Gangubai Kathiawadi
Gangubai Kathiawadi is a 2022 Indian true life story of Gangubai based on the book, ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ by S Hussian Zaidi and Jane Borges.
Young Ganga Jagjeevandas Kathiawadi from an affluent family got tricked by her boyfriend who promised her she would become a Bollywood star if she follows in to Mumbai. While Arriving, her dream crashes and she faces the reality of her fate.
The movie was premiered on 16th February 2022 at 72nd Berlin International Film Festival but was released in theatres on 25th February 2022.
At the age of 16, her boyfriend, Ramnik Lal eloped with her to Mumbai where he sold her for RS 1000 to Aunty Sheela, the owner of the Brothel in Kamathipura. Ganga was forced into prostitution and that was the beginning of her life.
A client, Govinda, who saw that she was a born leader and would one day lead Kathiawadi brothel named her Gangu. So, she changed her name to Gangu.
While as a prostitute, she was filled with courage and stood in for her fellow woman. She was most loved by her clients that they requested for her over every other prostitute.
When a client, Shaukata Khan Pathan requested to sleep with her, he hit Ganga badly which disfigured her and destroyed her body for weeks.
To take revenge, Ganga meets with a Mafia leader, Rahim Lala to plea for justice, who later became her brother after he heard her plea.
After the death of Aunty Sheela, the girls nominated Ganga who has always stood for them to replace Sheela. Gangu changed her name to Gangubai
She became powerful that mistresses sought for her advice to convince young ladies to accept their fate as prostitutes. Gangubai as a woman right advocate didn’t force young girls into prostitution, she only spoke to them and allowed them to make their decisions. If they don’t want to become a prostitute, they were sent back to their parents.
She believes that prostitution shouldn’t be forced but it should be by decision.
Later in the movie, Gangubai falls in love with a young tailor, Afshan. While she runs for Kamathipura presidential elections, she tells Afshan that he should marry the daughter of a prostitute, Roshni. She did this to make people understand that prostitutes shouldn’t be discriminated in every form and they deserve every right.
While Afshan questioned her decision, she said, she was ready to sacrifice more 100 Afshans for the women of Kamathipura.
As requested by one of the prostitutes, she wrote a letter to the family, this made Gangubai to call her family for the first time after 12 years. She finds out that her father has died and her mother has not forgiven her for running away.
While in a meeting with Rahim and the Ward secretary, Gangubai finds out that a Ward secretary intends for everyone in Kamathipura to be vacated because they intend to build skyscrapers in the neighborhood with support of a missionary school which accuses Kamathipura of being a site of immorality for young girls.
Gangubai walks into a meeting with a journalist, Mr. Fezi and school principal of the missionary school managed by a Father. There, she offers five years’ fees for all 8 girls and states that children from a brothel deserve an education as they were enrolled immediately.
While having a conversation with the journalist, the children returned from school and complained that they were beaten and sent out of the school. The journalist captured the moment which eventually became the cover story which made Gangubai famous.
In a bid to push further for the rights of the women, Mr. Fezi advices her to make a speech at the rally. He prepares one for her but she didn’t use it.
While delivering her speech, she made her audience understood that everyone had right to education, bank, health, freedom and other services. She said that prostitutes provide services which has kept families together and has reduced rape and other crimes in the society, thereby, they should not be discriminated.
While she fights for equality, she also fights that her brothel doesn’t go down as she went further to meet with the Prime Minister at New Delhi. She told the Prime Minister to legalize prostitution, but he refuses.
The Prime Minister eventually agrees to set up a committee on the matter and ensured her that the brothel won’t go down.
Even though prostitution was not legalized, Kamathipura celebrates its continued existence and praised Gangubai for her great leadership style and commitment to her fellow women.
Release Date: 25th February 2022
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Produced by: Jayantilal Gada and Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Run time: 153 mins
Cast:
Gangu- Alia Bhatt
Afsaan- Shantanu Maheshwari
Raziabai- Vijay Raaz
Karim Lala- Ajay Devgn
Other Netflix 2022 Movies
- Blood Sisters Movie Review Download
- Silverton Siege Movie: Full Review
- The Adam Project Movie: Netflix Movie 2022
- Heartstopper
- Bridgerton S2- The viscount who loved me
- The Ultimatum: Marry or Move on
