Gangubai Kathiawadi (गंगुबाई काठीयावाडी)

"Gangubai Kathiawadi (गंगुबाई काठीयावाडी)".

Watched Hindi movie "Gangubai Kathiawadi (गंगुबाई काठीयावाडी)". 

This movie is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Written by S. Hussain Zaidi. Produced by Jayantilal Gada and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It stars Alia Bhatt; Vijay Raaz; Shantanu Maheshwari; Ajay Devgn, Indira Tiwari, Jim Sarbh, Seema Pahawa. Music by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Cinematography by Sudeep Chatterjee. Film runs for about 2 hour and 34 minutes and was released on 24th Feb 2022. I watched in theater with Aditi on 25th Feb 2022.

Ganga's boyfriend brings her to Mumbai to make her heroine and sells her to a brothel. Ganga becomes Gangu. With the patronage of local Don Rahim Lala, she becomes Gangubai, Madam of the brothel and goes on to represent the community of prostitutes.

Alia Bhat plays Gangubai with conviction. Neither her physique nor her looks are suited for a prostitute. But what she lacks in personality she more than compensates with her acting. She defines and executes the role. She comes, she sees and she wins. Indira Tiwari plays Alia's best friend, Kamli very well. Ajay Devgan plays Rahim Lala, the good Don. He has a small role and film credits categorize it as guest appearance. His personality fills the screen and he acts adequately. Vijay Raaz plays Raziabai, the eunuch. His character shows promise of dual with Alia but fizzles out. Jim and Shantanu play small but important male characters. Seema Pahawa plays the original Madam of house and looks very much like one. 

Direction is good, but story is slow. Despite that director retains the interest of audience. There are some noteworthy intense scenes like ones between Alia and Vijay in Irani restaurent, the one of police raid, the one of photo with school kids, and the best one of her speech. Some of the shortcomings are Alia's age. Although the movie spans more than 13 years, she doesn't age at all. Characters use modern words while the movie is set in 1960s.

Director is also the music director. There are two good songs. Although Dholida has become very famous, I liked the one picturized on Huma Khan more. Like his past movies, he couldn't resist the temptation of inserting a dance of Alia, even if it doesn't fit well in the story. While director is in awe of the character, he depicts her representative work rather than the comprehensive work she did for the prostitutes and their children.  

Art director has created old Kamathipura well. Although he has attention to details, sets look like sets and background movement of crowd looks a little exaggerated.

The film is loosely based on the true story of Gangubai Harjivandas, popularly known as Gangubai Kothewali, whose life was documented in the book Mafia Queens of Mumbai by S. Hussain Zaidi.

Positives: Alia, Alia, Alia.

Negatives: Pace, Shortcomings.

Recommend watching.