Gangubai Kathiawadi is a biographical film written and directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, based on a chapter from the book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ by Hussain Zaidi. It stars Alia Bhatt in the titular role of Gangubai, while Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Shantanu Maheshwari and others play pivotal roles. The film is directed by Jayantilal Gada and Sanjay Leela Bhansali himself under the banner of Pen India Limited and Bhansali Productions.
Ganga (Alia Bhatt) is a girl born in a rich, affluent family in Gujarat. She has deep aspirations to become an actress at the age of 16. Her love interest Ramnik Lal promised to make her an actress and took her to Bombay. However, he sells her to a brothel in Kamathipura and this turns his aspirations and life upside down. The rest of the film deals with her rise to become the queen of the red-light realm of Bombay.
A remarkable aspect about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films is that every part of a frame bears his signature. Be it the lighting, the costumes, the dance sequence, the accessories everyone wears in the scene, the colors… all these keep reminding you that this is a Bhansali film, and Gangubai is no different. In front of a scintillating Alia Bhatt, there are a lot of memorable moments in the first half that remain even after leaving the cinema hall.
The transformation of Ganga into Gangu, and Gangu becoming a force in Kamathipura is handled with great care. The film shows how prostitutes are forced into trade, how they are abused and harassed, but it doesn’t romanticize it. Most of the time, when this happens the film gets cut, and we only see bruises on them. Gangu’s romantic parts with Afsaan (Shantanu Maheshwari) are also worth watching.
Alia portrays the character of Gangu to perfection and her screen presence keeps us hooked here. The second half has its writing issues, but it is Alia who helps cover it with her acting. She is supported by Vijay Raj who appears as Razia Bai and an honest Shantanu Maheshwari. Ajay Devgn has very less screen time but as long as we see him, he holds his fort and delivers a stellar performance as Rahim Lala.
In the second half, the handwriting seems a bit hurried. In life, it is hard to predict whether one will be successful in future or not. While the first half plays out with this in mind, the second half is written in such a way that it seems Gangu knows she is going to succeed. Barring that, the movie works really well for most of its run time.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s music and Sudip Chatterjee’s cinematography support the director’s vision, and sometimes even more. Chances are you remember the narrative, and begin to think about how beautiful the frames and music are. The songs of the former are choreographed with subtle precision, while the latter work is complemented by superb production design.
Overall, Gangubai Kathiawadi is another gem of Sanjay Leela Bhansali which is a must watch for one. If you are a fan of Bhansali’s work, this will satisfy you like no other of his films. Technically and performance-wise, the film falls right in almost every department, and the culmination of all these keeps you hooked and entertained properly. This is an extraordinary scene.
Decision: Strong technical work, gorgeous visuals, and an in-form Alia Bhatt make Gangubai Kathiawadi a must-see!