The world rejoices International Women’s Day on 8th March and ‘Gulaab Gang’ is an impeccable treat to rejoice womenfolk. The Soumik Sen film is all about the power of women. Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla who are both queens of 1990’s cinema come together for the first time, We all expect performances worth booming applause. We have often seen Madhuri play vivacious and fiery roles but it`s Juhi Chawla’s performance that will leave you in a state of shock as her evil role in the film is improper of her onscreen caring , sweet girl next door roles. The sparkling actress, who stole a million hearts with her contagious smile, will send quivers down your spine as she essays the role of a power hungry nasty and autocrat politician Sumitra.
‘Gulaab Gang’ is Rajjo’s (played by Madhuri Dixit) gang of women dressed in pink sarees that are figurative of their femininity enclosed with the power to defeat. The story orbits Rajjo, the Messiah of Madhavpur, who turns obtuse after being tortured by her stepmother since childhood. She is truly courageous and empowers needy women by helping them find means to live. She makes them independent and also trains them in self-protection. In entirety, Rajjo is what any woman would need at this hour where crime against women is growing at a vast speed. Sumitra (Juhi Chawla) wows you as a politician as she keeps proclaiming her allies to be cautious before elections and not indulge in any transgression that may cost them severely. But her assignation with the machine gun in the end where she opens fire randomly at the gulaabi toli, opposes her stance. That may confuse the audience and make them wonder why would somebody contesting elections even make the mistake of taking law in her own hand?
The film has its own share of shortcomings. The story celebrates womanhood, but the film could have been a lot better. Sen could have dodged the naach-gaana had he really intended to create a stronger impact. Such filmi insertion dilutes the whole concept of serious cinema which otherwise has sensitive and thought-provoking content. Minuses apart, the scenes between Madhuri and Juhi will make you truly wish to see them more often together, for they make an enchanting duo on screen and have it in them to give the group of Khans a run for their money! The rest of the cast has pulled off terrific performances and have put faces to characters that exemplify strength, courage, bravery and confidence in womanhood.
The film highlights relevant issues – rape, corruption, gangsterhood, red-tapism, vote-bank politics and several other relevant matters of the present era. Thanks to the director for collecting all these vis-à-vis topics, addressing them through his filmic language and awarding it to the world as ‘Gulaab Gang’. The film’s opening animated sequence is tremendously inspiring. Bollywood can make more use of such rare exhibitions to give movie-goers a stimulating treat. The locations are truthful and take you on a practical tour of rural India where things aren’t as bright and nice as we believe them to be. The dialogues are superb, especially the ones that Juhi delivers. Juhi deserves a special mention for delivering them with utmost belief and practicality. It is her first time as a villain and she has taken this as a chance to prove that she is indeed a superstar and will always be a superstar! The action direction is impeccable even more so by showing us all that in fact women could pull off stunt sequences in Indian cinema . Women clad in pink sarees pull off some really good action in the film.
In its entirety, ‘Gulaab Gang’ brings out a powerful message to all woman who may face such hardships therefore the film does express subjects which requires urgent attention, Madhuri Dixit is in amazing as Rajjo , no other actress could pull of such intense action sequences and still look beautiful at the same time, But Juhi Chawla’s performance in the film is unforgettable and something that should not be missed. Watch this movie for the two leading ladies, Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla who will not only win your hearts over but also reminds you of the calibre and talent the actresses of yesteryear cinema possesses that is irreplaceable. The Bollywood Tempest gives Gulaab Gang 8/10. Power to women… Watch Gulaab Gang at a cinema near you!
Rating: 4 Stars