khan plans to explode the bomb on 16 December, the same day on which Pakistan surrendered unconditionally to India during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

By taking help from the innumerable number of beggars in the city and by using advanced radiation sensors, the exact location of the bomb is revealed. Vir Vijay Singh's men secretly kill all the terrorists guarding the bomb. However, Dost Khan is alerted, and he sets the bomb to explode. It can be diffused only by the code "Dulhan Ki Vidaai Ka Waqt Badalna Hai" exclusively in Dost Khan's voice. The group synthesizes this code by joining bits and fragments of Dost Khan's speech. Ultimately, the bomb is diffused and Dost Khan is arrested. The film ends on the note that this is only the beginning, and there is still a long way to go in the fight against terrorism.

Cast[edit | edit source]

Reception[edit | edit source]

Ronjita Kulkarni of Rediff.com gave the movie 5/5 stars and wrote, "For a first-timer, director Mani Shankar does a valiant job with 16 December. It has four songs, three of which appear in the background, but it certainly does not follow the routine song-and-dance formula. 16 December entertains as well makes you think". Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama gave the movie 4/5 stars and wrote, "The film does have a love angle though there is no undue focus on the romantic couple. Now for the film. In 16 December, Mani Shankar has tried to explore white-collar crime. The premise being, millions of rupees leave the Indian shores daily to Swiss bank accounts. The account holders always remain a secret. What the director tries to do is trace this movement of money from the grass-roots level". Rachit Gupta of Filmfare rated the movie 4/5 stars, stating, "16 December moves at a brisk pace. Mani Shankar does not waste time on unnecessary details. The film requires a fair amount of concentration to understand the chain of events". DNA gave the movie 5/5 stars and said that, one of the best Hindi spy films that had ever come out, it is India's equivalent to Brian De Palma's Mission: Impossible.[citation needed]

Soundtrack[edit | edit source]

16 December
Soundtrack album by
Karthik Raja & Vikesh Mehta
Released16 December 2001
RecordedVikesh Recorded his parts in Hyderabad yrar 2000,
VenueBanjara Hill Hyd
GenreFeature film soundtrack
LabelUniversal Music Group
ProducerKarthik Raja, Vikesh Mehta
Karthik Raja & Vikesh Mehta chronology
Mitr, My Friend
(2001) 		16 December
(2001) 		Album
(2002)

The music was composed by Karthik Raja and Vikesh Mehta. In the credits, only Karthik Raja is credited while in audio soundtrack releases, both are listed.

# Title Singer(s) Notes
1 "Dil Mera Ek Tara" Sadhana Sargam
2 "Main Cheez Badi Hoon Chaalu" Shaan
3 "I Am A Cool Cat" Shaan, Subhiksha
4 "Title Music"
5 "Dil Ye Tera" KK Music by Vikesh Mehta
6 "Dhuan Dhuan Sa" Milind Soman, Chitra Sivaraman
7 "Chim Chimiya" Sapna Awasthi Music by Vikesh Mehta

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Shedde, Meenakshi (20 April 2003). "Columbia and Fox trot into masala land". The Times of India. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Must watch espionage movies of Bollywood". The Times of India.
  3. ↑ "rediff.com, Movies: The Rediff Review: 16 December". Rediff.com. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "16 December review: 16 December (Hindi) Movie Review". Fullhyderabad.com. Retrieved 29 May 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]

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