Kamathipura Locals Protest Against Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi

Ahead of its release, Gangubai Kathiawadi, the film starring Alia Bhatt as Gangubai, has ensued protest in the Kamathipura area of Mumbai. Locals and residents there have alleged that the area and its people have been shown in a "very dirty way" in the film. However, this is not the first protest against the screening of the film.

Earlier, Baba Raoji Shah and Bharti (son and grandaughter of Gangubai) had also objected to the release of the film. They also took the issue to the Bombay High Court which refused to put the stay order on the film's release. They alleged that the film wrongly interpreted Gangubai's life and thus defamed the family. Adding that they came to know that a film is going to be made after watching the promo and since then had to keep shifting places because of Gangubai's portrayal in it.

The film directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a biopic on the life of a mafia queen Gangubai, who was a brothel owner. She is known to have championed the rights of sex workers. The film is based on the chapters from the book the Mafia Queens of Mumbai, which is written by Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges.

Suggested Reading: Five Alia Bhatt Movies To Revisit Ahead Of Gangubai Kathiawadi Release

Protest Against Gangubai Kathiawadi

Similarly, the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Amin Patil Saheb from Mumbadevi had also written a letter objecting to the release of the film. The film is going to release in theatres on February 25.

According to the Twitter post by Patel, he met with the Minister of Medical Education and Cultural Affair for Maharashtra Amit V Deshmukh on February 17 and handed over a letter and a memorandum from "various communities regarding serious objections with respect to the release of the trailer of Gangubai Kathiawadi."

In his tweet, he mentioned that the film which is co-produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali attempts to "malign the image of Kamathipura locality and Kathiawadi community."

Yesterday, the local people of Kamathipura staged a protest against the film. In the press note, it was stated that they knew that the film was made by Bhansali and the mention of Kamathipura in the film is in "a very dirty way." It also mentioned, "The history of Kamathipura is very beautiful and many dignitaries have been born here. Our motherland has been defamed and all the residents have been protesting against it for the last ten months." They also mentioned the efforts taken by MLA Deshmukh and how no action has been taken.

(Feature Image Credit: Gadgets 360 and Free Press Journal)