Revisiting the lessons I got from Gangubai Kathiawadi

Gangubai Kathiawadi is a mainstream feminist Bollywood film directed by one of the most lauded filmmakers of Bollywood, Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Starring Alia Bhatt, this film is based on the true story of Ganga Jagjivandas Kathiawadi, also known as Gangubai Kothewali.

It revolves around the evolution of Ganga. From a small-town girl, to a prostitute, a brothel owner, and later managed to become the president of Kamathipura. This is a narrative about the practice of prostitution in India.

However, apart from giving us an insight into the world of sex workers, this film also equips its viewers with meaningful life lessons.

Here are the life lessons I got from Gangubai Kathiawadi

Believe in Yourself

Just like Gangubai, who had a tough life and experienced almost all the possible struggles in life, there’s a chance that the world will be against you. You might face many setbacks along the way, but believing in yourself can help you achieve success in life. It’s not an overnight process. Later on, you will realize that you are finally making it!

Never Let Anyone Dull your Shine

It can be seen in the movie how Gangubai was surrounded by lustful guys in the red-light district of Kamathipura. She kept getting knocked down, but she always got back up and turned the tables in the end. She never let anyone make decisions for her, and neither do we. Even if things may not be going well for us at the moment, we can turn the situation around by viewing it as an opportunity to grow and become better people. Continue shining!

Action movies to watch that are under 90 minutes!

Empathy is the Key!

Before she rose to prominence as one of Kamathipura’s most influential figures, Gangubai was a sex worker just like the rest of them, and she knew what it’s like to be abused and exploited. So, now that she has a platform, she chose to speak up for fellow prostitutes. She becomes the mother of all women and children in Kamathipura and fights for their rights.

Gangubai’s ability to empathize as mafia queen helped make a significant difference in her domain and even had a global impact. Simply put, empathy leads to a more successful leadership outcome.

There is a lot of prejudice against sex workers, and I believe Gangubai Kathiawadi succeeds in serving as an eye-opener and giving us a different perspective to look for, that sex work is not always a matter of personal choice for the workers involved.