The title of the movie (Gangaajal) means water of the sacred river Ganga in India. Water of the Ganges is supposed to be blessed and anyone who touches it gets cleansed of his/her sins. In the movie acid that is poured into the eyes of suspected criminals is called 'gangaajal' by the cops because they are supposedly cleansing the society.
The film won a national award in 2004 for its expose on social issues.
The film is loosely based on the 1980 Bhagalpur blindings. when police blinded 31 individuals under trial (or convicted criminals, according to some versions) by pouring acid into their eyes.
The film received a straight to DVD release in the international overseas market.
Manoj Kumar was attempting to make a film titled Gangajal in the late 90s but shelved it .