The Expression Hub

Starring: Alia Bhatt, Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, Jim Sarbh

Directed by: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Genre: Biographical crime drama

“There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise.”

Bosa Seble

Disclaimer: This post contains a lot of sexual references and a lot of references to crime as well. Readers are advised to exercise caution while proceeding ahead with the same.

This is a new column which will make its appearance once in a while when we want to walk down the memory lane by recounting stories which have been read or watched earlier. This is a small gift to my subscribers as well as my readers without whom the blog has no identity as part of the 5th year anniversary . And since its the International Women’s Month, lets celebrate the story of a woman who was shown a tough time by her destiny. But instead of bowing down to the destiny she was offered, she rose up to become one of the most powerful as well as dreaded women of Mumbai’s underworld .

Story Line: Ganga Jagjivan Kathiawadi was born in an affluent family in Gujarat who aspired to be a Bollywood actress. She ran away from her home with her older boyfriend Ramnik who sells her to a brothel owned by his aunt. There she is forced into prostitution as a result of which she renames herself as Gangu. She becomes a very highly valued asset of Sheela due to her beauty and wits. This urges Gangu to introduce labor rights for her fellow inmates which irritates her employer. Her employer decides to teach her a lesson by getting her badly assaulted by one of the clients who refuses to pay and indulges in some violent sexual fantasies with her. This makes Gangu seek justice for the same to the most feared man in the Mumbai underworld Rahim Lala. Does Rahim Lala serve her justice? And if he does, what impact does it have on her life? How does she become one of the most powerful women of the Mumbai underworld? And does power corrupt her or does she use it for the greater good?

Scrutiny: This is a movie which shows how an innocent girl who belonged to a rich family is lured to the field of prostitution by the person she loved the most. She could have cried over the cruel situation her fate put her in . But instead she uses her fate to create an identity for herself as well as her community. Fear over grips her in a lot of situations but she uses it as a medium to become more powerful and resilient . That is how a innocent woman transformed herself into a woman who was feared. Also, her impeccable sense of justice made her a respectable figure in the eyes of the most dreaded men of Mumbai at that times Karim Lala portrayed as Rahim Lala in the movie.

The movie advocates a very strong message to women that one needs to be fearless to face whatever situation life throws at you. It also highlights the lives of people working in the red light district of Kamathipura and how they are looked down upon in the society. It reflects the harsh realities of the lives of people living in the city. However, there are elements which feel are completely unnecessary or frivolous in nature. But that can be termed as the creative expression of the director. After all isn’t some spice required to make the story viewable for the viewers? Though that could have been ignored, but how will the makers of the film be able to sell their movie without the masala? A gripping story line , foot-tapping music , scenic cinematography and brilliant acting chops by Alia Bhatt and Vijay Raaz is what makes the movie worth watching.Also, Jim Sarbh shines as the journalist Hamid Faizi. A small role but a very impactful performance is what comes to the mind for him.

The Sentiment: A good movie with most of the parts being portrayed realistically. Do watch for the message of woman empowerment highlighted in this one. Also, do watch it for the resilience of human spirit which is a very important trait if one has to face the uncertainties of life. Though it has some unnecessary stuff added to it but it tries to highlight the problems faced by the workers of the red light area of Mumbai very prominently. Though a word of caution, this movie is not suitable as a family entertainer due to its extremely promiscuous and violent theme. So, viewer discretion is super necessary.

Rating: *** and a 1/2 stars

Que: In the movie, Gangu is shown to be reading a poem. What is the name of the poem?

a. Koshish karne waalon ki haar nahi hoti

b. Madhushala

c. Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi

d. Sang e manzil na bane

Quote-Unquote: “Arey jab shakti, sampati aur sadbuddhi yeh teeno hi aurtein hai, toh in mardo ke kiss baat ka guroor?” (Gangu in her winning speech)