The Great Indian Kitchen

#177

I just finished watching that movie and my immediate feelings are those of frustration, irritation and anger. The direction is so amazing that I felt as though I'm standing right next to her watching her go through all this or in some situations that I am her. It's sad to know that such orthodox practices still prevail in the country despite so much else having progressed. The movie makes it seem like the husband and father-in-law are sweet but they're really not. Insisting on manual processes like hand-washing clothes when there is a washing machine and having the women make hand-ground chutney when there is a mixie.

The ending, however, is something one may think of doing but not actually do it - felt that was a little over the top. With the millennial generation today, it feels like times are changing and so are generations of people coming around to the new ways of operating, at least in some cases. Even in-laws nowadays are evolving to become more accommodating, with the new fad being #ChillMil aka laid back mother-in-law. Their attitude is thankfully that of "You shouldn't go through what I have endured." E.g. the woman sitting away from the family during her period is no longer taboo. Moreover, both the husband and wife are working and earn equally hence the expectations too, are more lenient such as "If you can't cook, it's okay to order in!" Both husband and wife share the household work and the husband cooks too.

Anyway, coming back to the movie, if it isn't enough that the lady has to endure so much from the men, it's worse when the community of women itself encourage such behaviour. In one scene, in her own house, when her brother asks for water, her mother tells her younger sister to bring it for him. On seeing this, the protagonist yells and asks why he can't get it by himself when he has two hands, two legs, and a fully functional body. There is a tiny scene similar to this also shown in the Malayalam movie Joji, where Fahadh Faasil is eating and asks his sister-in-law to get him water. She points to the fridge right next to him, points to the water bottle in it, and says "It's right here. Take it by yourself!" Kudos to the directors for showing such things more often in different, subtle ways, in the hope that it changes mindsets of those that desperately need one.

When comparing practices followed in olden days versus now, it's not practical to simply continue them without understanding the meaning behind them. For instance, women not working during their period was beneficial for them because otherwise they would have to walk several long hours to fetch water and carry back the heavy pot. Who is still encouraging such practices and why? How hard is it to take your own plate, throw the waste, or even get your own toothbrush, help out with the little things! Ironically, the husband character in the movie is shown teaching kids about family and the meaning of how prosperous it is to have a woman in the house.

Overall, this movie is a great watch. It'll help you understand the sad state of affairs in some places and if you belong to such a clan, hopefully tune your outlook toward such things and put things into perspective. Beware though, you might just feel your blood boil if you see a teacup near your sink for the next few days!