Gangs of Wasseypur 2015

During colonial rule, the British seize farmlands of Dhanbad to begin coal mining. The neighbouring village, Wasseypur, is dominated by Qureshi Muslims. In 1941, a Pashtun named Shahid Khan, is banished from Wasseypur, for impersonating a Qureshi hero who robbed ferry trains. Shahid’s family resettle in Dhanbad, where Shahid begins work in a coal mine. After his wife dies in childbirth, Shahid violently murders the muscleman who refused him leave that day. After India’s Independence, British coal mines are sold to Indian industrialists. Shahid is hired as the new muscleman by Ramadhir Singh, who received some mines in Dhanbad. Realizing Shahid has ambitions of taking over, Ramadhir has him murdered by an assassin, Yadav. Ehsaan Qureshi is sent to take care of Shahid’s family, but his son, Sardar, survives. Sardar later learns the truth about his father and vows to avenge his murder.

In 1965, Ramadhir enters politics and becomes the local workers’ leader. In 1972, the coal mines are nationalised. Ramadhir has a Coal India official assassinated for interfering in his business. His reputation for ruthlessness grows, and he becomes feared in Dhanbad. Meanwhile, an older Sardar marries Nagma Khatoon, with whom he has three sons: Danish, Faizal, and Babua (aka Perpendicular). Nagma is aware of Sardar’s hyperactive libido, and allows him to sleep with other women. Sardar, his cousin Asgar, and Nasir start working for Ramadhir’s son, but secretly rob a petrol pump and train bogie belonging to the Singh family. When Sardar and Asgar are jailed, Ramadhir realizes that Sardar is not dead.

In 1979, Sardar and Asgar escape from jail. While hiding in Wasseypur at the home of Qamar Makhdoomi, Sardar marries his cook, Durga. In the ’80s, Wasseypur merges with Dhanbad. The Qureshi clan, now led by Sultan (nephew of Sultana), continues to terrorise non-Qureshi Muslims. Makhdoomi asks Sardar for help, who launches a major bomb attack on Qureshi shops and houses. After these raids, Sardar commands more fear than the Qureshi clan. Eventually, Sardar returns to Nagma but she gets pregnant again. He leaves out of frustration and goes back to Durga, who gives birth to his fourth son, Definite.

Sensing Sardar’s increasing clout, Ramadhir and Sultan become allies. Sultan asks Ramadhir for modern automatic weapons, which the latter promises to provide. By 1989, coal theft has become a petty crime, and big money has moved elsewhere. Sardar quits coal and gets the contract to fill defunct mines in Dhanbad. He also pushes the Qureshis out of Wasseypur, while shifting his business to stealing iron ore. An older Danish joins the family business. Sardar sends Faizal to Varanasi to buy guns, but Faizal is caught and jailed. Upon release, he kills the gun seller, Yadav, unwittingly avenging his grandfather’s murder. Danish convinces Badoor Qureshi, uncle of Sultan, to stop the war between their families. He also marries Shama Parveen, Sultan’s sister, despite Sultan’s attempts to prevent it.

Faizal begins courting Mohsina Hamid, another kin of Sultan. While high on marijuana, he reveals to his friend, Fazlu, that his father would be travelling without security the next day. Fazlu informs the Qureshis, who track down Sardar’s car the next day. They open fire on his car, and Sardar staggers out and dies, after being hit with numerous gunshots.