Anurag Kashyap has come a long way from ranting about stars and criticizing the ‘quintessential commercial cinema’ that dwells in India to effortlessly moving to the same commercial film space. But while doing so, Kashyap held to his independent and unconventional style of filmmaking that defines him.
Known for his dark, gritty and realistic type of storytelling, Kashyap injects his own experiences in his tales that come from struggle and setbacks he may have faced. For instance, moving to an alien metro from Gorakhpur, sleeping on railway stations, facing failures and bans on his films to even relationship turmoil to name a few… Already famous in the theatre circuit for his terrific storytelling, Anurag slowly created space for his hatke films that dared to stand out amidst clichéd swan songs and brainless masala potboilers.
His films have no dance numbers, no muscular heroes or arm candy females and posh international destinations; they depict the India our filmmakers clearly ignored in the past.
From writing, directing, producing to even acting for fun, Anurag continues to prove his mettle in every sphere with each passing year. As the maverick filmmaker gears up for the release of his next directorial venture, Ugly, we bring to you a list of Bollywood films he’s directed so far…
Paanch (2003 - unreleased)
Many might think that Black Friday is his first Bollywood directorial debut but his actual debut is 'Paanch'. The film hasn’t released till date and is officially banned because Anurag refuses to make the cuts required by the Censor Board. But soon, with Paanch, Anurag started the revolution of a movie releasing on Youtube.
Black Friday (2005 - 2007)
Kashyap’s Black Friday is possibly one of the most controversial films ever. The story of the film was based on the incidents surrounding the dreadful 1993 Mumbai bomb blast. After being stuck for almost four years before it could get a release date the film was finally granted a release date in 2007. Upon the release Anurag’s work was raved by the critics and audiences worldwide.
No Smoking (2007)
This edgy thriller was loosely based on Stephen King’s short story Quitters Inc. John Abraham’s portrayal of a man fights against a tyrannical institution for his right to smoke and individual freedom is regarded as one of his finest performance till date. But unfortunately, the audiences panned the film due to its confusing storyline.
Dev D (2009)
Dev D was a modern-day twist to the age-old saga Devdas and was raved by the masses especially the youth. And with it Anurag finally tasted his first box office success and from thereon, there was no looking back for him.
Gulal (2009)
Set in Rajpur, a dark story of quest of power, politics and corruption brought Kashyap plenty of adulation for his remarkable storytelling tactics. With critically acclaimed films like Gulaal and Dev D in the same year, Anurag became one of the most sought after filmmakers in the industry.
That Girl in Yellow Boots (2011)
Starring Kalki Koechlin and Naseruddin Shah, That Girl in Yellow Boots, a dark edgy thriller set in the underbelly of Mumbai was yet another specimen of Anurag Kashyap’s independent and individual style of filmmaking. It proved the fact that Anurag doesn’t believe in the audiences watching his films through rose-tinted glasses.
Gangs of Wasseypur 1 & 2 (2012)
Not only India, the whole world went gaga over these revenge tales of a strong screenplay, gritty dialogues and brilliant acting. Set in an era of coal mafias in Jharkhand, Gangs of Wasseypur 1 & 2 proved to be yet another path breaking creation of his. The films also made Anurag’s long time friend and fellow struggler, Nawazuddin Siddique the star he is today. The critics noticed the ability Anurag has of extracting the best from his cast.
Bombay Talkies (2013)
Anurag’s Murabba was a part of the anthology film, Bombay Talkies that was a tribute to 100 years of Hindi Cinema. The story of a fan of megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his journey, touched millions of hearts from across the globe. It was the perfect blend of hindi cinema, its magic and the effect it has on the lives of fans.
Ugly (2014)
Anurag’s upcoming film, Ugly is a psychological saga that’s also written by him. The film is a tale of corruption and systemic violence wherein a 10-year-old daughter of an aspiring actor disappears.
The film created waves at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival where it was screened in the Directors' Fortnight section. It also opened the 2014 New York Indian Film Festival.
The multi-talented
Anurag was already a big name in the theatre circuit when friend, Manoj Bajpayee showed his works to Ram Gopal Verma. Soon, RGV took Anurag on board to write the story of Satya that became a cult. And from thereon, he established himself as an ace writer. He’s also produced some critically and commercially successful films of recent times. Udaan, Shahid, The Lunchbox, Lootera, Hasee Toh Phasee, Queen are among them. This year, he even directed a television series Yudh starring Amitabh Bachchan.
A theatre artist and acting student, Kashyap has also shown his acting chops by doing cameos in films like Black Friday, No Smoking, Luck by Chance, Dev D, Gulaal, Shagird, Aiyyaa, Bhoothnath Returns and many more.
After Ugly, his next film is Bombay Velvet (2016), which is his biggest project till date. Starring Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, the films also marks the acting debut of Karan Johar and comeback of Raveena Tandon.
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