Gangubai was a major DISAPPOINTMENT - Page 4

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pathaka thumbnail
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Posted: 3 years ago
#31

Originally posted by: HearMeRoar


I saw Susanna as a performer herself, always putting on an act for the men and even the kid/young man. So the parts you mentioned seemed quite in character in to me.


With Alia, I didn't see consistency even in the swag. Could be SLB's direction, but she seemed enough aware as an actor to not let it happen. It comes across as she simply didn't have the heft to maintain it frame to frame. Not to mention the watered down story.

Interesting

I actually thought gangu was more a performer since she always wanted to be an actress …the “filminess” seemed part of her personality and something she actually wanted to be/aspired for since she loved films


suZzana was also putting on an act but that very detail made her superficial enough to not care whether or not she finds “true love” …

oh_nakhrewaali thumbnail
Posted: 3 years ago
#32

Originally posted by: blue-ice.1

Madhuri is a good actor...I am just saying Alia is way better than her....after Gangubai...I won't hesitate putting her in Kangna, Vidya and PC's league...

Le kangana: Yahin din bacha tha ab🤦‍♀️🥺

1123225 thumbnail
Posted: 3 years ago
#33

Originally posted by: pathaka

Interesting

I actually thought gangu was more a performer since she always wanted to be an actress …the “filminess” seemed part of her personality and something she actually wanted to be/aspired for since she loved films


suZzana was also putting on an act but that very detail made her superficial enough to not care whether or not she finds “true love” …


I'm not talking about the filminess of the character Gangu. SLB's overall drama is too in your face for me, and he stuck to character for sure😆.


But there was so much tough woman swag in the trailer, and I thought that was what I was going to watch. You know, sad back story, but rising to ruthless mafia queen with her own weaknesses. I just didn't see it, and part of it was the script and direction for sure, but Alia didn't seem to have the acting muscles to pull it off.


Compare to Rani in Black, and you'll see.

Edited by HearMeRoar - 3 years ago
1123225 thumbnail
Posted: 3 years ago
#34

Originally posted by: oye_nakhrewaali

Le kangana: Yahin din bacha tha ab🤦‍♀️🥺


This is part of the problem with Alia that I can see. Her coterie and fans go into these superlatives to describe her. And she's very obviously not. So someone like me who's there only to enjoy the movie is like "what's all that about?"


I mean, why not simply say she's the one in her gen with the potential to leave a great legacy?

FilmiDhun thumbnail
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Posted: 3 years ago
#35

I posted my review of the movie in the review/BO thread but am posting here too since like the OP I was also quite underwhelmed with the film:


Watched the film yesterday. I had kept my expectations low knowing that SLB's films are known for grandeur rather than story and that online hype wouldn't necessarily mean that I would enjoy the film. However, I still managed to come out disappointed. I have distant memories of Bhansali's last outings BM, and I have seen Padmaavat in only bits and pieces on YT. For me GanguBai didn't do anything more or less than those films. Great visuals, decent to good/great acting, a few grandly picturized but often jarringly placed song numbers, and a very very uninspiring screenplay.


Like everyone else I am not too convinced about even Alia's performance. But I blame SLB more for it than Alia. The fact that GanguBai is deified so much in the film stopped me from completely investing in the story.


There are next to no high tension moments in the movie, probably except the Ganga bits maybe. Everything is too convenient for her: she wins over the girls in the brothel in a jiffy, she holds a movie screening and voila she is the new president of Kamathipura, she makes one visit to a famous gangster and suddenly she becomes his mooh boli behen and business partner.


Also SLB's GanguBai is an angel who can do no wrong: I haven't read Hussein Zaidi's book so I can't comment on how much it sticks to the source material. But I had a hard time digesting that an influential brothel madam would be so kind to young girls at her brothel that she sends them back to their homes so frequently, and in one instance is willing to marry off her lover to one of them.


Another reason I had a hard time fully buying into Alia's performance is that she doesn't seem to fit into her surrounding. Yeah yeah I get it this is a Bollywood movie and that too an SLB film. The heroine HAS to stand out among the other girls. But yet, Alia, with her paper white skin, even whiter saree and perfect makeup was too visually disruptive in the film's setting. It's hard to believe that the harsh environment of Kamathipura had no effect on her face: the gruesome scars that the rowdy customer gives her also magically vanish without a trace all too quickly.


Most of the side characters, both enemies and allies drop in and out of the screenplay without leaving much impact. I only liked Seema Pawa out of the entire bunch, probably because she was the only one who was some kind of competition to GanguBai and instrumental in her transformation from Ganga to Gangu. The moment she died the film and screenplay became boring and tedious to me. The love story between Afshan and Gangu did not leave much of an impact on me, and RaziaBai/Lala , although skillfully played by Vijay Raaz and Ajay Devgn, felt very much like cardboard characters. Special mention to Kamli though, who as Gangu's long time best friend, made an endearing presence, as did some of the more minor characters from the brothel.


Having said all this, credit where it's due. The film is doing great numbers at the box office and has sort of revived Bollywood after the pandemic. And a lot of credit for this must be given to Alia. She has made it clear with GanguBai that she has genuine star power and a great connect with the general public. And while I am mostly skeptical about her performance, I did think she did very well in some scenes. My favourite parts were the very beginning and her childlike excitement about the prospect of becoming a heroine and her interactions with Ramnik. Also very well acted was her meeting with the PM and the way she presents her case for the legalization of prostitution in the country.

Edited by FilmiDhun - 3 years ago
MostlyHarmIess thumbnail
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Posted: 3 years ago
#36

Has Bhansali even made a good film this century?

The_Best thumbnail
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Posted: 3 years ago
#37

Originally posted by: blue-ice.1

Thank God there is another SRKian who thinks that Devdas is trash...I once mentioned it on twitter and was immediately beaten black and blue by other SRKians.,,,som 10 people unfollowed and blocked me....😆

I have watched Devdas in bits and pieces...I love the Dola re song and how gorgeous Aish and Madhuri look....but that is about it...😆


That’s one of my favorite movie 😒

YourCat thumbnail
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Posted: 3 years ago
#38

That was obvious from the trailer itself

PD_forums thumbnail
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Posted: 3 years ago
#39

Wow.. what am I reading ... The review thread looking fake after reading comments in this thread

So not only movies reviews now we need to think before going with IF reviews as well.. PR everywhere

PardesiBabu thumbnail
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Posted: 3 years ago
#40

Alia bhatt mast actress hai log jitna bhi jale par ladki kamaal ki acting karti hai bhai

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