A worldwide celebration is held on 2 June each year to honour sex workers. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the widespread abuse of sex workers and the appalling circumstances in which they are forced to work. In Bollywood, filmmakers love to explore the issue of sex work because it is such a controversial subject and because people are curious to know about their life. Here are 5 of the most interesting depictions of sex workers on the big screen.
Gangubai Kathiawadi: In the film, Alia Bhatt portrays a strong sex worker who has transformed shame into pride and is pursuing political aspirations for the betterment of Mumbai's red-light district, Kamathipura. ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ by Hussain Zaidi is the inspiration for the historical drama. The film's focus on the secret world of sex workers from a feminist viewpoint provoked disputes on whether or not the sex trade should be legalised. (Image Source: Twitter)
Chameli: This film is about Chameli played by Kareena Kapoor, who was sold to a brothel by her uncle when she was younger, and who manages to favourably affect the sad and lonely life of Rahul Bose. The film is a melancholy narrative of a banker and sex worker who stumble into one other during a rainy day in Mumbai. In one moment, Chameli was a rough-and-tumble prostitute, but in another moment, she was the soft and vulnerable side of a woman whose heart still longed to find her true love. (Image Source: Hotstar)
Dev D: This romantic dark comedy film was critically appreciated because of Kalki Koechlin. She played Chanda, who was embroiled in an MMS controversy and ends herself living a covert sex worker life. As a drunken Dev meets Chanda in one of the city's many dirty hotels full of travellers and pleasure seekers, the movie intrigues the audience. (Image Source: Twitter)
Begum Jaan: A prostitute Begum Jaan played by Vidya Balan runs a brothel in the movie. Many of the sex workers at Begum Jaan's brothel were nurtured by the Begum herself after being abandoned or ostracised by their families. Vidya appeared enraged in the role of Begum Jaan. Begum Jaan and her prostitutes refuse to leave when her house is split along the Radcliffe Line during the Pakistan-India partition. The madam battles to maintain her business under the turbulent political conditions. It is a one-of-a-kind narrative that tells the history of India and Pakistan through the eyes of prostitutes. (Image Source: Hotstar)
Chandni Bar: This movie is about a young lady played by Tabu who comes to Mumbai to work as a bar dancer in order to make it in the harsh and unforgiving world. The film Chandni Bar illustrates how a disadvantaged woman is coerced into performing as a dancer in a bar and bearing the children of a criminal. Tabu won the National Award for Best Actress for her performance in Chandni Bar. (Image Source: IMDb)
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