Hi all!
For the last month or so, I have been very lazy to type a blog post 😔 So today I will not delay this post.
Two months back, my family and I went to watch the ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ film in theatres.
Official film trailer below👇
Initially, I did not have any high hopes for this movie since the reviews were below average. I thought this film would show some nice visual aesthetics and big budget sets. But my perspective of this film was the total opposite after leaving the theatres.
I wanted to write something great about this movie but not sure how exactly I should do that. So since university has started from last month, I was viewing my lectures for one of the film units that I am studying this semester called ‘Introduction to Screenwriting’. I learnt some interesting things based around the foundations of what a good film screenwriting looks like and the importance of storytelling. When I was taking these notes down, my mind was mostly referencing some of the points to this film.
Before we dive deep into this film’s storytelling and why it deserves the attention that it should get. Let me explain what is Storytelling?
“Seriously Neha! You think I don’t know anything about stories. They are for kids right?”
Well to be honest, that is not exactly true. Stories are for everyone. They do exist everywhere we go. Basically we have been hearing them from the beginning of time. We may hear or tell stories around the campfire, gossips, reading plays and novels, taking photographs, watching movies, sharing social media posts or tweets and many more.
If you still don’t believe me, then why do so many people subscribe to various video streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus and Binge? It is because the movies and tv shows viewed there satisfies our hunger for stories that are not only relevant and significant, but connects with us on a more human level. It is a way for viewers to escape from reality and to teleport to places they would have never thought of.
Even when watching a particular protagonist’s (or main character’s) journey which may be completely different to ours. It is their flaws, advantages, conflicts and relationships with themselves and others that allows viewers to connect with them on a deeper level.
It it is those stories that we read, watch and listen to again and again.
*Warning Spoilers Ahead*
So… Why This film?
Well, let’s take a look at the plot of this film.
Born into an affluent family in Kathiawad, Ganga Harjivandas aspired to become a Bollywood actress. At the tender age of 16, she fell in love with Ramnik Lal who was her father’s accountant. They eloped to Mumbai and got married. But, her whole life turned upside down as he sold her to a brothel in Kamathipura for Rs 500 where she forcefully had to start prostitution. Later, she became a powerful brothel madame Gangubai Kathiawadi and won elections of the area where she lived (Kamathipura). Don Rahim Lala became her sworn brother after he beat a man of his gang who raped her. She used to advocate for women rights and equal rights for sex workers.
Wikipedia
If we just read the plot as it is, then obviously our minds would disconnect with the story and not be interested in watching the film, since there is no emotional connection to Gangubai’s journey. But when viewing the film, the audience will relate and empathise with her on an emotional level despite most of us not living the life of Ganga and experiencing the obstacles she would have faced in the film.
Since the film has not come on Netflix yet, we will look at the character development from one song to another.
One of the rules in filmmaking is ‘Show Don’t Tell’.
This was perfectly shown in the song Jhume Re Gori in the beginning of the film, where we get an idea of what the main character is like. Through the way she dances and interacts with other people, it gives us an idea of what kind of person she is. Ganga in here is shown to be very innocent and has a child-like playful energy.
So what is the inciting incident that makes it a great story?
It is at that moment when she chooses to elope with her lover without her parent’s approval in hopes to becoming a Bollywood actress. But little did she know, her lover sold her to a brothel in Kamathipura. Due to this, her life flips upside down into her becoming a prostitute. Her imperfections and struggles she goes through makes us as viewers empathise with her despite not experiencing the obstacles she has faced in the film.
Later on in the film, we see her growth when she recognises the mistreatment of women. This motivates her into becoming a powerful brothel madam and then fighting her way through to winning the elections of the Kamathipura area. With this goal in mind and the obstacles she has faced. We can see the growth in her character from being innocent and gullible to a strong-willed and confident person. Consequently loosing her playful childlike energy that we saw in the previous song. Even though she is not perfect, she has positive and negative human traits that allow us as an audience to connect with her on a more human level.
This is exhibited in the Dholida song where she has won the elections and celebrates Navratri after 15 years. We can see the character change from the first Navratri music video.
In this video, she is very confident and hold a lot of power in this event which are exhibited through the way the ladies praise her and the way in which she presents herself without any dialogue. But from 1:38, she begins to dance like ‘crazy’ or out of sync. It is through this we can see Gangubai letting out her emotions and anger through this dance that she may have been holding on for a very long time. Through her actions and expressions, we can empathise with her, since she made a choice that she never thought would make her into being trapped in a brothel.
I am so impressed with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s filmmaking and the team dedicated to creating such an impactful story that has hit home for us. I am very impressed with not only the storytelling but such an amazing character development from that inciting incident. And I hope to see many more films in Bollywood that can inspire and connect with audiences on deeper level.
Love the acting, storytelling, visuals, music and everything in between. Highly recommend it. ❤️👌