Main Aur Charles

{{Infobox film

| name = Main Aur Charles

| image = File:Main-aur-charles.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Prawaal Raman

| producer = Raju Chadha
Amit Kapoor
Vikram Khakhar

| writer = Prawaal Raman

| story = Prawaal Raman

| screenplay = Prawaal Raman

| cinematography = Anuj Rakesh Dhawan

| editing = Nipun Ashok Gupta

| starring = {{unbulleted list|Randeep Hooda|Adil Hussain|Richa Chadda|Tisca Chopra|Alexx O'Nell}}

| studio = Wave Cinemas Cynozure Networkz

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2015|10|30|India}}

| country = India

| runtime = 121 minutes

| language = Hindi

| budget = {{INR|100 million}}{{cite web |title=Main Aur Charles - Movie |url=https://boxofficeindia.com/movie.php?movieid=3112 |website=Box Office India |access-date=24 April 2022}}

| gross = {{INR|80 million}}

}}

Main aur Charles ({{translation|Me and Charles}}) is a 2015 Hindi crime film written and directed by Prawaal Raman and produced by Cynozure Networkz.{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/main-aur-charles-review-randeep-hooda-kills-it-film-based-notorious-bikini-killer-1526445|title=Main Aur Charles review: Randeep Hooda kills it in film based on the notorious Bikini Killer|first=Arjun |last=Varma|work=International Business Times UK|date=30 October 2015|accessdate=20 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/bollywood/main-aur-charles-review-randeep-hooda-as-sobraj-is-thrilling-and-seductive-just-like-the-film-2488886.html|title=Main Aur Charles review: Randeep Hooda is seductive as the deadly Charles Sobhraj|work=Showsha|publisher=Firstpost|date=2 November 2015|accessdate=20 March 2018|last=Gauri|first=Gayatri}} The film is a fictitious thriller inspired by true events; it is told from the perspective of the Indian cop, Amod Kanth, who handled the case of the Indian Origin French serial killer Charles Sobhraj who was known as the bikini killer. The film opened on 30 October 2015 to positive reviews across India.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-reviews/Main-Aur-Charles/movie-review/49584906.cms|title=Main Aur Charles Movie Review|work=The Times of India|publisher=The Times Group|last=Iyer|first=Meena|date=17 December 2015|accessdate=20 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-main-aur-charles-is-a-cool-compelling-winner/20151030.htm|title=Review: Main Aur Charles is a cool, compelling, winner|date=30 October 2015|work=Rediff|last=Sen |first=Raja |accessdate=20 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/main-aur-charles---movie-review/16643160|title='Main Aur Charles' - Movie Review|date=2 November 2015|work=Mid-Day|publisher=Mid-Day Infomedia|accessdate=20 March 2018|last=Shetty-Saha |first=Shubha}} However, it was a box office flop, grossing {{INRConvert|80|m|year=2015|mode=historical}} against a {{INRConvert|100|m|year=2015|mode=historical}} budget.

The film stars Randeep Hooda,{{cite news|title=First Look: Randeep Hooda plays Charles Sobhraj in 'Main Aur Charles'|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/first-look-randeep-hooda-plays-charles-sobhraj-in-main-aur-charles-663694.html|accessdate=20 March 2018|work=News18|publisher=Network 18|date=23 January 2014|last=Singh|first=Preeti}} Richa Chadda, Adil Hussain, Tisca Chopra, and Alexx O'Nell in lead roles.{{cite web|title=Main Aur Charles Movie Review|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/movie-reviews/main-aur-charles-movie-review-1196|work=NDTV|publisher=NDTV Convergence|accessdate=20 March 2018|date=26 February 2016|last=Chatterjee|first=Saibal}} Through the narrative, we see a series of crimes committed by Charles and the story of each of his victims, who fell for his charisma but were betrayed by his serpentine nature. The man not just escaped several high security jails but also manipulated the legal system. In the title, Main aur Charles, the word 'Main' means 'me' and stands for the character of Amod Kanth.{{cite web|url=http://www.filmfare.com/reviews/movie-review-main-aur-charles-11036.html|title=Movie Review: Main Aur Charles|work=Filmfare|publisher=Worldwide Media|last=Gupta|first=Rachit|date=30 October 2015|accessdate=20 March 2018}} The film was warmly accepted in the trade for its impeccable direction, casting and background score. Apart from these technicalities, the film has satisfied critics creatively with fine performances by Hooda, Chadha and Hussain.{{cite web|url=http://www.belvoireagle.com/entertainment/main-aur-charles-movie-review-rating-box-office-collections-6212.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031053540/http://www.belvoireagle.com/entertainment/main-aur-charles-movie-review-rating-box-office-collections-6212.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-10-31|title=Main Aur Charles Movie Review Rating Box Office Collections Ft. Randeep Hooda, Richa Chadda|work=Belvoir Eagle}}{{cite web|url=https://www.absoluteindianews.com/post.php?id=5488|title=Main Aur Charles movie review|work=Absolute India News|publisher=AVS News Connect|last=Shah|first=Kunal M|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032505/https://www.absoluteindianews.com/post.php?id=5488|archivedate=17 November 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.desimartini.com/reviews/smita-vyas-kumar-main-aur-charles/rd31580md4367.htm|title=Hum tum ek kamre main bandh ho aur story kho jaye|first=Smita Vyas |last=Kumar|work=Desimartini|publisher=Top Movies Entertainment|accessdate=20 March 2018|date=31 October 2015}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Cast

Randeep Hooda - Hatchand Bhaonani Gurumukh Charles Sobhraj / Zubin Pratap
Richa Chaddha - Mira Sharma (Charles's girl friend)
Adil Hussain - Amod Kanth
Alexx O'Nell - Richard Thomas
Lucky Morani - Dr. Ashima Mehra (criminal psychologist)
Mandana Karimi - Liz (Charles's girl friend)
Shaanti - Princess Malvika
Dijana Dejanovic - Charles's Lawyer
Vipin Sharma - Satender Kumar (Jailor)
Tisca Chopra - Reena (Amod Kanths' wife)
Kanika Kapoor - Special appearance as bar singer
Anastasia Fullfina - Andrea (Charles's girl friend)
Nandu Madhav - Inspector Sudhakar Zhende
Saurabh Sarkar- Bajrangi Babu
Sandeep Punia - Satpal Punia
Satyakam Gupta - Rajan Ahuja
Shanu Dev - Mr.Joshi (Investigating Officer)
Abhiskek Diwan - Hemant

Judge - M.L CHAUHAN(IAS)

Production

The film was shot in Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, Pattaya, and Udaipur.{{Cite news |date=2015-10-31 |title=How `Main Aur Charles' tapped into the untapped locations |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/how-main-aur-charles-tapped-into-the-untapped-locations/articleshow/49606192.cms |access-date=2024-11-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

Soundtrack

{{Infobox album

| name = Main Aur Charles

| type = soundtrack

| artist = Vipin Patwa, Aditya Trivedi, Bally Grunge and Sanjeev-Darshan

| cover =

| alt =

| released = {{Start date|2015|10|15}}

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|m=29|s=07}}

| label = T-Series

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

The music for Main Aur Charles is composed by Vipin Patwa, Aditya Trivedi, Bally Grunge and Sanjeev–Darshan. The full audio album was released on 15 October 2015. The music rights are acquired by T-Series.

The song 'Jab Chaaye mera jaadoo' is originally from the movie Lootmaar (1980).

{{Track listing

| all_writing =

| extra_column = Singer(s)

| title1 = Neeli Bullet

| length1 = 03:41

| lyrics1 = Kartik Chaudhry

| extra1 = Aditya Trivedi

| title2= Woh Tho Yahin Hai Lekin

| length2= 02:51

| lyrics2 = Dr. Sagar

| extra2= Jonita Gandhi

| title3= Ya Rabba

| length3= 04:07

| lyrics3 = Rohan Moktali

| extra3= Saugat Upadhaya

| title4= Dekhe Meri Aankhon Mein Jo

| length4= 03:36

| lyrics4 = Kartik Chaudhry

| extra4= Saba Azad

| title5= Jee Lo Yaaron

| length5= 03:43

| lyrics5 = Bally Grunge

| extra5= Saugat Upadhaya

| title6= Main To Yahin Hoon Lekin

| length6= 02:39

| lyrics6 = Dr Sager

| extra6= Ali Azmat

| title7= Theme of Charles

| length7= 03:36

| lyrics7 = Aditya Trivedi

| extra7= Aditya Trivedi

| title8= Jab Chaye Mera Jadoo

| length8= 04:54

| lyrics8 = Ikram Basra

| extra8= Kanika Kapoor

| total_length ={{Duration|m=29|s=07}}

}}

Reception

Shubhra Gupta for The Indian Express rated 1 star out of 5 and wrote "The film should have been riveting. But it comes off as a slapdash, confused collage of scenes involving the famous jail break in which the real life Sobhraj broke free with several prisoners: it was the kind of astoundingly brazen 'kaand' whose reverberations were felt in the system for a long time."{{cite news |last=Gupta |first=Shubhra |title=Main Aur Charles movie review: Randeep Hooda needed a better film |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/main-aur-charles-review/ |url-access=limited |access-date=24 December 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=30 October 2015 |language=en}}{{rating|1|5}} Sweta Kaushal for Hindustan Times wrote "The film does not just fail, it crashes miserably."{{cite news |last=Kaushal |first=Sweta |title=Main Aur Charles review: This film is too confused |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/main-aur-charles-review-let-this-slithery-serpent-slip-by/story-ZH1yZjfGCBiZLBjpxQ4RlN.html |access-date=24 December 2022 |work=Hindustan Times |date=30 October 2015 |language=en}}{{rating|2|5}} Nandini Ramnath for Scroll.in wrote "The brazen fun that Charles and his cohorts are having is contrasted with the routine police work by Adil Hussain's overly loud and morally outraged cop. Hussain's outrage at Charles seems to be the result of envy."{{cite news |last=Ramnath |first=Nandini |title=Film review: Randeep Hooda nails it in 'Main Aur Charles', but the rest is off the mark |url=https://scroll.in/reel/765856/film-review-randeep-hooda-nails-it-in-main-aur-charles-but-the-rest-is-off-the-mark |access-date=24 December 2022 |work=Scroll.in |date=October 30, 2015}} On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 33% based on 6 reviews, and an average rating of 5/10.{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/main_aur_charles |title=Main Aur Charles (2015) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media |accessdate=March 20, 2018}} Rachit Gupta for Filmfare wrote "Main Aur Charles is also a period film. But most of it takes place on beaches in Goa, courtrooms and jails. Locations that haven't really changed in the past 30 odd years. So the only place that you actually get to see a simulated sense of the ‘70s and ‘80s is the fashion."{{cite news |last=Gupta |first=Rachit |title=Movie Review: Main Aur Charles |url=https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/movie-review-main-aur-charles-11036.html |access-date=24 December 2022 |work=Filmfare |date=December 24, 2015 |language=en}}{{rating|2.5|5}}