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Bandit Queen

Play trailer Poster for Bandit Queen Released Jun 30, 1995 2h 1m Drama Crime Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
96% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
This lauded Indian drama focuses on the life of Phoolan Devi (Seema Biswas), a revered criminal who eventually went on to become a politician. The film details the hardships that Phoolan faced in her youth as a female member of a lower caste. Subject to sexual abuse at the hands of numerous men, Phoolan isn't treated with respect until she falls in with a gang led by Vikram Mallah (Nirmal Pandey). Later, Phoolan forms her own gang and gains a remarkable level of notoriety across India.
Bandit Queen

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Brimming with bravura spectacle and an arresting turn by Seema Biswas, The Bandit Queen is a galvanizing ode to rebellion.

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Critics Reviews

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Hugo Davenport Daily Telegraph (UK) Much more than a docudrama, Kapur's uncompromising film spares the viewer very little. Yet it is the opposite of exploitative. Mar 2, 2024 Full Review Stephen Amidon Financial Times The director possesses the rare instinct for knowing just when to pull the camera away from scenes of abuse, providing them with considerable power without ever being exploitative. Mar 1, 2024 Full Review Geoff Brown The Times (UK) Bandit Queen may not be a strictly accurate rendering of Devi's life, but it treats its story responsibly to give a disturbing and exciting portrayal of an extraordinary woman. Mar 1, 2024 Full Review Philip French Observer (UK) Bandit Queen is, firstly, a lucid narrative about injustice, as exciting as a Peckinpah western and as sharply observant of rural folkways as a film of Satyajit Ray. Mar 1, 2024 Full Review Dipankar Sarkar Vague Visages One of the finest films made in India that pushes the envelope of cinematic excellence. Sep 21, 2023 Full Review Margaret A. McGurk Cincinnati Enquirer The film does not really show how she rose to icon status, but offers a passionate condemnation of the oppression of women and peasants under India's caste system. Rated: 3/4 Aug 19, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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21 - Priyan B An extremely realistic biography. Rating: 8.3/10 Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/20/25 Full Review Liam D An powerful biopic with an strong lead performance and direction Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/28/24 Full Review Audience Member Greatest movie made on a legendary personality, Many people who undermine the caste based attrocities says Phool Devi was a bandit but refuse to acknowledge the uppercaste attrocities committed on people who they deemed "lower" and when they system is designed as such when oppressor always win you gotta do what you gotta do to rebel against the oppression. Now bollywood is full of oppressive uppercaste actors and directors who have a monopoly on the story and narrative and that's why we see more bollywood garbage glorifying cowered and oppressive castes. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Must have seemed revolutionary to the Indian audiences of 1994. This is a stirring retelling of the infamous dacoit's story. One major grouse thoufh. There seems to have been an attempt to make Phoolan look like a crusader for the rights of the lower castes. Nothing could be further from the truth. The makers apparently were looking for a peg that would appeal to Western viewers and decided to make the caste issue as the central theme. That's plain dishonest. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the best movie ever made. A must watch. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the most devestating TRUE stories you'll ever see portrayed on the screen!! DO NOT watch this movie for entertainment... It will be an experience that will chew you up and spit you out. "Girl Power" is an understatement! [Note the 100% rating by all 25 critical reviews.] Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Bandit Queen

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Cast & Crew

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Shekhar Kapur

Director

Seema Biswas

Phoolan Devi

Nirmal Pandey

Vikram Mallah

Manoj Bajpayee

Man Singh

Rajesh Vivek

Mustaquim

Govind Namdeo

SriRam

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Bandit Queen

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Movie Info

Synopsis This lauded Indian drama focuses on the life of Phoolan Devi (Seema Biswas), a revered criminal who eventually went on to become a politician. The film details the hardships that Phoolan faced in her youth as a female member of a lower caste. Subject to sexual abuse at the hands of numerous men, Phoolan isn't treated with respect until she falls in with a gang led by Vikram Mallah (Nirmal Pandey). Later, Phoolan forms her own gang and gains a remarkable level of notoriety across India.
Director
Shekhar Kapur
Producer
Bobby Bedi
Screenwriter
Ranjit Kapoor, Mala Sen
Production Co
Channel Four Films, Kaleidoscope Pictures
Genre
Drama, Crime, Biography
Original Language
Hindi
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 30, 1995, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 10, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA)
$42.0K
Runtime
2h 1m
Sound Mix
Surround