Based on S. Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges’ book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is a saga of a small-town, timed girl who emerged as the Queen of Kamathipura. The stages of the personality development of the protagonist Alia Bhatt is evident, who delivers a brilliant performance. There is an unpopular opinion that Deepika Padukone would have done a better job as Gangubai. Although in an interview, the director mentioned that for the role of Mastani, he would always choose Deepika and for the role of Gangubai, Alia would always be his choice.
Bhansali has given us better films and no wonder that this movie is hard-hitting and delivers a genuine social message and raises concerns of the sex workers but somehow Bhansali failed to create the magic he always does. The stills from the movie were amazing and Sudeep Chatterjee’s camera captured the right emotions throughout.
One will empathise with Gangubai at every step and witness her growth. As a mainstream cinema, the film explores multiple themes that are extremely relevant such as feminism, the need for dignity in the lives of sex-workers, consent, feminine unity, political sensitivity, patriarchy, etc. Beneath layers of the metaphor of colours and dialogues ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ achieves the success of being an epitome of ambitions, abandonment, dreams and success.
There is an absence of a male character that overshadows the fight and directs the emotions of Gangubai. Apart from being a women-centric film, this movie has a number of male characters who are a part of Gangu’s life yet they do become the center of attention. Bhansali is a clever director, who knows exactly how to play with characters.
Bhansali also talked about female kinship and the feeling of sisterhood when all the women of the brothel embrace Gangubai and choose her as their leader. Any woman who needed love and support got it from her. The movie depicted a serious friendship between Gangubai and colleagues, especially Kamli, yet her individuality was always retained.
The character of Alia held pride in her action clothing and jewellery. She wore white that symbolized peace, death of the inner innocence, power, purity and grief.
However, the movie misses sexual health issues, poverty and the politics of pimps. Apart from that the character of Rajiabai doesn’t do justice and seems like a transphobic representation.
Ajay Devgn has an extremely powerful character to play no matter how less screen time he gets. Shantanu Maheswari as Afsaan just wins hearts. One would definitely feel bizarre at the abrupt end of his character in Gangu’s life.
The soundtrack is composed by Bhansali himself, with lyrics written by AM Turaz, Kumaar and Anjam, which are brilliant. There is a versatility of genre in the tracks. The six tracks create magic with the screenplay.
However, in the end, one would yearn for more. Although there is everything nearly perfect in the movie that has its grand premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival winning a standing ovation, something somewhere feels missing. Concluding it, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is an amazing movie but Bhansali has given us better films.
Rating: 4/5
