Lage Raho Munna Bhai

2023-12-22T15:27:44Z

2409:40C0:1035:40EB:8000:0:0:0:

{{short description|2006 film directed by Rajkumar Hirani}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Lage Raho Munna Bhai
| image =
| caption =
| director = [[Rajkumar Hirani]]
| writer = {{unbulleted list|Rajkumar Hirani|[[Abhijat Joshi]]}}
| story = {{unbulleted list|Rajkumar Hirani|[[Vidhu Vinod Chopra]]}}
| producer = Vidhu Vinod Chopra
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Sanjay Dutt]]
* [[Arshad Warsi]]
* [[Vidya Balan]]
* [[Jimmy Sheirgill]]
* [[Boman Irani]]
* [[Dia Mirza]]
* [[Supriya Shukla]]
* [[Dilip Prabhavalkar]]
}}
| cinematography = [[C. K. Muraleedharan]]
| editing = Rajkumar Hirani
| music = [[Shantanu Moitra]]
| distributor = [[Vinod Chopra Films]]
| released = {{Film date|2006|09|01|df=yes|ref1=<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.moviefone.com/movie/lage-raho-munna-bhai/27012/synopsis |title=Moviefone: Lage Raho Munna Bhai |work=Moviefone |access-date=3 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905151439/http://www.moviefone.com/movie/lage-raho-munna-bhai/27012/synopsis |archive-date=5 September 2010 |publisher=AOL LLC}}</ref>}}
| runtime = 145 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lage Raho Munna Bhai |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/lage-raho-munna-bhai-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtoduwotg1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201100805/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbfc.co.uk%2Frelease%2Flage-raho-munna-bhai-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtoduwotg1 |archive-date=30 August 2006 |access-date=1 February 2022 |website= [[British Board of Film Classification]] }}</ref>
| country = [[India]]
| language = [[Hindi]]
| budget = [[Indian rupee|₹]]200 million<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2006/0LARM.php |title=Lage Raho Munnabhai |website=The Numbers |publisher=Nash Information Services, LLC |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630084100/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2006/0LARM.php |archive-date=30 June 2007 |access-date=3 May 2007}}</ref>
| gross = {{estimation}} ₹1.28 billion<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/lage-raho-munnabhai/box-office/|title=Lage Raho Munnabhai}}<br/>{{Cite web |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/arounddetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=4409&nCat= |title=Top Lifetime Grossers Worldwide (IND Rs) |website=Box Office India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102223818/http://boxofficeindia.com/arounddetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=4409&nCat= |archive-date=2 November 2013 |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>
}}

'''''Lage Raho Munna Bhai''''' ({{IPA-hns|ləˈɡeː rəˈɦoː mʊnːaːˈbʱaːi|pron|LageRahoMunnaBhaiPronounciation.ogg}}; translation: ''Keep Going, Munna Bro'') is a [[List of Bollywood films of 2006|2006]] [[Cinema of India|Indian]] [[Hindi]]-language satirical [[Comedy film|comedy]] drama film written, edited and directed by [[Rajkumar Hirani]], who also co-wrote the screenplay with [[Abhijat Joshi]], and produced by [[Vidhu Vinod Chopra]] under the production banner of [[Vinod Chopra Films]]. The film was released worldwide on 1 September 2006 and is the second installment of the [[Munna Bhai (film series)|''Munna Bhai'' film series]] after its prequel, ''[[Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.]]'' (2003), with [[Sanjay Dutt]] and [[Arshad Warsi]] reprising their roles as [[Munna Bhai]], a gangster in the [[Organised crime in India|Mumbai underworld]], and his sidekick, Circuit, respectively. [[Vidya Balan]] portrays the female lead, replacing [[Gracy Singh]] from the original, while several other actors from the prequel, notably [[Jimmy Sheirgill]] and [[Boman Irani]], appear in new roles, and [[Dia Mirza]] and [[Supriya Shukla]] also appear in the film. In this film, the eponymous lead character begins to see the image of [[Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi]] (whom he refers to as "Bapu"), which is portrayed by [[Dilip Prabhavalkar]]. Through his interactions with Gandhi, he begins to practice what he refers to as "[[Gandhigiri]]" (a neologism for "[[Gandhism]]") to help ordinary people solve their problems.

The film won widespread critical acclaim and had a number of prominent screenings. It was a box-office success and received a "blockbuster" rating by the website ''Box Office India'' after grossing over {{INRConvert|1.270|b|year=2006}} worldwide. It was the recipient of a number of awards, including 4 [[National Film Awards]].<ref name="boind">{{Cite news |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=212&catName=MjAwNg== |title=Box Office 2006 (Figures in Ind Rs) |work=Box Office India |access-date=3 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020213049/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=212&catName=MjAwNg%3D%3D |archive-date=20 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="natawards">{{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-11/india/27782694_1_bengali-film-malayalam-film-54th-national-film-awards |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023094051/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-06-11/india/27782694_1_bengali-film-malayalam-film-54th-national-film-awards |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 October 2012 |title=Munna Bhai sweeps National Film Awards |date=10 June 2008 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=2 March 2009}}</ref> ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' was the first Hindi film to be shown at the United Nations,<ref name=praise /><ref name="unscreen">{{Cite news |url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/06/nov/14_lage_raho_munna_bhai_rajkumar_hirani.asp |title=UN members laughed and applauded at 'Lage Raho... |last=Indo-Asian News Service |date=14 November 2006 |work=glamsham.com |access-date=14 November 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620141533/http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/06/nov/14_lage_raho_munna_bhai_rajkumar_hirani.asp |archive-date=20 June 2007 |publisher=Fifth Quarter Infomedia Pvt. Ltd.}}</ref> and was screened at the ''2007 Cannes Film Festival#Tous Les Cinemas du Monde|Tous Les Cinema du Monde'' section of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.<ref name=hot /><ref name="stuns">{{Cite news |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1177154/Lage-Raho-Munnabhai-stuns-Cannes |title='Lage Raho Munnabhai' stuns Cannes |last=Adarsh |first=Taran |date=22 May 2007 |access-date=6 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203151616/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1177154/Lage-Raho-Munnabhai-stuns-Cannes |archive-date=3 February 2014 |publisher=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref> The film popularised the term ''Gandhigiri''.<ref name="gandhighiri2009">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2009013153790300.htm&date=2009/01/31/&prd=mp& |title=Bole tho... Gandhigiri |last=Allagh |first=Harjeet Kaur |date=31 January 2009 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103035732/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2009013153790300.htm&date=2009/01/31/&prd=mp& |archive-date=3 January 2013 }}</ref><ref name="mridulatoi060929">{{Cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-09-29/hyderabad/27786386_1_gandhigiri-gandhi-jayanti-gandhiji |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017170830/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-09-29/hyderabad/27786386_1_gandhigiri-gandhi-jayanti-gandhiji |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2012 |title=Gandhigiri, a cool way to live |last=Chunduri |first=Mridula |date=29 September 2006 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=29 September 2006 }}</ref><ref name="Sharmaboston">{{Cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/10/13/how_gandhi_got_his_mojo_back/ |title=How Gandhi got his mojo back |last=Sharma |first=Swati Gauri |date=13 October 2006 |work=boston.com |access-date=13 October 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026122053/http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2006/10/13/how_gandhi_got_his_mojo_back/ |archive-date=26 October 2006 |publisher=The New York Times Company}}</ref> Vidhu Vinod Chopra submitted the film as an independent entry for the 2007 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. It was later remade in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] as ''[[Shankar Dada Zindabad]]'' (2007).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sify.com/movies/shankardada-zindabad-review-telugu-pclwsvgjehieg.html |title=Shankardada Zindabad |date=27 July 2007 |website=[[Sify]] |access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Murli Prasad Sharma ([[Sanjay Dutt]]), also known as [[Munna Bhai]], is a street-wise [[Bombay Hindi|Mumbai Hindi]]-speaking gangster who runs an extortion racket on the streets of [[Mumbai]], and is helped by his loyal sidekick, Sarkeshwar ([[Arshad Warsi]]), also known as Circuit, who does most of his work for him. Munna is in love with the voice of Janvi ([[Vidya Balan]]), a radio jockey, who soon announces a contest on the life and beliefs of [[Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi]] set for 2 October — [[Gandhi Jayanti]] with an interview with her as the prize, and Munna is determined to win. Through the assistance of Circuit, who kidnaps and bribes a group of professors, and all his henchmen, who jam the phone lines, Munna succeeds and meets Janvi in person. During the interview, he lies that he is a history professor specializing in Gandhi (whom he refers to as "Bapu", father in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] language) and being a true [[Gandhians|Gandhian]], and uses much colloquial language for having difficulty speaking formal [[Hindi]]. Despite this, Janvi is impressed and subsequently asks Munna to host a lecture on Gandhi at her home, which she has repurposed into a senior citizen community called the ''Second Innings House''.

Realising that he cannot use his old tricks anymore, Munna enters into an old Gandhi library in Mumbai, and engages into a period of intense study about the life and ideologies of Gandhi, in order to prepare himself for the event within five days. Munna reads about Gandhi for continous three days and three nights without food or sleep, so the image of Gandhi ([[Dilip Prabhavalkar]]) begins to appear to him as hallucination, due to the chemical imbalance in his tired brain, and offers his help and advice to Munna. Gandhi continues to appear each time Munna sings ''Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram'' (a song often sung in Gandhi's memory). Initially, Munna believes himself to be going insane, but later comes to get used to Gandhi's presence. With the help of Gandhi, Munna delivers a chaotic but well-received lecture at the ''Second Innings House'' about [[Gandhism]] (particularly adherence to non-violence and truth which Munna calls by its neologism "[[Gandhigiri]]") being only used in the name and not in practice, and then helps the senior citizens solve their problems through his connections and rowdyism.

Lakhbir Singh ([[Boman Irani]]), also known as Lucky, is a corrupt builder, who employs Circuit and Munna to conduct the [[Organised crime in India|Mumbai underworld]] activities for him. Lucky learns that Munna is in love with Janvi, and offers to help him propose to her by funding a trip to [[Goa]], for Munna, Janvi and all the senior citizens for the remarriage of Bomi, one of the now-widowed senior citizens, with his now-widowed former college friend, Tina. During the trip, Munna tries to confess his love to Janvi, however, they discover that the trip was a ruse for Lucky to occupy the ''Second Innings House'', as it turns out that Lucky's daughter, Simran ([[Dia Mirza]]), is engaged to marry Sunny ([[Abhishek Bachchan]]), the son of Khurana ([[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]]), another powerful builder. Khurana is superstitious and his activities are controlled by his astrologer, Batuk Maharaj ([[Saurabh Shukla]]), whose particular use of numerology led Khurana to add an extra "K" to his name, and further convinced him that Second Innings House would be the most auspicious place for the new couple to live, hence the seizure. Further, Batuk initially advised Khurana to not go through with the marriage since Simran is a manglik (an individual whose Vedic astrological makeup in the horoscope is believed by some to be devastating for marriage, mostly leading to the death of the spouse after a certain calculated period of marriage). Lucky, not wishing to lose such an alliance, covers this up along with his wife ([[Supriya Shukla]]) by stating that there is a mistake at the time of Simran's birth and hence the alliance progresses.

With the police and lawyers not willing to confront Lucky, Munna, Circuit, Janvi and all the senior citizens of Second Innings House launch a non-violent "satyagraha" outside Lucky's home and call the protest "Get well soon, Lucky". After a fight with Lucky's security guards, Munna and Circuit are arrested, but Janvi later bails them out and invites Munna to her radio show to publicize the issue. They together host a new program called "Bapu Ka Magic" ("Bapu's Magic"), where they offer Gandhigiri-style advice to listeners' problems, in exchange of the listeners sending flowers (red roses especially) to Lucky to help him recover from the "disease of dishonesty". After Munna receives his first caller, Victor D'Souza ([[Jimmy Sheirgill]]), who works as a taxi driver to repay the money of his father ([[Parikshit Sahni]]) which he lost in stock market, the show gains popularity and pressure builds on Lucky, who tries and fails to offer Munna other properties. Later, on Gandhi's insistence, Munna writes a letter to Janvi, who believes it to be a love letter, but is instead heartbroken to learn the truth about Munna, and slaps him and leaves him with all the senior citizens, causing the protests to falter. Despite this, Munna meets Lucky and assures him that he will not give up the fight. Although Janvi quits hosting the radio show, Munna continues to host it by himself, offering increasingly out-of-the-box but successful solutions to listeners, much to Janvi's chagrin.

The pressure on Lucky from Khurana reaches boiling point. Lucky then tricks Munna into revealing his conversations with Gandhi's image before a public audience, making him seem insane. At this press conference, Munna discovers that only after he has learned something about Gandhi's life can the image talk about it, which serves as proof for a psychiatrist in the audience that Munna is delusional and that his brain is chemically imbalanced. Gandhi's monologue at the end of the film, however, questions this conclusion. On the day of Simran's marriage, she learns the truth from her mother about her father's deception of Khurana and escapes from Victor's taxi. Meanwhile, Munna and Circuit decide to leave the city and drown their sorrows in alcohol, but Munna wishes to apologise to Janvi through the program before doing so and the entire recording studio is held hostage by Circuit in the process. Simultaneously, Victor connects Simran to Munna, where she reveals that although she loves Sunny, she is a manglik and thus is unlucky to marry. She is also devastated by her father's wrongdoings and has always looked up to him. With Lucky, Janvi, and the senior citizens listening in, Munna convinces Simran to return and tell the truth, reasoning that Khurana's belief in numerology is irrational. Simran does so and Khurana rejects her, but Munna and Circuit arrive at the marriage ceremony and use some of their old tricks to successfully dispel Batuk's superstitions. Khurana still remains unmoved but Sunny refuses to listen to his father and exchanges garlands with Simran nevertheless, while Munna and Circuit voluntarily surrender themselves to the police. However, Janvi returns and reconciles with Munna in prison, stating that she had seen many professors who provide the knowledge of Gandhi's principles, but he is the only "professor" who practices them. At the same time, a grateful Lucky apologises and returns the keys of ''Second Innings House'' with a smile on his face, promising to reform.

In the end, the image of Gandhi narrates what happened to all the characters; Munna and Janvi got married and continued their radio show together; Circuit is adopted by Bomi and Tina, the newlymarried old couple living at the Second Innings House who adopt his mannerisms; Victor achieved success, finally earning enough money to purchase a taxi of his own, making his father proud; and Sunny and Simran remained happily married, and were blessed with a son, prompting Khurana to renounce his belief in numerology, remove the extra "K" from his name and banish Batuk. As he concludes, the image of Gandhi tells the audience that although he was killed several years ago, his beliefs would not die by just three gunshots, and that times would change but his ideologies would still drive chemical imbalance into the brain of some of the other person. Gandhi also states that it is the choice of the audience to either hang a photograph of him on the wall or to live by his principles. The film ends with a reformed Lucky sitting in the very same Gandhi library in which Munna sat, reading up on Gandhi's life, and Gandhi's image begins to appear to him too, causing Lucky to immediately call for a photograph to be taken of them together, which perplexes the photographer, who cannot see the image of Gandhi.

== Cast ==
* [[Sanjay Dutt]] as Murli Prasad Sharma (a.k.a. [[Munna Bhai]]); a gangster in the [[Organised crime in India|Mumbai underworld]]
* [[Arshad Warsi]] as Sarkeshwar (a.k.a. Circuit); Munna's sidekick
* [[Vidya Balan]] as Janvi; [[Mumbai]]'s radio jockey
* [[Jimmy Sheirgill]] as Victor D'Souza; Munna's friend
* [[Boman Irani]] as Lakhbir Singh (a.k.a. Lucky); Munna and Circuit's employer
* [[Dia Mirza]] as Simran Singh; Lucky's daughter
* [[Dilip Prabhavalkar]] as the image of [[Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi]] (a.k.a. "Bapu")
* [[Supriya Shukla]] as Mrs. Lakhbir Singh; Lucky's wife
* [[Kulbhushan Kharbanda]] as Khurana; Lucky's friend
* [[Parikshit Sahni]] as A. L. D'Souza; Victor's father
* [[Saurabh Shukla]] as Batuk Maharaj; Khurana's astrologer
* [[Achyut Potdar]] as Second Innings House resident
* [[Arun Bali]] as Second Innings House resident
* Bomi Dotivala as Bomi Uncle, Second Innings House resident
* [[Abhishek Bachchan]] as Sunny Khurana; Khurana's son and Simran's bridegroom (cameo appearance)
* [[Rohitash Gaud]] as Cuckoo; Lucky's assistant
* [[Uday Sabnis]] as G. S. Gaitonde; a municipality officer
* [[Ninad Kamat]] as Advocate Vishal Chawla; Janvi's lawyer
* [[Priya Bapat]] as the girl who contacts Munna on his radio show
* [[Kurush Deboo]] as Advocate Dhansukh Bhai Patel (cameo appearance)

== Production ==
The [[Munna Bhai (film series)|''Munna Bhai'' series]] began after [[Vidhu Vinod Chopra]] agreed to produce [[Rajkumar Hirani]]'s 2003 film ''[[Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.]]'' when no one else would (Hirani had worked as an editor on Chopra's 2000 film ''[[Mission Kashmir]]''). They also collaborated on the script.<ref name=indiafm20022007>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/from-the-director-s-diary-vidhu-vinod-chopra-news-bollywood-kkfve1jibig.html |title=From the director's diary... Vidhu Vinod Chopra |access-date=20 February 2007 |author=Bollywood Hungama |date=20 February 2007 |work=Features |publisher=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028081453/http://www.sify.com/movies/from-the-director-s-diary-vidhu-vinod-chopra-news-bollywood-kkfve1jibig.html |archive-date=28 October 2014 |author-link=Bollywood Hungama }}</ref> ''Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'' was a runaway success that prompted the duo to contemplate a sequel. The sequel was initially known as ''Munna Bhai Meets Mahatma Gandhi'' and was later titled ''Munna Bhai: 2nd Innings'' before the title ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' was finalized.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nitin |last=Sethi |url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/05/may/06chopra.asp |title=Vinod Chopra Productions 3-in-1 |work=glamsham.com |publisher=Fifth Quarter Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. |date=1 May 2006 |access-date=29 September 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051210234619/http://www.glamsham.com/movies/scoops/05/may/06chopra.asp |archive-date=10 December 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Taran |last=Adarsh |url=http://www.indiafm.com/news/2006/05/04/7075/index.html |title=Munnabhai' gets a new name, Also new release date |work=news |publisher=indiafm.com |date=4 May 2006 |access-date=29 September 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508201748/http://indiafm.com/news/2006/05/04/7075/index.html |archive-date= 8 May 2006 }}</ref>

In an interview, Hirani admitted that he felt the burden of expectation while writing the screenplay for ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'', as he had to create "something to match" the first film.<ref name=rediff010906>{{Cite news|url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/01hirani1.htm |title=Munna and Circuit are divine fools' |work=rediff.com |publisher=Rediff.com India Limited |date=1 September 2006 |access-date=18 January 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209231237/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/01hirani1.htm |archive-date= 9 February 2007 }}</ref> Initially, there was some effort to incorporate scenes or characteristics of the first film into the sequel (such as the idiosyncratic laugh of Asthana, portrayed by [[Boman Irani]] in the first installment), but the risks of repetition were consciously averted.<ref name=rediff010906 />

One of Hirani's goals in making the film was to revive an interest in [[Mahatma Gandhi]], a figure who he felt had been forgotten in contemporary India. To highlight this fact, Hirani recounted (during an interview) an incident with a ''[[chaiwala]]'' boy (who brings tea to the crew) during production:

:The boy was curious, he was a big [[Munna Bhai]] fan and kept asking the name of the film. The first working title was ''Munna Bhai Meets Mahatma Gandhi'' and Shantanu (Moitra, the music director) told him. So he said, 'Munna Bhai to theek hai, yeh Mahatma Gandhi kaun hai?' ('Munna Bhai is fine, but who is this Mahatma Gandhi?') So this is the sad state of affairs today. I was shocked. And it's not just the chai-wallah. A few days ago on TV a lot of politicians were asked India-related questions on the news channels, and I can't believe a lot of them don't know 2 October is [[Gandhi Jayanti|Gandhiji's birthday]]! Many didn't know his first name. They kept saying, 'what's in a name, we respect his ideals,' but come on! How can you not know his name?<ref name=rediff040906>{{Cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/04hirani.htm |title=Lage Raho will make you laugh with moist eyes |work=rediff.com |publisher=Rediff.com India Limited |date=4 September 2006 |access-date=29 September 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217033421/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/04hirani.htm |archive-date=17 February 2007 }}</ref>

The other screenwriter, [[Abhijat Joshi]] (who teaches in the department of English at [[Otterbein College]] in [[Westerville, Ohio]]), stated that he had been conducting extensive research on Gandhi,<ref name=joshirediff0926>{{Cite news|title=How Gandhigiri found a place in Munnabhai |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/26joshi.htm |work=rediff.com |publisher=Rediff.com India Limited |date=26 September 2006 |access-date=25 April 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519114751/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/26joshi.htm |archive-date=19 May 2007 }}</ref> which inspired producer Chopra to involve Joshi in the creation of the second ''Munna Bhai'' screenplay.<ref name=joshirediff0926 />

While writing the screenplay, Hirani and Joshi stayed together for more than 4 months. They developed scenes by going out for a walk and discussing the scene. They would not return home until they had created a scene that would make them laugh, or cry, or had some provocative thought.<ref name=joshirediff0926 /> While there was a shortage of resources during the shooting of ''Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'', the crew did not encounter a financial crisis during the filming of ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'', as the team managed to receive whatever was deemed necessary (including a Jimmy Jib, a specific kind of camera crane, just for a single [[crane shot]]).<ref name=rediff010906 /> The film was shot on location in and around [[Mumbai]], with [[Goa]] as a backdrop for the "Aane Charaane" song.<ref name=rediff010906 />

Only 2 characters—those of Munna Bhai (portrayed by Sanjay Dutt) and Circuit (portrayed by Arshad Warsi)—were retained from ''Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'' Several actors from ''Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'', appeared in ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' as different characters.<ref name=yahoomovies020806>{{cite web
| url = http://in.movies.yahoo.com/060802/24/66cth.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060828195708/http://in.movies.yahoo.com/060802/24/66cth.html
| archive-date=28 August 2006 | title = An interview with Rajkumar Hirani|access-date = 20 April 2007 | author = IndiaFM News Bureau| date = 2 August 2006 | work = Yahoo! Movies | publisher = Yahoo Web Services India Pvt Ltd}}</ref> Vidya Balan was chosen to play the leading lady Jahnavi as her voice was thought to be appropriate for that of a radio jockey.<ref name=movietalkies040906>{{cite web
|url=http://www.movietalkies.com/interviews/116/raju-hirani-speaks-on-‘lage-raho-munnabhai’
|title=Rajkumar Hirani
|access-date=20 April 2007
|author=MovieTalkies.com
|date=4 September 2006
|work=Interviews
|publisher=Movie Talkies.com
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119055104/http://www.movietalkies.com/interviews/116/raju-hirani-speaks-on-%E2%80%98lage-raho-munnabhai%E2%80%99
|archive-date=19 January 2016
}}</ref>

The actors used several techniques to develop their characters. Warsi encountered some initial problems reviving his character from the first film. Hirani recalled that on the first day of the shoot when Warsi said his first line, "he didn't sound like Circuit at all. He sounded like Arshad Warsi speaking with an accent."<ref name=yahoomovies020806 /> Warsi admitted that he had "forgotten" the character of Circuit and had to watch the DVD of ''Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'' 3 times before being able to film the scene correctly.<ref name=yahoomovies020806 /> Dutt also confessed that he had to watch the first film 8 to 9 times to recapture the "persona" of Munna Bhai.<ref name=yahoomovies020806 /> In addition, Dutt stated in an interview that he did not read Gandhi's autobiography ''[[The Story of My Experiments with Truth]]'' as a preparation for ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai''. Rather, he comments, his father, [[Sunil Dutt]] (who portrayed Munna Bhai's father in ''Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.'') and his mother (the late actress [[Nargis]]) were his role models as they "were basically Gandhians. We were brought up with those values."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Nandini |last=Nair |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/lucknow-times/my-father-was-modern-day-gandhi/articleshow/2060527.cms |title=My father was modern day Gandhi |work=indiatimes.com |publisher=Times Internet Limited |date=1 October 2006 |access-date=1 October 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607235718/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/lucknow-times/My-father-was-modern-day-Gandhi/articleshow/2060527.cms |archive-date= 7 June 2011 }}</ref>

Dilip Prabhavalkar, who portrays Gandhi, read Gandhi's works "once again" to prepare for his role.<ref name=yahooibngiri>{{Cite news|work=IBNlive.com |title=The Verdict: Does Gandhigiri work? |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/verdict-does-gandhigiri-work/22959-3.html |publisher=CNN-IBN |date=1 October 2006 |access-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111109040354/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/verdict-does-gandhigiri-work/22959-3.html |archive-date= 9 November 2011 }}</ref> Boman Irani prepared for the role of Lucky Singh by spending time with Sardarjis (male [[Sikh]]s) in auto spare parts shops to research his role.<ref>{{Cite news| first=Nandini| last=Nair| url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/10/13/stories/2006101301730300.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123190021/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/10/13/stories/2006101301730300.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=23 November 2007| title= A tortoise who won| date=13 October 2006| access-date=17 November 2006| work=[[The Hindu]]| location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Vidya Balan met with a couple of radio jockeys and watched them at work.<ref name=hindusiddiqui>{{Cite news |first=Rana |last=Siddiqui |title=The grace of Munnabhai |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/09/01/stories/2006090102090100.htm |date=1 September 2006 |access-date=20 April 2007 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001001546/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/09/01/stories/2006090102090100.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=1 October 2007 }}</ref>

== Themes and Impact ==

=== Influences and Allusions ===
Each film in the ''Munna Bhai series'' features Munna and Circuit in a story that is comprehensive unto itself and is not continued or referred to in another in the series. Director Hirani has compared this format to the films of [[Charlie Chaplin]] and [[Laurel and Hardy]], as well as to the [[James Bond film series|James Bond]] series.<ref name=rediff010906 /> Others have also likened the series to the work of Laurel and Hardy.<ref>{{Cite news| first=Sangeetha K.| last=Devi| url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/09/01/stories/2006090103120100.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219031101/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/09/01/stories/2006090103120100.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=19 February 2014| title=Our answer to Laurel and Hardy?| date=1 September 2006| work=[[The Hindu]]| access-date=6 December 2012}}</ref> Some, however, have negated this comparison, stating that the series is more akin to the ''[[Road to...]]'' "buddy films" of [[Bob Hope]] and [[Bing Crosby]].<ref>{{Cite news| first=Piroj| last=Wadia| url=http://www.screenindia.com/news/now-congress-joins-valleys-political-chorus-for-clemency/13698/| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208181905/http://www.screenindia.com/news/now-congress-joins-valleys-political-chorus-for-clemency/13698/| url-status=dead| archive-date=8 February 2013| title=Carry on with Munnabhai| work=screenindia.com|publisher=Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd| date=6 October 2006| access-date=6 December 2012}}</ref> Hirani stated that his work was deeply inspired by the films of [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]].<ref name=rediff040906 />

=== Social Influence ===
The interaction between the central characters of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and [[Munna Bhai]] highlights concepts and ideas that draw upon the period of [[British Raj|Colonial India]] and the [[Indian independence movement]]. Gandhi was a leader in this movement, challenging the [[British Empire]]'s presence in India through the use of ''[[Satyagraha]]'' (non-violence). In the film, Jahnavi and Munna Bhai's non-violent protest against Lucky Singh serves as a metaphor for the Indian independence movement and the battle against the [[British Raj]].<ref>{{Cite news| first=Sudha |last=Ramachandran |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HI29Df01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007115420/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HI29Df01.html |url-status=unfit |archive-date=7 October 2006 | title=The Mahatma goes hip|work=Asia Times| publisher=[[Asia Times]]| date=29 September 2006| access-date=2 March 2009}}</ref>

The thematic attention to Gandhi's theories in ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' revived an interest in ''[[Gandhism]]'' in India under the new term ''[[Gandhigiri]]''<ref name=gandhighiridef>{{Cite news|first=Mihir |last=Shah |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/28/stories/2006092802241000.htm |title=Gandhigiri – a philosophy for our times |date=28 September 2006 |access-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122062722/http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/28/stories/2006092802241000.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=22 January 2010 }}</ref> and "made Gandhi suddenly hip" with Indians "staging non-violent protests, starting websites, handing out roses to enemies and putting on peaked white caps from the Gandhi era."<ref>{{Cite news| first=Kim| last=Barker| url=http://www.gandhiserve.org/news/mgnd/news200611061112.html#a10| title=Inspiration Renewed| work=Kansas City Star| publisher=Kansas City Star| date=8 November 2006| access-date=24 April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020910/http://www.gandhiserve.org/news/mgnd/news200611061112.html#a10|archive-date=24 September 2015}}</ref> Arunabha Ghosh, in December 2006, noted in ''The Economic and Political Weekly'' that, "Gandhi, the man, was once the message. In the India of the post-[[P. V. Narasimha Rao#Economic reforms|liberalization]] brand, Gandhigiri is the message."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Arunabha |last=Ghosh |url=http://www.epw.in/commentary/lage-raho-munna-bhai-unravelling-brand-gandhigiri.html |format=PDF |title=Lage Raho Munna Bhai: Unravelling Brand Gandhigiri: Gandhi, the man, was once the message. In post-liberalisation India, 'Gandhigiri' is the message |work=epw.org.in |publisher=The Economic and Political Weekly |date=23 December 2006 |access-date=1 May 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105048/http://www.epw.in/commentary/lage-raho-munna-bhai-unravelling-brand-gandhigiri.html |archive-date=31 May 2014 }}</ref> [[Amelia Gentleman]] of ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' stated in September 2006 that:

:"The real excitement was a [[Bollywood]] film [...] which [became] the unexpected box-office hit of the year [...] With its big Bollywood soundtrack and dance routines, the movie brings Gandhi firmly into the mainstream and theatres have been packed for the past 3 weeks. [[Indian National Congress|The Congress Party]] recommended that all party members see the film. The Delhi authorities declared that tickets to the film would be sold tax free because of its assiduous promotion of Gandhian values."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Amelia |last=Gentleman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/20/world/asia/20iht-letter.2880999.html |title=Does urbanized India have room for Gandhi? – Asia – Pacific – International Herald Tribune |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=20 September 2006 |access-date=6 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805111710/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/20/world/asia/20iht-letter.2880999.html |archive-date= 5 August 2011 }}</ref>

Mark Sappenfield of ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' argued in 2006 that the film was appealing because, "Gandhi gets his hands dirty. He appears as an apparition only visible to the wayward gangster, counselling him on how to help others deal with everyday problems."<ref name=revive>{{Cite news|first=Mark |last=Sappenfield |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1003/p01s04-wosc.html |title=It took a comedy to revive Gandhi's ideals in India |work=csmonitor.com |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor |date=3 October 2006 |access-date=10 October 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022152026/http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/1003/p01s04-wosc.html |archive-date=22 October 2006 }}</ref> Swati Gauri Sharma suggested in ''The [[Boston Globe]]'' that what the United States "needs is a film that encourages people to take up Gandhigiri, [[Martin Luther King Jr.|Kinggiri]], or [[John F. Kennedy|Kennedygiri]]. If it worked for Bollywood, it could work for Hollywood."<ref name=Sharmaboston />

=== Gandhigiri-style Protests ===
[[File:Marche sel.jpg|thumb|Gandhi leading [[Salt Satyagraha]], a notable example of [[satyagraha]]]]

After the release of the film, [[Gandhigiri]]-style protests began to take place in India.<ref name=gandhighiri2009 /> In 2006, farmers staged a protest with flowers in the [[Vidarbha]] region,<ref>{{Cite news|first=Zubair |last=Ahmed |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6044476.stm |title=Gandhi-style protest by farmers |work=BBC news |publisher=BBC |date=12 October 2006 |access-date=12 October 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902151119/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6044476.stm |archive-date= 2 September 2007 }}</ref> and people who organised a protest in [[Lucknow]] claimed to have been inspired by ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' to use roses to convey their message.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Sharat |last=Pradhan |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/21sharat.htm |title=Lucknow citizens go Gandhian on liquor merchant |publisher=Rediff.com India Limited |date=21 September 2006 |access-date=25 April 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907051123/http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/sep/21sharat.htm |archive-date= 7 September 2007 }}</ref> In Lucknow, students claimed to have been inspired by ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' to do volunteer work, planting trees "to conserve nature which is bound to benefit public health."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.sawf.org/Bollywood/22195.aspx/Lucknow_residents_play_Munnabhais |title=Bollywood's Lage Raho Munna Bhai inspires Lucknow's medical students |work=sawf.org |publisher=Sawf News |date=27 September 2006 |access-date=29 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929100142/http://news.sawf.org/Bollywood/22195.aspx/Lucknow_residents_play_Munnabhais |archive-date=29 September 2007 }}</ref> [[Indian mafia|Mafia don]] Babloo Srivastava claimed to have been inspired by ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' to distribute roses as a "message of love and peace".<ref>{{Cite news| author=Express News Service| url=http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=74668| title=Don inspired by Gandhigiri|work=Screen India|publisher=Screen India| date=29 September 2006| access-date=6 December 2012}}</ref> In 2008, Indian [[Greenpeace]] activists delivered thousands of roses to [[Ratan Tata]], chairman of [[Tata Motors]], to reconsider his plans of building a port at the nesting grounds of [[olive ridley]] sea turtles.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Areeba |last=Hamid |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/india/news/people-power-roses-for-ratan |title=People Power: Roses for Ratan Tata |publisher=Greenpeace India |date=8 August 2008 |access-date=31 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920175353/http://www.greenpeace.org/india/news/people-power-roses-for-ratan |archive-date=20 September 2008 }}</ref> The "Send [[Pramod Muthalik]] a Valentine's Day card" campaign in 2009 was inspired by the film.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/2009/02/12224436/Movements-that-protest-attacks.html |title=Movements that protest attacks by Sri Ram Sene, but with love |work=Livemint |publisher=[[Mint (newspaper)|Livemint]] |date=13 February 2009 |access-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215184240/http://livemint.com/2009/02/12224436/Movements-that-protest-attacks.html |archive-date=15 February 2009 }}</ref>

In the United States during July 2007, Aman Kapoor, founder of the'' Immigration Voice'' forum,<ref name=seekers /> initiated a Gandhigiri protest inspired by ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai.''<ref>{{Cite news|last=Press Trust of India (PTI) |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200707182165.htm |title=After a dose of Gandhigiri, US Govt. has a change of heart |work=The Hindu |date=18 July 2007 |access-date=2 March 2009 |location=Chennai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913233603/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200707182165.htm |archive-date=13 September 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| first=Xiyun| last=Yang| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/10/AR2007071002055_pf.html| title=A Gift From Gandhi:Frustrated Green Card Applicants From India Use Methods Of Master| newspaper=The Washington Post| date=11 July 2007| access-date=2 March 2009| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107144836/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/10/AR2007071002055_pf.html| archive-date=7 November 2012| df=dmy-all}}</ref> Over a three-day period, hundreds of flower bouquets were sent to the [[United States Citizenship and Immigration Services]] (USCIS) office by Indians who were legally in the US but caught in a [[United States Permanent Resident Card|green card]] backlog.<ref name=seekers>{{Cite news| first=Arun| last=Kumar| url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=facb085a-0fef-4af9-9958-c5c419428922&ParentID=5f3d31b9-ed68-4762-b2a6-7d755bc1016c&&Headline=%27Gandhigiri%27+by+Indian+green+card+seekers+in+US| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125072025/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=facb085a-0fef-4af9-9958-c5c419428922&ParentID=5f3d31b9-ed68-4762-b2a6-7d755bc1016c&&Headline='Gandhigiri'+by+Indian+green+card+seekers+in+US| url-status=dead| archive-date=25 January 2013| title='Gandhigiri' by Indian green card seekers in US| work=Hindustan Times| publisher=[[Hindustan Times]]| date=11 July 2007| access-date=2 March 2009}}</ref> On 17 July, the USCIS reversed the decision that led to the protest.<ref>{{Cite news| first=Xiyun| last=Yang| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/17/AR2007071701825_pf.html| title=After Protest, U.S. to Take Green-Card Applications| newspaper=The Washington Post| date=18 July 2007| access-date=2 March 2009| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107144846/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/17/AR2007071701825_pf.html| archive-date=7 November 2012| df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gandhigiri-works-green-card-seekers-make-us-change-heart/45183-2.html |title='Gandhigiri works! Green Card seekers make US change heart |work=[[CNN IBN]] |publisher=[[CNN IBN]] |date=18 July 2007 |access-date=18 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117004413/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gandhigiri-works-green-card-seekers-make-us-change-heart/45183-2.html |archive-date=17 January 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gandhigiri-works-magic-for-indians-seeking-green-card/45233-2-7.html |title=Gandhigiri works magic for Indians seeking green card |work=[[CNN IBN]] |publisher=[[CNN IBN]] |date=19 July 2007 |access-date=18 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117004622/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gandhigiri-works-magic-for-indians-seeking-green-card/45233-2-7.html |archive-date=17 January 2009 }}</ref>

=== Impact ===
''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' revived an interest in books about Gandhi.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Zeeshan |last=Jawed |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060922/asp/calcutta/story_6766052.asp |title=Groove to Gandhi, get it? – Books on Bapu fly off shelves, schools block bulk tickets |work=telegraphindia.com |publisher=The Telegraph |date=22 September 2006 |access-date=13 October 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930031245/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060922/asp/calcutta/story_6766052.asp |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> In particular, demand for Gandhi's autobiography ''[[My Experiments with Truth]]'' increased after the film debuted, including requests from prison inmates.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.karmayog.org/gandhigirinews/gandhigirinews_3600.htm |title=At city's bookstores, it's a brisk season for Gandhi |work=expressindia.com |date=24 October 2006 |access-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726213733/http://www.karmayog.org/gandhigirinews/gandhigirinews_3600.htm |archive-date=26 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2003884.cms |title=Gandhigiri makes great reading, bhai! |work=[[The Times of India]] |publisher=Times of India |date=18 September 2006 |access-date=2 March 2009 |first1=Sumit |last1=Jha |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023090359/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2003884.cms |archive-date=23 October 2012 }}</ref> In addition, due to its influence, the film was made tax-free in [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{Cite news|author=Businessofcinema.com Team |url=http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=1228 |title=Lage Raho Munnabhai tax free in Mumbai |publisher=Businessofcinema.com |date=29 September 2006 |access-date=29 September 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708105342/http://www.businessofcinema.com/news.php?newsid=1228 |archive-date= 8 July 2011 }}</ref>

== Release ==

=== Screenings ===
Screened on 10 November 2006 in the United Nations auditorium, ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' was the first [[Hindi]] film to be shown at the UN.<ref name=praise>{{Cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-11/us/27786612_1_mahatma-gandhi-satyagraha-vinod-chopra| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023094038/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-11-11/us/27786612_1_mahatma-gandhi-satyagraha-vinod-chopra| url-status=dead| archive-date=23 October 2012| title=UN all praise for Lage Raho Munnabhai| date=11 November 2006| work=[[The Times of India]]| access-date=2 March 2009}}</ref> The film was introduced by [[Shashi Tharoor]], UN [[Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations|Under-Secretary General]] for Communications and Public Information. [[Taran Adarsh]] of ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' observed that, "there was a thunderous applause at the high points of the film, like the pensioner shedding his clothes. The applause at the end of the screening was unending. A vibrant Q&A session followed with director Rajkumar Hirani, writer Abhijat Joshi and actor Boman Irani, who flew to the U.S. for the screening."<ref name=screened>{{Cite news|first=Taran |last=Adarsh |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1173046/Munnabhai-screened-at-the-U.N. |title='Munnabhai' screened at the U.N. |work=Bollywood Hungama |publisher=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=14 November 2006 |access-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413205523/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1173046/Munnabhai-screened-at-the-U.N. |archive-date=13 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061119/asp/look/story_7020506.asp |title=Limelight: Feel Good Factor |publisher=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)]] |date=19 November 2006 |access-date=12 March 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526034942/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061119/asp/look/story_7020506.asp |archive-date=26 May 2011 }}</ref> The ''[[Indo-Asian News Service]]'' (IANS) noted that, "an evening that had started with massive security arrangements in the sombre UN setting, concluded in a festive atmosphere in the lounge of the UN with diplomats from other tables joining in raising a toast for the film."<ref name=unscreen /> The [[United Nations General Assembly]] announced on 15 June 2007 that 2 October, the day of Gandhi's birth ([[Gandhi Jayanti]]), was to be "the [[International Day of Non-Violence]]."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ovimagazine.com/art/9184 |title=International Day of Non-Violence |publisher=Ovi Magazine |date=12 October 2012 |access-date=6 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313215411/http://www.ovimagazine.com/art/9184 |archive-date=13 March 2013 }}</ref>

The [[Prime Minister of India]], [[Manmohan Singh]], was given a private screening of ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai''. After viewing the film, he stated that it "captures Bapu's message about the power of truth and humanism."<ref name=PMwatch>{{Cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006102615091100.htm&date=2006/10/26/&prd=th& |title=Manmohan watches Munnabhai |work=hinduonnet.com |publisher=[[The Hindu]] |date=26 October 2006 |access-date=26 October 2006 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114165136/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2006102615091100.htm&date=2006%2F10%2F26%2F&prd=th& |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> In a speech during his visit to South Africa, Singh said, "I was heartened to see recently that back home in India the most popular movie this festival season is a film about a young man's discovery of the universal and timeless relevance of the Mahatma's message."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Manmohan |last=Singh |url=http://pmindia.nic.in/speech-details.php?nodeid=389 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218005812/http://pmindia.nic.in/speech-details.php?nodeid=389 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 February 2013 |title=PM's speech at Satyagraha Centenary Commemoration at Kingsmead Stadium, Durban |publisher=Prime Minister's Office, [[Government of India]] |date=1 October 2006 |access-date=27 April 2007 }}</ref> Singh announced the creation of a new Public Services Bill to combat corruption in a press release dated 17 November 2006, and cited ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' as one of its influences.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=22094 |title=PM's key note address to conference of CBI & state anti-corruption bureaus: Government to bring forward public services bill :PM |work=Press Releases, Prime Minister's Office |publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India |date=17 November 2006 |access-date=24 April 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114190849/http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=22094 |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref>

''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' was further screened at a global judiciary summit in [[Lucknow]] in December 2006. After viewing the film, Justice Kenneth Mithyane from South Africa commented, "The movie has re-enlivened the non-violence philosophy practiced by Mahatma Gandhi who continues to remain close to the hearts of the South Africans." Fatima Chouhan, a young member of the South African parliament, noted that, "''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' will be widely appreciated in South Africa. I'm carrying a couple of video discs for my family and friends."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-munnabhai-charms-south-africans-1069061 |title='Munnabhai' charms South Africans |work=dnaindia.com |publisher=Diligent Media Corporation Ltd |date=13 December 2006 |access-date=3 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221165957/http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-munnabhai-charms-south-africans-1069061 |archive-date=21 February 2014 }}</ref>

It was part of the ''[[2007 Cannes Film Festival#Tous Les Cinemas du Monde|Tous Les Cinema du Monde]]'' section of the [[2007 Cannes Film Festival]]. ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' was well received as the audience had lined "up in long queues to catch the film that had been strongly recommended in festival reviews [...] not one person who entered the screening left before the end of the 2-hours-30-minutes film."<ref name=hot>{{Cite news|first=Rajeev |last=Masand |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lage-raho--is-hot-at-cannes/40958-8.html |title=Lage Raho ... is hot at Cannes |work=ibnlive.com |publisher=CNN |date=20 May 2007 |access-date=20 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523073828/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lage-raho--is-hot-at-cannes/40958-8.html |archive-date=23 May 2011 }}</ref> In addition, "the screening of the movie at the festival saw people sitting on the aisles as the theatre was completely packed [...] there was also a big group of French students that clapped till the credits were finished."<ref name=stuns />

Several universities held screenings. It was shown on 27 October 2006 at the [[USC School of Cinematic Arts|University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts]]. The screening was followed by a question and answer session with [[Vidhu Vinod Chopra]], [[Rajkumar Hirani]], and [[Abhijat Joshi]]. Filmmaker [[Gurinder Chadha]] attended and spoke at the conclusion of the question-and-answer session.<ref name=begins>{{Cite news|first=Taran |last=Adarsh |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1173052/Munnas-tryst-with-Oscars-begins |title=Munna's tryst with Oscars begins |publisher=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |date=1 November 2006 |access-date=1 November 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505165739/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1173052/Munnas-tryst-with-Oscars-begins |archive-date= 5 May 2014 }}</ref> The film was screened at [[Old Dominion University]] on 20 March 2007 (as a part of Old Dominion University and City of [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] OnFilm Festival),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://al.odu.edu/al/pdfs/onfilm_brochure.pdf |title=Film Festival SChedule |access-date=3 May 2007 |author=College of Arts and Letters, Old Dominion University |work=Colonial Encounters: ONFilm Festival |publisher=Old Dominion University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070316092640/http://al.odu.edu/al/pdfs/onfilm_brochure.pdf |archive-date=16 March 2007 }}</ref> the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] Lecture Series Committee on 23 & 24 March 2007,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://lsc.mit.edu/schedule/2007.2q/desc-lagerahomunnabhai.shtml |title=LSC Event Descriptions: Lage Raho Munna Bhai |work=LSC Events |publisher=MIT Lecture Series Committee |access-date=2 May 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829042528/http://lsc.mit.edu/schedule/2007.2q/desc-lagerahomunnabhai.shtml |archive-date=29 August 2008 }}</ref> and [[Harvard Law School]] on 3 April 2007 (as part of a series on [[nonviolence]]).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pon.harvard.edu/events/pon-film-series-lago-raho-munna-bhai/ |title=PON Film Series: Lage Raho Munna Bhai |work=Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School |publisher=The President and Fellows of Harvard College |access-date=2 May 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928012425/http://www.pon.harvard.edu/events/pon-film-series-lago-raho-munna-bhai/ |archive-date=28 September 2011 }}</ref>

=== Home Media and Screenplay ===
The British DVD of ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' contains a bonus DVD which has a 98-minute 5-part documentary on the making of the film, interviews with members of the cast and crew, and information on the creation of the song and dance numbers. It also has a special feature called "[[Munna Bhai|Munna]] Meets Bapu".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=63438 |title=Lage Raho Munna Bhai |work=dvdtimes.co.uk |publisher=PoisonousMonkey |access-date=24 April 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070503195912/http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=63438 |archive-date= 3 May 2007 }}</ref>

''Lage Raho Munna Bhai – The Original Screenplay'' was released in December 2009. Published by Om Books International in association with Vinod Chopra Films, it was launched at an event with the original cast and crew. The text includes an introductory note by [[Abhijat Joshi]] which details the drafting of the screenplay. It also includes a number of stills from the film as well as character profiles.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Joginder |last=Tuteja |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/features/type/view/id/586/ |title=Book Review: Lage Raho Munnabhai – The Original Screenplay |publisher=Bollywood Hungama |date=28 December 2009 |access-date=6 December 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113155954/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/features/type/view/id/586/ |archive-date=13 January 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/52494.html |title=Padthe Raho Munnabhai |work=IndiaGlitz |publisher=Times of India |date=10 December 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213211640/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/hindi/article/52494.html |archive-date=13 December 2009 }}</ref> The film is available on [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/in/title/70058505|title=Lage Raho Munna Bhai|publisher=Netflix|access-date=7 August 2019}}</ref>

== Reception ==

=== Critical response ===
''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' received critical acclaim upon release.<ref name=rediff040906 /><ref name=revive /> Subhash K. Jha said that "Munna and Circuit, arguably cinema's most adorable and roguish reformists since [[Laurel and Hardy]] go about the business of generating humour out of the pathos of the human condition. The sequences, all fiercely and famously path-breaking have us in splits [...] Watch the lovelorn Munna Bhai answer a Gandhian quiz on a phone-in radio quiz with the help of kidnapped professors' it's one of the most comically animated sequences seen in the movies of the new millennium."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/lage_raho_munnabhai.asp |title=Subhash K. Jha's take on Lage Raho Munnabhai |publisher=IANS |date=2 September 2006 |access-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224165249/http://www.glamsham.com/movies/reviews/lage_raho_munnabhai.asp |archive-date=24 December 2011 }}</ref> [[Taran Adarsh]] of ''[[Bollywood Hungama]]'' gave the film 4 out 5 stars, describing it as "a sparkling example of qualitative cinema" arguing that it "not only entertains, it also enlightens."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Taran |last=Adarsh |url=http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/509054 |title=Review:Lage Raho Munna Bhai Review |work=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |publisher=Bollywood Hungama |date=31 August 2006 |access-date=10 December 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026221039/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/criticreview/id/509054 |archive-date=26 October 2014 }}</ref> [[Nikhat Kazmi]] of ''[[The Times of India]]'' observes that "Vidhu Vinod Chopra gives the great Indian family one more let's-go-goodwill-hunting entertainer, even as director Raju Hirani proves that sequels needn't have the been there-done that feel..."<ref>{{Cite news| first=Nikhat| last=Kazmi| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-09-02/hindi/27829392_1_vidya-balan-bole-toh-gandhigiri| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203025859/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-09-02/hindi/27829392_1_vidya-balan-bole-toh-gandhigiri| url-status=dead| archive-date=3 February 2014| title=Review: Lage Raho Munna...| date=2 September 2006| work=[[The Times of India]]| access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> [[Rajeev Masand]] of ''[[CNN-IBN]]'' gave it 4 out of 5 stars and states: "Like those good old-fashioned Hrishikesh Mukherjee films, it also reinforces the importance of human goodness and basic niceties. Even if you might argue that some of Gandhi's principles seem outdated today, you cannot help but cheer for Munna and his gang as they achieve the impossible with love and kindness. And that is where this film transcends conventional boundaries. It entertains you, yes, but it also makes you yearn for a perfect world. Judge it by any yardstick that you may, ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' emerges a clear winner. Much of that credit must go to its actors who pull out all stops to make it an enjoyable ride."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-verdict-lage-raho-munnabhai/20366-8.html |title=Masand's Verdict: Lage Raho Munnabhai |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |access-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331030411/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/masands-verdict-lage-raho-munnabhai/20366-8.html |archive-date=31 March 2012 }}</ref> Poonam Joshi of the ''[[BBC]]'' gave 4 out of 5 stars stating that, "everything about this film works [...] It's rare to see a film that bounces between humour and sentiment so seamlessly. And it is rarer still to see characters become etched in the memory so enduringly that audiences become almost protective of them. It's testimony both to the quality of the writing and the performances, that Munna and Circuit have taken on a life of their own."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Poonam |last=Joshi |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2006/08/29/lage_raho_munna_bhai_2006_review.shtml |title=Review:Lage Raho Munna Bhai |work=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |date=29 August 2006 |access-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925051549/http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2006/08/29/lage_raho_munna_bhai_2006_review.shtml |archive-date=25 September 2015 }}</ref> Vinayak Chakravorty of ''[[The Hindustan Times]]'' gave 4 out of 5 stars stating that it "cleverly works its way around the obvious hurdle that almost all sequels face: The film recreates an original milieu without a hint of the déjà-vu downer. And that precisely ranks ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' as one of the best entertainers this year." He commended it for showing "the heights Hindi cinema can scale despite staying within its [[Masala (film genre)|masala]] parameters. Lage raho, guys!"<ref>{{Cite news| first=Vinayak| last=Chakravorty| url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=LifeStyleBooksSectionPage&id=1836ece3-4f15-4cba-bf87-9bc0fc0285ae&ParentID=b0e6193d-bfb0-4622-b721-1e87e7182de4&Headline=iLage+Raho+Munna+Bhai%2fi+rocks| archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125170834/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=LifeStyleBooksSectionPage&id=1836ece3-4f15-4cba-bf87-9bc0fc0285ae&ParentID=b0e6193d-bfb0-4622-b721-1e87e7182de4&Headline=iLage+Raho+Munna+Bhai/i+rocks| url-status=dead| archive-date=25 January 2013| title=Lage Raho Munna Bhai rocks| work=Hindustan Times| publisher=[[The Hindustan Times]]| date=2 September 2006| access-date=2 March 2009}}</ref> Phelim O'Neill of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the film 4 out of 5 stars noting that, "as western romantic comedies become more vapid and even stalkerish, this delivers a credible message of peace, while never forgetting to be magnificent entertainment."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Phelim |last=O'Neill |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,1862152,00.html |title=Review:Lage Raho Munna Bhai |work=guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=1 September 2006 |access-date=10 December 2006 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105181133/http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0%2C%2C1862152%2C00.html |archive-date= 5 November 2007 }}</ref> Shastri Ramachandaran of ''[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]'' wrote, "True, there have been [[List of artistic depictions of Mahatma Gandhi#Film|memorable films on Mahatma Gandhi]] by distinguished directors, namely [[Richard Attenborough]] and [[Shyam Benegal]];one offering a respectful cinematic acquaintance and the other being didactic but inspiring. For all their earnestness, neither film stirred the popular imagination like LRM has done now."<ref name=shastritribune>{{Cite news|first=Shastri |last=Ramachandaran |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060923/edit.htm#4 |title=Jollygood Bollywood:Munnabhai rescues Mahatma |work=tribuneindia.com |publisher=The Tribune Trust |date=23 September 2006 |access-date=28 April 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430105343/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060923/edit.htm |archive-date=30 April 2007 }}</ref> Vaidyanathan from [[BBC]] declared that, "''Lage Raho'' is not only as good as [[Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.|MBBS]], but much better" calling it "a brilliant emotional roller coaster ride."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Vaidyanathan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/bollywood/2006/09/lage_raho_munnabhai_review.shtml |title=Review:Lage Raho Munna Bhai |work=bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC |date=29 August 2006 |access-date=2 March 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116140417/http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/bollywood/2006/09/lage_raho_munnabhai_review.shtml |archive-date=16 January 2016 }}</ref> Jeremy Page of ''[[The Times]]'' discussed its enormous popularity upon release and noted the "serious point [the film made] about the need for tolerance, restraint and self-sacrifice."<ref>{{Cite news| first=Jeremy| last=Page| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article635878.ece| title=Play it again, Mahatma, but this time with a lesson in laughs| work=The Times| date=12 September 2006| access-date=2 March 2009| location=London}}</ref>

Other critics offered more negative reviews. Ajit Duara argues in ''[[The Hindu]]'' that "the accomplished cultural sophistication and political genius of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has to be dumbed down to the astoundingly moronic levels of ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai.''"<ref>{{Cite news| first=Ajit| last=Duara| url=http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/10/01/stories/2006100100110500.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061011090312/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/10/01/stories/2006100100110500.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=11 October 2006| title= Nothing Gandhian about it| date=1 October 2006| access-date=10 December 2006| work=[[The Hindu]]| location=Chennai, India}}</ref> Filmmaker [[Jahnu Barua]] was also critical, stating that "Gandhian philosophy is serious business and ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' is not the right way to show it."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Pratim D. |last=Gupta |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061010/asp/calcutta/story_6850882.asp |title=Gandhism is serious business |work=telegraphindia.com |publisher=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]] |date=10 October 2006 |access-date=10 December 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121224220/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061010/asp/calcutta/story_6850882.asp |archive-date=21 November 2006 }}</ref> Jug Suraiya of ''[[The Times of India]]'' wrote that "thanks to Munna Bhai, at best what exists of Gandhism is Gandhigiri, a watered-down, Dale Carnegie's ''How to Win Friends and Influence People'' version of the original."<ref>{{Cite news| first=Jug| last=Suraiya| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-04/subverse/28016949_1_spectacles-mahatma-tushar-gandhi| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811070752/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-03-04/subverse/28016949_1_spectacles-mahatma-tushar-gandhi| url-status=dead| archive-date=11 August 2011| title= 'The lost Mahatma| date=4 March 2009| work=[[The Times of India]]| access-date=3 February 2009}}</ref>

=== Other Response ===
Filmmaker [[Kabir Khan (director)|Kabir Khan]] cited ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' as a model film for him as it "had an issue, but it was never once in your face. [[Rajkumar Hirani]] kept it all so subtle and yet conveyed the message so well. It was as commercial as it gets and audiences too were thoroughly entertained. That's the way to make movies because it not just made all parties happy but also had a satisfied director at the end of it all."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Joginder |last=Tuteja |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/archives/kabir-khan-wants-to-drop-serious-filmmaker-tag/article1-427834.aspx |title=Kabir Khan now wants to drop 'serious filmmaker' tag |work=Hindustan Times |publisher=IANS |date=2 July 2009 |access-date=2 July 2009 |location=Mumbai, India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105191536/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/archives/kabir-khan-wants-to-drop-serious-filmmaker-tag/article1-427834.aspx |archive-date= 5 November 2014 }}</ref>

According to [[Tushar Gandhi]], Gandhi's great-grandson, it introduced the philosophies of Gandhi to a new generation, adding that "Bapu would've spoken the language of Gandhigiri if he were alive today. I really feel this film says something that needs to be told."<ref>{{Cite news|first=Subhash |last=Jha |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/indiancinema/features/article_1279289.php/Im_pleased_with_Hiranis_Gandhigiri_says_Gandhis_grandson |title='I'm pleased with Hirani's Gandhigiri,' says Gandhi's grandson |publisher=[[Indo-Asian News Service]] |date=19 March 2007 |access-date=19 March 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010185810/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/indiancinema/features/article_1279289.php/Im_pleased_with_Hiranis_Gandhigiri_says_Gandhis_grandson |archive-date=10 October 2012 }}</ref>

=== Box office ===
''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' was the fourth highest-grossing [[Bollywood]] film of 2006, earning {{INRConvert|1250|m}} gross in India alone and was rated a "blockbuster".<ref name=boind /> The film collected a further {{INRConvert|498|m}} during 2007 as the film enjoyed a tremendous golden jubilee run playing at a selected 210 cinemas until October of that year, being the only film to achieve this feat since ''[[Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge]]'' (1995). It was also financially successful overseas,<ref>{{Cite news|first=Arthur |last=Pais |url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/07ajp1.htm?q=tp |title=Sanjay Dutt's biggest hit abroad |work=rediff.com |publisher=Rediff.com India Limited |date=7 September 2006 |access-date=29 September 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114154821/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2006/sep/07ajp1.htm?q=tp |archive-date=14 November 2007 }}</ref> earning {{INRConvert|70|m}} gross in the United Kingdom, {{INRConvert|113|m}} gross in North America, and {{INRConvert|50|m}} gross for the rest of the overseas proceeds, for a total of {{INRConvert|223|m}}.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=overseas_earners | title=Overseas Earnings (Figures in Ind Rs)
|publisher=boxofficeindia.com| access-date=26 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203113/http://boxofficeindia.com/cpages.php?pageName=overseas_earners |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref> Its total worldwide lifetime gross is {{INRConvert|1.93|b}}, the equivalent to just over US$40 million when adjusted for inflation 2016.<ref name="lifetime">{{Cite web |url=http://boxofficeindia.com/arounddetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=4409&nCat= |title=Top Lifetime Grossers Worldwide (IND Rs) |website=Box Office India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102223818/http://boxofficeindia.com/arounddetail.php?page=shownews&articleid=4409&nCat= |archive-date=2 November 2013 |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>

=== Accolades ===
{{Main|List of accolades received by Lage Raho Munna Bhai}}

''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' is the recipient of 4 [[National Film Awards]] in addition to other awards. Some speculated that it would represent India as an entry for the [[List of submissions to the 79th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film|2007 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film]].<ref name=begins /> Although ultimately losing to ''[[Rang De Basanti]]'' as India's official submission, the producers submitted it as an independent entry. However, neither film received an Oscar nomination.<ref>{{Cite news| first=Kashika| last=Saxena| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-25/news-interviews/34062854_1_official-entry-film-federation-paheli| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027104248/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-09-25/news-interviews/34062854_1_official-entry-film-federation-paheli| url-status=dead| archive-date=27 October 2012|title=India's Oscar race: Losers weepers?| date=25 September 2012| work=[[The Times of India]]| access-date=6 December 2012}}</ref>

== Soundtrack ==
{{Infobox album
| name = Lage Raho Munna Bhai
| type = Soundtrack
| artist = [[Shantanu Moitra]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 15 August 2006
| recorded = 2005–2006
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Soundtrack
| length = 32:28
| label = [[Super Cassettes Industries T-Series|T-Series]]
| producer = [[Shantanu Moitra]]
| prev_title = [[Yahaan]]
| prev_year = 2005
| next_title = [[Khoya Khoya Chand]]
| next_year = 2007
}}
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = ''[[Rediff]]''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="redifflmr">{{cite web |title=''Munnabhai's music rocks'' |url=http://in.rediff.com/movies/2006/aug/07munna.htm |work=[[Rediff.com]] |access-date=18 August 2009 |date=7 August 2006 |author=Sukanya Verma |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423220310/http://in.rediff.com/movies/2006/aug/07munna.htm |archive-date=23 April 2008 }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''Planet Bollywood''
| rev2Score = {{Rating|7|10}}<ref name="pb">{{cite web |title=''Lage Raho Munnabhai'' Music Review |url=http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=072606041753 |publisher=Planet Bollywood |access-date=6 December 2012 |date=25 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929080211/http://www.planetbollywood.com/displayReview.php?id=072606041753 |archive-date=29 September 2012 }}</ref>
| rev1score =
}}

The music of ''Lage Raho Munna Bhai'' was composed by [[Shantanu Moitra]] and the lyrics were written by [[Swanand Kirkire]]. Swanand Kirkire won the [[National Film Award for Best Lyrics]] in 2007 for the song "Bande Mein Tha Dum."<ref>{{cite news| author= Shailaja Tripathi | url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/02/05/stories/2009020550530200.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104075501/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/02/05/stories/2009020550530200.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=4 November 2012| title=Vocals Beyond the Verbal| newspaper=[[The Hindu]]| date=5 February 2009| access-date=21 May 2009| location=Chennai, India}}</ref> According to the Indian trade website ''[[Box Office India]]'', with around {{formatnum:1000000}} units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's fourteenth highest-selling.<ref>{{cite web|title=Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624132928/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=286&catName=MjAwMC0yMDA5|archive-date=24 June 2010|publisher=[[Box Office India]]}}</ref>

The melody of the track "Pal Pal.... Har Pal" was lifted from [[Cliff Richard]] and [[The Shadows]] song "[[Theme for a Dream]]" <ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-12-26|title=Did You Know? These Bollywood Hits Have been Copied from Other Tracks and It's Shocking|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/did-you-know-these-bollywood-hits-have-been-copied-from-other-tracks-and-its-shocking-3214442.html|access-date=2021-09-19|website=News18|language=en}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline = Track list
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 32:28
| title1 = Lage Raho Munna Bhai
| extra1 = [[Vinod Rathod]]
| length1 = 4:25
| title2 = Samjho Ho Hi Gaya
| extra2 = [[Sanjay Dutt]], [[Arshad Warsi]], [[Vinod Rathod]]
| length2 = 3:31
| title3 = Aane Chaar Aane
| extra3 = [[N. C. Karunya|Karunya]]
| length3 = 4:30
| title4 = Pal Pal... Har Pal
| extra4 = [[Sonu Nigam]], [[Shreya Ghoshal]]
| length4 = 4:32
| title5 = Bande Mein Tha Dum... Vande Mataram
| extra5 = [[Sonu Nigam]], [[Shreya Ghoshal]], Pranab Kumar Biswas
| length5 = 4:02
| title6 = Bande Mein Tha Dum
| note6 = Instrumental
| extra6 = Ashwin Shrinivasan
| length6 = 3:15
| title7 = Aane Chaar Aane
| note7 = Remix
| extra7 = [[N. C. Karunya|Karunya]]
| length7 = 3:55
| title8 = Lage Raho Munnabhai
| note8 = Remix
| extra8 = [[Shaan (singer)|Shaan]]
| length8 = 4:18
| all_writing =
| title9 =
| length9 =
| title10 =
| length10 =
}}

== Sequel ==
Vidhu Vinod Chopra announced on 29 September 2016 that production on the third ''Munna Bhai'' film starring Dutt in the title role would begin in 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/work-on-munnabhai-3-to-begin-next-year-vidhu-vinod-chopra/1/776723.html |title=Work on Munnabhai 3 to begin next year: Vidhu Vinod Chopra |date=29 September 2016 |work=India Today |agency=Press Trust of India |access-date=18 December 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009202407/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/work-on-munnabhai-3-to-begin-next-year-vidhu-vinod-chopra/1/776723.html |archive-date= 9 October 2016 }}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[List of artistic depictions of Mahatma Gandhi]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* "[http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-attenborough-responsible-for-lage-raho-munnabhai-rajkumar-hirani-2037250 Attenborough responsible for 'Lage Raho Munnabhai': Rajkumar Hirani]." ''[[Daily News and Analysis]]'', 21 November 2014.
* Chaturvedi, Anshul. "[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Trends/College_masti__Gandhigiri/articleshow/3549642.cms College, masti & Gandhigiri]." ''[[The Times of India]]''. 2 October 2008.
* Ghosh, Sohini (October 2006). "[http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2006/oct06/cover.html Ways of seeing:Rang De Basanti, Lage Raho Munna Bhai. Evoking idealism or validating violence?]" ''Communalism Combat'' '''119'''
* [[WBUR-FM]], "[http://www.wbur.org/npr/101151401 Singing The Praises Of Bollywood Films]," 25 February 2009 (transcript and audio).
* Yelaja, Prithi. "[https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/10/02/kids_take_gandhis_words_to_heart.html Kids take Gandhi's words to heart]." ''[[Toronto Star]]'', 2 October 2007.
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}
{{Featured article}}
* [http://lagerahomunnabhai.indiatimes.com/base.htm Official website]
* {{IMDb title}}
*{{AllMovie title}}
* {{Mojo title}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes}}

{{Rajkumar Hirani}}
{{Vidhu Vinod Chopra}}
{{Vinod Chopra Films}}
{{National Film Award Wholesome Entertainment}}
{{FilmfareCriticsAwardBestMovie}}
{{ScreenAwardBestFilm}}
{{Films inspired by the Munna Bhai series}}
{{Gandhi}}

[[Category:2006 films]]
[[Category:2006 comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:2000s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Mahatma Gandhi]]
[[Category:Films featuring a Best Supporting Actor National Film Award-winning performance]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Hindi films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Indian comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Shantanu Moitra]]
[[Category:Indian sequel films]]
[[Category:Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Films whose writer won the Best Original Screenplay National Film Award]]
[[Category:Films directed by Rajkumar Hirani]]
[[Category:2006 comedy films]]
[[Category:2006 drama films]]

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Lage Raho Munna Bhai