China Gate (1998 film)

Summary

China Gate is a 1998 Indian Hindi-language action film directed by Rajkumar Santoshi.[2] It was released on 27 November 1998. China Gate follows the basic storyline of the classic Seven Samurai. The film was critically acclaimed for Santoshi's writing and direction.[3] The song "Chamma Chamma" picturised on Urmila Matondkar became a chart buster and was used in Baz Luhrmann's film Moulin Rouge!. The film won Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue.

China Gate
Directed byRajkumar Santoshi
Screenplay by
Story byRajkumar Santoshi
Produced byRajkumar Santoshi
Starring
CinematographyPiyush Shah
Edited byV. N. Mayekar
Music bySongs:
Anu Malik
Score:
Vanraj Bhatia
Production
company
Santoshi Productions
Release date
  • 27 November 1998 (1998-11-27)
Running time
175 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget20 crore (US$2.5 million)[1]

Plot edit

Colonel Krishnakant Puri and ten men from his unit were dishonourably discharged from the Indian Army for failing in the Mission China Gate. Krishnakant challenged the decision of the military high command and pursued the case in civil courts for 17 years, but the final verdict is given against him and his team. Frustrated, he is about to commit suicide when a young lady named Sandhya knocks on his door.

Having witnessed the brutal murder of her Forest Officer father, Sunder Rajan, at the hands of dreaded dacoit Jageera, Sandhya goes to the Colonel and asks for his assistance in bringing an end to Jageera's reign of terror in the Devdurg region. Krishnakant agrees to assist her and summons ten of his fellow officers and subordinates to assist him in this mission. They assemble at Devdurg with the necessary ammunition and arms to combat Jageera, not realising that Jageera has influence over the local police detachment, who will prevent Krishnakant and his men to possess any guns and weapons. This does not deter the men, and they continue to stay on in Devdurg. They gain the confidence of the villagers too.

The villagers do not know that Krishnakant and his men had been dishonorably discharged from the army for cowardice. At the time of the first encounter with the gang of Jageera, the team of Krishnakant realised that they are out of shape and have lost instincts and fighting capabilities due to age. With the permission of Col. Krishnakant, Major Gurung starts to train them again.

One day, Jageera captures them with the help of corrupt police officer Barot, but they escape finally and in turn capture Jageera. Col Krishan Puri and few officers intend to kill him, but leader Col. Puri hands him over to the police inspector Barot. As a result, Jageera is again set free and kills Maj. Sarfaraz.

Now the full team of Col. Krishnakant along with the villagers chase Jageera to take final revenge. They teach Inspector Baarot an ultimate lesson. Krishnakant gets to know that Sandhya and rest of the residents are held hostage by Jageera. Udit is able to save her. After the deadly fight, The five soldiers including Kewal kills Jageera only to avenge Sarfaraz's death.

The film ends with the full team setting out for next adventure to accomplish the new mission afterwards Udit becomes Sandhya's husband.

Cast edit

Production edit

The film was conceived as a tribute to Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. The film was made on the budget of 20 crores, the most expensive Bollywood production at that point of time.[1]

Soundtrack edit

The music for this movie was composed by Anu Malik and the item song "Chamma Chamma" became extremely popular, which was later used in Hollywood film Moulin Rouge! and was recreated for the film, Fraud Saiyyan.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

All lyrics are written by Sameer

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Hum Ko To Rahna Hai"Sonu Nigam, Hariharan, Vinod Rathod7:11
2."Chamma Chamma"Anu Malik, Sapna Awasthi5:53
3."Chamma Chamma, Pt. 2"Vinod Rathod, Shankar Mahadevan, Alka Yagnik5:54
4."Is Mitti Ka Karz Tha Mujhpe"Sonu Nigam3:14
5."Theme of China Gate (Instrumental)" 1:02

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Chasing An Epic". 7 December 1998.
  2. ^ "THE HINDU ONLINE : Friday, November 27, 1998 Entertainment 09270223.HTM". Archived from the original on 5 June 2001.
  3. ^ "China Gate - movie review by Pranay Bhagat - Planet Bollywood".
  4. ^ "Elli AvRam steps into Urmila Matondkar's shoes for 'Chamma Chamma'". Mumbai Mirror. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Elli AvrRam steps into Urmila Matondkar's shoes for Chamma Chamma remake for Fraud Saiyaan". Mid-day.com. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Elli AvRam to recreate 'Chamma Chamma' for this Arshad Warsi film". Bollywood Hungama. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Elli AvrRam recreates Urmila Matondkar's iconic song Chamma Chamma - see photos". 22 November 2018.
  8. ^ "China Gate's 'Chamma Chamma' to be recreated for Prakash Jha's Fraud Saiyyan". Mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  9. ^ "[Exclusive Video] Urmila Matondkar sings Chamma Chamma for us and steals our hearts". Bollywoodlife.com. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Joota Hai Japani to Chaiyya Chaiyya: 7 Hollywood movies that featured Bollywood songs". Inuth.com. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2019.

External links edit

  • China Gate at IMDb