Gangubai Kathiawadi, the famous director Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming magnum opus, starring Alia Bhatt is now all set for its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival 2022.
Berlin International Film Festival is considered the world’s largest public film festival and it is an indispensable forum for the global film community. The film festival will start on 10th February 2022 and will end on 20th February 2022.
On Wednesday, the festival organizers have made an announcement that Gangubai Kathaiwadi is the sole Indian selection and one of the four films that have been confirmed for the Berlinale Special Gala segment.
On Berlinale’s official website, they have said in a statement, “The films selected in Berlinale Special pay tribute to exceptional human beings and to the harsh, yet always surprising world we are living in”.
Gangubai Kathiawadi- About the film
Gangubai Kathiawadi is a crime-drama-based film. This film is based on one of the chapters of noted author Hussain Zaidi’s book named Mafia Queens of Mumbai. After the film Gully Boy in 2019, it is going to be the second outing at the Berlinale.
This period film has featured Bhatt in the lead role of Gangubai, one of the most powerful, loved, and respected madams from Mumbai’s red-light area Kamathipura during the 1960s.
The film Gangubai Kathiawadi is produced by Bhansali Productions and co-produced by Jayantilal Gada’s Pen India Limited.
The film Gangubai Kathiwadi is all set to be released in theatres on 18th February 2022.
Berlinale 2022: Special line-up
Carlo Chatrian, Artistic Director of the Berlinale has said that cinema continues to be a “tool that connects people”.
Chatrian has said in a statement, “The pandemic has created distances – not only between people but also the way we see the world. Amongst the 2022 selection is films shot during the pandemic, reflecting on how it feels to be disconnected from others. It is with this first batch of films that we want to highlight the power of cinema as a tool that connects people, places, and times ahead”.
Here is the list of other films in the Berlinale Special line-up
- Against the Ice
- propos de Joan (About Joan)
- Der Passf’lscher (The Forger).
- Le ch’ne (Heart of Oak)
Against the Ice, a joint production of Iceland, the USA, and Denmark, is directed by Peter Flint. It features “Game of Thrones” star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Charles Dance, Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole, and Poldark actor Heida Reed.
propos de Joan (About Joan) is directed by Laurent Larivi’re and jointly produced by France, Germany, and Ireland. It stars French cinema icon Isabelle Huppert, “Matilda” actor Lars Eidinger, and “By the Grace of God” star Swann Arlaud.
Der Passf’lscher (The Forger) is directed by Maggie Peren and produced by Germany and Luxembourg. It stars Louis Hofmann, Jonathan Berlin of The Third King fame, and Biohackers breakout star Luna Wedler.
Le ch’ne (Heart of Oak) from France directed by Laurent Charbonnier and Michel Seydoux; 1341 Framim Mehamatzlema Shel Micha Bar-Am (1341 Frames of Love and War) from Israel, the UK, and the USA, and directed by Ran Tal, and Jason Kohn’s Nothing Lasts Forever from the USA are among the documentary films that are part of the Berlinale Special list.