Gang Leader

This article is about the 1991 film. For the 2019 film, see Nani's Gang Leader.

Gang Leader
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Vijaya Bapineedu
Written by	Vijaya Bapineedu Paruchuri Brothers (dialogues)
Produced by	Maganti Ravindranath Chowdary
Starring	Chiranjeevi Vijayashanti
Cinematography	Lok Singh
Edited by	Vijaya Bapineedu
Music by	Bappi Lahari
Production company	Shyam Prasad Arts
Distributed by	Geetha Arts
Release date	9 May 1991 (1991-05-09)
Country	India
Language	Telugu

Gang Leader is a 1991 Indian Telugu-language action crime film written and directed by Vijaya Bapineedu, and produced by Maganti Ravindranath Chowdary. The film stars Chiranjeevi and Vijayashanti, while Rao Gopal Rao, Anandaraj, Murali Mohan, and Sarath Kumar play supporting roles. The soundtrack was composed by Bappi Lahiri with dance choreography by Prabhu Deva. The film explores the concepts of exploitation of law enforcement by anti-social behaviour and the impact of mob psychology.

The film opened to highly positive reviews from the critics and was commercially successful at the box office. It was screened at the International Film Festival of India. Later, it was dubbed in Tamil with the same title. The film was later remade in Hindi as Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj (1992) where Chiranjeevi reprises his role, and in Kannada as Kutumba (2003).

Plot

Raghupathi, Raghava and Rajaram are brothers. Raghupathi is the only breadwinner of the family, Raghava is preparing for the Civil Services Examination, and Rajaram is an unemployed, and freelance dancer who spends time with his four friends in search of jobs. They roam in the city until midnight. Rajaram comes home at midnight and sleeps until noon; his grandmother Sabari yells at him for his irresponsibility and callousness. One day, Rajaram makes Kanyakumari vacate the house on a payment basis as she is not paying the rent to the landlord. Consequently, she barges into Rajaram's house for accommodation.

At one situation, Rajaram goes to custody for money so that he can support his brother Raghava who is in need of funding for his IAS preparation. Meanwhile, Ekambaram, a Mafia ringleader known for contract killing, and extortion, alongside his brother Kanakambaram kill Rajaram's elder brother Raghupathi as he witnesses a homicide. Rajaram was spending time in jail when this incident happens, however his friends are aware of Raghupathi's death. Rajaram, on the other hand, thinks that his brother's death was an accident.

Raghava becomes an IAS officer and marries Latha, which was a scheme planned by Ekambaram and Kanakambaram so that they can escape criminal cases with his support. Latha hates Raghava's family members, whereas Kanyakumari loves Rajaram and his family members. Meanwhile, Rajaram learns of his brother's death and inquires as to who was responsible for the death. His friends are also murdered by Ekambaram and Kanakambaram at the time. Rajaram is framed by the murders, and Raghava disowns him. With Kanyakumari's help, Rajaram escapes from jail, and Kanyakumari reveals that she is Ekambaram's daughter. She ran away from home after her father killed her mother, and then she began moving into other people's houses. After hearing this, Rajaram falls for her. The film ends with Rajaram avenging his brother's death by killing the villains and in the process unites his broken family.

Cast

Actor	Character
Chiranjeevi	Rajaram
Vijayashanti	Kanyakumari
Raogopal Rao	Ekambaram
Anandaraj	Kanakambaram
Murali Mohan	Raghupati
Sarath Kumar	Raghava
Nirmalamma	Sabari (Rajaram's grandmother)
Sudha	Lakshmi (Raghupati's wife)
Sumalatha	Latha (Raghava's wife)
Nutan Prasad	Home Minister Gali Subba Rao
Kaikala Satyanarayana	Jailer
Allu Ramalingaiah	Sidhanthi
G. V. Narayana Rao	Narayana
Hari Prasad	Hari
Maharshi Raghava	Raghava
Prasad Babu	Henchman of Ekambaram
Jayalalitha	Chukka
Nuthalapati Subbaro	House owner

Soundtrack

Gang Leader
Soundtrack album by Bappi Lahiri
Released	1992
Recorded	1992
Genre	Filmi
Language	Telugu
Label	Lahari Music
Bappi Lahiri chronology
Indra Bhavanam (1992) Gang Leader (1992) Rowdy Alludu (1992)

The Music and background score was provided by Bappi Lahiri and the lyrics were penned by Veturi and Bhuvanachandra. The soundtrack was an instant hit and "Papa Rita" and "Vaana Vaana Velluvaye" were a rage in the entire state at that time.

Bhuvanachandra noted that "Vaana Vaana" was his first song on rain, he was initially apprehensive about writing this song since other songs of the same nature were popular. Bappi composed the tune at Suresh Guest House, initially, the tune was rejected however Bhuvan insisted that the tune should be retained. Later, the song "Vaana Vaana Velluvaye" was re-mixed by Mani Sharma for the 2012 film Rachcha.

Telugu version

Song Title	Singers	Lyricist
"Papa Rita"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam	Bhuvana Chandra
"Paala Bugga"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra	Veturi
"Bhadrachalam"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra	Bhuvana Chandra
"Vaana Vaana Velluvaye"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra	Bhuvana Chandra
"Vayasu Vayasu"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra	Veturi
"Panisaasasa"	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra	Bhuvana Chandra

Tamil version

Lyrics written by Vairamuthu.

Track list

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Paapa Rita Mutham Ketta"	S. P. Balasubramaniam	4:48
2.	"Pattupoove Thottu Paaru"	S. P. B., Chithra	4:38
3.	"Vaadai Vaadai Mazhaiyin"	S. P. B., Chithra	4:37
4.	"Pallavaram Selai"	S. P. B.	5:20
5.	"Sunday Kannadithaay"	S. P. B., Chithra	5:36

Reception

The movie was a huge success. It is considered to be one of the top movies in Chiranjeevi's career. This movie earned more than 70 million of Distributory Share. Gang Leader did a 162-day run at Sudharshan theatre in Hyderabad. The movie successfully completed 100 days in more than 50 theaters. The movie was dubbed into Tamil and Kannada. It was a success in those areas also.

Legacy

The classic car which was used in the movie "Citroën CX Pallas" was owned by Relangi Thirumalla Babu and was the only car of this model present in South India at that time. The car can be seen in the movie as Chiranjeevi and Vijayashanti are talking and the scene cuts to marriage and Vijayashanti commands Chiranjeevi to follow her to marriage.

Video footage of the film's 100 days celebration was used in the Telugu comedy film Appula Appa Rao.

External links

• Gang Leader at IMDb