MLA Moves Bombay HC, Wants Kamathipura's Name Censored In Gangubai Kathiawadi

Maharashtra MLA Amin Patel and a resident of the Kamathipura area in Mumbai approached Mumbai High Court on February 22 against the use of Kamathipura's name in the upcoming film titled Gangubai Kathiawadi.

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali directional is going to release on February 25. The film is based on the madam of a brothel in yesteryear Mumbai's Kamathipura red light area. Reportedly, a number of brothels operated in the past in Kamathipura. Actor Alia Bhatt is playing the lead role, with Ajay Devgn making a cameo. The petition asked the Bombay High Court to either censor Kamathipura's name in the film or delete it. Shraddha Surve is a resident of Kamathipura who filed the petition. Surve asked for urgent hearing in the case as the film is slated to release on Friday. The bench led by Justices Gautam Patel and Madhav Jamdar set the hearing for Wednesday.

Gangubai Kathiawadi Kamathipura Controversy:

MLA Amin Patel raised similar objection in his plea before the division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik. Patel's plea hearing was also set for Wednesday. Bhansali's film is based on a chapter in S Hussain Zaidi's book titled Mafia Queens of Mumbai. Bhatt will be playing the role of Gangubai in the film who was respected as the madam of a brothel and social worker in 1960s.

Suggested Reading: Kamathipura Locals Protest Against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi

The resident of Kamathipura in her plea said that the film shows Kamathipura area in a bad light and it may defame its residents. The petition read, "If the movie is allowed to be released with the name Kamathipura, then it would cause harm and disrespect to the residents, especially women." Surve sought removal of the name Kamathipura from the film and be changed to anything else from "Mayapuri or Mayangari". Surve pointed out that in the present, not even five per cent of the Kamathipura area is active in prostitution.

The petitioners claimed that ever since the release of the film's trailer, the reputation of Kamathipura area has been lowered. They also claimed that the film makes wild allegations that are derogatory in nature. The plea stated, "The social impact the movie will cause is that all girl residents will be termed prostitutes, teased and taunted, and families will have to live with lowered dignity."