Gangubai Kathiawadi

In 1944, 16-year-old Ganga Jagjivandas Kathiawadi leaves her affluent home in Kathiawad with dreams of a Bollywood career. The plan unravels when Ramnik sells her to Sheela's brothel, and her name is changed to Gangu. She carries the dream of stardom into a harsh new life.

Gangu arrives at Sheela's brothel in Bombay's Kamathipura and begins life under a new name. The grim realities of prostitution clash with her hopes for a better future, anchoring her in a community that will later rally behind her. This marks the start of her long, defiant existence within the district.

Within the brothel, Gangu champions labour rights and proposes a weekly day off for sex workers. Her leadership starts to earn her the respect of the residents. This marks an early spark of her organizing power in Kamathipura.

One night, the sadistic Shaukat assaults Gangu, leaving her hospitalised. The attack darkens her world but steels her resolve to seek justice for herself and others. The incident becomes a turning point in her standing among the workers.

Hoping for justice, Gangu approaches Rahim Lala, an Afghan mafia boss who is impressed by her courage. He proclaims her his sister and defeats Shaukat when he resurfaces, earning Gangu the admiration of the brothel's residents.

Nine years after her arrival, Sheela dies and Gangu becomes the brothel's madame. She adopts the name Gangubai and begins to wield significant influence over Kamathipura and its sex workers. Her public persona as a protector begins to take shape.

In 1962, 14-year-old Madhu from Ratnagiri is sold into prostitution in Kamathipura. Gangubai persuades her to return home, choosing compassion over exploitation and signaling her role as a guardian of other girls.

With Rahim's backing, Gangubai enters the Kamathipura presidential race against the incumbent Raziabai. Her campaign centers on rights, dignity, and protection for sex workers, challenging the district's entrenched power structure.

To fund her campaign, Gangubai leverages bold tactics, including illegal alcohol sales from the brothel and public screenings of Hindi cinema to draw support. These moves establish her as a pragmatic and fearless leader in the eyes of many residents.

Gangubai orchestrates the marriage of Roshni, a fellow prostitute, to Afsaan, a Bihari Muslim tailor. She pays their dowry and hosts a grand celebration, building alliances and expanding her influence through social acts.

Gangubai wins the Kamathipura presidency and begins pushing for civil rights for prostitutes. During this period, she reconnects with her family and learns her father has died, discovering that her background remains unforgiven by some relatives.

After a grand Navaratri celebration, Rahim informs Gangubai of a plan to evict prostitutes from a nearby Catholic girls' school. She protests, arguing that eviction would leave the community homeless and without education access for their children.

Gangubai pays five years' tuition for the girls' education and pushes for their right to attend school, though the nuns initially rebuff them when she leaves. Journalist Hamid publishes Gangubai's interview to amplify her cause and bring broader attention to the issue.

Hamid arranges for Gangubai to address a feminist meeting at Azad Maidan, where she critiques misogyny and advocates for prostitutes' rights. The speech broadens her political influence and garners key allies.

The campaign culminates in the Prime Minister agreeing to form a committee to study prostitution and to prevent the Kamathipura brothels from eviction. Gangubai is celebrated as a transformative leader for her district, and her activism gains national attention.