“Are bhaiya UP aaye aur sala dhol nahi baja to kya khaak UP aaye” – The irresistible charm of Uttar Pradesh has allured many renowned directors to shoot in the state. One such city is Kanpur, be it the ghats of Bithoor or Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital or the Kotwali in Kanpur, filmmakers are drawn towards the appealing panorama that the Kanpur has to offer. The gripping lehza that a dabang kanpuriya brings to the big screen is both quirky and unique.
So here, we are presenting to you a list of movies shot in Kanpur, highlighting city’s rich culture:
Bunty aur Bubly – 2004
Shot in 2004 and directed by the legendary Yash Raj Films, this charming and unique love story of two vagabond thieves made way into our hearts, quickly. And remember that scene where both Rani and Abhishek Bachchan reach Kanpur? Yes, the iconic scene was filmed at the Kanpur’s Railway Station – Kanpur North Barracks.
Tashan – 2008
Akshay Kumar aka Bachchan Pande, plays the character of a young, ambitious man from Kanpur who accidentally happens to watch films like The Godfather and gets very inspired – to become a gangster! The movie stands for it’s own ishtyle and the iconic zero-figure of Kareena Kapoor, which became a national trend back then. Capturing iconic locations from the city, the movie truly depicts the heart and soul of Kanpur.
Tanu weds Manu – 2011 & 2015
“Hasratein Lucknow, basratein Kanpur, surmayi hai Bareli aur kaatilana hai Rampur” – ‘Tanu weds Manu’ and ‘Tanu weds Manu Returns’ are romantic comedies shot in the busiest lanes of Kanpur. Doing justice to the city, the movie truly depicts the rich essence of Kanpur on the big screen. Kanpurites will be able to frequently pick out stills from the movie using frames from the city.
Dabangg 2 – 2012
Chulbul Pandey aka Salman Khan is transferred and promoted to Kanpur, in the movie. The main villain in the story is Baccha Bhaiyaa, politician and a strong contender for the upcoming elections. Based in Kanpur, the the film uses montage shots of the Kanpur Kotwali, where Chulbul Pandey can be seen head on with Baccha Bhaiya in his evergreen – ‘Dabangg‘ style.
Bala – 2019
Bala is based on a real story, starring Ayushmann Khurrana as Gaurav Rawat aka Bala, plagued with premature baldness. Directed by Amar Kaushik, significant scenes from the movie are shot at Kanpur’s famous Birhana Road. The actor had even expressed his excitement for shooting in Kanpur, by posting pictures with hilarious captions like “Hum Kanpur Jayenge”.
Knock Knock
A major reason for the sudden interest of filmmakers in Kanpur, is the city’s old charm reflected in areas like Anand Bagh, P. Road and Shivala. With a number of virgin locations, from old bungalows to narrow lanes and sprawling resorts, Kanpur is an emerging paradise for directors.
