Gangubai Kathiawadi trailer: Alia Bhatt is a sight to behold in this Sanjay Leela Bhansali extravaganza

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for endowing the most mundane locales with eye-pleasing visual elements. So it's no surprise that his recreation of Mumbai's red-light area Kamathipura, where his upcoming period film Gangubai Kathiawadi is set, is dazzling and brimming with life.

Aesthetics aside, it is lead actress Alia Bhatt who lingers in the viewer's mind. From the looks of things, this might be her strongest performance yet.

The film tells the story of Gangubai (Alia) who is pushed into the flesh trade early in her life. She slowly rises to the top of the heap and becomes the madam of a brothel. At this point, she becomes a fearless woman who doesn’t get intimidated or frightened by anyone, no matter how powerful they are. Later in life, Gangu later decides to make it her life's mission to fight for the rights of sex workers and their kids.
  
The trailer gives more than a glimpse of Ajay Devgn as Karim Lala. His entry is sure to draw applause from the single-screen crowds. Vijay Raaz is also appealing as a transgender individual.

Gangubai Kathiawadi appears to be Bhansali’s most mainstream film to date. It is difficult to comment on the content because the trailer is mostly filled with heroic slow-motion sequences and dialogues with punches. One is impressed with these lines but that’s about it as far as the trailer is concerned. After the hype the makers created, we expected more.

Produced by Bhansali and Jayantilal Gada of Pen India Ltd, Gangubai Kathiawadi will be released in theatres on 25 February. 

Check out the trailer and let us know if you are keen on watching the film.