Split Wide Open
title: "Split Wide Open" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1999-films", "english-language-indian-films", "films-about-organised-crime-in-india", "films-about-poverty-in-india", "films-scored-by-nitin-sawhney", "films-shot-in-mumbai", "films-set-in-mumbai", "works-about-police-brutality", "films-set-in-slums"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split_Wide_Open" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Split Wide Open |
| image | Split wide open.jpg |
| caption | Promotional poster for Split Wide Open |
| director | Dev Benegal |
| producer | Anuradha Parikh |
| writer | Farrukh Dhondy (screenplay) |
| Dev Benegal (story) | |
| Upamanyu Chatterjee (story) | |
| Sudhir Mishra (Hindi dialogues) | |
| Shozo Ichiyama (Japanese dialogues) | |
| starring | Rahul Bose |
| Laila Rouass | |
| Ayesha Dharkar | |
| Shivaji Satham | |
| music | Nitin Sawhney |
| cinematography | Sukumar Jatania |
| editing | Renu Saluja |
| studio | Adlabs |
| BMG-Crescendo | |
| Tropicfilm | |
| distributor | 20th Century Fox |
| released | |
| runtime | 107 minutes |
| country | India |
| language | English |
| :: |
| name = Split Wide Open | image = Split wide open.jpg | caption = Promotional poster for Split Wide Open | director = Dev Benegal | producer = Anuradha Parikh | writer = Farrukh Dhondy (screenplay) Dev Benegal (story) Upamanyu Chatterjee (story) Sudhir Mishra (Hindi dialogues) Shozo Ichiyama (Japanese dialogues) | starring = Rahul Bose Laila Rouass Ayesha Dharkar Shivaji Satham | music = Nitin Sawhney | cinematography = Sukumar Jatania | editing = Renu Saluja | studio = Adlabs BMG-Crescendo Tropicfilm | distributor = 20th Century Fox | released = | runtime = 107 minutes | country = India | language = English | budget = Split Wide Open is a 1999 Indian film directed by Dev Benegal. It is his second feature film after English, August (1994). The film primarily deals with the water conflicts in the slums of Bombay, and paedophilia, and also looks at the subversive sexuality in modern India and how the notions of morality are challenged when sex and poverty collide. The film came under harsh criticism when released in India and has been one of the most controversial Indian films.
Cast and characters
- Rahul Bose as KP (Kut-Price)
- Laila Rouass as Nandita
- Ayesha Dharkar as Leela
- Shivaji Satam as Shiv
- Abhimanyu Sharma as Shiv
- Farida Haider Mulla as Didi
- Kiran Nagarkar as Brother Bono
- Rajika Puri as Auntie
- Virendra Saxena as Altaf
- Aadya Bedi
Awards and recognition
- The official selection at the 1999 Venice Film Festival.
- Awarded a Special Jury Award to the film and the Best Actor award (Rahul Bose) at the 2000 Singapore International Film Festival.
- Won the Grand Prix at the 2000 Belgium International Film Festival.
- Nominated for the Grand Prix at the 2000 Bratislava International Film Festival.
Soundtrack
| name = Split Wide Open | type = soundtrack | artist = Nitin Sawhney | cover = | alt = Split Wide Open Audio CD | released = 21 August 1999 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = Feature film soundtrack | length = | label = BMG Crescendo | producer =
The original soundtrack of the film consists of 17 total songs with 9 soundtrack songs and 5 instrumental tracks composed by Nitin Sawhney.
| headline = Split Wide Open (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | extra_column = Singer(s) | title1 = You are the reason | note1 = | extra1 = Air Supply, Mehnaz Hoosein | title2 = Jaane Na Koi | note2 = | extra2 = Asha Bhosle | title3 = Kurti Da Touch | extra3 = Silk Route | title4 = The trick is to keep breathing | extra4 = Garbage | title5 = Trapped | note5 = | extra5 = Indus Creed | title6 = Dooba Dooba | note6 = | extra6 = Silk Route | title7 = Duniya | note7 = | extra7 = Raageshwari | title8 = Mera Jee Nahin Lage | note8 = | extra8 = Najam Sheraz | title9 = Dil Se Mera Hai | note9 = | extra9 = Drosnadresd | title10 = Black is black | note10 = | extra10 = Anaida | title11 = Would you like to | note11 = Go to bed with me | extra11 = Touch and Go | title12 = Welcome to Bombay | extra12 = Nitin Sawhney | title13 = Aaj Aaj Eri Sari Oe | note13 = | extra13 = 917 Fridanasd | title14 = Yo KP! | extra14 = Nitin Sawhney | title15 = For Didi | extra15 = Nitin Sawhney | title16 = Television Sting | extra16 = Nitin Sawhney | title17 = A Golden Tap | note17 = End Title | extra17 = Nitin Sawhney
The film also credits Massive Attack, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Bob Dylan, Mark Knopfler, Pink Floyd, Krome Assassins, Touch and Go, Purvi Parikh, the Dagar Brothers and Kishori Amonkar for their music used in the production of the film.
Notes
Poster Art & Design and Title Images by Artist Jaideep Mehrotra
References
- "Split Wide Open (1999)".
- http://www.tropicfilm.com/ {{Webarchive. link. (1 December 2005 Split Wide Open audio-video goodies page)
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