MELBOURNE: At the IFFM 2024, August 22, at the Hoyts Melbourne Central was a full house for ‘Mrs’, a remake of the Malayalam movie, ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’, on how a woman married into a joint family becomes a domestic slave amid the facade of a modern family. It successfully streamed on Amazon Prime. In ‘Mrs’, the place is not South India, but North India. Does that matter? Not really. It’s the same anywhere.
The movie’s tale is not the adjusting problems of the newly wed ‘bahu’ (bride), but delves deeper into the becoming of a domestic slave under the tutelage of a doctors family. In this modern facade of a ‘sanskari’ (or traditional joint family) family, the ‘bahu’ serves her hubby at night and the whole family in day-time. Her being a professional dance teacher means nothing and a domestic help is impossible.
Traditional expectations galore and the irritating tit-bits of daily life become a drudgery for the young wife. The father-in-law wants a ‘plulka’ (fresh roti), his slippers taken out, the masala made on a traditional ‘seal-batta’ (a stone slab to crush spices etc) and so on. Sex life is mechanical and the hubby boasts of seeing so many patients every day.
The ‘bahu’ resonates for her identity as a woman, human and wife. The beauty of the movie is the realistic portrayal of the situation. Fortunately, there is no physical violence, but the onslaught of traditional values (or, practice) suppressing a woman’s independence and what she is and wants to be, is probably another form of violence. This is what the movie shows.
The movie’s climax is heartening and empowering. I feel, the ‘sanskari’ Diaspora people who complain (all the time) about their ‘Bahus’, and hubbies who are mama’s boy’s, need to wake up. Well, I don’t mean, all are like that. The main point being the identity of a human (woman or man or anyone) cannot be degraded with marital status or relationship. Today, amongst us, we have the patriarchal system and so much is because of it. The challenge is gigantic.
During the movie’s screening many in the audience clapped when the ‘bahu’ made her point. I am not sure how many in the diaspora see beyond gender stereotypes. It is a known fact (as I have heard) the highest incidence of ‘domestic violence’ in Australia is in our community. It has been talked a lot and many seminars held. One wonders how will the conservative streak react to ‘Mrs’. Probably, on expected lines.
Sanya Malhotra (Dangal, Jawan, Kathal, Sam Bahadur) as ‘Richa’ (daughter-in-law) and Kanwaljit Singh (father-in law), Nishant Dhaiya (husband) give powerful performances. But Sanya Malhotra (she was at the screening) navigates her character in a relaxed and cogent way. One can see the agony and tension of a suppressed new-wife on her face. The emotions are reflected as needed. Her stellar acting is visible on the screen. Well done, Sanya and the ‘Mrs’ team. A thumbs up for Director Arati Kadav.
Congrats, to the IFFM-2024 for bringing this movie to Melbourne.
Cast: Sanya Malhotra, Kanwaljit Singh, Nishant Dahiya…
Director: Arati Kadav.
Language – Hindi.
Duration – 111 minutes.
Country – India.
Year – 2024.
The Great Indian Kitchen (Malayalam), Amazon Prime Video : Domestic drudgery or domestic slavery
