Reimagining Kaante characters as copywriters

Saurav Satyadarshi Ray
5 min readSep 2, 2023
Kaante poster (credit Google images)

If you’re a fan of the 2002 cult movie Kaante, then this video is just for you. The movie is extremely special for all those who could connect to one or more characters on some level.

Whether it’s Major’s oratory skills, Ajju’s machismo, Andy’s smarts, Mak’s subtlety, Marc’s seriousness, or even Bali’s goofiness — the lead characters and their distinct characteristics left an indelible mark on us.

If you’re a copywriter or a content writer, just imagine how all these characters would fit in your profession.

Dressed in ultra stylish apparel (jeans, trench coats, suits and blazers) and armed with oodles of attitude, just imagine how it would be if they all assemble at the drawing board to brainstorm ideas for a perfect copy instead of planning to rob the Services American Bank.

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in and discuss the lead characters and their personas.

Major (the character played by Amitabh Bachchan Sir) is extremely articulate. Opinionated. Gifted with exceptional oratory skills. Upright. Serious.

Major was known for his articulate speech and strong opinions. In fact, it was his speech that got the compelled the rest of characters to consider robbing the bank. You can see the speech here, which translates to…

Destiny… Even if we all try our level best, these guys are gonna ensure we never fulfill our destiny. Whenever something bad happens in the city, the cops grab our necks. If there’s a theft, there’s a search warrant for our houses.

The Italians have their mafia, the Colombians have their cartels, the Chinese have their triads. And all of them are so organized that no cop can dare enter their neighborhoods. But we Indians, what have we got. Nothing but criminal records.

Even a blind man standing 400 feet away sees something and testifies “must’ve been an Indian.” Damn, even an elephant looks like a hammer from 400 feet. The tag of uncommitted crimes will forever go with us till the day we’ve money to buy our innocence.

Quotes by Amitabh Bachchan’s Major

Ajju (the character played by Sanjay Dutt) is Macho. Bold. Flamboyant. Risky. Dangerous. Disingenuous.

Btw, disingenuous is the word that describes a person who is not candid or sincere, typically by pretending that one knows less about something than one really does. It can also be called strategic incompetence or playing dumb. If you know the right word for Ajju’s pretending not knowing English, please write the word in the comment section.

That disingenuous quality could make his copy intriguing and full of unexpected twists. But that’s not all, the way he described the gun he was holding is a treat for every copywriter’s imagination.

Quote by Sanjay Dutt’s Ajju

Mak (the character played by Lucky Ali) is Observant. Sharp. Subtle. Excellent storytelling and narration skills. Flexible. Nimble.

Mak’s observant and sharp nature, along with his excellent storytelling skills, would make him a masterful copywriter. He’d weave narratives that engage and entertain, just as he did with his heist plans.

He could use his subtelty and emotional intelligence to become an exceptional emotional copywriter. He’d infuse empathy into his writing, connecting with the audience’s feelings and crafting touching narratives that resonate deeply.

Quote by Lucky Ali’s Mak

Andy (the character played by Kumar Gaurav) is Tech-savvy. Strategic. Refined. Suave.

The tech-savvy hacker, would fit right into the shoes of a highly-skilled technical copywriter (say in the domain of cyber security, web3, crypto, SaaS solutions). His knack for thinking outside the box could lead to innovative ad concepts and captivating taglines. And just like he manipulated digital systems in the movie, he’d now manipulate words to create memorable brand stories.

And that’s not all. Andy is extremely matured for his age and is a man of few words.

Andy the man of few words

Marc (the character played by Sunil Shetty) is Macho. No-nonsense. Tough. Serious. Straight. To the point.

Marc’s no-nonsense, tough, and serious attitude makes him a good copywriter.

The ‘tarzan’ of the group (as called by Baali) would get straight to the point, leaving no room for ambiguity — just like his actions in the movie.

He’d use his forceful tone to drive customers to take action, which would translate into convincing and influential sales copy.

Suneil Shetty’s Marc

Bali (the character played by Mahesh Manjarekar) is Foul-mouthed. Inarticulate. Stammerer. Funny. Talkative.

Now, Baali is an odd one out in the group who can’t be a copywriter in a conventional sense. But he can prove to be a maverick with his choice of words, which could add an interesting flavor to his copy.

Quote by Mahesh Manjerker’s Baali

So, there you have it — a reimagination of Kaante’s characters as copywriters! It’s intriguing to see how their personalities and traits from the world of heists could translate into the realm of crafting words. The article is also available in a video form with additional quotes. To watch it, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ez-UMaxi4

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