Every year, Bollywood produces over 1,500 films, many of which are B- and C-grade productions targeted primarily at audiences in smaller towns. One such C-grade film, released in 1998, faced controversy and was even banned shortly after its debut, only to be re-released later. Despite its poor production values and initial reception, this film has gone on to achieve cult classic status.
The film we are talking about is Gunda. It’s surprising to think that a film once dismissed as utterly ridiculous could capture the imagination of audiences years later. Released on September 4, 1998, this movie’s quirky dialogues and eccentric characters have since become the subject of countless memes on social media.
Starring Mithun Chakraborty in the lead role, it features one of the most memorable scenes — him firing a revolver while perched on the back of a bicycle. Directed by Kanti Shah, a filmmaker well known for his B-grade action movies, this film’s legacy is unlike any other.
Gunda is frequently classified as a B-grade film due to its production values and the presence of the iconic lead actor, Mithun Chakraborty. However, some sources place it closer to C-grade because of its exaggerated, lowbrow content. It has since gained cult status as a ‘so bad it’s good’ movie, renowned for its cheesy dialogue, over-the-top acting, and graphic scenes.
Alongside Mithun Chakraborty, Gunda featured actors such as Mukesh Rishi, Shakti Kapoor, Harish Patel, Ishrat Ali, Mohan Joshi, Sapna Sappu, Rami Reddy, Gulshan Rana, Razzaq Khan, Babbanlal Yadav, Deepak Shirke, and Rana Jung Bahadur. The dialogues were penned by Bashir Babbar, and the film was produced by Anil Singh. Its music was a complete failure commercially. Surprisingly, however, the film holds an IMDb rating of 7.3.
The primary reason Gunda became meme-worthy is its poetic style of dialogue delivery. Each character had a distinctive punchline, and the names were notably bizarre. Shakti Kapoor played a character named Chutiya, who uttered the line: “My name is Chutiya, I make even the best of people’s lives miserable.” Ishrat Ali portrayed Lambu Aata, Mukesh Rishi was Bulla, Razzaq Khan played Lucky Chikna, Rami Reddy was Kala Shetty, Harish Patel took the role of Ibu Hatela, and Mohan Joshi played the grandson.
Mukesh Rishi’s character, Bulla, attracted the most attention. His catchphrase was: “My name is Bulla, I always keep it open.” At the time, Mukesh Rishi was still struggling in Bollywood, but this role certainly made an impression. In a recent interview, he admitted regretting his decision to take part in the film. He said, “Kanti Shah lived in his own world. He made films within it. I was a new villain, so he paid me well. On my first day of shooting, I wondered, ‘What have I done?’ He wouldn’t give me a script, just a line. The dialogues were improvised on set. Shakti Kapoor felt the same and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ He felt he shouldn’t have been there. I had no idea this would become a cult classic 25 years later. I’m glad today’s generation finds humour in it, though I found it offensive at the time.”
Kanti Shah was notorious for making such low-quality films. Another interesting anecdote about Gunda is that it was banned shortly after release. When submitted to the censor board, over 40 cuts were demanded. Kanti Shah agreed, but still released the uncut version in cinemas. Following complaints by college students about the film’s violence and obscenity, the censor board intervened. Gunda was pulled from theatres and later re-released with cuts.
The film had no coherent plot. Every actor overacted wildly. Though intended as an action film, it came across as a comedy. Later, the younger generation discovered the humour in it. With the rise of internet access post-2000, engineering students and others began awarding it high ratings. Currently, Gunda holds a 7.3 rating on IMDb. Actor Deepak Shirke, who played Bachchu Bhai Bhigona, revealed that much of the dialogue was improvised on set.
The cult appeal of Gunda arises from its blending of characteristics from both B- and C-grade films: a famous lead actor paired with a plot and dialogue so outrageously exaggerated, graphic, and unintentionally humorous that it defies easy categorisation. Many films from this era fall into either B- or C-grade categories, with Gunda occupying a middle ground but generally leaning more towards C-grade due to its gratuitous and sensational style.
Directed by Kanti Shah, the film was made on a budget of approximately Rs 1.5 crore and grossed around Rs 4 crore. Despite being a box office failure at the time, it has since achieved cult status. Today, it enjoys a dedicated following among younger viewers who watch it for its unintentional entertainment value.
