Film Industry: Won’t let Gulaab Gang release, will take its makers to court

Won’t let Gulaab Gang release, will take its makers to court

She’s given her nod to a French documentary on her life, but Sampat Pal is miffed with the makers of the Madhuri-starrer for not seeking her permission

    On International Women’s Day, Sampat Pal Devi, the leading lady of Gulabi Gang received a call from a French group that wants to make a documentary on her. Devi is the founder of Gulabi Gang, a Bundelkhand-based group of women, who fight for the rights and empowerment of their gender. She shares, “I received a call from a French group for a documentary, which they will start shooting from March 29. They will stay at my home for 5-6 days and will meet the people in the village and my relatives to find out how the Gulabi Gang works, how we deal with issues related to women.”
    This isn’t the first time that a documentary or film is being made on the vigilantes group. There’s a 2010 movie on them, Pink Saris by Kim Longinotto and the 2012 documentary Gulabi Gang by Nishtha Jain. And of course, there’s the Madhuri Dixit-Juhi Chawla starrer, Gulaab Gang, which is under production. But Sampat Pal says she will not allow any movie to be made on her till she’s given her permission for it. Tell her that the shoot of the movie is already underway, and she retorts, “I don’t know about that, and I will not go up to someone to stop the shoot. When they don’t feel the responsibility to seek permission from the person they are making the movie on, why should I bother? But I will not allow the movie to release in any case, I will take them to court. Let them make the movie. Aur Madhuri mere baare mein kya jaanti hai? Sirf naam pata hone se koi Sampat Pal nahi ban jaata!”
    While the Gulabi Gang has been much talked-about, Sampat Lal shot into limelight after her participation in the last season of Bigg Boss. And though she had said the show was scripted after being evicted from the Bigg Boss house, Sampat isn’t averse to participating in other reality shows. “If someone offers me a show, I will certainly accept it,” she says, elaborating, “It is a great platform to reach out to people. After my appearance in Big Boss, I started getting thousands of letters and phone calls from women, who were victims of some or other social evil. Perhaps people have started recognising Gulabi Gang even in other countries. That is the reason a French group wants to make a documentary on me.”
    The leader of the women’s group also aspires to join politics and contest the 2014 General Elections from Bundelkhand. When asked about the safety of girls in the city, she says, “More than girls here, I am worried about the safety of girls in villages. Yeh toh padhilikhi ladkiyan hain, apna khayal khud rakh sakti hain.”