Kaante
File:Kaante.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Sanjay Gupta
Produced by	Pritish Nandy Communications Film Club Limited Larry Mortoff Sanjay Sippy
Written by	Sanjay Gupta
Narrated by	Lucky Ali
Starring	Amitabh Bachchan Sanjay Dutt Sunil Shetty Mahesh Manjrekar Lucky Ali Kumar Gaurav Malaika Arora Namrata Singh Gujral Rati Agnihotri Isha Koppikar
Music by	Anand Raj Anand Vishal-Shekhar Lucky Ali
Cinematography	Kurt Brabbee
Editing by	Bunty Nagi
Distributed by	White Feather Films
Release date(s)	December 20, 2002
Running time	152 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget	35 crore[1]
Box office	32 crore[2]

Kaante (Hindi: कांटे, English: Thorns) is a 2002 Bollywood action film directed by Sanjay Gupta and starring Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Mahesh Manjrekar, Lucky Ali, Kumar Gaurav, Namrata Singh Gujral, Rati Agnihotri, Malaika Arora and Isha Koppikar in the lead roles. The film's plot is based on Quentin Tarantino's film Reservoir Dogs. However, Tarantino has been quoted as saying that Kaante is his favorite among the many rip-offs of his film.^[3]

Plot[link]

The movie is narrated by Lucky Ali, as Mak. The six main characters are detained by the LAPD, and interrogated about stealing a truck full of laptops and its whereabouts. All six are detained for about a day, where their deep antipathy towards the police department, for arresting them without any apparent evidence against all of them, and just because the witnesses had seen a South Asian at work, grows into a daring plot. Sparked by "Major" and blown up by "Ajju", who asks them to meet him in his club, they all hatch a plan to rob the bank in which holds the payroll for the LAPD. In return, Ajju reveals that he was the truck stealer and splits the money with all. Everyone goes about their normal life after that, in which it is revealed the personal troubles all face. Marc is a bouncer who hates the way his lover, a club-dancer, has to live and decides to rescue her from the club owner Cyrus, by paying him the required money.

Ajju is a club owner who is facing his own problems handling the club and has to lease it out. He also has an ongoing spat with Marc about his girlfriend. Major has a sick wife who he has to look after by supplying her with medicine and injections. Andy is a young, intelligent, software engineer who is having problems with his job and is in the middle of a divorce and custody dispute with his wife. Major knows that Andy is the most important member of the group as he is the only one who can hack the bank's computer system. Mak and Bali are two drug-peddlers who live off the street selling and buying illicit drugs for a drug lord. They first meet when Bali is being chased by some undercover policemen and meets Mak in alley where he is adjusting something in his car. He agrees to save him only if he splits his loot. They agree to work as partners on those terms from then on.

The six characters meet on a hotel rooftop where they construct their plan and arrange for arms, ammunition, vehicles and gadgets. They do some reconnaissance around the bank and two days before the robbery, Major calls up everyone to surprise them, telling them the robbery is to take place the next day. On the day of the robbery, they meet unexpected visitors in a SWAT team waiting for them outside the bank. They are engaged in gunfight during which Mak takes a bullet for Major. They all escape and meet at their hideout, however, they realize that someone might have betrayed them to police and realize that the police might know about their hideout as well. Mak, who was hit, is not allowed to be taken to the hospital, and Major treats his wound with some alcohol. They all have verbal scuffle after which, Ajju, reveals he had kidnapped the Police Chief. They interrogate him and get to know that one among them, was an undercover cop. This strikes terror among them and they all decide to bring the whole stolen amount to their hideout. On the process, they meet a number of surprises. Major finds out that his wife had died. Ajju befriends Marc and tells him to elope with his girlfriend. Marc finds out that Ajju was feigning his inability to speak English. When they return, they find Bali dead, killed by Mak because Bali was being inhuman in his interrogation of the Police Chief. Ajju realizes Mak to be the informer. Major defends Mak because he saved him during the gunfight at the bank. They all arrive at a Mexican stand-off, with Andy as the viewer. He retreats and runs away with the bags. They all kill each other, during which Major apologizes to Mak, for not saving him. In reply, Mak apologizes saying he was just doing his duty. Major realizes his mistake and shoots the already dying Mak in the head. Marc's girlfriend is shown waiting for him at the airport and Andy is shown at the end driving off the highway pursued by a Police helicopter. It is ascertained that he also died as all of them are, narrated by Mak, to have met in hell.

Cast[link]

• Amitabh Bachchan as Yashvardhan Rampal 'Major'
• Sanjay Dutt as Jay Rehan 'Ajju'
• Suniel Shetty as Marc Issak
• Mahesh Manjrekar as Raj Yadav 'Baali'
• Lucky Ali as Maqbool Haider 'Mak'
• Kumar Gaurav as Anand Mathur 'Andy'
• Malaika Arora as Lisa
• Ranjit Choudhary as McQuarrie's partner
• Sanjay Sippy as Mr. Adler
• Rati Agnihotri as Major's wife
• Aslam Khan as Pathan
• Gulshan Grover as Cyrus
• Jeff Davis as Det. MacQuarrie
• Eesha Koppikhar in a Special Appearance in song, "Ishq Samundar"
• Rohit Roy in a Special Appearance in song, "Ishq Samundar"

Production[link]

The film was to star Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Sunil Shetty, Akshaye Khanna, Mahesh Manjrekar, Kumar Gaurav, Shilpa Shetty and Lisa Ray initially.^[4] Akshaye Khanna opted out of the project subsequently and was replaced by Lucky Ali,^[5] while Malaika Arora stepped in Lisa Ray's shoes^[6] and Namrata Singh Gujral was cast opposite Kumar Gaurav in lieu of Shilpa Shetty.^[7]

The character of Renu Mathur (played by Namrata Singh Gujral) was the only role cast in Hollywood from the entire principal cast. All other principals including Amitabh Bachchan were flown in from Mumbai for the Hollywood shoot.^[8]

The film was the first Bollywood film to be completely shot in Los Angeles.^[9] The film's production team used Hollywood technicians.^[9] The filming was completed in 31 days.^[1] Rohit Roy (from Shootout at Lokhandwala and a popular television actor) makes an appearance in the song "Ishq Samandar".^[10]

Soundtrack[link]

The music is composed by Lucky Ali, Anand Raj Anand and Vishal-Shekhar. Lyrics are penned by Dev Kohli, Lucky Ali and Vishal Dadlani.

Track listing[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Kaante at the Internet Movie Database