Mumbai witnessed a powerful coming together of cinema and storytelling as Mafia Queens of India, the latest offering by veteran journalist a...
Mumbai witnessed a powerful coming together of
cinema and storytelling as Mafia Queens of India, the latest offering by
veteran journalist and author S. Hussain Zaidi, co-authored with Velly Thevar,
was unveiled at Mansion, Radisson Blu Mumbai, Andheri East.
The evening brought together some of the most
compelling voices from the world of films and literature, including Ram Gopal
Varma, Vishal Bhardwaj, Jaideep Ahlawat and Kirti Kulhari, alongside the
authors, in an engaging conversation that explored the layered realities of
crime, power and human emotion.
Currently launching Mafia Queens of India, Zaidi
and Thevar bring into focus the gripping, untold stories of women who shaped
the underworld in their own formidable ways. Widely regarded as India’s most
definitive voice on organised crime, Zaidi has spent decades documenting the
underbelly of Mumbai with rare access and credibility, while Thevar brings a
deeply intuitive, narrative-driven perspective to the storytelling.
Speaking about the essence of such stories, Zaidi
shared, “Crime stories fascinate us because they are deeply human. We are drawn
not just to what is done, but to the mind behind it. But as storytellers, our
responsibility is not to glorify crime — it is to understand it, to present it
truthfully.”
Adding to the conversation, Ram Gopal Varma
remarked that women in the world of crime often display a far greater
ruthlessness than men, making their journeys even more compelling to explore on
screen. Vishal Bhardwaj observed that the idea of a woman don brings with it
fascinating, layered dimensions, and noted that S. Hussain Zaidi, with his
experience as a crime reporter, delves into this space with remarkable depth
and authenticity.
In a lighter yet heartfelt moment, Jaideep Ahlawat
shared that if either or both filmmakers were to adapt any of the stories from
the book into a film — particularly the character of Cleopatra, whom Zaidi
describes as one of the most fascinating mafia queens — he would love to be
part of it, even manifesting his wish to play one of the central roles.
Reflecting on portraying such characters, Jaideep
Ahlawat added, “As an actor, what attracts me most is the emotion of survival.
Power and fame come later, but survival is the strongest driving force behind
these characters.”
Vishal Bhardwaj emphasised the importance of depth
in storytelling, saying, “If you only show crime, it becomes one-dimensional.
What makes these stories engaging is the human side — the psychology, the
journey, the layers that make a character real.”
Ram Gopal Varma, known for redefining the crime
genre in Indian cinema, noted, “The fascination with crime comes from wanting
to understand what lies beneath. It’s not about glorifying it, but about
exploring the mindset and the world beyond what we see.”
Speaking about the evolving audience perspective,
Kirti Kulhari added, “Audiences today want to understand the people behind the
crime — their motivations, their struggles and their reality.”
The conversation also touched upon the
responsibility of creators. Zaidi reiterated that while humanising characters
is essential, romanticising them is not. “Crime has consequences — sometimes
external, sometimes deeply internal. That psychological journey is as important
as the act itself,” he said.
The book, much like Zaidi’s previous works such as
Black Friday, Dongri to Dubai and Byculla to Bangkok, continues his legacy of
bringing real stories to life — narratives that have also found strong
resonance in cinema through acclaimed adaptations.
Together, S. Hussain Zaidi and Velly Thevar deliver
a gripping, humanised account of crime — where power, survival and identity
intersect, and where the most compelling stories are often the least told.
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