Francis Cappola, director of The Godfather, produced one of the greatest Hollywood gangster classics, showed the Italian mafia and the significance of their business. Gangs of Wasseypur (GOW), on the other hand, is a Bollywood classic that depicts the true-life narrative of Gangs in Wasseypur. Both films share some themes, such as succession, revenge, betrayal, and family. Michael Corleone and Faisal Khan are central figures in The Godfather and GOW, respectively. I found it fascinating because their personalities are polar opposites, yet their plots are quite similar.
The character development of Faisal Khan is highly concentrated in Gangs of Wasseypur, and his persona changes dramatically during the movie. Faisal Khan is presented as naive and unconcerned with his family's mafia business. He was indifferent to the family business and did not want to be associated with the mafia. During his immature phase, he was always high on marijuana, while his brother focuses on the father's mafia operations. Faisal Khan was despised by his family for his lack of seriousness; he was seen as a failure who would die from a drug overdose somewhere in the countryside. When Faisal's closest companion betrays him and plots to kill his father, this dramatic twist transforms his entire existence. When his father was murdered, Faisal Khan blamed himself for not being there. After his elder brother is assassinated, Faisal Khan was the sole heir to his father's syndicate. With the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, Faisal's demeanor has evolved to that of an evil genius seeking vengeance and fortune. Defect, Faisal Khan's younger brother, and his stepmother murder him at the end of the movie. The film ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the spectators wondering who would execute justice for this treachery.
Michael Corleone, Don Vito's youngest son, is shown as a bright and smart young man focused on his own pursuits, namely politics. His persona remains consistent, although his preferences change throughout the movie. Michael originally wished to isolate himself from the family business. He enrolled in college as a getaway from his involvement in crime. His father also did not want him to be a part of his family's criminal enterprises; instead, he encouraged Michael to engage in politics. When Michael learnt of his elder brother's death, he went to New York and took over his place in the family business. He became more and more engaged in the family's criminal enterprises when his father was nearly assassinated. Following this, Michael pledged to avenge his father's assassination attempt by murdering the perpetrators. Michael's skillful plotting enabled him to kill all his enemies and rivals, and the Corleone family eventually became the most dominant mafia family in New York. Michael's evil intellect leads his family to collapse, and his obsession with ruthlessness and vengeance eventually destroys both his family and his life.
Both GOW and The Godfather were blockbusters of their times, however they share many parallels. One of which has been addressed. However, the narratives of both leads overlap, but their personalities are distinct. With his gaudy way of dressing, spectacular accent, and out-of-the-way mannerism, Faisal Khan is portrayed as a stupid, cinema-crazy youngster, a comical lover, devoted son, and fierce slayer. He has a great sense of humour, yet he is also incredibly aggressive in serious situations.
Faisal's personality is quite diversified, yet all his attributes combine to make him the mafia don of Wasseypur. Michael Corleone, on the other hand, is an intellectual, bold, and honorable man with great leadership abilities. His personality is solemn and dignified. His deep tone and perfect dressing complement his cultured personality.
One of the few things that have already been highlighted vis-a-vis these movies is the fact that both of these movies and the lives of their main characters are a perfect symbol of toxic masculinity and problematic gender roles assigned to the characters. For example, in Gangs of Wasseypur, it is clearly shown how when Faizal's father, Sardar Khan wanted to marry or be physically involved with someone else, he was allowed by his own wife. However, nobody thought about how problematic this was, because it shows that men can easily disrespect the bond of marriage, but women are not even allowed to think in that way, in fact are even expected to accept this horrific act. Moreover, the roles…
While Michael Corleone is quite different from Faisal Khan the parallels are very apparent highlighting how through different cultures and time periods, certain tropes still remain. We see this especially in both characters where they initially refuse to be a part of the empires their respective fathers have built but due to circumstances they are forced to become a part of the life they swore off of. Yet they also adjust to the role in the mafia despite having personalities that would hinder them from the position they hold. Yet a huge question remain as to whether GOW is inspired by Godfather or if it is in itself a cinematic masterpiece that should not be compared to the Godfather. And…