Gulaab Gang
wogma rating: Add to that never-watched 'To Watch' list (?)
Something that could have had so much meat and punch, becomes just another common (wo)man vs. system film.
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Gulaab Gang - Preview
Madhur Dixit and Juhi Chawla - How exciting! Madhuri Dixit Vs. Juhi Chawla - intriguing and exciting. Madhuri Dixit Vs. Juhi Chawla in powerful women-oriented roles around a women empowerment theme - I am sold. At least to watch the film, even if not to like the film.
Especially since they immediately deflated the charm by going all dramatic on us. The overdose of dialogue being said forcefully for effect is annoying in the trailer itself. The hope is that there are times in the film when the ladies speak normally too.
Other than that, Gulaab Gang seems to be like the umpteen good vs evil, strong protagonist vs system film - only that it is with women in charge. Thankfully they are women we can look forward to watching at least once. The hope is that it will bring out the real work done by Gulabi Gang of Bundelkhand.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to catch the documentary, Gulabi Gang that came out last week, but we do have a review. Here's hoping Gulaab Gang does justice to the issue handled by Sampat Pal Devi and Co.
Music Reviews:
Bollyspice - "1.5/5"
Bollywood Hungama - "3/5"
glamsham - "3.5/5"
Milliblog - "merely competent and less colorful than its title."
Music Aloud - "8/10"
- meeta, a part of the audience
If it were not as expected, Gulaab Gang would have been disappointing. So, as the trailer pointed out, the film is one dramatic scene after another without respite.
The drama is magnified by Madhuri Dixit's emphatic dialogue delivery and Juhi Chawla's drawl. The latter actually grows on you in a bit. Juhi Chawla's Sumitra is as cunning as every second politician and the actor makes it very easy for you to hate her. Juhi Chawla is at her best when she is required to portray Sumitra's fickle ego.
Unfortunately, Madhuri Dixit's character, Rajjo Devi is directed in such a way that she has no option but to play her character with extra style, even if she is from a little village. Once you get over it though, you see that Madhuri Dixit has tried hard to work in variety within the restraints of the many slow-motion sequences and forced, strong one-liners.
It is a shame then, that despite these one-liners, the film lacks punch. There are few side characters that retain interest but then again, they are more or less clones of each other with respect to in their personalities.
The writing of the overall film takes the audience's need for justice for women for granted. Right from the titles, you are never given enough cause to side with the gang of women who take justice in their hands. It is assumed that you know how bad the wrong by the wrong-doers is. Given that, any punishment the Gulaab Gang decides for them is also to be accepted as apt.
Moving on, the situations created seem disjointed. It feels more like sequences were conceptualized independently and fit in together forcefully. For example, the sub-plots used to display Sumitra's borderline megalomaniac personality go overboard within the context of the film. Thus losing out on both an awesome dark character that she could be and building a really powerful story to justify these intense sub-plots.
Then all you are left with are the vibrant songs. Here I concede, to watch Madhuri Dixit dance, I don't need any context to see grace and elegance incarnate. And this when she's not even at her best. She must be the only actress who actually dances. As opposed to other actors who have the potential to convert even the most melodious of songs to an aerobic beat.
Even so, it is disservice to the topic at hand - empowerment of the women and poor from the interiors of the country, if one of the major things I take away from the film are its (not the best) dance sequences.
- meeta, a part of the audience
Thumbs up, by Bobby Sing, Bobby Talks Cinema.com : ... GULAAB GANG - Watch it for the powerful clashes and a shockingly new Juhi along with the stunning Madhuri.... full review
Thumbs up, by Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama : ...GULAAB GANG is well-intentioned with several powerful moments, especially towards the second half. The game of power and politics is well captured too. Additionally, the bravura performances of Madhuri and Juhi add immense weightage to the film. Watch it! ... full review
Thumbs up, by Vinod Talreja , Bollywood Life : ...Talking of the shortcomings, having way too many songs in such a serious film is not happening at all. There’s a song at every juncture, which might irritate you a bit. No complaints other than that.... full review
Thumbs up, by Ameet Bhuvan, Desi Martini : ...Masala, Action and message, an almost complete package there! ... full review
Thumbs up, by K N Gupta, SmasHits.com : ...The movie was finally released after the Delhi High Court revised its order to stay the release on Sampat's request. Overall, a wonderful new flick and a great watch!! Read more at http://www.smashits.com/bollywood-celebrates-women-a-great-film/movie-review-10344.html#jK1G4JG8yZSjo6Uw.99... full review
Thumbs up, by Jyothi Venkatesh, Star Blockbuster : ...Though the frequent songs before the interval come quick and that too pointlessly and disrupt the pace of the film, the second part is relatively smoother. On the whole, Gulab Gang is an engrossing film which you will never be able to forget and a fun film for women empowerment ... full review
So-So, by Priyanka Kapoor, Apun Ka Choice : ... If only the ladies had the material good enough for their talent, Gulaab Gang might have been a powerful tale. Such as it is, the film is strictly one-time watch.... full review
So-So, Daily Bhaskar : ...If you don’t want to miss the fireworks between Madhuri and Juhi, then this would be the perfect weekend outing for you. Also, clubbed with some desi masala added by Madhuri’s colourful ‘sena’ the film is certainly one time watch, if not ‘paisa vasool’.... full review
So-So, by Subhash K. Jha, Deccan Chronicle : ...Visually the film is seductive – pink saris in sepia dehaat — but its message is scary. While I had severe problems with its glorification of vigilante justice, there were a few moments when I was both thrilled and moved. I am ashamed.... full review
So-So, by Tushar Joshi, DNA : ...Strictly for Madhuri and Juhi fans.... full review
So-So, by Deepa Deosthalee, Film Impressions : ...Admittedly, Gulaab Gang is unabashedly mainstream. That it manages to let a few nuances slip through the cracks is a minor triumph.... full review
So-So, by Devesh Sharma, Filmfare : ...What could have been a deeply sensitive film about the fight of rural women for a better life is reduced to a superficial product... full review
So-So, by Deepanjana Pal , FirstPost : ...Gulaab Gang is exactly what its director wants it to be — yet another chip off the Bollywood block, just one that's pretty in pink... full review
So-So, by Nupur Barua, fullhyd.com : ...Gulaab Gang is a disappointment, but it is an important movie, to be sure. For one, it brings to us the two rivals of a bygone era, whose performances alone are worth watching the movie for. Secondly, a women-oriented movie is in vogue now, and these women beat up and fight, too. It could have been a masala ... full review
So-So, by Mohar Basu, koimoi : ...Gulaab Gang is not unforgettable but not unwatchable either.... full review
So-So, by Joginder Tuteja, Movie Talkies : ...Ultimately though, what one takes home the performances of Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla. Well intentioned with some good dramatic encounters, Gulaab Gang offers a different story with good entertainment. ... full review
So-So, by Divya Solgama, MoviezADDA : ...Well there is some good dramatic dum in this film especially in the clash scenes between Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla. The women power theme is well said but the film ends up being a mix mash product of two genres (Realistic cinema and Masala Entertainers) and the combination which could have been great, turns out being a relatively confused and average product.... full review
So-So, by Savera R Someshwar, Rediff : ...And for Divya Jagdale and Priyanka Bose who stand out with their performances. Take a bow, ladies!... full review
So-So, by Sonia Chopra, Sify Movies : ...If you can forgive its sizeable flaws, the film is watchable largely for Juhi Chawla, and the few scenes where her face-off with Madhuri Dixit has sizzle. ... full review
So-So, by Srijana Mitra Das, Times of India : ...At one point, Rajjo asks a woman, "Soch soch ke kaahi maarte ho?" That goes for Gulaab Gang too... full review
So-So, by Gayatri Sankar, Zee News : ...Gulaab Gang’ may not be a typical film meant to taste success at the Box Office. The film does speak about issues that need urgent attention, but may not be enough to draw people to the theatres. But Juhi Chawla’s performance in the film isn’t worth a miss. So watch it for her.... full review
Thumbs down, by Deepa Gahlot, cinemaah : ...Juhi Chawla steals every scene she is in, while Madhuri Dixit struggles with an ill-defined role; her only brief seems to have been “be a heroine” so she wears an ‘R’ shaped bindi, lots of kohl, sets her hair in waves and has a kid pay tribute to her stardom by humming “Ek Do Teen.” The best bits of this film are in the promos—that’s all there is to it.... full review
Thumbs down, by Inspector VIjay, Desi Martini : ...Skip it, theres Queen to watch...... full review
Thumbs down, by Martin D'Souza, Glamsham.com : ...Even after Madamji wins the elections (there was no voting) the drama continues. You wonder when the film will end! ... full review
Thumbs down, by Sweta Kaushal, Hindustan Times : ...There are several cliches and loopholes like this in the film but it is an entertaining potboiler nonetheless. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Rajeev Masand, IBN Live : ...And if you must watch this film, watch it for Juhi Chawla's inspired performance; it's the only bright spot in Gulaab Gang. I'm going with one-and-a-half out of five. Muddled and forgettable. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Shubhra Gupta, indian express : ...Gulab Gang’ is actually the old-style good vs evil story... full review
Thumbs down, Indicine : ...Gulaab Gang has been made with the aim of showcasing womanhood and the power of women in India, but all the gyanbaazi comes across as fake and hypocritical. ... full review
Thumbs down, by Shubha Shetty-saha, MiD DAY : ...Debutant director Soumik Sen would have been better off making a masala film where a male hero beats up dozens of villain?s cronies and everyone goes home happy. That way, there wouldn't be any false expectations. This one is as fake as a pink elephant.... full review
Thumbs down, by Rahul Desai, Mumbai Mirror : ...I guess it was entertaining in a meditative way...shots of tea in cups, or through window grills...funny editing...... full review
Thumbs down, by Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV : ...Women, Madhuri and Juhi included, certainly deserve better.... full review
Thumbs down, by Mansha Rastogi, Now Running.com : ...Gulaab Gang is a half baked attempt to present a gritty action drama. A movie which wastes potential of two brilliant actresses. ... full review
zoran24x7: Couldn't be a better gift than giving #IndianCinema this film on #WomensDay. My Review of #GulaabGang: http://t.co/xwqgb51Kjx. @anubhavsinha
worldmoviesclub: Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla-starrer Gulaab Gang emerged as the winner in a three-film fight this Friday. #GulaabGang
valmi_s: Gulab gang a must watch... #movies # bollywood
vaidehisachin: 'Gulaab Gang' superb movie... specially Juhi Chawla in her negative role was amazing, she made this movie much interesting
UrvishShah01: Gulaab gang was good!! A little slow.. @MadhuriDixit was absolutely fantastic
TulsiKapoor: a great movie, gulaab gang! #GulaabGang @iam_juhi @MadhuriDixit @shiekhspear
tinaamaariexo: Gulaab Gang was such a good movie. It's a must see, so inspiring!
TicklyG: Gulab gang is amazing movie .
tarahbGlebss: #JustWatched Gulaab Gang.. & i liked it! @MadhuriDixit superb looking & perfect done strong character (y) @iam_juhi - amazed me, great job!
srchauhan: Madhuri is awesome in "Gulaab Gang" .. must watch for all women
shreeprakashr: Gulaab Gang - @MadhuriDixit and @iam_juhi rocked. Liked it.
shivajireddy: For Gulab Gang....cheers for women's Day.
shariqusmani: Movie of the year. . #Gulab Gang. @iam_juhi awesome performances. What a way to celebrate women's Day...
sawnyah911: Gulab gang was awesome :)! #girlpower #Internationaldayforwomen
Saurabh_2211: Gulab Gang good movie. Great acting by Madhuri & Juhi.
SanjayC87: a great movie, gulaab gang! #GulaabGang @iam_juhi @MadhuriDixit @shiekhspear
SangeetaThakre: Gulab Gang awesome movie.....
rony619619: Gulaab gang looks to be pwerful movie as Madhuri n Juhi click togetr, Womens day spcl surely. Must watch the amazing talent on display
riffie94: Goooooooooo And Watch GULAAB GANG nowwww at cinemas ❤️❤️❤️
reachanujsaxena: Absolutely loved "Gulab Gang"! Powerful film. Terrific performances. Great ensemble cast. Brilliant... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=840561769304390
rajnikhanna111: Friends gulaab gang is good. You guys can watch it. Paisa vasool. #GulaabGang @iam_juhi @MadhuriDixit
raajluv: Gulab gang. Beautiful movie. Treat to watch @MadhuriDixit @iam_juhi wish u guys more success @shiekhspear @anubhavsinha
prsng: If Queen is nice, take it from me - Gulaab Gang is nicer.
Preeti_Kular: Shocked At What A Good Film Gulabi Gang Is!!
pal_dwivedi: Super movie with a Super message on the super special women's day. Definitely watch it-Gulaab Gang @MadhuriDixit m your fan all over again
NirmitiShukla: Gulab Gang is Awesome Movie...........
NeetiMohan_FC: A salute to the makers of Highway Queen and Gulaab Gang. The message is Loud and Clear. Be Strong !! My Love to... https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=586419964782492
NathJagann: Friends gulaab gang is good. You guys can watch it. Paisa vasool. #GulaabGang @iam_juhi @MadhuriDixit
NamanGurg: #Gulaab gang is a very good movie. My Take - go and watch it at ur nearby multiplex. @shiekhspear @iam_juhi @MadhuriDixit
musran121: Gulaab gang rock
MudassarAmin76: Gulab Gang is the most vibrant movie @madhuridixit has done after #Anjaam .Loving it to the core.
mjramanan: Gulab Gang... Juhi steels the show with her Villainic performance...
miral_d: Gulab Gang Power packed performances by Madhuri & Juhi. Awesome movie ..More power to women and such scripts. @MadhuriDixit @iam_juhi
mellowsunshine: Queen yesterday n Gulabi Gang today! Such cinema is appealing, endearing and insightful!
meetshafi: ''Gulab Gang'' is a perfect treat for women on the Women's day. At some places emotions might be exaggerated or... https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=691400774245797&id=100001276420582
mayurmalvadkar: Gulab gang is good film
manav_aggarwal: Gulab Gang- not just a movie, but could very well be a revolution for rural India. "If only the people would have... https://www.facebook.com/manav.aggarwal.549/posts/10202080658551727
MadhuriDixit01: Must Watch Gulaab Gang https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1468671340015019
mad4raj: GO ON....GO GO WATCH GULAAB GANG! http://twitter.com/mad4raj/status/442391913854148610/photo/1
lady_tandi: Gulab gang , an awesome way for women empowerment. #gulabgang
krisnendu1: Dekna buliay mat,today is sunday.Sara paribar n dost key ley kar dekheay madhuriji ki film GULAAB GANG.BAHUT,Acchha film,don't miss it.
koli_harshad: gulab gang rocks @MadhuriDixitNFC
KKajwe: Gulaab Gang is tooo superb mind blowing Action mind blowing Dialogues & Madhuri n Madhuri ..............:-)
Khan16Aman: Go watch #Gulaab Gang# :-)
KashmiraDeshmuk: Kudos to the makers of the Gulaab Gang. Brilliant work. #GulaabGang @shiekhspear @anubhavsinha
JatinAgra: wowowowwoow...kudos to gulaab gang team ! badiya film #GulaabGang @iam_juhi @MadhuriDixit @shiekhspear @anubhavsinha @bangdu
jagrutiathe: Gulaab gang is phaadu & so is madhuri.#GulaabGang @shiekhspear @anubhavsinha @MadhuriDixit @iam_juhi
itsurfriend: Gulaab gang ... a perfect gift to the women world on women's day. Never expected such a spectacular acting from... https://www.facebook.com/vikram.jammula/posts/10202145960504517
indranitutu: Hats off for gulabi gang!!
ilikedevdas: :P "@kk_komal: First time ever took movie tickets in black!!! & I'm actually lovinggg it...!!! ;) Gulaab Gang rocks!!!! @MadhuriDixit <3"
IamYogeshS: #GulaabGang a must watch movie @MadhuriDixit @iam_juhi #GulaabGangOnIGT n #GulaabGangInCinemas every #MustVisit http://www.bubblews.com/news/2555987-gulaab-gang-review-a-must-watch-movie
i_tweetu: GULAAB GANG: Power-packed film.......!!! http://hifengmotu.blogspot.com/2014/03/gulaab-gang-respect-itpink-can-be.html
HoneyMathur1: Watched Gulaab Gang... Amazing, Spectacular and Mind Blowing Movie.. Not because i am a huge madhuri fan .. but... https://www.facebook.com/honey.mathur786/posts/10200624042642920
Hiba5official: What was the last movie you watched that was really good? — Gulaab Gang - was amazing woman power http://ask.fm/Hiba5official/answer/110373015200
ghosh_debopriyo: Respect and love women.Gulaab Gang truly shows women power.Happy Women's Day to all.
ganu_pawar: loved gulab gang
fjavaid: Photo: GUYS GULAAB GANG IS SUCH A GOOD MOVIE, IT’S SO FUCKING BADASS, EVERYONE GO WATCH IT! It’s so... http://www.tumblr.com/Zg0Dix19Y6qBG
FiaHussain: We need more movies like Gulaab Gang #sogood
duhan_pardeep: gulab gang....a must watch
drsushillohiya: Gulab gang finally indian audience got matured enough or producer's get enlighten 2 deliver such a beautiful n power pack movie,luv u bollwd
doododee: #GulaabGang is a must watch for it’s terrific cast and a beautiful story. Well done to the Gang of Gulaab Gang! : Karan Raheja ..4.5/5 stars
DhArA_TrIvEdI: Super Dynamic Performances of @MadhuriDixit &Juhi Chaval are Making Highest Credit Values of Movie... Do Not Miss to Watch Gulaab Gang
dhananj38700204: watched GULAAB GANG...... . Really awsm... movie. . so what? . . Go n watch it.....
Deckle_Edge: Gulaab Gang is a protest against the male-dominated society that treated woman as a mere commodity, it does show a new horizon!
cocotheactrice: Loved Gulab gang , a movie that heralds our times, it's time to claim our ground!! Ladies ho jao gulaabi
ChutkiKhan: Yaar yeh gulaab gang toh achi film nikli. Badiya kaam kiya hai sabne...#GulaabGang @iam_juhi @MadhuriDixit @shiekhspear
chinuseth: #Gulab gang Awesome movie Women politics # pink saari ka kamaal Village problems Rajjo acting
caravik: "@girishjohar: BollywoodMixer Review:★★★★½ (4.5 stars) #GulaabGang - Strong,Powerful, must watch http://bollywoodmixer.com/gulaab-gang-review/"
Buttercup032001: 5 out of 5 for Gulaab Gang !!!!!!!!!
BombayFunk: Happy Womens Day ladies. Catch one of these female powered films this weekend. Go Queen and Gulaab Gang! https://www.facebook.com/bombayfunkadelic/posts/10152325714294595
As0471368: very nice film gulab gang
ARaya_dreamz: Happy womens day @iam_juhi @MadhuriDixit and congratz for gulaab gang from me Indonesia !!
arahmanbutt: And who was the idiot who said Gulaab Gang only picks up in the 2nd half? Dhamakedar moments. MADHURI'S Action out of the world #GulaabGang
anitanegi16: well done.......@gulaab gang
anisha601: Gulaab Gang superbbbb movie. A must watch
amp2969: Gulab Gang : 3 Star. A great gift to all woman on woman's day.
akash_kotecha: Just watched Gulab Gang.. awesome movie bye two legends.. hats off @@iam_juhi and madhuri maam.. India loves u...
ajitaj0007: Happy Women's Day !!! I strongly reccommend ... Go see GULAAB GANG .... :) :) today !! More power to the ladies !!!!! :) :) :)"
aiydamut: Watched Gulaab Gang last night, super movie and super performance from @MadhuriDixit and @iam_juhi love u both. :) http://twitter.com/aiydamut/status/442141691634393088/photo/1
9823045879: Gulab gang hit hoga
78_sagar: "The movie describes about women empowerment" # Gulab Gang # go and watch it !!!
1512yogeshsharm: madhuri ji aaj se aap action queen bhi ban gayi, gulab gang is a very good movie.
_mylovemyshadow: Gulaab Gang is such a meaningful movie. It gets you thinking. 10/10
LifeNeedsMovies: 'Gulaab Gang' Review:2 mammoth talents in a film thats good in parts.Delivers a message that unfortunately doesn't get old,respect women 3/5
grasshopperseve: GULAB GANG – Strong Gang - great plot - stellar Performances - loose on execution. http://pkverdicts.blogspot.com/2014/03/gulab-gang-strong-gang-great-plot.html
EshaSidhu: Gulaab Gang...not bad...a little slow.
ckchoudhary1994: 1 बार देखने लइक है. http://nbt.in/micron/redirect.html?str=vrG1jY
tHe_D4rK_pRinc3: Gulab Gang is a highly disappointing piece of junk.
tamannaW: On the other hand, watched Gulaab Gang! So disappointing. Juhi definitely overshadows Madhuri with her great performance.
Si_lv_er: V. v. bad review of Gulabi Gang. More surprised that Juhi agreed to star in this film. Madhuri in any case doesn't make v. intell choices.
ShraddhaBisht3: Gulaab Gang review: Juhi Chawla, from crush to crushing disappointment
Shahzad7860000: Watched gulab gang nothing fresh in this film madhuri and juhi chawala rocks with their performance. But movies bellow average
sachinjos: Women empowerment and respect is all fine but Gulaab Gang is not the way to celebrate for sure.
raghu_shadow: Gulaab Gang : One fuck all movie.
opsharma1971: Watched movie Gulab Gang today in C-21 mall with wife today. A bad tribute to women on international women's day. Good theme with bad effort
KushagraPandey6: Gulabi gang Jo teri dekhi , bharosa Hindi movies se uth gaya
KarnaSakya: To celebrate Women's Day, I bought charity show fund raising tickets of Gulab Gang which came out to be one of the weakest film of the year
Jhajhajha: Gulaab Gang. Horrendous...! Waste of time and reality.
idrrajdeep: The power combo of towering Madhuri & menacing Juhi got muddled by sloppy script & direction. Gulaab Gang squandered its immense potential.
iamlamsalraj: felt boor to see gulab gang
avaneeshraju: Gulab Gang : Lady Rajnikant in d making ? Total chaos !
AAmansaraiya: head ache ....gulab gang
This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.
Parental Guidance:
- Violence: Lots and lots.
- Language: Not many abusive words but harsh language.
- Nudity & Sexual content: Rape implied.
- Concept: A group of women who have taken upon themselves to protect the wronged women in their community try their hands at politics.
- General Look and Feel: Contemporary.
![[Facebook page of Gulaab Gang]](/static/images/icons/facebook_small.png){kind=icon}
![[Twitter account of Gulaab Gang]](/static/images/icons/twitter_small.png){kind=icon}
![[YouTube channel of Gulaab Gang]](/static/images/icons/youtube_small.png){kind=icon}
![[Wikipedia page of Gulaab Gang]](/static/images/icons/wiki_small.png){kind=icon}
![[IMDB Page of Gulaab Gang]](/static/images/icons/imdb_small.png){kind=icon}
Comments (11)
It was really difficult to decide which movie to watch this Friday as three movies are releasing and all of them looks good(including Total Siyapa which havnt been previewed here),,,,.....
Lastly i have decided to watch Gulaab Gang,,,,,really excited to watch Juhi in neg role
@Anup I do hope to preview Total Siyappa early next week. But, all these films are slated for next Friday.
Meetu - I don't think anybody in my group of US Indian Movie Fans will care. Madhuri Dixit kicks butt? We are SO there! :)
@TimELiebe I can imagine. :D Go for it!!
Another great review Meetu. Thanks for awesome review of Gulaab Gang.
Just curious - is Madhuri Dixit living in India again? Last I'd heard, she was living in Colorado with her doctor husband and kids….
@Rasel Thank you!
@TimELiebe I have no idea! I am pretty uninterested in Bollywood related news :)
Well, we saw it, Meetu, and all of us pretty much agree with you. Madhuri Dixit is extraordinary in a one-dimensional heroic role - and Juhi Chawla is even more one-dimensional, but since she's the villain she can actually have fun with her character! It feels less like a movie than a collection of scenes pasted together in a vague sense of order - and the descent into melodrama in the second half made the events (supposedly based on the Gulbali Gang, an actual group of women fighting to empower themselves in a poor part of India) feel like utter bakwas!
Seriously: When in the movie's climax, That Character Did The Thing with The Thing instead of The Other Thing he was supposed to do? It was sure exciting - and didn't make a lick of sense to any of us! (Didn't you expect him to turn to the camera and cry, "I can't help myself! They told me I had to do this for the trailer!") It strikes me, at least, that if he'd done what he was supposed to, Rajjo Didi's plan would have made her Gang look like a bunch of terrorists rather than heroes who were being set up by corrupt authority. Actually, the whole climax made no sense, as Juhi Chawla's Ma'am had gotten everything she wanted, including leverage over Rajjo Didi, just by being publicly seen to be Doing Her Job.
We liked it - but wish it had been a better movie about some very real problems women and the poor still face in India today. And is it me, or is Madhuri Dixit telling her agent, "I'm already a dance legend in Bollywood - now I want to be Sunny Deol!" ;)
"is Madhuri Dixit telling her agent, "I'm already a dance legend in Bollywood - now I want to be Sunny Deol!" -
ha ha ha ha... I guess it is about getting a role that is non-standard and meaty compared to props in a mainstream film.
::shakes head sadly:: I'm sure you're right, @Meetu - which makes this movie, and her performance in it, even worse somehow. It honestly would have been a much better movie, though probably a less effective bit of pro-woman propaganda, if Rajjo Didi had been something besides ever-virtuous, ever-reasonable, and in all ever-justified in every "extreme" measure she took. (If her halo were any more burnished, Buddha and Jesus both would have needed sunglasses to stand next to her!) I haven't seen the documentary on the real-life Gulbali Gang, but I'll bet Rajjo Didi's real-life analogue is nowhere near as calm and reasonable as she's played here - not if she bucked male-dominated tradition enough to form her own Gang to empower women and punish abusive men, she's not.
It's interesting - in Satyagraha Amitabh Bachchan manages to play a Gandhiite schoolmaster who leads a reform movement, and while his character's principles and virtue are completely convincing, so is his stubbornness and anger, and his intransigence which hinders as much as helps. Part of that may be the gender of the characters and the movements they're leading, but I can't help but feel that Ms. Dixit's character would have been vastly improved if she were a bit closer to Mr. Bachchan's than to the Well-Armed Saint she plays here.
@TimELiebe hmmm...good point there. But, I am almost always wary of comparisons. In the sense that, if a film were to be like some other film then it would be that film and not the one it is now.
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