Kamathipura residents file plea in Bombay HC against ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ makers to delete area’s name from movie

In yet another legal trouble for Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi, a petition by residents and a public interest litigation by Congress MLA Ameen Patel have been filed before the Bombay High Court seeking stay on the release of the film till the area’s name Kamathipura is not removed from it.

Seeking stay on the release of the film, the pleas claims that the movie depicts the entire area of Kamathipura as a red light area and also defames the Kathiawadi community.

Earlier, Gangubai’s adopted son, Babuji Shah, had sought stay on the movie and also on the Book “Mafia Queens of Mumbai”.

The petition filed by over 55 residents of Kamathipura states that Bhatt’s depiction of Gangubai in the movie will reflect adversely on the entire area and the women and girls living there.

All women and girls living in the area will be termed as prostitutes and Kamathipura name will become synonymous with the red light area in public’s mind. Beside affecting the dignity of the residents, this will impact the mental health of people, read the plea.

Further it claims that not only would the girls from the area be teased and taunted, they would not find suitable grooms, claims the plea by the residents.

Advocate for the residents contended that this affected the right to life and dignity of the area’s population.

A division bench of justices Gautam Patel and Madhav Jamdar has kept the residents plea for hearing on Wednesday.

Congress MLA’s PIL too raises similar concern over branding the entire as red light area. His plea states that he received letters from local NGOs, housing societies, Ganpati mandals and community trusts pointing out that the name of the entire Kamathipura area was being defamed.

Further, Patel’s plea points out that Kathiawadi is a community hailing from Saurashtra and Gujarat, many of whom are businessmen. “The term ‘Kathiawadi’ in the title and in the film shows the community women in poor light,” read the PIL.

Even Gangubai’s daughter wrote a letter to Patel and requested that the respondents be restrained from defaming her mother.

The PIL will be heard by a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and justice MS Karnik on Wednesday.

Both the pleas seek that the movie be further censored and area’s name Kamathipura be deleted from it.

Patel’s plea seeks that the movie be re-screened before release and term Kathiawadi be removed as well.

The movie is set to release on Friday, February 25.