: Gangubai Kathiawadi a reflection

By Dharshini R. - Year 12

Gangubai Kathiawadi is a Bollywood biopic of a woman called Gangubai Harjivandas, who was trafficked in the 1960s. This film spotlights the harsh treatment of women, specifically those who fall prey to human traffickers, and the institutionalised violence perpetrated against them. The protagonist, Gangubai Kathiawadi, is a girl who is deceived by someone she trusts (her fiancé) and forced to work in a brothel in Kamathipura, a neighbourhood in Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay). Throughout the film, Gangubai and her friends face mistreatment, abuse and harassment from the men who exploit them. The plot is used as an instrument to show the socio-historic hypocrisy of the men who use these women, whilst simultaneously shaming them. After Gangubai is held against her will, she befriends the other girls working in the institution. Over time, she forges connections with the underworld, and utilises them to become the president of Kamathipura. Kamathipura was and still is known as a red-light district in Mumbai.

Gangubai Kathiawadi clearly shows the discrimination and treatment sex workers deal with daily. For example, when Gangubai is attacked by one of her clients, and hospitalised, the nurses heartlessly put her in a storage room. This illustrates to the audience the little compassion and respect people have towards her. In the movie, Gangubai says ‘No matter who turns up at our doorstep, we don’t judge them. So why do you discriminate against us?’ showing the hardship of her profession. The question ‘So why do you discriminate against us?’ reveals the social stigma that leads to institutionalised violence and discrimination. In addition to the violence and humiliation, the children of the women in the film are denied an education because of their mothers’ situations. Later on, Gangubai describes being deprived of simple things like a mother’s love, and a father’s protection, because people see her as less than human, and she is viewed as shameful and disgusting. On the other hand, the film characterises men as suffering few consequences for their behaviour, carrying on with their "respectable lives".

Colourism is a common problem within Bollywood movies and has a long historical background, with roots in the caste system and colonisation. The caste system originated in ancient India with four caste groups: the lowest caste, the Sudras ("Untouchables"), were forced to clean and work outside in the sun, causing them to have significantly darker skin than the other caste groups. This resulted in the majority of Indian society viewing darker skin as "dirty" and a sign of poverty. On the other hand, many may argue that colourism in India is the end product of colonisation; during British rule in India, Indians were grouped mainly by skin colour, with Europeans at the top of the system. The British did this to pick out people who could work with the government, further dividing Indians, and causing resentment and angst among them.

Many see colourism as a symptom of a ‘post-colonial hangover’. Alia Bhatt, the actor who plays Gangubai, has lighter skin than the rest of the girls who work with her, and is treated with more respect, eventually becoming the president of Kamathipura. The real life Gangubai Kathiawadi was also known for her darker skin, and her portrayal by a lighter-skinned actress further perpetuates the stigma of colourism in Bollywood movies. This strengthens the idea that lighter skin is more desirable than darker skin, and reflects the negative treatment of darker-skinned women: they’re subjected to discrimination in marriage, employment and many other elements in their lives. This is certainly seen in Gangubai Kathiawadi when Afsann, Gangubai’s lover, actively pursues her and tries to marry her, and when a darker-skinned character is called "kala kaloota" ("black crow"), which shows a lack of respect. This may send a harmful message to many women, especially teenagers, who watch the film and see girls with lighter skin getting more opportunities and respect. This can also be seen in Chameli (2003) and Devdas (2002), where the female protagonists, Kareena Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai, are much lighter-skinned than most Indians, and receive admiration from men. The female protagonists, with their light skin and high cheekbones, both fit into Eurocentric beauty standards, and integrate them into Indian beauty standards. This reinforces the stereotype that lighter-skinned women are more beautiful, worthy and superior, causing many young girls to resort to harmful products like skin-whitening creams, such as Fair and Lovely, or skinlightening surgery. The prevalent and frequent issue of colourism has encouraged many people to call for more diverse and inclusive casting for movies, and more awareness of the damaging effect colourism can have on society.

Overall, Gangubai Kathiawadi is a strong and empowering film that helps spotlight how society and the legal system treat marginalised people. It addresses taboo topics in India and does not shy away from sensitive issues. It is also vital to remember the fact that colourism is not only an issue relevant in Gangubai Kathiawadi, but an issue that affects a majority of Bollywood movies. This movie has also helped bring greater awareness to colourism and the horrible treatment of sex workers throughout India, and shows how these issues are not only ingrained in Indian society, but ingrained in many cultures throughout the world.

Scarlett D-S. - Year 8