Overview
A gripping tale of revenge and political ambition unfolds in a law college setting.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- gritty
- tense
- sardonic
- serious movie night
- political cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film’s gritty screenplay, taut performances, sharply individualized characters, and memorable political-crime atmosphere, helping it develop a cult following.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rananjay’s royal lineage and separatist political ambitions turn local history into an instrument of organized power.
College elections, factional violence, and organized crime progressively become inseparable in Dilip’s world.
Dilip begins as a humiliated law student seeking belonging and revenge, then becomes entangled in forces that reshape his identity.
The assault, abused Anuja, hospital recovery, factional intimidation, and escalating electoral conflict create a persistently threatening atmosphere.
Films like Gulaal, and why
Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi
political corruption, organized crime, and morally compromised power structures in contemporary India
Satya
gritty Indian crime drama driven by volatile characters, social unrest, and corrosive ambition
Maachis
political idealism colliding with violence, factionalism, and disillusionment in a grounded South Asian drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Anurag Kashyap
- Release Date
- 2009-03-13
- Runtime
- 147 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (75)
Cast
- Raj Singh Chaudhary
- Kay Kay Menon
- Abhimanyu Singh
- Piyush Mishra
- Jesse Randhawa
- Ayesha Mohan
- Aditya Srivastava
- Deepak Dobriyal
- Pankaj Jha
- Mukesh Bhatt
Common questions
- What is Gulaal about?
- A humiliated law student is drawn into college elections, revenge, and a violent regional power struggle that consumes his sense of self.
- What is Gulaal like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Gulaal as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Gulaal violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Gulaal as brutal.
- What did critics think of Gulaal?
- Critics broadly praised the film’s gritty screenplay, taut performances, sharply individualized characters, and memorable political-crime atmosphere, helping it develop a cult following.
- Which films are like Gulaal?
- Films with a similar feel include Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Satya, and Maachis.
- How long is Gulaal?
- Gulaal runs 147 minutes.
