Murder is a series of Indian thriller films produced by Mahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt under the banner of Vishesh Films. The first film directed by Anurag Basu was released in 2004, second film by Mohit Suri was released in 2011, and third film by Vishesh Bhatt was released in 2013. A fourth film currently titled Murder 4 is stated to be under production.[1][2][3]

Murder Franchise
Created byMahesh Bhatt and Mukesh Bhatt
Original workMurder
OwnerVishesh Films
Films and television
Film(s)

Films

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Film Release date Director Writer(s) Based on Producer(s)
Murder 2 April 2004 Anurag Basu The Unfaithful Wife
by Claude Chabrol
Mukesh Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt
Murder 2 8 July 2011 Mohit Suri Shagufta Rafiq The Chaser
by Na Hong-jin
Murder 3 15 February 2013 Vishesh Bhatt Mahesh Bhatt, Amit V Masurkar The Hidden Face
by Andrés Baiz

Murder (2004 film)

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The first installment of the series is based on the 1969 French film The Unfaithful Wife by Claude Chabrol.[4] Murder was released on 2 April 2004 and, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, managed to become a highly successful venture at the box office, earning a "super hit" status from Box Office India.[5] The film was a huge breakthrough for its lead actors, particularly Hashmi and Sherawat. It received an A certificate from the Indian Censor Board for its erotic subject and scenes. The film became one of the highest grossing Bollywood films of the year.

Murder 2 (2011 film)

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A sequel, Murder 2, was commissioned after the success of the previous film and is directed by Mohit Suri, with Emraan Hashmi and Jacqueline Fernandez.[6] The film is alleged to be based on the 2008 South Korean film The Chaser, though Bhatt denied this and said that it was inspired from the 2006 Nithari killings in Noida.[7] The film is remembered for its erotic scenes.[8] It was released on 8 July 2011 (worldwide), and received mixed to positive reviews from various critics of India.[9] Proving to be similarly successful to the first entry in the series, the film became another profitable addition to the franchise, having earned ₹115 crore worldwide,[10] from a budget of ₹50 crore.[11]

Murder 3 (2013 film)

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After the success of the previous films, Bhatt hinted that there would be another sequel. The film was titled as M3, but then changed to Murder 3. Film is directed by Vishesh Bhatt and also the third installment in this series. The film stars Randeep Hooda, Aditi Rao Hydari and Sara Loren in lead roles. The film is an official remake of the Colombian thriller The Hidden Face. It was released on 15 February 2013. Murder 3 became an average grosser at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics.[12]

Future films

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Film Release date Director Screenwriter Story by Producer(s) Status
Murder 4 25 July 2025 Mohit Suri & Vikram Bhatt Shagufta Rafiq Pritam Mukesh Bhatt & Mahesh Bhatt In-Development[13]

Recurring cast and characters

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This table lists the main characters who appear in the Murder franchise.[14][15]

Characters Films
Murder (2004) Murder 2 (2011) Murder 3 (2013)
Emraan Hashmi Sunny Devaa Arjun Bhagawat
Mallika Sherawat Simran Sehgal Sonali Bhagawat
Jacqueline Fernandez Priya
Randeep Hooda Vikram
Aditi Rao Hydari Roshni
Sara Loren Nisha Sengupta
Ashmit Patel Sudhir Sehgal Vishal Bhagawat
Rajneesh Duggal
Aditya Pancholi Suraj
Nandana Sen Shyamoli (extended special death scene appearance)
Esha Gupta
Raj Zutshi Inspector Rajvir Singh Bakshi Seth
Sulagna Panigrahi Reshma
Tinu Verma Lala Shah
Ashutosh Rana Tuti Shah
Tej Sapru Kaliya Seth
Prashant Narayanan Dheeraj Pandey

Additional crew and production details

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Occupation Film
Murder
(2004)
Murder 2
(2011)
Murder 3
(2013)
Director(s) Anurag Basu Mohit Suri Vishesh Bhatt
Producer Mahesh Bhatt, Mukesh Bhatt
Distributing companies Shemaroo Entertainment, Star India Wave Cinemas Fox Star Studios
Music director(s) Anu Malik Mithoon Pritam
Cinematography Fuwad Khan Ravi Walia Sunil Patel
Editor(s) Akiv Ali Devendra Murdeshwar
Production companies Vishesh Films
Runtime 130 minutes 135 minutes

Inspirations

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The first Murder was an uncredited remake of 1969 French film The Unfaithful Wife by Claude Chabrol.[16] Murder 2 was an uncredited remake of South Korean film The Chaser.[17] Murder 3 was an official remake of the Colombian thriller The Hidden Face.[18]

Release and revenue

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Film Release date Budget Box office revenue Ref.
Murder 2 April 2004 5 crore 22.49 crore [19]
Murder 2 8 July 2011 13 crore 67.84 crore [20]
Murder 3 15 February 2013 15 crore 27.75 crore [21]
Total ₹33 crore (three films) ₹118.08 crore (three films)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Murder (2004)". Gomolo.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Murder 2 (2011)". Gomolo.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Murder 3 (2013)". Gomolo.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  4. ^ Samarth Goyal (1 October 2016). "15 Bollywood films that are way too 'inspired' from Hollywood". hindustantimes.com.
  5. ^ 90 crore"Box Office 2004". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 31 December 2010. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  6. ^ "Murder 2: Complete cast and crew details". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  7. ^ Mid-Day.com, Murder 2 plot lifted from Korean flick(The Chaser(2008)), NDTV, archived from the original on 8 July 2011, retrieved 8 July 2011
  8. ^ "We arent doing love making scene to titillate you- Jacqueline Fernandez: Part 2: Bollywood News". Bollywood Hungama. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. ^ Adarsh, Taran (7 July 2011). "Murder 2 : Movie Review by Taran Adarsh". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  10. ^ "2011 Worldwide Figures: Murder 2 Cross 100 Crore". Box office India. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Murder 2 – Movie – Box Office India".
  12. ^ Adarsh, Taran (22 February 2013). "Top 5: 'Murder 3' recovers cost, in profit zone!". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  13. ^ "Emraan Hashmi and Randeep Hooda: 'Murder 4' will happen for sure". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Murder Cast & Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Murder 2 Cast & Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  16. ^ "From 'Jai Ho' to 'Raaz': 21st Century Bollywood Remakes of Hollywood Films". Ibtimes.com. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  17. ^ "NDTVMovies.com: Bollywood News, Reviews, Celebrity News, Hollywood news, Entertainment News, Videos & Photos". Movies.ndtv.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Murder 3 is a remake of Spanish thriller | bollywood | Hindustan Times". Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  19. ^ "Murder – Movie". Boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  20. ^ "Murder 2 – Movie". Boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  21. ^ "Murder 3 – Movie". Boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
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