Table of Contents
Gangubai Kathiawadi Trailer
A little girl is sold into Rashmibai’s brothel, who is forced to enter the prostitution business. When the girl does not obey, Rashmibai is eventually forced to seek the help of Gangubai Kathiawadi. Gangubai Kathiawadi aka Ganga who wanted to become an actress and had fled to Bombay years ago with her boyfriend Ramnik, who sold her to Shelia Masi’s brothel.
Gangubai had no option to return and hence became a prostitute, but she got respect from fellow women as she would be their main support to go against Sheela Masi. In the ensuing time, Gangubai bonds with Don Rahim Lala and develops a brotherly relationship with him. Gangubai is soon known as the mafia queen and wants a better life for the women of her community. She decides to enter politics, but faces a powerful contender, Raziabai.
Gangubai Kathiawadi Songs
Gangubai Kathiawadi Cast & Crew
Cast (in credits order)
What’s cool: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s delicate emotions, Alia Bhatt’s impeccable acting and everything in between.
What’s worse: it ends.
Lou Break: Please don’t. You can just miss some beautiful dialogues and Aaliyah’s stellar performance.
Watch or not?: Sanjay Leela Bhansali is making a film for himself. Her tribute to the era and the things she holds close to heart. Watch this for Alia Bhatt giving her career best performance to become a madam many thought she couldn’t.
Language: Hindi
Available at: Theaters near you!
Runtime: Approx 157 minutes.
Gangubai Kathiawadi Movie Review: Script Analysis
Beauty is in the moments, the heartaches with words, and time passes by their command. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, is a filmmaker who makes films for himself more than others. His eyes seek grandeur and beauty in everything and every time his leading lady flaunts her hair, you see it. Gangubai Kathiawadi is about a woman who is forced into the darkest of professions but wakes up like a phoenix wearing the purest colors (white).
The maverick filmmaker, who largely created the last three great works, after 4 long years but brings prosperity back to the more contemporary realm. Here is a Bhansali who is not using themed fonts in the credits role, or using multiple songs to defend himself by creating a story from one song to another. He’s telling a story to his leading lady by lifting a lot of weight with a lot of confidence in her.
This is the first time a filmmaker makes a biopic with only one actor (Rani Mukerji and Amitabh Bachchan were equal parts in Black). The world is built around him, not with him, so this is his show. Entering Gangubai Kathiawadi! Writers SLB and Utkarshini Vashisht (Ramleela and Sarabjit), in the very first scene, make you realize that this is not a story that makes you want to pity Gangu, she is presented at a very strong stage in her life. . This is unlike all other SLB openings. A girl is being prepared for her first day in Deh Bazar with the camera zoomed in. Soon you come to know that it is not Gangu but someone else.
The screenplay once sets up who Gangu is in the present day, when he was pushed into business, then decides to take you back. The daughter of a famous barrister, flees to Mumbai with dreams of becoming an actor. Bhansali takes a good first half to set the story and make you comfortable with your world. Indulge in speed, he doesn’t expect you to be in a hurry. Gangubai Kathiawadi is more in her moments than scenes. It is not Bhansali who is using drama and extravagance to thrill you. He gets subtle when it comes to expressing emotions and it gives you goosebumps when the gangu erupts.
The structure this time is like a drama. The scenes fade in and out, and even the places feel disjointed. But that said, the heart of the film lies in the moments rather than the big sequences. Whether it’s a card game between two lovers, a woman forced to put on makeup with a dead expression, a daughter calling her mother after 12 years, or s*x workers writing letters to their fathers. A bunch of Bhansali make sure you feel all those emotions and much more.
Bhansali and Vashisht used metaphors like SLB of Yours. Two beautiful scenes describe how Gangu died twice before he actually died. The first time when Ganga became Gangu and the second time when Gangu entered politics. In a heart-wrenching scene where Gangu decides for her boyfriend and he stands right below her house, she sits on the swing and starts crying, but she covers her face with her pallu, Because he himself cannot be seen as weak. Take a bow, sorceress! Transitions and transformations look beautiful.
Unlike the book, the script limits her vocation to alcohol and does not indulge in drugs. But this does not create any zero. The only complaint is the lack of time to show how the bond between Gangu and Rahim (Karim) Lala strengthened to such an extent that he was ready to fight the world for her.
Gangubai Kathiawadi Movie Review: Star Performance
Alia Bhatt is definitely taking home several awards. Just the best performance of her career, she turns life into a historical character as if she was born to play it and was the heroine of Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He is a flamboyant in scenes where he should be free, but observe him in silence. In the course of a song, when her boyfriend tries to get physical, she stops him and asks him to caress. Men have always used her physically, but no one has given her the affection, care and intimacy she craves the most, oops! She physically, uses dialect and even changes her aura to become the madam of the brothel. She proved every single heroine wrong.
Until her next best, I want to remember Alia dressed in a white and red sari, with open curls, as she walks through a pool of people looking at her with wide smiles and affection in their eyes. . She pulls Jim Sarbh towards her and kisses his forehead, she looks at her lover and joins with his ‘altha’ clad hands. She sits down and looks at the camera with a renewed hope. Godmother reminded me of Shabana Azmi. It is about a woman who is fighting for her existence and her right to rule her world. When society doesn’t give it amicably, she knows the trick to make them do so.
Vijay Raj Gangubai in his brief role is the second best actor to grace Kathiawadi. He plays the role of a transgender without falling into the trap of stereotypes. We have become accustomed to seeing it in movies, it is not exaggerated like that. He elevates the screenplay with his performance and when he comes face-to-face with Aaliya, it is a sight to behold.
Ajay Devgan plays the role of Karim Lala with his gangster attitude. This comes naturally to him and helps in making the film a dramatic character. Seema Pahwa deserves this role and many others love it. She is not just made for comedy and she proves it to the entire industry. Jim Sarbh is adorable and perfect in his cameo this time around.
PS: Huma Qureshi deserves to be in the SLB universe. She is looking very beautiful in a small look. Petition for Bhansali Please cast him in something.
Gangubai Kathiawadi Movie Review: Direction, Music
Sanjay Leela Bhansali developed into a filmmaker years later by opening his heart. Like Saawariya, he pays a lovely tribute to the film legacy close to his heart. His approach is reflective of V Shantaram’s style of filmmaking. He places Gangu near the posters of Mughal-e-Azam and Chaudwin Ka Chand. Multiple Dev Anand references. You know how dear he is to these things. As the saying goes, he makes films for himself. He chooses the most difficult color to deal with at the moment. The metaphor of a sex worker wearing the color of chastity is strong and clear.
Love is delicate in his universe and so are the dialogues of his longtime collaborator Prakash Kapadia. Poetry is in the darkest of this moment. Whether Gangu is asking her boyfriend which shade of white suits her, demanding her authority on a stage in front of thousands of people, there is poetry in every word and it never seems overdue. Addressing the crowd, Gangu says, “We keep fire in our hearts and roses on our faces. Mitke your men’s hunger, we keep your rubab.” Suffice it to tell you what Kapadia has brought to the table.
The music of Gangubai Kathiawadi is completely different from the previous three albums composed by Bhansali. It is self-evident and experimental. The choreography is superb in every way. SLB creates music videos like no other. Every beat has a meaning and a moment that represents something. Kriti Mahesh helps them create visually stunning and appropriate numbers. A falling rose also has a beating. Kriti deserves credit for making Alia look like a professional and not letting it feel like an out-of-body experience. BGM is completely different than expected. In the teaser and trailer, Bhansali tricks us with two different people, and the theme of the film is completely different.
We have already talked enough about Bhansali’s obsession with immaculate symmetry in his frames. DOP Sudip Chatterjee makes a painting with his camera. He adds a beautiful layer to an already layered world with his craft. He captures whites wonderfully, which is a difficult task. Unlike Padmavat, which was primarily shot in wide angles (and didn’t fit right in for me), the camera in Gangubai Kathiawadi goes deep into the character and helps us connect with it. Watch Gangu getting ready, or the funeral scene, you can stop and click, they are paintings in motion.
Gangubai Kathiawadi Movie Review: The Last Word
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is trying to change his style and grow as a filmmaker after 3 back to back blockbusters. Alia Bhatt helps them with her impeccable acting and attitude. You will surely miss out on a gem if you don’t watch it on the big screen. Bhatt has set very high standards for future actors of Bhansali!
