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{{about|the 1991 film|the 2019 film|Nani's Gang Leader}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Gang Leader
| image = Gang Leader poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| writer = Vijaya Bapineedu<br/>[[Paruchuri Brothers]] (dialogues)
| starring = [[Chiranjeevi]]<br />[[Vijayashanti]]
| director = [[Vijaya Bapineedu]]
| cinematography = [[Lok Singh]]
| producer = Maganti Ravindranath Chowdary
| editing = Vijaya Bapineedu
| studio = Shyam Prasad Arts
| distributor = [[Geetha Arts]]
| country = India
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1991|05|09}}
| runtime =
| language = Telugu
| music = [[Bappi Lahari]]
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Gang Leader''''' is a 1991 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[action crime film]] written and directed by [[Vijaya Bapineedu]], and produced by Maganti Ravindranath Chowdary.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/gang-leader-vijaya-bapineedu-passes-away/article26252512.ece|title='Gang Leader' Vijaya Bapineedu passes away|date=12 February 2019|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> The film stars [[Chiranjeevi]] and [[Vijayashanti]], while [[Raogopal Rao|Rao Gopal Rao]], [[Anandaraj]], [[Murali Mohan]], and [[Sarath Kumar]] play supporting roles. The soundtrack was composed by [[Bappi Lahiri]] with dance choreography by [[Prabhu Deva]]. The film explores the concepts of exploitation of [[law enforcement]] by [[anti-social behaviour]] and the impact of [[crowd psychology|mob psychology]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/photo-features/chiranjeevi-take-a-look-at-the-actors-imprint-in-the-showbiz-world/Gang-Leader/photostory/65490394.cms|title=Gang Leader – Chiranjeevi: Take a look at the actor's imprint in the showbiz world|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmibeat.com/telugu/movies/gang-leader.html|title=Gang Leader (1991) | Gang Leader Movie | Gang Leader Telugu Movie Cast & Crew, Release Date, Review, Photos, Videos|website=FilmiBeat}}</ref>

The film opened to highly positive reviews from the critics and was commercially successful at the [[box office]].<ref name="auto"/> It was screened at the [[International Film Festival of India]]. Later, it was dubbed in Tamil with the same title. The film was later remade in [[Hindi]] as ''[[Aaj Ka Goonda Raaj]]'' (1992) where [[Chiranjeevi]] reprises his role, and in [[Kannada]] as ''[[Kutumba]]'' (2003).<ref name="auto" /><ref name="auto1" />

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

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

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

==Cast==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Actor !! Character
|-
| [[Chiranjeevi]]|| Rajaram
|-
| [[Vijayashanti]]|| Kanyakumari
|-
| [[Raogopal Rao]]|| Ekambaram
|-
| [[Anandaraj]]|| Kanakambaram
|-
| [[Murali Mohan]]|| Raghupati
|-
| [[Sarath Kumar]]|| Raghava
|-
| [[Nirmalamma]]|| Sabari (Rajaram's grandmother)
|-
| [[Sudha (Telugu actress)|Sudha]]|| Lakshmi (Raghupati's wife)
|-
| [[Sumalatha]]|| Latha (Raghava's wife)
|-
| [[Nutan Prasad]]|| Home Minister Gali Subba Rao
|-
| [[Kaikala Satyanarayana]]|| Jailer
|-
| [[Allu Ramalingaiah]]|| Sidhanthi
|-
| [[Narayan Rao]]|| Narayana
|-
| [[Hari Prasad]]|| Hari
|-
| [[Maharshi Raghava]]|| Raghava
|-
| Jayalalitha|| Chukka
|-
| Nuthalapati Subbaro|| House owner
|}

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Gang Leader
| image =
| alt =
| released = 1992
| recorded = 1992
| language = [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| border = yes
| artist = [[Bappi Lahiri]]
| type = Soundtrack
| genre = [[Filmi]]
| label = [[Lahari Music]]
| prev_title = [[Indra Bhavanam]]
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = [[Rowdy Alludu]]
| next_year = 1992
}}
The Music and background score was provided by [[Bappi Lahiri]] and the lyrics were penned by [[Veturi Sundararama Murthy]] and [[Bhuvanachandra]]. The soundtrack was an instant hit and "Papa Rita" and "Vaana Vaana Velluvaye" were a rage in the entire state at that time.

Bhuvanachandra noted that "Vaana Vaana" was his first song on rain, he was initially apprehensive about writing this song since other songs of the same nature were popular. Bappi composed the tune at Suresh Guest House, initially, the tune was rejected however Bhuvan insisted that the tune should be retained.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/i-wrote-vana-vana-in-the-train/article3926611.ece|title='I wrote 'vana vana…' in the train'|first=M. L.|last=Narasimham|date=22 September 2012|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Later, the song "Vaana Vaana Velluvaye" was re-mixed by [[Mani Sharma]] for the 2012 film ''[[Rachcha]]''.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:70%;"
|-
! Song Title !! Singers !! Lyricist
|-
| "Papa Rita" || [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] || [[Bhuvana Chandra]]
|-
| "Paala Bugga"|| S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[K. S. Chithra|Chitra]] || [[Veturi Sundararama Murthy]]
|-
| "Bhadrachalam" || S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra || Bhuvana Chandra
|-
| "Vaana Vaana Velluvaye" || S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra || Bhuvana Chandra
|-
| "Vayasu Vayasu" || S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra || Veturi Sundararama Murthy
|-
| "Panisaasasa" || S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chitra || Bhuvana Chandra
|}

==Reception==
The movie was a huge success. It is considered to be one of the top movies in Chiranjeevi's career. This movie earned more than 70 million of Distributory Share. ''Gang Leader'' did a 162-day run at Sudharshan theatre in Hyderabad. The movie successfully completed 100 days in more than 50 theaters. The movie was dubbed into Tamil and Kannada. It was a success in those areas also.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/>

==Trivia==
The classic car which was used in the movie "Citroën CX pallas" at the time owned by Relangi Thirumalla Babu, was the only car in South India at that time. The car can be seen in the movie as Chiranjeevi and Vijayashanti are talking and the scene cut to Marriage and Vijayashanti commands Chiranjeevi to follow her to marriage.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/>

The film's 100 days function's video footage was used in the Telugu comedy film [[Appula Appa Rao]].

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0245911}}

[[Category:Films scored by Bappi Lahiri]]
[[Category:Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1990s crime action films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films set in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Films shot in Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Indian crime drama films]]
[[Category:1991 crime drama films]]
[[Category:Indian crime action films]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Andhra Pradesh Police]]
[[Category:Telugu films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:1990s action drama films]]
[[Category:Films about corruption in India]]
[[Category:Social realism in film]]
[[Category:Law enforcement in fiction]]
[[Category:Films featuring an item number]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:1991 films]]
[[Category:Indian gangster films]]
[[Category:Masala films]]

Gang Leader - Revision history

>Ab207 at 13:04, 15 June 2021