Supreme Court Suggests To Change Gangubai Kathiawadi Title

The Supreme Court has suggested maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali to change the Gangubai Kathiawadi title. The apex court has been receiving a number of petitions asking to hold the release which has stirred controversy.

Earlier, MLA and resident of Kamathipura approached Bombay High Court with a plea of censoring the area's name in the film Gangubai Kathiawadi. Several protests from the residents of Kamathipura had also been observed against the maker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has found himself in yet another controversy over the title of his upcoming film Gangubai Kathiawadi. While the Indian director is not new to such criticism and controversies, the Supreme Court has received several cases filed against the release of the film which is set to release this Friday. Gangubai Kathiawadi revolves around the story of a brothel owner and sex worker Gangubai who rose to political power in the Kamathipura area of Bombay. The film is based on Hussain Zaidi's book Mafia Queens of Mumbai and stars actor Alia Bhatt in the role of Gangubai.

The Supreme Court has asked Bhansali to change the Gangubai Kathiawadi title owing to the rising criticism over its name. Siddhartha Dave, the lawyer representing Bhansali Productions, has told the court that he will ask for his client's instructions over the suggestion. The apex court will resume the hearing regarding the controversy tomorrow.

Gangubai Kathiawadi Title Controversy

Earlier, Babu Ravji Shah, who claimed to be adopted son of Gangubai, challenged the dismissal of stay order by the Bombay High Court alleging that the film is derogatory towards his mother.

MLA and resident of Kamathipura area Amin Patel also moved to Bombay High Court asking to censor the use of word Kamathipura in the film. Patel alleged in a Twitter post that the makers of the film attempt to "malign the image of Kamathipura locality and Kathiawadi community." The locals of Kamathipura also staged protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali for portraying their community in a "very dirty way" in the film.

Actor Alia Bhatt addressed the controversies over the film saying that such comments and controversies bothers her the least. "Neither any controversy nor any comment bothers me. I don't think anything bothers me beyond a point. Of course, I feel like there's a certain novelty that just a part of a film holds...whether the film is a good film or a bad film ..that doesn't matter, " she mentioned.

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Similar controversies had erupted over the name of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's previous films including Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela and Padmaavat.