“Mrs. Review: A gripping Hindi remake of The Great Indian Kitchen, tackling patriarchy & gender roles with Sanya Malhotra’s stellar performance.”
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Sanya Malhotra Delivers a Stellar Performance While Arati Kadav Ensures a Compelling Adaptation
The Hindi-language remake of The Great Indian Kitchen, titled Mrs., delves deep into the themes of patriarchy and gender roles within the confines of domestic life. With Sanya Malhotra leading the film with a performance brimming with conviction and nuance, and director Arati Kadav orchestrating the adaptation with meticulous care, Mrs. emerges as a powerful narrative that speaks volumes while respecting the essence of its source material.
While remaking a critically acclaimed and widely discussed film still fresh in public memory comes with its own set of challenges, Mrs. manages to retain the core essence of The Great Indian Kitchen while also carving out its own distinct identity. Kadav’s interpretation is faithful but not a direct imitation, striking a fine balance between homage and innovation.
Subtle but Significant Deviations from the Original
One of the most noticeable differences between Mrs. and its Malayalam predecessor is the depiction of the domestic space. While the kitchen in The Great Indian Kitchen was portrayed as a dark, damp, and confining space, in Mrs., the cooking area is relatively brighter, more ventilated, and less visibly oppressive. However, this seemingly improved setting does not diminish the underlying plight of the protagonist, who is still relegated to the domestic sphere and subjected to an unrelenting cycle of chores.
An ongoing issue with the kitchen sink, which leaks persistently without being attended to, serves as a potent metaphor for the protagonist’s suffocating marriage. Despite repeated requests to her husband, a doctor, to call a plumber, her pleas are ignored. This seemingly mundane issue is emblematic of her eroding agency in the marriage. The accumulating dirty water, much like the protagonist’s daily struggles, is a symbolic representation of the relentless, soul-crushing burden placed upon women within patriarchal households.
A Fresh Take While Staying True to the Spirit of the Original
Kadav’s adaptation retains the thematic core of the original while introducing subtle variations. The screenplay, penned by Anu Singh Choudhary, Harman Baweja, and Arati Kadav, draws heavily from The Great Indian Kitchen while incorporating new elements suited to its urban North Indian setting. Although this relocation strips the narrative of some of the deeper socio-religious layers that defined the Malayalam film, it still remains an insightful and compelling commentary on gender roles.
For instance, while the Malayalam film was deeply embedded within the cultural and religious backdrop of Kerala, Mrs. presents a more generalized setting that lacks a distinct regional identity. This shift, however, does not weaken the film’s impact. It simply offers a different, albeit less specific, lens through which to examine patriarchal oppression.
Gender Roles and Expectations in the Marriage
The protagonist, Richa, played by Sanya Malhotra, is an accomplished dancer. However, soon after her marriage to Diwakar (Nishant Dahiya), a successful gynecologist, she is expected to give up her ambitions and focus entirely on household duties. Her father-in-law (Kanwaljit Singh) also plays a significant role in reinforcing these outdated gender norms.
Unlike The Great Indian Kitchen, where the husband was a modest schoolteacher, Mrs. presents him as a wealthy, workaholic doctor. At first, he appears to be mild-mannered and accommodating, but as the narrative unfolds, his deeply ingrained sexist beliefs come to the surface. He frequently complains about his exhausting work life, subtly downplaying Richa’s own struggles. Despite being a gynecologist who is professionally dedicated to women’s health, his understanding of women within his personal life is shockingly limited and devoid of empathy.
One of the film’s most striking aspects is its nuanced depiction of marital intimacy. Diwakar’s interactions with Richa are devoid of emotional warmth, reducing their relationship to a mechanical routine. This lack of emotional and physical intimacy further isolates Richa, reinforcing her growing sense of entrapment.
The Role of Other Women in Perpetuating Patriarchy
While the men in Richa’s life play a significant role in restricting her freedom, the film also highlights how women, too, contribute to the reinforcement of patriarchal expectations. Richa’s mother-in-law, played by Aparna Ghoshal, is kind and welcoming but expects her daughter-in-law to seamlessly adapt to the household’s traditional customs and responsibilities. When Richa turns to her own mother (Mrinal Kulkarni) for support, she is met with apathy and the familiar refrain: “You just have to get used to it.”
Additional female characters, such as an aunt (Lovleen Mishra), enforce traditional rituals like Karwa Chauth, further emphasizing the rigid gender roles that women themselves help perpetuate. The film subtly but effectively critiques how patriarchy is sustained not just by men but by societal norms ingrained within both genders.
The Burden of Domestic Chores
Every aspect of Richa’s daily routine is painstakingly detailed. From preparing meals to kneading dough, from grinding spices by hand to meticulously following traditional cooking methods, every task is an endurance test. The husband prefers rotis straight off the tawa, while the father-in-law insists on time-consuming cooking techniques like dum pukht biryani. Despite her growing frustration, Richa is expected to comply without question.
The cinematography, handled by Pratham Mehta, focuses extensively on the preparation and consumption of food, mirroring the style of The Great Indian Kitchen. Silent dining table scenes, where the father and son consume their meals without acknowledging the effort behind them, are particularly powerful.
A Thoughtful Directorial Approach
Arati Kadav’s direction infuses the film with unique creative flourishes. In one early scene, when Diwakar’s family visits Richa’s home for marriage discussions, the couple shares a private moment on the terrace—a classic trope in Bollywood romantic narratives. However, this scene ultimately serves as a red herring, as Mrs. is anything but a conventional marital drama.
Kadav, known for her inventive storytelling in Cargo, introduces an interesting metaphor with prime numbers—numbers that are only divisible by themselves and 1—to highlight female resilience and individuality. While Mrs. may lack the raw, unfiltered grit of the original, it conveys its message with clarity and effectiveness.
The Inevitable Question: Is a Remake Necessary?
Whenever a Hindi remake of a recent South Indian film is released, the inevitable question arises—was it necessary? With The Great Indian Kitchen available on OTT platforms, what does Mrs. offer that is new? The answer lies in the adaptation’s subtle cultural shifts, its recontextualization of patriarchy within an urban North Indian setting, and Sanya Malhotra’s extraordinary performance.
About Arati Kadav
Arati Kadav is an Indian director known for her work in science fiction, with a particular focus on blending futuristic themes with real-world issues. Here are some interesting facts about her:
Breakthrough Film: She gained recognition with her debut feature Cargo (2019), a unique sci-fi film about life after death, which received critical acclaim for its thought-provoking premise and minimalist approach.
Early Education: Kadav’s educational journey included studying at IIT Kanpur before pursuing filmmaking, which significantly shaped her storytelling style and her interest in futuristic concepts.
Exploring AI and Creativity: Arati has been vocal about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in filmmaking, questioning whether it will stifle or enhance creativity in the industry.
Other Projects: Besides Cargo, Arati Kadav directed Mrs (2023) and The Astronaut and His Parrot (2022), continuing her exploration of unique and futuristic narratives.
Inspiration in Tough Times: During challenging periods in her life, Arati would imagine the characters from her films telling her not to give up, finding comfort in the world she created
Conclusion: A Strong Lead Performance Elevates Mrs.
A significant portion of the film’s impact can be attributed to Sanya Malhotra, who breathes life into Richa with an impeccable balance of vulnerability, confusion, alienation, and resilience. Her nuanced performance ensures that the audience remains invested in her journey, making Mrs. an engaging and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
While the adaptation may not surpass the brilliance of The Great Indian Kitchen, it certainly succeeds in delivering a relevant and affecting story. Through a carefully crafted narrative and a strong central performance, Mrs. leaves a lasting impression as a film that speaks to the everyday struggles of countless women in patriarchal households.
FAQs
What is Mrs. about?
Mrs. is a Hindi remake of the critically acclaimed Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen. It tackles themes of patriarchy, gender roles, and the daily struggles of women within traditional households, focusing on the protagonist Richa, played by Sanya Malhotra, and her suffocating life after marriage.
How does Mrs. differ from The Great Indian Kitchen?
While the core themes of both films are the same, Mrs. introduces subtle cultural and environmental shifts. The domestic setting is brighter and more ventilated in Mrs., while the protagonist’s struggles remain central. The film also relocates the narrative to an urban North Indian context, making it more generalized compared to the region-specific backdrop of Kerala in the original.
What role does Sanya Malhotra play in Mrs.?
Sanya Malhotra plays Richa, an accomplished dancer whose life drastically changes after marriage. Malhotra delivers a stellar performance that conveys vulnerability, confusion, and strength, making her journey through oppressive domestic life deeply relatable and compelling.
How does Mrs. portray patriarchy?
The film portrays patriarchy through the protagonist’s interactions with her husband, father-in-law, and other female characters. Richa is expected to abandon her dreams and embrace the traditional role of a housewife. The film also critiques how women contribute to maintaining patriarchal norms, particularly through the actions and expectations set by her mother-in-law and other female relatives.
What is the significance of the kitchen in Mrs.?
In Mrs., the kitchen serves as a metaphor for the protagonist’s entrapment. While the kitchen itself is brighter than in the original, the domestic chores remain oppressive. Issues like the leaky kitchen sink represent Richa’s struggles and her ignored pleas for change, symbolizing her diminishing agency in the marriage.
By watchnewz