Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1

Set against the gritty backdrop of the coal town of Wasseypur in the 1970s, the tale centers on Sardar Khan, a man bent on justice for a tragedy that derailed his family years earlier. He builds a ruthless empire through calculated alignments, brutal betrayals, and a constant scramble for dominance that taints the town. The narrative spans decades, showing how money, politics, and local feuds fuse into a sprawling crime epic. Alongside Sardar, a chorus of kin and rivals presses through loyalties and grudges in a region where survival depends on staying one step ahead. The film blends stark violence with wry humor, casual daily life with large scale power plays, and a patient, sprawling tempo that mirrors a community under strain. The camera lingers on small rituals and crowded streets, letting time accumulate the tension.

Directed by Anurag Kashyap and released in 2012, this first installment kicks off a two part crime saga. It draws on material crafted by Zeishan Quadri with screenplays by Quadri, Rutvik Oza and Varun Grover, featuring Manoj Bajpayee as lead.

Budget 1.4 million dollars; Box Office Revenue 4.1 million dollars worldwide, underscoring solid profitability for a regional Indian crime epic that defied some genre expectations and drew diverse audiences across urban and rural centers.

The film left a lasting mark on Indian cinema, elevating the scale and ambition of crime sagas. Its sprawling ensemble, interwoven timelines, and stark depictions of power and loyalty influenced later storytellers and sparked discussion about regional storytelling in mainstream Hindi cinema, including streaming era approaches.

Critics praised Kashyap's direction and the film's dense multi generational perspective, noting its commitment to realism and character depth. The story examines revenge, family allegiance, corruption, and the collision between local culture and politics, offering a portrait of a community shaped by violence and ambition.