Overview
Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a 2015 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Salman Khan, Rockline Venkatesh and Kabir Khan. The story was written by V. Vijayendra Prasad, with a screenplay by Kabir Khan, Vijayendra Prasad and Parveez Shaikh. The film stars Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the child actor Harshaali Malhotra. It was released theatrically on 17 July 2015, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr.
The film follows Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi, a devout Hanuman bhakt from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, who undertakes the task of reuniting a mute six-year-old Pakistani girl, Shahida, with her family in Pakistan after she is separated from her mother in India. The film is widely regarded as a commercial and critical success and is often cited as one of the highest-grossing Indian films of its time.
Key facts
| Title | Bajrangi Bhaijaan |
|---|---|
| Director | Kabir Khan |
| Producers | Salman Khan, Rockline Venkatesh, Kabir Khan |
| Story | V. Vijayendra Prasad |
| Screenplay | Kabir Khan, V. Vijayendra Prasad, Parveez Shaikh |
| Lead cast | Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Harshaali Malhotra |
| Music | Pritam (songs); Julius Packiam (background score) |
| Cinematography | Aseem Mishra |
| Editing | Rameshwar S. Bhagat |
| Production companies | Salman Khan Films, Kabir Khan Films, Rockline Entertainments |
| Distributor | Eros International |
| Release date | 17 July 2015 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Country | India |
Plot
Shahida, a young mute girl from a village in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, travels to India with her mother to seek a cure at the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi. She is accidentally separated from her mother during a train journey and ends up alone in Kurukshetra, Haryana. There she encounters Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi, a simple-minded follower of Lord Hanuman, who takes her under his care.
Unable to discover her identity at first, Pawan eventually realises that the girl is Pakistani and Muslim. Bound by his vow of honesty, he undertakes a difficult journey across the India–Pakistan border to return her to her family. He is aided by a Pakistani journalist, Chand Nawab, played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Production
The film was officially announced in 2014. Principal photography took place across locations in Delhi, Rajasthan, and Kashmir, with portions designed to depict regions of Pakistan. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra selected Harshaali Malhotra for the role of Shahida from a wide audition process. The character of Chand Nawab was inspired by a real Pakistani television journalist of the same name whose news bloopers had circulated widely online.
Music
The soundtrack was composed by Pritam, with lyrics by Mayur Puri, Kausar Munir, Neelesh Misra and Amitabh Bhattacharya. The qawwali "Bhar Do Jholi Meri" was rendered by Adnan Sami, while "Selfie Le Le Re", "Tu Chahiye" and "Tu Jo Mila" became chart hits. The album was released by T-Series.
Release and box office
Bajrangi Bhaijaan was released worldwide on 17 July 2015 on the occasion of Eid. The film received widespread critical acclaim for its emotional storytelling, performances, and humanist message. It became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films at the time of its release, with significant earnings in India as well as in overseas markets, particularly in China, where it released in 2018 under the title Little Lolita Monkey God Uncle.
Awards and recognition
The film won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment at the 63rd National Film Awards. It also received multiple Filmfare, Screen, IIFA and Zee Cine Award nominations and wins, including recognition for Kabir Khan's direction and Pritam's music. Harshaali Malhotra received special acclaim for her performance.
Significance
The film is frequently discussed as an example of mainstream Hindi cinema engaging with the theme of India–Pakistan relations through a humanist lens, emphasising compassion across religious and national divides. Its commercial success in China further marked an important moment in the export of Indian cinema to East Asian markets. A sequel, with Salman Khan reprising his role and V. Vijayendra Prasad writing the story, has been announced.