I've always heard praise for the Gangs of Wasseypur duology but never got around to actually watching them. But now that I've seen both of the parts, I think it's safe to say that it's one of the better gangster films (or in general) I've seen in a WHILE, especially from India. The story is a gigantic mess, but in a good way. There are uncountable characters, each with his/her own motivations, living in a small world where the notion 'the survival of the fittest' reigns supreme. One might get lost in this giant maze but trust me, it all ties in together perfectly. The plot and storyline in the 2 parts are quite different but are connected in regards to the subject matter. Part 1 deals with Shahid Khan, his exploits, his alliance and subsequent murder at the hands of Ramadhir Singh. His son, Sardar Khan, his own thirst for vengeance and assassination are also explored. The latter lays the foundation for the Part 2, which deals with the repercussions of Sardar's death on Wasseypur and the neighbourhood in an increasingly tense and politically-charged climate. Sardar's son, Faizal Khan, along with a bunch of new characters, is introduced in the second part. Both of the parts are adroitly written and combine the traditionality of Western gangster films with Indian eccentricity. The scenes are quirky and clever, traits which have become hallmarks of Anurag Kashyap, who has managed to direct films of such lengthy runtimes without either of them feeling like a slog. (Part 1&2 are both 2hr 30mins+) This proficiency can be attributed in part to the PHENOMENAL acting. If I'm not hyperbolic enough already, I will go on and say that much of the cast gave their career-best performances. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Manoj Bajpai, Richa Chadha, Jaideep Akhlawat all were stellar. Pankaj Tripathi and Rajkummar Rao were great early-bets and in retrospect, it's not surprising to see how well they acted even in the relative infancy of their careers. Definite highlights, even though Rajkummar has a somewhat insignificant but unforgettable role. Besides that, the cinematography and camerawork are really on-point. The cinematography complements the storyline in a great way, matching the quirky-ness and off-kilter humour of the script. Shots are easy-to-follow but never complacent. They're engaging and portray the tone the films are aiming for perfectly. The cinematography is atmospheric and embodies the rural environment with all its nuances. The gunpowder and cigarette smoke shroud the film in an air of 'trippiness' or psychedelia. Similarly, the music and background score are so damn good. The 70s-80s songs accurately represent the cultural zeitgeist of that time, while also holding relevancy to the movie itself. The scenes are generally in-sync with the tunes at play. Cinema itself is a somewhat major part of the residents of Wasseypur and this gives Part 2 a rather meta vibe, especially with all the pop-culture references peppered all over. Gang-violence, anti-heroism, regional politics and the overarching theme of endless gangster lifestyle are deftly handled in both the films. The eternal saga of pain and suffering at the hands of the powerful and the exploitative is portrayed along with how actions of the latter have ripple effects on society culturally, socially and economically. The desperation from living-at-the-edge is a recurrent theme, which gives a lot of depth to the films. Ultimately, it was quite an experience watching the two films! One might accuse them of being vulgar, socially irresponsible and morally corrupt but that's just the way it is. Gang of Wasseypur series is an unapologetic representation of the insane lives of countless individuals living at the fringes of society. The many components of GOW come together to make a well-oiled machine, that's as uncompromising as it is epic in size.