There was a time when women-centric films, or films satirizing patriarchy, were made with a clear intent: to hold up a mirror to society and gently nudge us toward introspection. They served as wake-up calls - not just for men, but also for the women who had unknowingly internalized and perpetuated the same patriarchal norms. The hope was that we might emerge with our perspectives shifted, even if only slightly??
Maa Behan - the title indicates a playful twist on a blanket term for a variety of vulgar , offensive words that are abusively and insultingly used at some one....also in movie indicates Rekha, Jaya and sushma - the ma and two behens...I appreciate the writers' quirkiness and sense of humor here....yes there is one more surprise element in the opposite house, whose name revealed in the end as a sum total reminds us of our childhood washing powder ad :) The writers deserve applause for the wit embedded not only in the title but throughout the film.
All the roles are so well moulded. Ravi Kishan as Gupta and Geetanjali Kulkarni as Mrs Guptaji, Goldie, Inspector Maheshwari, Tripti as Jaya, Madhuri as Rekha the mother, Dharna as Sushma and all other supporting characters.
The hilarious take on our day to day happenings and hypocrisies is shown in a quirky - cannot be ignored manner - like how we always poke our nose in to other people's matters albeit our life's mess and how we quickly become character assassinators of a woman based on her sleeveless blouse , color of lipstick or loud makeup - would we ever change?
The movie goes to tell - we may never - yes - we just have to accept it!
Quick look at a few details ( NO SPOILERS) :
Madhuri as a young married woman enters the "adarsh" colony and creates waves with her beauty, confidence, or fashion choices. The backdrop of the famous crime program khalbali to navigate through the lives of all three women just strengthened the satire much more.... Again applause to whoever chose all the names here....:) As always a hot happening confident woman being subjected to society scanner is so so profoundly shown. I LOVED IT.
As the movie progresses, the family drama and all dark secrets crawl out of the cup board one by one - along with that ,the cobwebs of the ancient patriarchy are also exposed.
In an innovative way they are tackled...and rather than dusting or dismantling them, how women in long run have learnt to not give two fucks about them - is I suppose the moral of the movie? Even there is a metaphorical dialogue in movie where I believe jaya or sushma look at a room and wonder , " I don't know why she has just left this room as it is since then ! Sigh!"
I am not revealing any spoilers here...the movie even if a little rough around the edges deserves your time....
The scenes that stand out for me are:
- Scene 1: Madhuri's final narration even after repeatedly saying what happened when Gupta ji came to her house "us raat ( that night)" - as none believes - not even her daughters - possibly coz of her sexual appeal and her general aura and just because she drinks or unapologetically shows her desires - her character is doubted - sometimes may be even by the women just around her? So the breakthrough scene to me is when Rekha in all her glory in a green satin nighty just EXPLODES explaining what happened holding Guptaji's hands and walking through the house explaining step by step just before the climax....Made me let a deep sigh and rageful :( at the numbness and dumbness of the society. Would it ever change???
- Scene number 2 - Jaya chasing her husband out of her maternal home. The dialogues exchange - the expression, the angst , the pain - it's better to be watched rather than explained here.
- Scene number 3: the surprise package of the movie , the last scene - after all who is the one who asked ransom??? :) and all other subtle shades of Dharna/ Sushma - such a promising influencer turned actress!
Dear women, Go watch this dark comedy thriller just to know that it's never too late to break free and laugh at the absurdities of society and live at your will and pls stop belittling your own clan.
Dear men - Women are tired and deeply FEDUP - that's all - that is the message to u :)
