Bhopal: Yesteryear dreaded Chambal bandit Malkhan Singh has staged a ‘smashing’ comeback in theatres in Madhya Pradesh (MP), where he struck terror in 1970s. His biopic titled Baagi Samrat, Dadda Malkhan Singh Chambal Robinhood, which has been released in cinema halls in Chambal region of MP on September 28, is getting huge response from movie buffs particularly women.
“The Hindi film was released in ten theatres in Bhind, Morena, Gwalior and Shivpuri districts in Gwalior-Chambal region on September 28. The movie is running houseful in all these cinema halls”, Mukesh R.K. Choukse, the director of the film who also portrayed the role of the ex-bandit, told this newspaper on Sunday.
Malkhan Singh (70) attended the premiere of the movie in a Gwalior theater along with Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
According to Mr Chouk-se, the low-budget movie made at a cost of Rs 70 lakh could not be released in other parts of the country due to non-availability of theaters for its release.
Singh had amassed 94 police cases, including 18 robbery cases, 28 kidnapping cases, 19 attempt to murder cases and 17 murder cases by the time he surrendered before former MP chief minister late Arjun Singh in 1982.
The biopic has portrayed Malkhan Singh as victim of situation and also a Robinhood who helped people particularly women in distress during his 12 years of bandit life.
“My movie is getting huge response from the film goers in all the theaters it was released despite release of big budget Bollywood movies such as Paltan, Sui Dhagaa, Batti Gul Meter Chalu and Mulk in the last one and half months in theaters across Madhya Pradesh some in Chabmbal region.
The film has been shot mostly in Chambal valley, where Malkhan spent 12 years of his bandit life.
“My character has been properly portrayed in the film”, the ex-bandit who always carries at least a couple of armed body guards with him wherever he goes, said. He turned ‘rebel’ in 1970 when he was implicated in a land dispute in his native village of Bhind.
