Gangubai Kathiawadi(2022)

Plot Summary

• Born into an affluent family in Kathiawad, Ganga Harjivandas (Alia Bhatt) aspired to become a Bollywood actress. At the tender age of 16, she fell in love with Ramnik Lal (Varun Kapoor). They elope (Ramnik convinces Ganga not to tell her parents that she is going to Bombay. Ramnik also convinces Ganga to steal the jewelry from her house to fund her first movie with Dev Anand) and go to Mumbai as Ramnik promised Ganga a film career under the tutelage of his aunt Sheela (Seema Pahwa). But, her whole life turns upside down as he sells her to a brothel in Kamathipura for Rs 1000 where she forcefully had to start prostitution. The other women in the brothel teach her the basics of seducing a customer. ONe of the customers calls her Gangu, and the moniker sticks. She transforms from an innocent Ganga into a brutal and feeling-less Gangu. Gangu vows one day to rule Kamathipura.After a yr Gangu defies Sheela by shutting work for one night and taking all the girls for a movie. Sheela takes her revenge when she forces Gangu to service a customer who came in at 4 am. Her bouncer told her that the customer looked abusive, but Sheela allowed him to be alone with Gangu. She then sent the bouncer away to get some snacks for her. When the customer started abusing Gangu, there was no one to help her. She was beaten brutally and forced upon. Gangu has 15 stitches in the stomach and 4 on the lips, along with broken bones. Sheela refuses to file a police complaint, but the girls figure out that the man was Shaukat Khan Pathan (Jahangir Khan), who works for Rahim Lala.Rahim is known to be a man of justice and Gangu goes to meet him, with her scars. Rahim is shocked to see how Shaukat had literally slashed Gangu's body from her shoulders down to her stomach. Rahim posts his man Bilaal outside Gangu's brothel to inform him if Shaukat returns. Shaukat does return and Sheela again forces Gangu to meet him. The girls rush to find Bilaal, so that Rahim can be informed. Rahim Lala (Ajay Devgn) becomes her sworn brother after he beats Shaukat who forced himself upon her. Soon thereafter Sheela dies and Gangu is elected as the new Madame of the brothel. Gangu uses her connect with Rahim to reduce the bribes that the brothel pays to policemen. Gangu officially becomes Gangubai.Gangu is the patron of all brothels in her area, including that of Rashmibai (Chhaya Kadam). She helps new girls get used to the brutal life of brothels (by telling them her own life story and how she was betrayed into the prostitution business by her own lover) and is considered as a motherly figure in her circles. When one of Rashmi's new girls decides to commit suicide, Gangu forces Rashmi to release the girl by offering her rs 10K, against her buying price of Rs 1K. This angers Rashmi.Gangu becomes a powerful brothel madame Gangubai Kathiawadi and decides to contest elections of the area where she lives. She is up against Raziabai (Vijay Raaz), who has been president of Kamathipura for the last 2 yrs. Razia is heavily bankrolled and Gangu has no funds to contest her Gangu goes to Rahim for help, who offers money as a loan. Instead Gangu asks for right to sell Rahim alcohol in her brothels in Kamathipura. Rahim refuses as he cant ask his sister to sell alcohol. But Gangu convinces Rahim by saying that this is to uplift the lives of 4000 women of the area, else Razia will keep exploiting them. Rahim gives her 20% commission on all liquor sales in Kamathipura.Gangu falls in love with a young tailor, Afsaan (Shantanu Maheshwari). Afsaan meets Gangu for the first time when he comes with his tailor uncle to take measurements for all the brothel girls. Afsaan soon starts flirting with Gangu and she encourages him. They get closer and Afsaan says he wants to marry Gangubai.Razia summons Gangu to her brothel, and when Gangu refuses, Razia gets the police to raid Gangu's brothel. Gangu simply bribes them more and ends the raid. Razia confronts Gangu at a local restaurant and insults her publicly by ruining her meal. Gangu responds by playing a movie in open theatre at the time of Razia's speech. She also gets Rahim to give her protection from Razia's goons. Kusum (Mitalee Jagtap) is a fellow prostitute who has a 15 yrs old daughter. She drugs her every night and locks her in a cage to hide from customers hungry for new flesh. Gangu is worried that the girl will get addicted and suggests to get her married. She takes 350 grams gold, Rs 50,000 cash and proposes her wedding to Afsaan, with his parents. Afsaan refuses, but Gangu argues that he cannot marry a prostitute and thus should marry the girl. This becomes the first wedding procession in Kamathipura. Gangu becomes an instant celebrity and ends up winning the elections.As a leader, She advocates for women rights and equal rights for sex workers. Gangu calls home after 12 yrs, but her mother is very rude to her and indicates that her family has not forgiven her still. She finds that her dad died and he refuses to take Gangajal as it had Ganga in its name. Rahim calls Gangu to inform her that a nearby school had colluded with the builders to file a petition to vacate the Kamathipura brothel. The builders plan to occupy the prime land and build residential colonies in its place for sale. Rahim says he will handle the builders, but Gangu will have to handle the court battle and represent the rights of 4000 women of Kamathipura.Gangu confronts the principal of the school and warns him to stay away from Kamathipura. She says that the school was established 40 yrs ago, but the brothel is over 100 yrs old. She forces the principal to admit the brothel kids into his school. Journalist Amin Faizi (Jim Sarbh) was in the principal's office during the meeting and is astounded to see Gangu's courage and vision for the kids of the brothel. Amin visits Gangu at her brothel and interviews her for a magazine article. Faizi gets the article published and then asks Gangu to attend a rally on women's rights at Azad Maidan. He asks her to speak on the topic of education for prostitutes. Faizi writes a speech for her, but Gangu gets on stage and decides to do what she does best, speak freely.She argues that everyone sells something and prostitutes sell their body. They work hard and don't discriminate against anyone. All customers are welcome regardless of income, caste or any other parameter. Yet, prostitutes are discriminated against. She says that if brothels are removed, the city forced sex cases will rise and families will fall apart. She insists that brothel kids are also humans and have the right to education. She is applauded by the entire audience. Gangu wants the local MLA to help her squash the court case, but the MLA says that matter is with the Supreme Court and only the PM Jawaharlal Nehru (Rahul Vohra) can now dispose of the petition. Gangu arranges for a meeting with the PM.PM grants her 15 mins. Gangu argues for legalization of prostitution. She says that when a girl is sold, the buyer and the seller go unpunished, only the girl is punished. She has no rights, no school no hospital, no bank, nothing. The PM agrees to not let them be homeless, but refuses to grant legal protection to prostitution as a profession. Gangu returns to Kamathipura a hero and even Raziabai bows to her in respect.

Storyline

• A little girl is sold to brothel of Rashmibai who is forcefully asked to enter the business of flesh trade.When the girl doesn't agree Rashmibai is finally forced to take help of Gangubai Kathiawadi.Gangubai Kathiawadi aka Ganga who wanted to be an actress and years back eloped to Bombay with her boyfriend Ramnik who sold her at brothel of Shelia Masi.Gangubai did not have option to return back and hence turned a prostitute but she gained respect from fellow women as she would be their main support to go against Sheila Masi.In coming times Gangubai bonds with Don Rahim Lala and develops a brotherly relationship with him.Gangubai is soon known as the mafia queen and wants better lives for women of her community.She decides to enter politics but has a powerful contender Raziabai opposite her. — alex.mjacko@gmail.com