Shanghai(2012)
Shanghai is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language political thriller film directed by Dibakar Banerjee. The cast includes Prosenjit Chatterjee, Emraan Hashmi, Farooq Shaikh, Abhay Deol, and Kalki Koechlin. The story is set in the fictional city of Bharat Nagar, where a controversial infrastructure project threatens to displace thousands of poor residents. When an activist is killed in a staged accident, an honest IAS officer, a young woman, and a small-time photographer join forces to uncover the truth. The film is a remake of the 1969 French film Z and received critical acclaim for its sharp political commentary and strong performances. It won the Filmfare Award for Best Costume Design and was praised for its realistic portrayal of corruption. The movie was released on 8 June 2012.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, Netflix, Plex
- Theatrical Release
- 8 June 2012
- Director
- Dibakar Banerjee
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h
- Rating
- 7.0/10
Storyline
Dr. Ahmadi, a brave activist, comes to Bharat Nagar to stop a corrupt development project. He is killed in a fake accident. Shalini, his former student, believes it was murder. She teams up with Jogi, a photographer with a secret video. Together, they fight a powerful political party to expose the truth.
“The truth is the only weapon.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Shanghai
Cast reunions in this film: Abhay Deol & Kalki Koechlin (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film is an official adaptation of the 2010 Greek film 'Dogtooth' by Yorgos Lanthimos, though it changes the setting and plot significantly.
- Director Dibakar Banerjee shot the film's climax in a single, continuous 12-minute take to build tension.
- Actor Emraan Hashmi, known for romantic roles, played a small-town porn filmmaker as a major character shift.
- The movie's title 'Shanghai' is ironic, referring to a promised development project that never gets built in the story.
- It was partially inspired by real-life controversies around land acquisition for special economic zones in India.
- The film underperformed at the box office but later gained a strong cult following for its political themes.
- Prosenjit Chatterjee, a major Bengali film star, made his Hindi debut with a key role as the activist.