GANGUBAI KATHIAWADI : POWERFUL, BOLD & KIND

‘Strength. Power. Fear.’ is what director Sanjay Leela Bhansali had described about Gangubai portrayed by Alia Bhatt. With the teaser release of the much awaited movie ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ last week, the teaser received numerous positive reviews from the audience and Alia Bhatt’s portrayal of the title character of the movie was much appreciated. The movie is a biopic of Gangu who was a lady mafia, pimp and politician of the 60’s era. Another Biopic from Bollywood? Will it really worth investing our time after the Lockdown Vacation? The movie has taken references from Hussain Zaidi’s book “Mafia Queens of Mumbai”. According to the book, Ganga was born in Gujarat’s Kathiawar in the 40’s. From her childhood, Ganga always dreamt of being a Bollywood actress. She fled away from home with her father’s clerk, Ramnik Lal to Bombay and got married. But, she was sold off for prostitution by her husband in Bombay’s red light area of Kamathipura. During her days in the brothel, she was brutally raped twice by one of the men of Karim Lala, the then famous Mafia of Bombay. In order to seek justice, she went to Karim Lala after which Karim Lala punished the man severely for his crime. Gangu tied a ‘rakhi’ to Karim Lala showing gratitude towards him. Later, she became powerful having strong political connections. She was said to be the only lady to own a Bentley then. She also ran a sex racket in the red light area of Heera Mandi, Lahore. Although she ran illegal business, she was much respected by the society since she never forced a lady into prostitution without consent. She dedicated her life for the welfare of the sex workers and orphans in the society. In her remembrance, her statue still stands tall in Kamathipura, Mumbai. It will be quite interesting to watch all the phases of Gangubai’s life in the movie. Alia Bhatt shines out throughout the whole teaser justifying Gangubai from her walking style to the accent. It is for the first time that Sanjay Leela Bhansali is working with Alia Bhatt. SLB’s past report cards guarantees that he will impress the audience making it another ‘Bhansalian Epic’. Starting with Khamoshi (1996) to Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999) & Devdas (2002) to Black (2005) and the recent ‘Ramleela’ (2013), Bajirao Mastani (2015) & Padmaavat (2018), Bhansali shines still among the audience’s hearts. The movie also has supporting casts of Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Indira Tiwari & Seema Pahwa with Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi & Huma Qureshi in cameo appearances. Gangubai Kathiawadi releases on 30th July, 2021. By N Rohit Kumar Ist Semester Ningthoujam Rohit Kumar Singh 1st Semester