Gadar: Ek Prem Katha

Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (transl. Rebellion: A Love Story) is a 2001 Indian Hindi-language romantic period action drama film directed by Anil Sharma from a story written by Shaktimaan Talwar and set during the Partition of India in 1947. Loosely based on the life of Boota Singh, the film stars Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma in lead roles, alongside Amrish Puri, Lillete Dubey and Vivek Shauq in supporting roles.
Budgeted at approximately ₹190 million (US$4.03 million), Gadar: Ek Prem Katha had a global cinema release on 15 June 2001, opposite Ashutosh Gowariker's sports drama Lagaan. The film received mixed to positive reviews from critics, garnered praise towards the dramatic and confrontation sequences, soundtrack and the performances, particularly of Deol, Patel and Puri. the film grossed over ₹768.8 million (US$16.29 million) net in India and ₹1.33 billion (US$28.19 million) worldwide with a distributor share of ₹546 million (US$11.57 million), and went on to emerge as the highest-grossing Hindi film since Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994). Gadar: Ek Prem Katha is the second most-watched Indian film in India since the 1980s after Baahubali 2, recording more than 50 million footfalls in India. According to Box Office India, its adjusted gross in India is ₹4.86 billion (US$103 million) as per 2017 ticket sales. The film was nominated in nine categories in 47th Filmfare Awards, including Best Film, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Actress and Best Music, while Patel garnered the Filmfare Special Award.
A sequel titled Gadar 2 was released on 11 August 2023 with Deol, Patel and Sharma reprising their roles, and the film became a commercial blockbuster at the box office.
During the violent 1947 Partition of India, migrating populations clash across the newly formed borders of India and Pakistan. Tara Singh, an Indian Sikh, initially participating in the killing of Muslims, encounters Sakina Ali, a Muslim woman, amidst the chaos. Recognizing her from their college days, he shields her from a hostile mob. To protect her, he applies blood to her forehead, symbolically claiming her as his Sikh wife.
The film then flashes back to their pre-partition college days. Tara, a truck driver delivering supplies to the college, harbors a passion for singing. Initially, Sakina's friends, prejudiced against his working class background, trick and humiliate him. However, his talent is recognised when he returns and impresses them with his singing. Sakina, moved by his talent, apologizes to him and advocates for him to the college authorities, securing him a performance at a college event. This shared experience forges a connection between them. Upon Sakina's college graduation, Tara gifts her a Taj Mahal miniature as a parting gesture.
The partition's horrors soon engulf Tara's family. His parents and sisters, attempting to migrate, are brutally murdered on a train attacked by a Muslim mob. Tara witnesses the carnage, fueling his retaliatory actions. Alongside other enraged Hindus and Sikhs, he participates in massacres against Muslims fleeing to Pakistan.
Returning to the main timeline, Tara and Sakina live together. Despite the circumstances of their union, and upon learning of her family's supposed death, Sakina integrates into Tara's life. Facing societal pressure due to her religious background, she decides to leave for a refugee camp. However, realizing her love for Tara, they marry and have a son, Jeete.
Their peaceful existence is disrupted when Sakina discovers her parents are alive and residing in Lahore, with her father, Ashraf Ali, now a prominent mayor. She travels to Pakistan, leaving Tara and Jeete behind due to visa complications. In Lahore, she is reunited with her family, but her desire to return to India is met with resistance. Her family, concerned with societal backlash, attempts to arrange her marriage to a Muslim man.
Tara, determined to reunite with Sakina, illegally crosses the border with his son and friend, Darmiyaan. They locate Sakina, disrupting her forced marriage. Ashraf Ali, to salvage his political standing, agrees to their reunion under two conditions: they reside in Pakistan and Tara converts to Islam. Ashraf Ali arranges a public gathering where Tara is made to announce his acceptance of the conditions. Tara accepts the terms, however, Ashraf Ali tries to coerce Tara into insulting India, leading to a violent clash with a mob when Tara refuses.
Tara, Sakina, Jeete, and Darmiyaan escape, seeking refuge in a cottage near the border. The cottage owner’s greedy wife betrays their location to Ashraf Ali, who pursues them. They board a train bound for India, but Ashraf Ali intercepts them. In the ensuing conflict, Sakina is shot and falls into a coma. Upon regaining consciousness, she reunites with Tara and Jeete. Ashraf Ali, witnessing their enduring love, finally accepts Tara as his son-in-law. They return to India, their family reunited.
Kajol was offered the role of Sakeena, but she turned it down as she did not feel the movie was her type of film. A part of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha was shot at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla and at other several locations in Shimla. A part of it was also shot in Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School at Dalhousie. Although the film was set in 1947, it features the music of "Que sera sera" which was first published in 1956.
The film was also shot in the city of Lucknow and Rudauli in Uttar Pradesh where the city was depicted as Lahore, Pakistan and parts were shot at La Martiniere Boys School, Lucknow. Some parts were shot at Irshad Manzil Palace in Rudauli. A significant part was shot in Pathankot, Sarna and Amritsar to depict the division-torn country.
The music of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha was composed by Uttam Singh. Lyrics of all the songs were written by Anand Bakshi. Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik supply vocals for Deol and Patel, respectively. According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, the soundtrack sold approximately 2.5 million copies.
Ruchi Sharma of Rediff wrote "Gadar - Ek Prem Katha comes close to being fantastic, even though it is overheated in bits. Not to miss, this". Taran Adarsh gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "On the whole, GADAR is worth the watch for its brilliant dramatic and confrontation sequences, splendid performances and touching moments that overpower the two flaws in the film ? the excessive length (the narrative needs to be trimmed by at least 15 minutes in the second half!) and a weak musical score".
DNAIndia called it one of the must-watch Bollywood films on the Partition of India.
The film faced protests, including incidents of arson and violence, at the time of its release particularly in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bhopal by some Muslim groups who were opposed to the depiction of an interfaith marriage between a Sikh man and Muslim woman as shown in the film. The films portrayal of partition violence was also alleged to be biased against Muslims. Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh was also petitioned by one of the groups to implement a ban in the state, though it did not materialize.
The film had also run into controversy an year earlier while filming at the Bara Imambara (a place for religious congregation) in Lucknow which was protested to by Shia Muslims, and the film had to be reshot at the nearby Rumi Gate.
Arif Masood, a local politician, was the leader of one of the protesting mobs in Bhopal which seriously injured a police constable. Reacting to the violence Deol said "What is sad about the protests is that they were started by cowards, but it is innocent people who are being hurt." Actress Shabana Azmi defended the film's right of exhibition stating, "The movie reinforces the canard that every Muslim is a Pakistani. It mixes issues of identity and nationalism, which should be handled sensitively. But it has been cleared by the Censor Board and has every right to be screened." Then Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray, writing in Saamna too found 'nothing objectionable' in the film.
Gadar: Ek Prem Katha collected ₹1.33 billion (US$16 million) in its initial theatrical run and its adjusted gross is ₹4.86 billion (US$57 million) as per 2017 ticket sales. The film was collected 4.02 crore in its eighth week. The film was a stupendous success, and was declared an All-Time Blockbuster by Box Office India. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha ranks among the top 3 Indian films in all-time highest footfalls since 1990s. In the United Kingdom, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha grossed around £280,000.
An uncut and extended version remastered in 4K resolution and Dolby Atmos sound was given a limited theatrical re-release by Zee Studios on 9 June 2023.
A sequel titled Gadar 2 was announced on 15 October 2021 with the release of a motion poster starring Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel and Utkarsh Sharma in the lead roles. Anil Sharma has directed the sequel with Zee Studios producing the film. The film released on 11 August 2023.