Alia Bhatt shines like a queen in SLB’s tale of agony and rage whirled into triumph. The actress has set a benchmark for the entire film industry playing such a challenging role effortlessly.
Rating: 4/5
Release: 27 February
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Cast: Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz and Seema Pahwa
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic saga is based on Hussain S Zaidi’s novel Mafia Queens Of Mumbai. The film centres around the life of the President of Kamathipura, Gangubai. The film chronicles the life of Ganga, from being a young girl forced into prostitution to the madame of a brothel who stands for women and herself to live an unapologetic life without being ashamed of it.
GANGUBAI KATHIAWADI REVIEW: PLOT, CAST, STORYLINE
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Gangubai Kathiawadi depicts the tale of rise of a helpless girl forced into prostitution, who becomes a political figure to live her life with pride and respect.
The film has elements of emotions, tears, rage and anger with a powerful storyline, exquisite direction and screenplay.
STORYLINE OF GANGUBAI KATHIAWADI
Born in an illustrious family, Ganga (Alia Bhatt) falls in love with Ramnik Lal (Varun Kapoor), who promised to get her work as an actress in Mumbai. It turns out that she was sold into the flesh trade by someone she believed.
Set in the locale of Kamathipura, popularly known as the Mumbai red-light area, the film showcases the visual of a little girl, Ganga, forced to work in a brothel. The helpless girl, new to the profession, poses awkwardly on her friend’s cue – one hand on her waist, the other extended out while making lewd gestures, looking lost and uneasy. However, after a few fumbles, the young girl manages to woo her clients.
The biggest challenge of the film was to cast Alia Bhatt in the lead role. But the actress nailed the character sliding effortlessly into the shoes of the madame of Kamathipura. SLB directorial film depicts the lives of sex workers through the journey of Gangubai Kathiawadi, the bruises and heartaches that she suffered, and what she becomes by the end.
STAR CAST OF GANGUBAI KATHIAWADI
Alia Bhatt gracefully shuts the voices who didn’t believe she could pull off such an intense role. Gangu never asks the viewer to pity her but never even lets them think that she is glorifying the world no woman is supposed to be in. She maintains the dichotomy of the character who has to contrast the softness on her face with the severity of her soul.
Ajay Devgn as gangster Karim Lala seems a perfect hero in the world driven by a heroine. He becomes a brotherly figure to the sex worker. Vijay Raaz features a trans woman who steals the show with his powerful dynamic performance.
Shantanu Maheshwari’s debut performance is full of love and sheer humility, almost like a pearl gliding off the smooth silk surface. Bhansali’s stellar star cast did justice to every character of the film Gangubai Kathiawadi.
Overall, the film speaks about women who are either dissed or feared. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s style of presenting the story of Gangubai will definitely mesmerise you. It is a great effort by the film industry to exhibit such an intense story of a woman gracefully on screen.