The last Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie I saw in the theatre was Black. And post that though his movies have been cinematic extravaganzas and don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed them on the small screen, I missed Bhansali, the storyteller of emotions. And I am happy to see him in Gangubai Kathiawadi.
First, let's get to the story. This is the journey of Ganga to Gangu to Gangubai; a young woman who gives up everything for the love of a man but finds it in the women of Kamathipura.
Aspiring to be Dev Anand's leading lady, Ganga comes to the city of dreams, where her life turns out into a nightmare. How she turns the moments of her life into hope for those around her is what Gangubai Kathiawadi is all about. Based on one of the chapters from the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai written by S Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges, the story gives just a peek into Gangubai's life.
The movie belongs to Alia Bhatt who lights up every frame. There has been a lot of speculation as to how she is a misfit for this role. And that she does not have the gravitas to carry out such a gritty performance. But then Gangubai was a vulnerable and innocent young woman and Alia captures that to perfection. Even in the moments that she stands up to fight her fight, you can see the young Ganga... in the tremble of her voice, the shaking of her hands, the slight quiver of her body.
Along with Alia, standing strong are her co-actors. Seema Pahwa moves away from her lovable small-town mother character to play an almost sadistic madam. Jim Sarbh as the journalist who brings Gangubai's story to the world gives a subtle and controlled performance. Indira Tiwari, as Kamli. Gangu's close friend in the brothel is top-notch. Vijay Raaz as Razia gives a chilling performance. Shantanu Maheshwari touches the heart with his sensitive portrayal of Afshaan. Ajay Devgn as Rahim Lala grabs your attention.
Given this is a Bhansali movie, the cinematography (Sudeep Chatterjee) is beautiful, the production design (Amit Ray and Subrata Chakraborty) is on point and there is the SLB stamp in every frame. And what really makes this film stand out is the writing. Converting a 30-page chapter into a movie screenplay must not have been an easy task for Bhansali and Utkarshini Vashishtha. But they have managed to create a compelling narrative. And with the powerful (and sometimes old-world melodramatic) dialogues (Prakash Kapadia and Utkarshini Vashishtha), the movie kindles the 1960s feel. While the music is not as resounding and big, the subtleness of both the songs and score adds to the beauty of the narrative.
There will be a lot of questions regarding the authenticity of the look and feel of the film and its characters. Here is my take on that. To me, Kamathipura is Gangubai's world and the film shows how she saw those lanes and houses. After all, it was her home. And if she found it beautiful and bright. so be it. I am sure many will be bothered by how different Alia as Gangubai looks from the rest of the women. In her white sarees, Gangubai personifies the innocence that is there in every young girl who is sold in the red-light area.
There is also the discussion on whether the film glorifies prostitution. Well, I am not here to hold a moral compass. But for me, Gangubai Kathiawadi is a story that needed to be told for there are still thousands of women in this profession.
Now, if you wondering should you watch the movie on the big screen? A resounding yes! Not just because it is a visual treat and Alia's Bhatt's most powerful performance to date. Go to the theatres to celebrate a movie that puts a woman's story front and centre. There are only a few such opportunities that come to the screens. So, go on watch Gangubai Kathiawadi at a theatre near you!