Gulaab Gang

I saw Gulaab Gang on Sunday, 9^th March 2014 – a couple of days later than I would have normally seen it.  However, I wanted to see Gulaabi Gang (The Documentary) some 2 weeks after its release before I could post my review for both.  I wanted to get the true perspective of the story of Sampat Pal Devi – the woman on whom this story is based on – while Soumik Sen (the director) firmly denies it.

Of course, Gulaab Gang is a fictionalized account and quite far away from the actual story.  But the overall premise is the same – or should I say similar.  About a bunch of women from a village in Uttar Pradesh who decide to not wait for justice forever.  Do they take the law into their own hands – hell yes!!! But do they do that without trying to achieve the needful in the right way – hell no!!!

Gulaab Gang (The Movie) marks the first time in a career that spans nearly 30 years, that Madhuri Dixit Nene has shared screen space with Juhi Chawla.  Rajjo (Madhuri), as a stubborn girl decides to go against her step-mother and learn to read and write.  Many moons later, she now heads a group of women who have been disowned by family and have nowhere else to go.  They dress in Pink sarees and ergo Gulaab Gang.

Adding some spice into the story is the aspect of Indian politics.  There is Pawan Kumar – the local goon who has a habit of attempting rhyme that is more often than not quite corny.  But Pawan is of course just one of the pawns in a larger game that is being run by the MLA of the constituency – Sumitra Bagrecha (Juhi Chawla) who is single minded in her objective to get to the top of the political ladder.

Gulaab Gang proceed to narrate the story of the punches that Sumitra and Rajjo exchange over time time and of course who wins that fight eventually.  The standard disclaimer of events being dramatized for effect holds true here more than any other movie that I have seen in recent times.  The fight sequences are well choreographed but that the actresses were all amateurs, shows once too often.

And therefore, Gulaab Gang survives on some great performances.  The support cast of Vinitha Menon, Priyanka Bose, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Divya Jagdale are superb!!! To me the pick was Divya Jagdale whose last known role on the silver screen would be the South Indian Teacher in Stanley Ka Dabba.  While she is known in the theatre circuit, to me this was a dramatic change – one that she successfully transitions into.

Of course, Madhuri is calm, composed and extremely effective as Rajjo and one need not really emphasize on that.  I would, however, like to take a different stance with respect to Juhi Chawla’s performance.  Playing a sinister politician was definitely far away from Juhi’s comfort zone and it showed.  Her performance will be confused for a long time with the power of her character.  But to me, Madhuri overshadowed Juhi comfortably.

To sum it up, Gulaab Gang is a movie that has some great performances and some memorable characters.  It could have been kept real instead of dramatized but that would have resulted in a Box Office flop.  I say it is worth watching and give it a 6 on 10.  Wait for the end credits that call several women in day to day life who have a Gulaab Gang of their own.  Truly inspiring and causes a lump in your throat.  Watch it.

Watch the trailer on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAcN8RR3Ry4