Alia steals hearts
Film: Gangubai Kathiawadi
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali Cast: Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Huma Qureshi, Seema Pahwa, Vijay Raaz, Jim Sarbh, Chhaya Kadam, Mitali Jagtap, Indira Tiwari and Shantanu Maheshwari
Rating: ****
SANJAY Leela Bhansali’s latest film Gangubai Kathiawadi is the compelling story of Ganga Harjivandas Kathiawadi.
Ganga is the daughter of a barrister from Kathiawar, who, with stars in her eyes, runs away from home to become an actress. But she finds herself sold in the brothel of Kamathipura, a neighbourhood of Mumbai famous for the flesh-trade.
This film unravels Ganga’s journey from a brothel worker to an activist fighting for the rights of the sex workers. In the film, Ganga calls herself “Ganga Jagjivandas Kathiawadi”.
Bhansali manages to portray her as a larger-than-life character, and you empathise with her when she puts forward her view on the women of her tribe.
The film is loaded with admirable performances from its star cast.
The movie is an outright Alia Bhatt’s canvas where she delivers a flawless performance.
She steals the show on several counts, be it while speaking to her mother over the phone, headbutting with Raziabai (Vijay Raaz) the eunuch who is standing for the local elections, flirting with the apprentice tailor Afshan Razak (Shantanu Maheshwari), or dancing during the Navaratri celebrations.
It is impossible to take your eyes off Ajay Devgn who, in a minor role as the mafia don Rahimlala, is intense and intimidating all at the same time.
Seema Pahwa as Sheelamaasi, the madam of the brothel, is fascinating. Similarly, Raaz is enthralling, and Shantanu Maheshwari as Gangubai’s love interest Afshan is charming.
Unfortunately, Huma Qureshi in a stage performance is wasted.
This biopic contains all the tropes of a typical Bhansali film. He manages to put his inimitable stamp into every frame of the film, which appears like poetry on the screen – expressive and attractive.
The screenplay is water-tight and engaging, keeping you riveted. The dialogues are full of wit, and hard-hitting messages are fresh and worth mentioning.
Mounted with brilliant production qualities, the film is visually captivating.
While the timelines in the film are ambiguous and blurred, it nevertheless captures the period from the mid-1950s to the 1960s.
The music is exceptional but a bit low-key compared to Bhansali’s previous films.
Overall, Gangubai Kathiawadi is worth watching on the big screen. |