---
title: "Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1"
year: 2012
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/gangs-of-wasseypur-part-1"
fi1m_id: "gangs-of-wasseypur-part-1"
imdb_id: "tt1954470"
tmdb_id: 117691
wikidata_id: "Q2690472"
fi1m_score: 83
critics_score: 83
critics_reviews: 12
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:03.428243+00:00"
region: "NO"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1 (2012)

Directed by Anurag Kashyap · 2h 40m · Action, Thriller, Crime

## Identity

Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/gangs-of-wasseypur-part-1
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** gangs-of-wasseypur-part-1
- **IMDb ID:** tt1954470
- **TMDB ID:** 117691
- **Wikidata ID:** Q2690472
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1954470/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/117691, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2690472

**Fi1m score: 83** · Critics 83 from 12 reviews

*In a sentence:* A mining town full of men who can organise a blood feud but not a peaceful family life

> Anurag Kashyap’s fierce, funny crime saga is worth the concentration it demands. The performances and music keep its feuding families compelling, even when the crowded plotting makes it hard to keep track of them.

## Synopsis

In the mining town of Wasseypur, rival criminal families pursue power and carry their grievances from one generation to the next. Politics, work and family life become tangled with the business of revenge, while domestic disputes continue alongside the violence. Manoj Bajpayee plays Sardar Khan, Richa Chadha plays Nagma and Tigmanshu Dhulia plays Ramadhir Singh. Around them are Faizal Khan (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), Durga (Reema Sen) and Nasir (Piyush Mishra). Directed by Anurag Kashyap, this first part of a crime saga follows a community in which private feuds and public authority are increasingly difficult to separate.

## Review

*Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1* is a violent, funny and demanding crime film, and we recommend it with one practical warning: keeping track of the families takes concentration. Anurag Kashyap follows revenge through a mining town where criminal ambition, political influence and domestic life are closely entangled. He gives family dealings as much attention as the gunfire, which is the right decision. The men may think their grudges deserve everyone’s attention, but the people living alongside them have their own concerns.

Manoj Bajpayee gives Sardar Khan a swagger that is funny without making him harmless. He can hold our attention through sheer insistence, which is useful in a story with so many people competing for it. Richa Chadha, as Nagma, makes the family exchanges matter; her presence stops them feeling like intervals between more important criminal appointments. Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Faizal Khan adds to a strong ensemble, although the film’s pace leaves some of its other faces less firmly established.

Rajeev Ravi’s gliding camera movements make the action easy to follow even when the revenge plotting is not. There is pleasure in that fluency, and Kashyap is willing to make the pleasure uncomfortable. We were horrified by the casualness of the gunplay: the brisk, matter-of-fact staging makes killing look like something these people have fitted into an ordinary day. The violence is brutal, but the lack of ceremony around it is what makes it linger.

Wasiq Khan’s production design helps make Wasseypur feel like a working town rather than a place built for gunfights. That matters because Kashyap and co-writer Zeishan Quadri are interested in how crime fits into ordinary social life, including the political arrangements that allow it to continue. The family exchanges are particularly good at puncturing the men’s importance. Their earthy dialogue gives people something to do besides announce their loyalties, and lets the humour arise from their dealings with one another.

Shweta Venkat Mathew’s editing keeps the film moving across its generations, and the 160 minutes rarely feel padded. The cost is that a new name or grievance can arrive before the last has settled in our memory. A little more room around some introductions would help, particularly when several strands are competing for attention. Kashyap and Quadri occasionally hurry past people whose place in the feud needs establishing more clearly, leaving the actors to make them memorable in the time available.

Sneha Khanwalkar and G. V. Prakash Kumar’s music gives the film another source of energy, with an eclectic soundtrack that is allowed to interrupt solemnity. The songs do not require the story to stop for song-and-dance routines. Their changes of mood suit a film that keeps humour close to brutality, and the music helps the long narrative stay lively. It also supplies welcome changes of pace when the succession of feuds begins to feel relentless.

Against the gangster genre’s habit of making criminal power look enviable, Kashyap gives useful weight to the family complications and political corruption. Even its charismatic men belong to an ugly, unstable way of life, and the humour does not make that life look easier. There is enough character, music and movement here to reward the concentration, but this is not a film for half-watching. Keep the phone out of reach; there are enough names to remember already.

*Fi1m score 83, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The consensus is firmly positive, with praise clustering around Anurag Kashyap’s energetic storytelling, earthy humour and handling of feuds across generations. Most critics find that the violence gains weight from the attention to family relationships, political corruption and the conditions that produce gangsters. The performances draw consistent approval, while the music, sharp dialogue and forceful action receive repeated praise. Several reviews also value the way references to Hindi cinema shape the characters’ ambitions and behaviour.

The differences concern the depth beneath that considerable energy, rather than whether the film works. The New York Times admires the camera movement and action but finds less poetry and character interest than in The Godfather. Sight and Sound finds the revenge cycles tiring in the second part, a reservation about the wider saga rather than Part 1 alone. Several critics assess both parts together; enthusiasm ranges from strong approval to much larger claims for Kashyap’s achievement.

## Straight answers

**Is Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1 worth watching?**

*Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1* is worth watching for anyone with the patience for a long, crowded crime saga, and we scored it 83. Manoj Bajpayee, Richa Chadha and Nawazuddin Siddiqui keep the feuding families compelling over 160 minutes, and the music keeps the mood lively. Keeping track of who hates whom takes real concentration, so this is not a film for half-watching.

**How long is Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1, and what is it rated?**

*Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1* runs 2h 40m. It is an action and thriller film.

**Where can I watch Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1 in Norway?**

*Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1* is not on any streaming or rental service in Norway at the moment. It is available in 5 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1, and is it suitable for children?**

*Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1* is a UK 15 and not suitable for children. The gunplay is brutal and staged with a casualness we found horrifying; killing is fitted into an ordinary day, and that lack of ceremony is what lingers. The earthy dialogue is frank as well. Older teenagers who can take violent gangster films will cope; the squeamish should look elsewhere.

**How does Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1 compare to A Prophet?**

*Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1* is the bigger, louder and funnier of the two, following rival families across a mining town, while [*A Prophet*](https://film.one/film/a-prophet) is a tighter prison drama about one man learning how power works. Audiard's film is the easier to follow and the more disciplined; Kashyap's has more energy, music and humour but far more names to keep straight. Choose *A Prophet* for focus, *Wasseypur* for sprawl.

**What should I watch after Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1?**

After *Gangs of Wasseypur - Part 1*, try [*A Prophet*](https://film.one/film/a-prophet) (2009, Fi1m 86): Another patient account of criminal power, with fewer relatives to keep straight. Then [*City of God*](https://film.one/film/city-of-god) (2002, Fi1m 86): Neighbourhood loyalties and violent ambition, told with comparable speed and unease; and [*The Long Good Friday*](https://film.one/film/the-long-good-friday) (1980, Fi1m 88): A criminal empire discovers that political forces do not respect its proprietor.

### Reviews we read (14)

- **Slant Magazine**, Glenn Heath Jr. (★★★★): Kashyap’s saga is praised as a dark, funny, and electric masterpiece that portrays 20th-century Indian history through Bollywood’s reference-heavy lens, with standout praise for its outrageous set pieces, character myth-making, and the way it blurs fantasy and reality in cycles of revenge. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/gangs-of-wasseypur/)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Danny Bowes (95/100, inferred): The critic calls it one of the most ambitious and best gangster films ever made, praising its epic scope across generations and the futility of revenge. The performances, especially by Richa Chadda and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, are highlighted as magnificent. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/gangs-of-wasseypur-2015)
- **Variety**, Maggie Lee (90/100, inferred): The film is hailed as a brilliant collage of genres, pulverizing and poetic in its depiction of violence, and the magnum opus of the director. Its relentless pacing and epic scope across generations and Indian history are singled out for praise. [Read](https://variety.com/2012/film/markets-festivals/gangs-of-wasseypur-1117947719/)
- **Screen Daily** (85/100, inferred): There is never a dull moment in this over-five-hour Indian gangland epic oozing visual style, laced with tight and often blackly comic dialogue, bolstered by strong performances and a driving neo-Bollywood soundtrack. It is a Tarantino-tinged Bihari take on The Godfather with strong crossover potential. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/-gangs-of-wasseypur/5042672.article)
- **The Guardian**, Nirpal Dhaliwal (85/100, inferred): The critic sees it as a possible turning point in Hindi cinema for its stylish, pacy and naturalistic portrayal of gangster life in an Indian mining town. It praises the compelling characters, sharp dialogue, fantastic soundtrack without song-and-dance routines, and raw depiction of lawlessness, political corruption and family intrigues. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/feb/21/gangs-of-wasseypur-review)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Martin Tsai (80/100, inferred): The sprawling story of revenge among criminal clans is called epic in every sense, deftly managing multiple story lines over decades. Performances are uniformly excellent despite unlikable characters. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-gangs-of-wasseypur-part-1-review-20150117-story.html)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Deborah Young (80/100, inferred): The critic calls it an extraordinary ride through Bollywood’s over-the-top filmmaking with cool command of cinematically referenced violence, ironic characters, and breathless pace that bodes well for crossover audiences. Its length makes wide release difficult outside cult venues. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/gangs-wasseypur-cannes-review-328768/)
- **The Times**, Wendy Ide (80/100, inferred): The critic hails Anurag Kashyap as a world-class talent for this bullet-strafed two-part crime epic that cements his status with muscular genre filmmaking. It singles out the colourful characters, robustly earthy humour, political context, eclectic music integrated into the story, and explosively entertaining saga spanning decades. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/gangs-of-wasseypur-part-1-6jkml78v886)
- **Time Out**, Dave Calhoun (4/5): This speedy, intelligent crime drama traces several criminal families in Wasseypur from the 1940s to the 1990s. Kashyap is matter-of-fact about violence and gun-play but equally focused on family relationships and the social conditions that breed gangsters. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/gangs-of-wasseypur-part-1)
- **IndieWire**, David Chute (75/100, inferred): The review highlights how the film reinvents the Bollywood gangster picture with pop panache and energetic storytelling across its epic scope. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-indian-mob-epic-gangs-of-wasseypur-reinvents-the-bollywood-gangster-pic-with-pop-panache-189256/)
- **The New York Times**, Ben Kenigsberg (70/100, inferred): The film is described as a frequently spectacular achievement with gliding camera moves, brutal action, and dizzying revenge plotting. It lacks the poetry and character interest of The Godfather but offers slickly stylized gunplay. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/16/movies/gangs-of-wasseypur-an-indian-saga-echoes-the-godfather.html)
- **Film Comment**, Jonathan Romney: The critic calls the film a true powerhouse and an epic Indian crime saga of blood feuds and rival clans. They single out its energetic storytelling, charismatic antiheroes, and visceral set pieces such as the slo-mo ambush finale to Part 1. [Read](https://www.filmcomment.com/film-of-the-week-gangs-of-wasseypur/)
- **Sight and Sound**, Naman Ramachandran: Kashyap's sprawling gangster saga is a giddy, hyperviolent homage to The Godfather with well-etched characters and an inventive score capturing small-town northern India. Fatigue sets in during the second part from repetitive revenge cycles, but overall pace and drive make it compelling. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/film-week-gangs-wasseypur-gangs-wasseypur-ii)
- **Eye for Film**, Jennie Kermode (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the film's balance of action, humour and social commentary in this epic tale of family rivalries and revenge spanning decades. She singles out the beautifully observed character interactions and subtle humour for praise, while noting its brutal violence and potential cult appeal. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/gangs-of-wasseypur-2012-film-review-by-jennie-kermode)

## Details

- **Director:** Anurag Kashyap
- **Director:** Anurag Kashyap
- **Writer:** Zeishan Quadri, Anurag Kashyap
- **Story:** Anurag Kashyap
- **Cinematography:** Rajeev Ravi
- **Editor:** Shweta Venkat Mathew
- **Music:** G. V. Prakash Kumar, Sneha Khanwalkar
- **Production design:** Wasiq Khan
- **Producer:** Anurag Kashyap, Sunil Bohra, Guneet Monga Kapoor
- **Cast:** Manoj Bajpai as Sardar Khan; Richa Chadha as Nagma; Tigmanshu Dhulia as Ramadhir Singh; Nawazuddin Siddiqui as Faizal Khan; Reema Sen as Durga; Huma Qureshi as Mohsina Hamid; Piyush Mishra as Nasir; Jameel Khan as Asghar
- **Runtime:** 2h 40m
- **First release (France):** 22 May 2012
- **Genres:** Action, Thriller, Crime
- **Budget:** $1 million
- **Box office:** $4 million

## Where to watch in Norway

Not streaming, renting or buying in Norway at the last check.

Also available in: AT, BE, DE, FR, IN. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *A Prophet* (2009), Fi1m 86: Another patient account of criminal power, with fewer relatives to keep straight. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-prophet.md)
- *City of God* (2002), Fi1m 86: Neighbourhood loyalties and violent ambition, told with comparable speed and unease. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/city-of-god.md)
- *Battles Without Honour and Humanity* (1973): Rival gangs make loyalty negotiable, and the furious pace rarely permits comfort.
- *The Long Good Friday* (1980), Fi1m 88: A criminal empire discovers that political forces do not respect its proprietor. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-long-good-friday.md)
- *Gomorrah* (2008), Fi1m 84: A colder look at organised crime embedded in work, homes and daily life. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/gomorrah.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/gangs-of-wasseypur-part-1