Gangubai Kathiawadi - 2022

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Introduction

The film Gangubai Kathiawadi has been eagerly anticipated since the release of its trailer. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and with Alia Bhatt taking as the titular character, the movie is based on a chapter from Hussain Zaidi's book, depicting the life of Gangubai Kothewali.

It tells the real-life story of a woman who was sold into a life of prostitution when she was a teenager. The movie follows Ganga, an ordinary small-town girl from Gujarat, who rises to fame and power in the notorious red-light district of Kamathipura in Mumbai.

You will be mesmerized by her journey of transformation from a shy teenage girl to the unassailable Lady of the Night, a character that Salman Khan Films describe as “an iron lady whose story will bring audiences to their feet.

Table of Contents

• Details

• Story

• Release

• Reviews

• Casting

• Crew

• Character Analysis

• Songs

• Behind the Scenes

• Controversy

• Box Office Collection

• Awards

• Interesting Facts

• Conclusion

Details 

Story

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The movie starts with Ganga Jagjivandas Kathiawad being sold into prostitution by her own confidant, her boyfriend Ramnik Lal. She was sold away for the amount of Rs. 1000 to a brothel owner named Sheela, aka Sheela maasi in Kamathipura, Mumbai. Soon Ganga accepts the fact of being a prostitute and starts acting on it until one day, a man named Shaukat Abbas Khan visits the brothel and brutally assaults Ganga. Here she Befriends Mafia leader Rahim Lala and pleads for justice. Being a powerful and renowned man Rahim Lala provides aid to Gangu and considers her his sworn sister. With the backing of Rahim Lala, Gangu becomes Madam of Kamathipura after the death of Sheela maasi and renounces herself as Gangubai, a dynamic political figure. Apart from gaining respect and becoming a public figure, the love life of Gangubai also blossomed.

She can be seen romanticising with a young tailor, Afsaan Razzaq, who she later marries with the Daughter of fellow sex worker Roshni to save Roshni from becoming a prostitute and suffering the same fate she fell prey to. Gangubai had turned into a philanthropist and was working for the betterment of fellow members of society. Rahim Lala, after attending a meeting with the ward secretary, informs Gangubai of the secretaries intentions of bringing down the brothel and replacing it with skyscrapers. The secretary ought to do so with the help of a school near Kamathipura, the red light area.

To retaliate, Gangubai, after an intense debate with the school's principal around the background of the brothel's children and how they too deserve education to give them a chance to break free from this vicious circle, managed to get the children enrolled in the school in the presence of Mr Faizi, a journalist. The children are mistreated and are beaten, and thrown out of school the very next day. This incident deeply affects Gangubai, and she decides to bring equality of education for these children. She takes the opportunity to enlighten people at a political rally and makes her mark on the audience. Impressed by Gangubai's proposition, a politician, in order to increase the vote bank, offers to help Gangubai and promises the right to education, which he eventually does.

To end the story, Gangubai visits prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru with a plea to legalise prostitution in India but has to settle with the continuation of the existence of Kamathipura.

Release

Gangubai Kathiawadi, directed by renowned filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali released by Pen India Limited on 25 February 2022. The film is now streaming on Netflix and made its OTT Debut in April 2022.

Reviews

Rotten Tomatoes - 7.8/10

IMDb - 4/5

Sanjay Leela Bhansali has brought the story of a remarkable woman's journey of survival to the big screen using Alia Bhatt in a masterfully bold role. This new crime drama is inspired by the story of Gangubai Kothewali, whose life was documented in the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai.

Apart from Bhatt's character portrayal that helped carry the movie forward and evoke strong emotions, there are other praiseworthy performances that added authenticity to the overall view. Undeniably, Bhansali's mafia drama is worth viewing because it leaves an everlasting impression with its remarkable story of courage and resilience.

While audiences greatly enjoy her presence and strength on screen, certain scenes of excessive melodrama reduce the impact of the film as a whole. One such scene is when Gangubai addresses large crowds in a hall - it falls so far from reality that it rings untrue.

Although there are undeniably strong aspects of the film, many viewers may find themselves losing interest during the musical numbers, which interrupt the narrative's flow. Whether or not this type of production appeals to the individual audience is down to personal taste, and everyone should assess their own inclinations with regard to this movie, so it is quite safe to say that the film is at least a once-watch. 

Casting

Crew

• Background Music - Sanchit Balhara & Ankit Balhara

• Costume Designer - Sheetal Sharma

• Choreographers - Kruti Mahesh

• Music Director - Sanjay Leela Bhansali

• Lyricist - A.M. Turaz & Kumaar

• Dialogue - Utkarshini Vashishtha & Prakash Kapadia

• Publicity Design - Rahul Nanda

• Sound - Sanal George

• Music Company- Saregama

• Production Designer - Subrata Chakraborty & Amit Ray

• Casting Director - Shruti Mahajan

• Action Director - Sham Kaushal

• Playback Singers - Jahnvi Shrimankar, Shail Hada, Shreya Ghoshal, Neeti Mohan, Archana Gore, Dipti Rege, Aditi Pradhudesai, & Arijit Singh

Character Analysis

• Gangubai Kathiawadi

Gangubai Kathiawadi, played by Alia Bhatt, is the central character in the eponymous film and is a complex and multifaceted personality. The protagonist is a strong-willed lady who does not let her circumstances define her.  She is intelligent and ambitious, which is evident from the way she learns to read and write and eventually becomes a powerful figure in the red-light district. Overall, Gangubai Kathiawadi is a fascinating and complex character who embodies the struggles and triumphs of women in a patriarchal society.

• Karim Lala
  
  

Karim Lala, played by Ajay Devgan, is a character in the film Gangubai Kathiawadi, which is based on a real-life figure in Mumbai's criminal underworld during the 1960s. Overall, Karim Lala is a complex character who embodies the complexities and contradictions of Mumbai's criminal underworld during the 1960s. While he is a powerful and influential figure, he also has a sense of honor and loyalty that is respected by those around him. However, his patriarchal beliefs and involvement in criminal activities also make him a controversial figure.

Songs

Behind the Scenes

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• Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt danced to song Dholida on  of Gangubai Kathiawadi. Fans were elated by the opportunity to watch the quirky friendship of the duo, both professionally and personally. The video has taken over social media platforms and can be credited to be one of the biggest trending videos as of late.

• Alia Bhatt's admiration for the renowned director Sanjay Leela Bhansali (SLB) is evident. She shared the unique experience of walking into lanes of real Kamathipura to get into the essence of her character. Enveloped in SLB's atmosphere, she was struck by his focus on every scene and line - every aspect of this project had been carefully considered and crafted.

Controversy

The Supreme Court recommended Gangubai Kathiawadi’s filmmakers to change its title. The bench, comprised of Justices Indira Banerjee and J.K Maheswari, was responding to a petition from Gangabai’s alleged adopted son. He requested an appeal from the Bombay High Court decision on wanting to stop the release of the film, which he claimed defamed Gangubai and infringed upon his rights. These objections are not new, as many others in Gangubai’s life have voiced similar concerns, particularly those living in Kamathipura, where Gangubai once resided.

Box Office Collection

Gangubai Kathiawadi was a major success at the box office in 2022, grossing over ₹209.77 crore (US$26 million) worldwide. This placed Gangubai Kathiawadi as the fifth highest-grossing Hindi film of the year, and both Bollywood Hungama and Box Office India labelled it as a hit.

Awards

Interesting Facts

• Veteran actor Raza Murad also appears for a few seconds in a party scene.

• With many new additions, such as Shantanu Maheshwari making his debut, production was unexpectedly halted due to the nationwide lockdown after roughly 70% of the film was complete. This resulted in a delay of one year for its initial release date, eventually released in theatres on February 25th, 2022, coincidentally on Bhansali's 59th birthday.

 Conclusion 

A trip into the life of Gangubai, also known famously as Mumbai's Mafia Queen, is a captivating journey. The drama that ensues throughout her story will draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. From bustling metropolises to risky business deals, this is an experience that won't easily be forgotten. Though those seeking a peek into Gangubai's world will likely wish for more information, even with whatever sources are available, there are enough grandiose moments to tell her story in all its glory.

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