The film was announced in November 2020 and underwent a long, heavy pre-production stage. Principal photography commenced in November 2021 and wrapped up in February 2023 with filming taking place in United Kingdom, Ladakh and Mumbai.
Ganapath is reported to have a budget of ₹200 crore. The film was released theatrically on 20 October 2023 and was panned by critics, having recovered only six percent of its production budget, was deemed a box office bomb.
Plot
In a dystopian 2070, the aftermath of a destructive war has left the world divided by a towering wall. On one side resides the affluent elite in a silver city led by the enigmatic Dalini, while on the other, the impoverished struggle for basic necessities.
Guddu, a denizen of the silver city, unwittingly becomes a pawn in Dalini's schemes, recruiting fighters from the poor side for ruthless ring battles. His life takes a dark turn when falsely accused of an affair, leading to a perilous encounter that leaves him buried alive. Rescued by his friend Kaizad, Guddu receives guidance to seek out Shiva, a mysterious figure with unparalleled fighting skills.
As Guddu embraces his newfound identity as Ganapath, he discovers Shiva is more than a mentor – he is the legendary savior Ganapath. United by a common cause, Ganapath and his allies, including the formidable Jassi, rise against Dalini's oppressive regime. They rally the oppressed, inspiring a rebellion that spreads beyond the walls of the silver city.
The climactic battles unfold in the very arena where exploitation once reigned. Ganapath faces off against Dalini's champions, symbolizing the struggle for justice and equality. The silver city witnesses a seismic shift as dissent grows, culminating in a final showdown between Ganapath and Dalini himself.
With Dalini defeated, the walls crumble, marking the dawn of a new era. Ganapath emerges as a beacon of hope, leading the charge to rebuild a society that values compassion over cruelty. His journey from unwitting accomplice to the savior of the oppressed becomes a legend, reminding us that even in the darkest times, the fight for justice can spark a revolution.
The film was announced on 6 November 2020 by Pooja Entertainment, to be directed by Aditya Kumar starring Tiger Shroff.[10] It was originally supposed to release in parts, and had a working title of Ganapath: Part 1,[11] though this plan was abandoned and the film was re-titled Ganapath: A Hero is Born.[12] Though a sequel is still teased at the ending of the film titled Ganapath: Part 2: Rise of the Hero.[13]
The film marks the collaboration of Sanon and Shroff after nine years since their Hindi film debut in Heropanti (2014).[14]
Filming
The principal photography began on 2 November 2021 in United Kingdom.[15][16] In May 2022, the final schedule was held in Ladakh with some additional scenes being shot in February 2023.[17] The film's shooting was wrapped up by August 2023.[18]
The film was initially supposed to release on 23 December 2022 (Christmas Eve) but was later postponed. The film was released theatrically on 20 October 2023 during Dussehra in Hindi with dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.[11]
Reception
Critical response
Ganapath was panned by critics upon release. Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the film with 1.5/5 stars and wrote "Ganapath is painfully pea-brained pulp that makes a meal of a terribly thin storyline. It struggles to shore itself up with the aid of utterly vacuous, glaringly hackneyed means that are never in with a chance to get the job done."[23] Bhavna Agarwal of India Today rated the film with 1.5/5 stars and wrote "'Ganapath' offers absolutely no respite. If you expect it to get better in the second half, as Gen Z are often heard saying ‘you are in delulu’."[24]
Sonal Pandya of Times Now rated the film with 1.5/5 stars and wrote "Tiger Shroff goes from loafer to leader in this pointless origin story".[25] Hiren Kotwani of Mid-Day rated the film with 1.5/5 stars and wrote "What makes Ganapath different from the saviour-hero films of yore is that director Bahl has tried to make it look like the desi Mad Max of sorts, albeit with unimpressive design and poor packaging".[26]
Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express rated the film with 1/5 stars and wrote "What comes as a surprise is just how terrible this film is, with practically no redeeming feature in its nearly two and half hours run-time."[27] Swetha Ramakrishnan of OTT Play rated the film with 1.5/5 stars and wrote "Ganapath is a dated Hindi film with an identity crisis.[28]
Anuj Kumar of The Hindu review suggests that Ganapath struggles to live up to its potential, despite Tiger Shroff's action and dance skills, due to a weak storyline and execution. The film's lack of logic and mediocrity in various aspects contribute to its shortcomings.[29]
