Messy, Confusing, Muddled and Ineffective – well that’s what Gulaab Gang is all about.

The writer-director Soumik Sen and the film’s producers have insisted that Gulaab Gang is a work of pure fiction and it does not have any resemblance to Sampat Pal and the real Gulabi Gang in Bundelkhand. Well, the audiences are in for a RUDE SHOCK because the inspiration is too obvious and in your face.

Gulaab Gang, is a story of Rajjo (Madhuri Dixit), who runs a school for little girls that alternates as a shelter for battered and abandoned women, and is a strong advocate of violence as an instrument of justice.

Gulaab Gang gets interesting when Rajjo takes on Sumitra Devi (Juhi Chawla) who is a power-hungry politician, who we first meet as she’s ordering the suspension of a police officer who failed to bow before her.

Juhi is terrific as a corrupt politician, who doesn’t once let her smile slip even while issuing threats and ordering killings. In a scene, when it’s brought to her notice that the young man slated to marry her sister has raped a minor, she very casually offers the victim a compensation.

On the other hand, Madhuri, looks trapped under the weight of this predictable script. One can see the efforts that Madhuri has put in, but then at the end of it all, it just does not come together.

What’s hilarious is the fact that each time the women are taking a break from beating up some offender they break into a song and dance sequence. From it’s opening frame of the film, one can make out that Gulaab Gang is actually the old-style good versus evil story.

The only bright spot in Gulaab Gang is Juhi Chawla‘s inspired performance. Juhi is effortless, effective and enigmatic.

If you must watch the film, then watch it for Juhi Chawla.

Rating: ** (Both the stars belong to Juhi Chawla)