A while back, Manish Gaekwad, a writer by profession and son of a Kamathipura courtesan shared a picture of Alia Bhatt’s character ‘Gangubai’ from the movie ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ alongside a pic of his mother Rekhabai clicked in the Kamathipura kotha district, Mumbai, showing the uncanny similarities between the two.
That's my mother on the right Rekhabai. Almost same na, white saree, red bindi, bangles, qamar mein kassa pallu, dancing in 80s Kamathipura kotha district, Bombay, separated from #GangubaiKathiawadi by a few decades, but twinning by fate that unites them.❤️ pic.twitter.com/PAq8sSzhru
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) February 26, 2022
Well, after the release of the film and his mom’s discharge from the hospital, he took his mom Rekhabai and her girl gang to watch the movie on International Women’s Day.
Took mother and her girlgang to watch #GangubaiKathiawadi and to celebrate the sisterhood of #InternationalWomensDay
They wanted to pose with Alia but her poster was nowhere to be seen. They had to make do with Ajay Devgn.😎 Review soon.👍🏽 pic.twitter.com/z3rpMwXqCV— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
And as promised, he shared with us Rekhabai’s review of the movie. From what he shared, it is clear that the women had fun going down memory lane. They even became sentimental after the girls elected Gangu their caretaker in the film.
Half time. The girls take a Kit-Kat break.
Shipra maasi says: Sheela maasi marr gayi!
Simmi laughed throughout the bathing scene.
Lakshmi says daaru peeke ladki aayi, accha laga.
Mother wept when the girls elected Gangu girlboss.
Girls just wanna have fun.❤️ pic.twitter.com/2sjzIMCaYQ
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
The ghazal by Begum Akhtar, ‘Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat’ in the opening scene made her curious.
Mother’s review of the reel vs real.
Film begins with Begum Akhtar’s Yeh Na Thi Hamari Qismat.
“Yeh Shobha Gurtu hai?” She asked
The review was going to be at the mercy of her diminishing hearing and seeing abilities. https://t.co/z29WkRaO0A
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s homework with the set made her feel ‘sab real jaisa’.
The candle-in-hand scene, she said, was unreal.
Artistic flourish.
I found it beautiful. Reminded me of painter Haldankar's works, though am not saying it was inspired. pic.twitter.com/7slCs2Kyv1
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
Ajay Devgn’s character also reminded her of the dada who help her thrash a scoundrel.
Mother chucked at the ‘bhaag ke jaa, daud ke aa’ dialogue.
Aise hi toh bolte hain, she said.
Devgn beating the badmaash reminded her of a dada whose help she had sought to thrash a scoundrel.
Dada called her didi.
No one harassed her after that. pic.twitter.com/JeT0x4rpwN
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
She goes on to reflect how they felt insulted going to places dominated by judgmental people even if it was meeting her favourite, Dev Anand.
@aliaa08 reading Ghalib’s Hazaaron Khwahishen Aisi made her recall a funny incident when she wanted to invite Ghalib for a mujra, not knowing he was the president of the dead poets society. pic.twitter.com/ODslzjZDCO
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
Dev Anand was a favourite.
“I saw him at Hare Ram Hare Krishna mandir,” she said.
“Why didn’t you go say hello?” I asked.
I knew the answer before she could respond.
“Izzatdaar logon mein beizzati lagti hai.” pic.twitter.com/q1ex598LY7
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
Reacting to the ‘kothe se doli uthegi scene’, she said:
About the kothe se doli uthegi scene i said it was in reference to Pakeezah.
“Par usme bhi toh last mein doli uthti hai.”
She remembers.😎
The train shot like Pakeezah.
The across-the-street window conversation. Pakeezah.
The reclining on bed scenes. Pakeezah. pic.twitter.com/FZdwBny8VU
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
His mother validated the Qawwali ‘Shikayat’ saying, “Huma ne theek kulha (hips) chalaya hai, jaise hum log karte thay.”
In the gorgeously shot qawwali Shikayat, nothing to complain.
“Huma ne theek kulha (hips) chalaya hai, jaise hum log karte thay.”
Check the mujra twerk movement in the end of the song.
Also, the tearing of the gajra was reserved for a khaas raees.https://t.co/hLjv918jwR
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
Not to forget the ‘Dholida’ song. “Mai toh dus-barah non-stop kar leti thi,” she said referring to Alia’s golchakkar.
Since everyone was raving about Dholida, we counted the golchakkar.
Alia did 14-15, but with intervals.
“Mai toh dus-barah non-stop kar leti thi,” says mother.
I can vouch. I’ve seen it.
Still, impressive for Alia to attempt. 👏🏼
Now you count.🙏🏽https://t.co/3uio9IgvsQ
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
Just like Gangubai, Rekhabai had received threats claiming to make them homeless.
“Haan, kabhi-kabaar juloos nikalta tha, hamey be-ghar karne. Phir koi meeting hoti thi.”
“Did you attend these meetings?” I ask mother.
“Nahi, time nahi milta tha. Hum bas paise bhar dete thay.” pic.twitter.com/K6bN8UU8Gp
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
Resonating with Jim Sarbh’s character as a journalist, the author said that the scene wherein the self-confessed prostitute meets the “generalist” (journalist) is his favorite because his mother has been a courtesan and he is a journalist.
@jimSarbh photographs @aliaa08 puts Gangu on the Aaina magazine cover. I couldn't manage a cover, but picture of mother in this week's Outlook magazine wasn't too bad. Mother feels seen, not invisible anymore. 🙂 And like Jim says in the film, the world is reading and accepting. pic.twitter.com/rzK0bjLvh4
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
They loved the film and Alia’s character that reminded them of the time they dressed in a similar fashion.
Apne time ki girlboss Rekhabai. Same to same, bindi, goggles, hairstyle, the pallu tuck in the blouse, plus the dhamakedaar sass. 😎 pic.twitter.com/ceVboT7Yh5
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 9, 2022
Film khatm.
“Ab taxi milegi ki nahi?”
“Bhookh bhi lagi hai.”
“Bathroom bhi jaana hai.”
“Khichdi banani padegi.”
Back to life, to chatter, to the usual. pic.twitter.com/avgJ3Fyuu6
— manishgaekwad (@manishgaekwad) March 8, 2022
Seems like this time art has imitated life. Such a wholesome thread.