Gulaab Gang

For the activists from Bundelkhand, see Gulabi Gang. For the National Film Award-winning 2012 documentary film, see Gulabi Gang (film).
Gulaab Gang

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Soumik Sen
Produced by Anubhav Sinha
Alumbra Entertainment
Abhinay Deo
Written by Soumik Sen
Anubhav Sinha
Starring Madhuri Dixit
Juhi Chawla
Music by Soumik Sen
Distributed by Sahara Movie Studios
Release dates
  • 7 March 2014 (2014-03-07)
Running time
128 minutes
Country India
Language Hindi
Budget 12 Crore

Gulaab Gang is a 2014 Indian crime drama film centered on the struggle of women in the country, directed by Soumik Sen and produced by Anubhav Sinha. It stars Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla. The official trailer was released on 10 January 2014. The film was released on 7 March 2014. Upon its release the film received positive-to-mixed reviews from critics; however, the critics raved about Chawla's performance in the film, calling it the best performance of the year.[1] Despite this, the film turned out to be a box office flop.

Plot

The Gulaab Gang members are activists and vigilantes in Bundelkhand Uttar and Madhya Pradesh.,[2] They wear pink sarees and take up issues like domestic violence, the dowry system, rape, electricity matters, and education. Their fierce leader, Rajjo (Madhuri Dixit), locks horns with a conniving and shrewd politician, Sumitra Bagrecha (Juhi Chawla), who uses people.

Rajjo runs a Gulaab gang in the village of Madhopur, where she teaches little girls their alphabet, and grown-up girls how to wield a lathi. Her gang is made up of women who wear bright pink. Rajjo's closest friends in the gang are a tomboy (Divya Jagdale), a woman abandoned by her husband (Tannishtha Chatterjee), and a kohl-eyed woman (Priyanka Bose). These ladies go about standing up for the meek and the downtrodden, and clash against villainous husbands, cops and politicians. The plot gains momentum when Rajjo decides to take part in the local elections against a manipulative and conniving politician, Sumitra Devi (Juhi Chawla). Sumitra does her best to make sure Rajjo is incapacitated during election campaigns by having most of her gang members killed by the henchmen. Towards the end, Rajjo decides to take revenge against Sumitra. During Holi celebrations, when Sumitra conspires to finish off the Gulaab Gang, Rajjo retaliates by chopping off Sumitra Devi's hand as the latter tries to shoot the gang with a machine gun. At the end, Sumitra is arrested and is sentenced to life in prison and Rajjo is also arrested for her violent retribution. However, Rajjo eventually realises her dream of establishing a school for unprivileged girls.

Cast

Madhuri Dixit portrays the lead role, Rajjo

Casting

"Actually, there were two reasons to cast Juhi Chawla for the film. The very first thing is that it was a creative decision taken by all of us... and we thought it would be great to see two iconic stars Madhuri and Juhi together in the film." -Abhinab Sinha

As the film is based on the rural parts of India, many cast members would be portraying de-glamorous roles.[3] Initially, actress Tabu was approached to play the lead, but due to a lack of funds filming could not be started.[4] In April 2012, Soumik Sen approached Madhuri Dixit about the film.[5] Later, Dixit officially announced her part in the film through her Facebook page.[6] Tabu was then approached to play the second lead role, which she in turn declined; the role eventually went to Juhi Chawla, making Gulaab Gang the first time former rivals[7] Chawla and Dixit have been on screen together.[8][9] In December 2012, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Divya Jagdale, and Priyanka Bose signed on to play members of the gang.[10]

Filming

Shooting started in October 2012. Initially, it was reported that the movie was based on Sampat Pal Devi's life as head of the Gulabi Gang, but the director refused to confirm the rumor, stating that while he respected her work but the movie was not based on her.[11] The first schedule of the film, involving Dixit, started in December 2012 and wrapped in January 2013. Dixit reported that the first schedule ended with a "high-energy song" choreographed by Saroj Khan.[12] Dixit also trained in martial art forms like Shaolin Kung Fu, Pekiti-Tirsia Kali and Shaolin Chin Na for the movie. In December 2012, Juhi Chawla joined the shoot at Kamalistan Studios, Mumbai.[13] This was Chawla's first role with the negative shades.[14]

Music

Gulaab Gang
Soundtrack album by Soumik Sen
Released 25 January 2014
Genre Film soundtrack
Length 37:71
Label T-Series

The first track, titled Dheemi Dheemi, was released as a single on 18 January 2014. On 25 January 2014, the Gulaab Gang soundtrack was released in Varanasi when more than 18 thousand people witnessed it. The album has seven tracks composed by Soumik Sen and Sadhu Sushil Tiwari. The song Gulaabi released on January 2014 and was a chart buster. Another song "Mauj Ki Malaharein" released on 28 February 2014 and became very popular. It is sung by Sadhu Sushil Tiwari, Superwoman & Chaittali Shrivasttava.

Track listing

No. TitleLyricsSinger(s) Length
1. "Gulaabi"  Neha SarafMalabika Brahma & Shilpa Rao 5:23
2. "Dheemi Dheemi Si"  Neha SarafKaushiki Chakrabarty, Malabika Brahma 5:08
3. "Sharm Laaj"  Shreya NarayanMalabika Brahma, Pavni Pandey 4:16
4. "Ankhiyaan"  Neha SarafKaushiki Chakrabarty 4:25
5. "Rang Si Hui"  Neha SarafKaushiki Chakrabarty 4:57
6. ""Rangi Saari Gulaabi""  TraditionalSnehlata Dixit, Madhuri Dixit 4:03
7. "Teri Jai Ho"  Soumik SenSoumik Sen 5:25
8. ""Mauj Ki Malhare""  Rohit SharmaSadhu Sushil Tiwari, Superwoman, Chaittali Shrivasttava 5:15

Controversy

Days before the movie's release, Sampat Pal Devi, the leader of the original Gulabi Gang, filed a case against the makers of movie, as she felt the filmmakers had no right to make a film on her life without her permission.[15] On 5 March 2014, the Delhi High Court passed a stay order against the release of the film throughout India stating that the release would cause irreparable loss to Pal's reputation and that "the loss of reputation can not be compensated by monetary terms".[16] The high court lifted the stay one day later.

Box office

Gulaab Gang was released on around 1,700 screens. It earned ₹9.31 crore its first weekend. [17][18] The film collected 2.41 crore at the box office its first day, which was considered a poor start given its budget of 25 Crores and screen count of 1,700.[19] The producers announced the film a flop.[20]

Filmfare Awards

Year Category Film Result
2015 Best Supporting Actress-Juhi Chawla Gulaab Gang Nominated

Star Screen Awards

Year Category Film Result
2015 Best Actress in a Negative role - Juhi Chawla Gulaab Gang Nominated

IIFA Awards

Year Category Film Result
2015 Best Supporting Actress Gulaab Gang Nominated

Other awards

Year Award Category Film Result
2014 Dadasaheb Phalke Award Best Actress - Juhi Chawla Gulaab Gang Won
2014 Bollywood Hungama Surfers Choice Movie Awards Best Actress in a Negative role Gulaab Gang Nominated
2015 IBNLive Movie Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female) Gulaab Gang Won

References

  1. Battle of the ‘Queen’ at the box office – Kangna vs Madhuri Dixit | BizAsia Showbiz
  2. "Madhuri Dixit gets abusive". Mumbai: The Times of India. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  3. "'Gulab Gang' shooting to start in October". banglanews24. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  4. Jain, Priyanka (14 June 2012). "Tabu does not want to be part of Madhuri's gang?". Mumbai: Hindustan Times. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  5. "Madhuri Dixit to play gangster in 'Gulab Gang'". The Indian Express. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  6. "Madhuri Dixit signs Anubhav Sinha's next". Mumbai: Hindustan Times. 1 May 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  7. "'Gulab Gang' makes history with Madhuri, Juhi on board". Mumbai: Daily Times. 21 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  8. Chaudhuri, Diptakirti (2012). Kitnay Aadmi Thay. Westland. p. 301. ISBN 9381626197.
  9. "Happy Birthday Madhuri Dixit (2 of 5)". Times of India. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
  10. Jha, Subhash (20 December 2012). "Tannishtha Chatterjee joins Madhuri Dixit's 'Gulab Gang'". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  11. timesofindia.indiatimes.com | 2012-10-08 | gulab gang soumik sen film
  12. "Madhuri Dixit wraps up 'Gulab Gang' schedule". 13 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  13. "Juhi Chawla begins shooting for Gulab Gang". NDTV. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  14. "Juhi Chawla storms off from the Gulab Gang set". Daily News and Analysis. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  15. http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/gulaabi-gang-leader-sampat-pal-files-case-against-madhuri-dixits-gulaab-gang/ |Indian Express
  16. Delhi High Court stays release of Madhuri Dixit's 'Gulaab Gang'
  17. 1st Weekend Box Office Collection Of GULAAB GANG
  18. Gulaab Gang rules box office on day one - Hindustan Times
  19. "Gulaab Gang rules box office on day one". Hindustan Times. 2014-03-08. Retrieved 2014-03-23.
  20. Gulaab Gang flopped and can't lead to defamation anymore, producers tell HC - Hindustan Times

External links

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