The Angrez
Encyclopedia
The Angrez is a 2006 India
n comedy movie directed by Kuntaa Nikkil. In this movie, the word "Angrez" refers to English people
and non-resident Indians
.
The movie was a trend-setter in that, it was one of the first to effectively and humorously, often resorting to the slapstick
kind, portray the dialect of the Old City
and the Hyderabadi tongue. The film also portrays the fascination for American materialism, the hype around the IT industry and the lifestyle and culture it has spawned.
Two Non-resident Indians
Pranai and Rochak come to Hyderabad to take up jobs in their friend's company and re-settle in Hyderabad. Based in the old city, Ismail bhai and the gang meet up near Charminar and start their daily routine with gossips, babble and talks of bravery. Ismail bhai is apparently the gang leader and his gang comprises Saleem Pheku- a habitual liar, Jahangir - a self claimed hardcore gangster, Gafoor and Chaus who all follow Ismail bhai throughout the film.
While visiting the old city, Pranai and Rochak meet the Ismail bhai gang at a hotel in the old city. The Ismail bhai gang, and Pranai and Rochak enter into a spat. Rochak and Pranai are guided to safety by their guide as they are chased by the Ismail bhai gang. While Pranai and Rochak are engaged in love affairs in their office, the Ismail bhai gang keeps planning a strategy to seek their revenge.
Meanwhile, Ramesh, Pranai’s cousin (who is also their butler) colludes with Mama, the typical gangster of the Hyderabadi underbelly, for kidnapping Pranai for ransom. Mama and his goons take up the assignment and the plan is set in motion.
Ismail bhai is still in rage in his stronghold Charminar
, as he believes that the harmless spat is now a matter worth dying for and is a matter of his honor. On the other side of the town, on Ramesh’s tip Mama and his gang enter the residence of the NRIs, at the same time the Ismail bhai gang after sniffing out their whereabouts go into the NRI's house at night to seek their revenge and restore Ismail bhai’s image. Mama and gang mistakenly kidnap Rochak. Ismail bhai and gang return from their mission failing as usual. Rochak finds out the mastermind behind the kidnapping and bribes the guard and warns Pranai of his cousin’s intentions. What happens later are a series of funny incidents involving all the three parties at the Golconda
fort in the climax.
Ismail bhai and Mama gang have a brush against each other. Pranai and Rochak succeed in making the two gangs fight against each other and manage their escape. As Mama and gang is nabbed by the Police, Ismail bhai and gang returns to Charminar after being heavily assaulted by Mama and his goons. And the life, the Hyderabadi style, goes on as usual for the Ismail bhai gang.
in the US. He had worked on the script for 'The Angrez' for over two years. He met numerous people, investigated the culture of NRI's living in Hyderabad, and learned about the working conditions in call centres. In order to understand the culture of the old city he would secretly capture the expressions
of people from the old city. When a half hour promo was shot on DV camera nobody was willing to produce the movie. Then Sreedhar Rao stepped forward and decided to produce the movie since he felt that the movie had highlighted the core culture of the city.
The directors and producers believe that this movie covers the entire Hyderabadi culture, right from bonalu to baraat, from biryani
to the pub life. The five minute rap
song 'Hyderabadi Biryani' was shot in 77 different locations of Hyderabad like the Chudi Bazaar, Taramati Baradari and Tank Bund. The producers had to do a lot of running about since there were only a few takers. Released with just two prints, the film gradually headed for the fifth week and then was all set for a country wide opening. The film created a record
by running to packed houses in a single theatre
for over 25 weeks.
, Hyderabad Nawaabs
, Aadab Hyderabad, Hungama In Dubai among others. But none of them quite succeeded in creating the effect and the charm of the original, though these movies were popular among the Old City residents. The success of The Angrez can be attributed to the spontaneity of the humor whereas in the movies that followed, the humor looks forced. The film not only gained popularity in Andhra Pradesh and the other parts of India but also among the large diaspora in the Middle-East and the US, thanks to the Internet and availability of original as well as pirated DVDs. With pirated DVDs being released in huge numbers, several raids were conducted and lakhs of pirated copies were recovered. The DVD rights for the movie were bagged by KAD Entertainment.
residents of Hyderabad. Many people have posted spoofs
and parodies on the popular video sharing site YouTube
. The clips include people re-enacting some of the most popular segments from the movie. Others have adopted the Hyderabadi "style" and come up with new material. KAD, the manufacturers of the original DVD, lost around $5 million due to pirated copies being released and the movie being uploaded on all the major video sites.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n comedy movie directed by Kuntaa Nikkil. In this movie, the word "Angrez" refers to English people
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and non-resident Indians
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
.
The movie was a trend-setter in that, it was one of the first to effectively and humorously, often resorting to the slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
kind, portray the dialect of the Old City
Old City (Hyderabad)
The Old City is the name given to parts in the east of the city of Hyderabad in Sindh, Pakistan that were part of the city before the creation of Latifabad and Qasimabad. These areas include Paratabad, Islamabad, Noorani Basti, Tando Yousaf and Kalimori. The old name of Hyerabad was Narayan kot in...
and the Hyderabadi tongue. The film also portrays the fascination for American materialism, the hype around the IT industry and the lifestyle and culture it has spawned.
Plot
The movie revolves around three sets of people.- The Angrez - Two guys who come from the US to serve in an IT company.
- Ismail bhai & gang - A bunch of locals from the Old City Area
- Annaa & gang - Local gangsters
Two Non-resident Indians
Non-resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin
A Non-Resident Indian is an Indian citizen who has migrated to another country, a person of Indian origin who is born outside India, or a person of Indian origin who resides permanently outside India. Other terms with the same meaning are overseas Indian and expatriate Indian...
Pranai and Rochak come to Hyderabad to take up jobs in their friend's company and re-settle in Hyderabad. Based in the old city, Ismail bhai and the gang meet up near Charminar and start their daily routine with gossips, babble and talks of bravery. Ismail bhai is apparently the gang leader and his gang comprises Saleem Pheku- a habitual liar, Jahangir - a self claimed hardcore gangster, Gafoor and Chaus who all follow Ismail bhai throughout the film.
While visiting the old city, Pranai and Rochak meet the Ismail bhai gang at a hotel in the old city. The Ismail bhai gang, and Pranai and Rochak enter into a spat. Rochak and Pranai are guided to safety by their guide as they are chased by the Ismail bhai gang. While Pranai and Rochak are engaged in love affairs in their office, the Ismail bhai gang keeps planning a strategy to seek their revenge.
Meanwhile, Ramesh, Pranai’s cousin (who is also their butler) colludes with Mama, the typical gangster of the Hyderabadi underbelly, for kidnapping Pranai for ransom. Mama and his goons take up the assignment and the plan is set in motion.
Ismail bhai is still in rage in his stronghold Charminar
Charminar
Charminar built in 1591 AD, is a landmark monument located in Hyderabad, India. The two words Char Minar of Urdu language are combined to which it is known as Charminar . These are four ornate minarets attached and supported by four grand arches, it has become the global icon of Hyderabad and is...
, as he believes that the harmless spat is now a matter worth dying for and is a matter of his honor. On the other side of the town, on Ramesh’s tip Mama and his gang enter the residence of the NRIs, at the same time the Ismail bhai gang after sniffing out their whereabouts go into the NRI's house at night to seek their revenge and restore Ismail bhai’s image. Mama and gang mistakenly kidnap Rochak. Ismail bhai and gang return from their mission failing as usual. Rochak finds out the mastermind behind the kidnapping and bribes the guard and warns Pranai of his cousin’s intentions. What happens later are a series of funny incidents involving all the three parties at the Golconda
Golconda
Golconda may be:Places:* Golkonda, ruined city and fortress in India* Golconda, Illinois, town in the United States* Golconda, Nevada, former town in the United StatesOther:* Golconda...
fort in the climax.
Ismail bhai and Mama gang have a brush against each other. Pranai and Rochak succeed in making the two gangs fight against each other and manage their escape. As Mama and gang is nabbed by the Police, Ismail bhai and gang returns to Charminar after being heavily assaulted by Mama and his goons. And the life, the Hyderabadi style, goes on as usual for the Ismail bhai gang.
Pre-production
The director and writer of the movie, Kuntaa Nikkil , who also played the lead character 'Pranai' in the film, had already worked as an assistant directorAssistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
in the US. He had worked on the script for 'The Angrez' for over two years. He met numerous people, investigated the culture of NRI's living in Hyderabad, and learned about the working conditions in call centres. In order to understand the culture of the old city he would secretly capture the expressions
Facial expression
A facial expression one or more motions or positions of the muscles in the skin. These movements convey the emotional state of the individual to observers. Facial expressions are a form of nonverbal communication. They are a primary means of conveying social information among humans, but also occur...
of people from the old city. When a half hour promo was shot on DV camera nobody was willing to produce the movie. Then Sreedhar Rao stepped forward and decided to produce the movie since he felt that the movie had highlighted the core culture of the city.
Release
The movie was released initially only in four theaters in Hyderabad, but later on it was released in many theaters in Hyderabad and CDs/DVDs were released only after it completed 25 weeks. The producers petitioned the Department of Tourism to promote the film to raise interest in the Hyderabad area.The directors and producers believe that this movie covers the entire Hyderabadi culture, right from bonalu to baraat, from biryani
Biryani
Biryani, biriani, or beriani is a set of rice-based foods made with spices, rice and meat, fish, eggs or vegetables. The name is derived from the Persian word beryā which means "fried" or "roasted"....
to the pub life. The five minute rap
Rap
Rap may refer to:*Rapping, performance in which rhyming lyrics are used, with or without musical accompaniment ; while an MC performs spoken verses in time to a beat/ melody**Hip hop subculture**Hip hop music...
song 'Hyderabadi Biryani' was shot in 77 different locations of Hyderabad like the Chudi Bazaar, Taramati Baradari and Tank Bund. The producers had to do a lot of running about since there were only a few takers. Released with just two prints, the film gradually headed for the fifth week and then was all set for a country wide opening. The film created a record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
by running to packed houses in a single theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
for over 25 weeks.
Impact on the movie industry
Though the movie failed to attract the mainstream film industry, it started off the infectious trend of making comedy movies based on the Hyderabadi culture. In a matter of a year and a half, there were about a half a dozen releases, like Kal ka NawabKal ka nawaab
KAL KA NAWAAB is a film about four Hyderabadi boys with lower middle class background. The hero, Hafeez, is a fruit vendor, his friends Kabza, Khayyum, all are street vendors at Charminar. The fourth one, Jeelani, is an auto driver. They want to make good fortune and become big for which they plan...
, Hyderabad Nawaabs
Hyderabad Nawaabs
Hyderabadi Nawabs is an Indian comedy that revolves around four groups of people. It is a pure comedy with Hyderabad touch which happens in every city, village.-Characters:...
, Aadab Hyderabad, Hungama In Dubai among others. But none of them quite succeeded in creating the effect and the charm of the original, though these movies were popular among the Old City residents. The success of The Angrez can be attributed to the spontaneity of the humor whereas in the movies that followed, the humor looks forced. The film not only gained popularity in Andhra Pradesh and the other parts of India but also among the large diaspora in the Middle-East and the US, thanks to the Internet and availability of original as well as pirated DVDs. With pirated DVDs being released in huge numbers, several raids were conducted and lakhs of pirated copies were recovered. The DVD rights for the movie were bagged by KAD Entertainment.
Spoofs from around the world
The movie reached new heights of popularity due to wide spread availability of pirated copies of the full movie on torrent sharing sites. The movie became an instant hit among InternationalInternational
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
residents of Hyderabad. Many people have posted spoofs
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
and parodies on the popular video sharing site YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
. The clips include people re-enacting some of the most popular segments from the movie. Others have adopted the Hyderabadi "style" and come up with new material. KAD, the manufacturers of the original DVD, lost around $5 million due to pirated copies being released and the movie being uploaded on all the major video sites.