Gangoobai(2013)
Gangubai Kathiawadi is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language biographical crime drama film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It stars Alia Bhatt in the title role, with Ajay Devgn, Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, and Seema Pahwa in supporting roles. The film is based on a chapter from S. Hussain Zaidi's book Mafia Queens of Mumbai. It tells the story of Gangubai Kothewali, a young woman from Kathiawad who is sold into prostitution and later rises to become a powerful madam and social activist in Mumbai's Kamathipura red-light district. The film premiered at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival and received widespread critical acclaim for its direction, production design, music, and Bhatt's performance. It won five National Film Awards, including Best Actress and Best Screenplay, and eleven Filmfare Awards, including Best Film and Best Director. The film was released in theatres on 25 February 2022 and is available on Netflix.
Gangoobai (2013) OTT release date is not officially announced yet — GudVibe tracks its streaming availability daily.
Where to watch:Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 11 January 2013
- Director
- Priya Krishnaswamy
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 37m
- Rating
- 4.9/10
Storyline
A 16-year-old girl from a wealthy family runs away to Mumbai with her boyfriend, dreaming of becoming a film star. He sells her to a brothel. She must survive in a world of violence and exploitation. She transforms herself into a powerful madam and fights for the rights of sex workers.
“From victim to queen of Kamathipura.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film was shot entirely on location in Matheran, a car-free hill station where all transport is by foot or horse-drawn carriage.
- Director Priya Krishnaswamy spent years researching the lives of elderly Parsi women in small communities for the story.
- Lead actress Veena Jamkar, who played Gangoobai, was a well-known Marathi theatre actor but this was a rare Hindi film role.
- The movie's soundtrack uses minimal background score to highlight the natural sounds of the hill station environment.
- It was produced with support from the Public Service Broadcasting Trust, which often backs non-commercial, documentary-style films.
- The film premiered at the International Film Festival of India in Goa before its limited theatrical release.
- Matheran's colonial-era architecture and preserved forests act as a silent character in the film, reflecting the protagonist's unchanging world.