Officially based on the much-discussed Malayalam remake, The Great Indian Kitchen, Sanya Malhotra’s film “Mrs” is nearly a frame-for-frame replica of the original, but it nevertheless does a fantastic job. Even today the women continue to face challenges in gaining respect, recognition, and a life outside the kitchen.
The storyline
Through an arranged marriage arrangement, Richa (Sanya) meets Diwakar (Nishant Dahiya), and they click right away. Her father-in-law (played beautifully by Kanwaljit Singh) greets her on the wedding day by saying, “You are now our daughter.” But as the family takes advantage of her in the name of the “duties” expected of a daughter-in-law, Richa comes to see how phoney this attitude is.
She works tirelessly and never gets a word of appreciation for it. Instead, she faces constant criticism—her father-in-law demands that she cook using traditional methods, which are very time-consuming; her mother-in-law chastises her for eating while cooking; and her husband views her as a sexual convenience who lacks any romantic or emotional attachment.
Even her own mother doesn’t support her.
Richa’s problems are not limited to her in-laws. She faces apathy even when she seeks help from her own mother. “Yeh sab toh sikhna hoga (You have to learn this)” and “adjust karo” are used to dismiss her complaint that she is overworked in the kitchen. Her mother, who is totally unaware of how severely those few days in her in-laws’ house have damaged her, encourages her to apologise when she eventually finds the strength to defend herself, dismissing her suffering as “a small issue.”
Splendid performance
Sanya Malhotra’s portrayal of Richa’s journey from a vibrant young girl who aspired to be a dancer to someone who was exhausted by constant disappointment is superb. As she drinks with friends and makes jokes about being a cook and maid for her husband, it’s painful to watch how hurt and frustrated she is.
The portrayal of Nishant Dahiya as the seemingly respectable doctor who covers his stubborn, backwards thinking is incredibly compelling. His psychological abuse of his wife after she confides in him about her needs and desires is a powerful reminder of the patriarchal treatment that many women face in private. You will tremble as Kanwaljit Singh gradually undermines Richa’s self-esteem with his frigid manner and obsessive habits.
Mrs. Is it worth watching?
The film is worth seeing because Mrs. is a disturbing representation of a reality that many women face in silence. It nevertheless offers a heartbreaking depiction of systematic misogyny, even though it might not quite convey the unvarnished rawness of The Great Indian Kitchen. With its stirring narratives and strong performances, Mrs. forces viewers to face difficult realities, encouraging not only empathy but also reflection and transformation.
Director Arati Kadav adds subtlety to Mrs., a good version of The Great Indian Kitchen, perhaps because she is a woman. However, to the credit of the Malayalam original, The Great Indian Kitchen was made by a male. Mrs. is largely true to the original, with a few minor adjustments made to possibly fit the setting in which the film is set. Richa feels suffocated, and Arati’s interpretation highlights this, while Jeo’s narrative is tinged with a feminist’s indignation at the privilege men enjoy. The movie, Mrs. Leaves, leaves one feeling sad, but Jeo’s film is harsh and gets you enraged. In addition to being a warning, it provides women the courage to say, “Abb aur nahi.”
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