It was a sheer joy watching the heartwarming satire, the latest Hindi movie ‘Laapata Ladies’. True to the title, one just gets lost in the storyline and gets connected with the characters and their life. It tickles you, pinches you, makes you cry and smile. After a long time, I enjoyed watching this simple story that intricately portrays socio-cultural nuances and comments on empowerment, governance, and sisterhood. The act of storytelling is presented without any kind of bias, affiliation, or accusation yet highlights societal flaws with simple solutions.
A lot has been written about the movie and women's empowerment. Many have highlighted the need and ways to empower women, particularly from rural India. We have come a long way, but it is miles before we reach our goal. Along with those aspects, for me, I discovered a few anecdotes that are heart-touching and worth noticing.
The wisdom that comes with age and experience is worth noticing. Deepak (a young man whose wife is ‘LOST’ is getting ready to go to the police station to file an FIR about his missing wife. His father advises him to dress up simply. Father further mentions where to avoid “showing off” and how to dress up for the occasion. That advice pays off. Modern education and new learning are important; however, we can still learn from our elders.
Acquiring skills is important and using them when required always helps. Every scale has its value, and no skill is inferior to others. Pushpa’s (protagonist) skill in organic farming practices, and computer operations, was evident throughout the movie, no doubt about it. ‘Phool’ (Deepak’s LOST wife) might not have learned smartness, but she had acquired cooking skills which at the right time supported her. There is one more hidden gem in the story; ‘Deepak’s Bhabhi’. It was Bhabhi whose sketching skill comes handy to get ready with the poster. It’s their skill set and innate will to use it to solve the issues that keep them going. One must acquire a skill as per liking or talent; you never know when it will be handy.
Be natural. Either be a mentor or supporter to others around you or find a mentor for yourself. The process of mentoring enriches our lives. Either way, everyone gains. In this story, Pushpa supported Deepak and his father. She influenced the ladies of his family in a very natural way. Same way Phool found a mentor in Dadi and a supporter in Chotu. Let's remember we can find supporters around us irrespective of gender or community affiliation. In the movie, Phool and Pushpa are supported by men and women around them.
Embracing sisterhood is the way forward. Do not miss the scene, where four ladies from Deepak's house are enjoying post-dinner lighthearted chit-chat. In this scene, Deepak's mother comments that we ladies forget our liking and lose our identity once we begin our married life. Family choices become our choices. A woman forgets her individuality to such an extent, that she barely remembers what she used to like or dislike. In the same scene, the mother also reflects and mentions to her mother-in-law that in the family, women play different roles as Bhabhi (sis-in-law), Bua- Chachi (Aunty), Saas (Mother-in-law), Nanad (sis-in-law) but we hardly become friends. Along with these relationship labels, if we try and become friends, life will be a lot happier. That's where she extends her friendship request to her mother-in-law, and both agree to disagree.
Traditions, rituals, and social norms have their place and are part of social threads. Instead of following it blindly, we can change or customize it with time. Systems are for us and not the other way around. As the story evolves, these characters evolve and start customizing existing norms and traditions. One falls in love with all these characters. You feel connected with most of the characters. Even if you had disliked the Inspector initially, you just forgive him in the end. You get anxious when the Station Master anxiously helps Phool to board the train. Your eyes get teary and happy when Dadi eats sweets when she gets the news that Phool met Deepak and has reached home. At last, Dadi has a moment worth celebrating. You smile when Bhabhi and Phool call their respective husbands by name. You cheer when Deepak’s mother high-fives with her mother-in-law. You get relieved when Deepak’s father ridicules the purdah (ghoongat) part. You feel a sense of achievement as Pushpa boards the bus for university. And…you feel loved when Deepak and Phool reunite.
Thank you, Kiran Rao! Thank you ‘Team #LaapataLadies’. You all have created a ‘masterpiece’.
If someone has not watched it (sorry for being the spoiler), make sure to watch the movie. It's streaming on #Netflix #KIRANRAO
Nilambari Gokhale
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