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Bombay/Mumbai and its post-partition underworld Dons and gangsters.
Bombay/Mumbai and its post-partition underworld Dons and gangsters.
'Founder of Indian mafia'
Abdul Karim Sher Khan aka 'Karim Lala'
Born in Afghanistan in 1911, went to Bombay in the 40s, started by smuggling jewellery and going onto running liqour stores, extortion rackets and selling hashish was the first and the biggest names of underworld.
Abdul Karim Sher Khan aka 'Karim Lala'
Born in Afghanistan in 1911, went to Bombay in the 40s, started by smuggling jewellery and going onto running liqour stores, extortion rackets and selling hashish was the first and the biggest names of underworld.
He was also focused on legalising himself by running hotels and travelling agencies, he was also effective with bollywood, specially with Dilip Kumar because of their background of being from Peshawar.
Was known to be a helper of the rich & poor without distinction.
Was known to be a helper of the rich & poor without distinction.
As Karim Lala rose to power, he was joined by Haji Mastan and Varadarajan Mudaliar.
Both of them, dons of their respective areas.
Both of them, dons of their respective areas.
Haji Mastan Mirza
Aka Bawa or Sultan
Born in 1926 in Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), Mastan was the first one to reach a celebrity status, had close connections with politicians, filmstars and businessmen.
His clothes, shoes, cars, all white. He was an all-white gangster.
Aka Bawa or Sultan
Born in 1926 in Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu), Mastan was the first one to reach a celebrity status, had close connections with politicians, filmstars and businessmen.
His clothes, shoes, cars, all white. He was an all-white gangster.
Started off by doing odd jobs at crawford market to working on the docks, Mastan started smuggling gold and made it his business, soon he would go onto producing films and eventually end up as a politician.
Haji Mastan had a great relationship with Lala and Mudaliar.
Haji Mastan had a great relationship with Lala and Mudaliar.
Haji Mastan Mirza or Sultan was the person who recruited Daud Ibrahim to work for him at the docks.
Sultan Mirza, the character played by Ajay Devgan in the film 'Once upon a time in Mumbai' was based on Haji Mastan.
Sultan Mirza, the character played by Ajay Devgan in the film 'Once upon a time in Mumbai' was based on Haji Mastan.
Deewar, the 1975 bollywood blockbuster was also vaguely based on Mastan's life, Amitabh Bachan played a dramatised version of Haji Mastan.
Rajnikanth has also played a version of Mastan in 'Thee' a Tamil film from 1981.
Rajnikanth has also played a version of Mastan in 'Thee' a Tamil film from 1981.
Mastan never believed in violence, was more humble and business oriented, he kept good relations with other gang leaders and made sure there were no inter-gang conflicts. He did not stay on the front line with the smuggling biz and let Karim Lala and Mudaliar deal that part.
In 1975, forced by PM Indira Gandhi, Pres. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared a state of emergency, Mastan was imprisoned, during his time in jail he met and was heavily influenced by the independence leader Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan and decided to get into politics.
After his release, Mastan started a political party in 1981 called 'Dalit Muslim Suraksha Maha Sangh' and won the elections in 1985.
Passing on his legacy and leaving the underworld behind, Haji Mastan Mirza died from a cardiac arrest on 25th June, 1994.
Passing on his legacy and leaving the underworld behind, Haji Mastan Mirza died from a cardiac arrest on 25th June, 1994.
Varadarajan Mudaliar aka Vardha Bhai
Also born in 1926, he is the third of the 3 pioneers of Indian mafia and was the most powerful mob boss in Bombay for two decades (60s to 80s), his strongholds included Dharavi, Chunnabhati, Kaliwada, Mahum Matunga and as far as Chembur.
Also born in 1926, he is the third of the 3 pioneers of Indian mafia and was the most powerful mob boss in Bombay for two decades (60s to 80s), his strongholds included Dharavi, Chunnabhati, Kaliwada, Mahum Matunga and as far as Chembur.
Vardha bhai was known to be the most feared in all three, he ran a judicial system in his areas for south Indians.
Started his career by stealing dock goods, Dharvi slums was where he turned his criminal activities into a gigantic underworld career.
Started his career by stealing dock goods, Dharvi slums was where he turned his criminal activities into a gigantic underworld career.
1980, Mastan took a side from the smuggling business and Karim Lala's gang had a split between Samad Khan and Daud Ibrahim.
Vardha emerged as the strongest gang leader, stretching his turf to the north and central of Bombay and giving patronage to bara Rajan & Sadhu Shetty
Vardha emerged as the strongest gang leader, stretching his turf to the north and central of Bombay and giving patronage to bara Rajan & Sadhu Shetty
Just when Vardha was on top of his game, Officer Y.C.Pawar decided it was time to bring him down and so he started encounters and raids, chasing Vardha all over Bombay, closing his rackets and dens down, forcing Vardha to flee Bombay and go back to Chennai, where he came from.
Retiring himself from the underworld, Vardha bhai stayed in Tamil Nadu, Chennai where he died from a heart attack in 1988.
His body was flown back to Bombay by Haji Mastan as per Vardha's wish, his death was mourned by people of Dharvi and other areas where he ruled.
His body was flown back to Bombay by Haji Mastan as per Vardha's wish, his death was mourned by people of Dharvi and other areas where he ruled.
There have been many films based directly and indirectly on or about Vardharajan Mudaliar.
In 1983, Ardh Satya
In 1984, Amresh puri played Vardha in Mashaal
In 1987, Mani Ratnam made Nayakan, Kamal Hassan played Vardha's character
Amitabh in Agnipath had Vardha as inspiration
In 1983, Ardh Satya
In 1984, Amresh puri played Vardha in Mashaal
In 1987, Mani Ratnam made Nayakan, Kamal Hassan played Vardha's character
Amitabh in Agnipath had Vardha as inspiration
