2h 32 min
Drama, Crime, Biography
Critic's Rating: 3.5/5
Star Cast: Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, and ensemble.
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
A beautiful treat, but there's still a lot to learn about Gangu's life.
'Gangubai Kathiawadi,' based on S. Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges' hard-hitting book 'Mafia Queens of Mumbai,' follows Ganga's ascent to power and renown from a demure small-town girl in Gujarat to the undisputed queen of kamathipura in Mumbai.
A true, terrible, and dramatic scene depicts women invitingly standing at the threshold of a kotha (brothel) in the bustling bylanes of south Mumbai's infamous red-light district Kamathipura. The film 'Gangubai Kathiawadi,' directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is set entirely against the gritty backdrop of Mumbai and portrays the narrative of numerous young women who were sold off to brothels for a few hundreds only through the eyes of its protagonist Gangubai (Alia Bhatt).
It's somewhere in the early 1950s or 1960s when a starry-eyed and naive Ganga is duped into eloping by her own lover Ramnik (Varun Kapoor) with the promise that he will pave the way for her to make it as a Bollywood heroine. As it turns out, and as we all know, Ganga (who rechristens herself as Gangu, and subsequently Gangubai) becomes the protagonist of Kamathipura instead. Kamathipura becomes her home over time, the brothel girls her family, and all of Kamathipura her realm. Her journey, however, is filled with obstacles, opponents, and a social stigma that brings out the fighter in her.
The film's charm resides in how it depicts Gangu's character evolving through several stages of her life. The storey takes time to develop, even slowing down at times, but not without leaving an impression through hot dialogue and powerful situations.
It's an Alia Bhatt show from start to finish, as she plays the bosslady in a world full with brothels and insatiable guys. It may take some time to get used to the concept of Alia playing this role, but by the end, you'll find yourself rooting for her, especially when you see her deliver dialogue with absolute confidence, daring, and a killer instinct.
Even in his brief appearance as Rahim Lala, Ajay Devgan makes an impression. The remainder of the supporting actors, including Seema Pahwa, Vijay Raaz, and Jim Sarbh, do their best but don't get much of a chance to shine. Shantanu Maheshwari, who plays Gangu's love interest, gives a strong performance, and the bittersweet moments between Gangu and him are among the film's highlights.
Bhansali captures the gloomy lanes of Mumbai's red-light district with extravagance and plenty of gloss. The storey puts to light some sad realities about our society, the lives of sex workers, and raises some difficult and timely topics. Plot contains some extremely emotional situations with clap-worthy speech that keep you involved in the film that feels far too long for its running time.
So, if you're seeking for a true view inside Gangubai's life as Mumbai's Mafia Queen, you'll be disappointed. Even with everything packed into this drama, there are enough moments to immerse you in this world where the evenings seem to last forever and the lights never go out.