Sanya Malhotra's recent film, Mrs, premiered earlier this week. This movie, a reimagining of the Malayalam classic The Great Indian Kitchen, is receiving considerable affection from audiences. However, it has also drawn comparisons to its predecessor. In a frank discussion with HT, the film's director, Arati Kadav, acknowledged that "there's no way to win this." Recognizing that The Great Indian Kitchen was indeed ‘a tough act to follow,’ Arati elaborated on her motivations for remaking the cherished film.

Arati Kadav on remaking The Great Indian Kitchen

The filmmaker discusses her motivations for creating this narrative, stating that it was essential for the story to be set in North India in order to reach a broader audience. She emphasizes the significance of the film for the region, expressing her belief that it is crucial for the local population to experience it. She recounts her desire for her mother to view "The Great Indian Kitchen," noting that her mother only engaged with it for a brief period of 15 to 20 minutes due to her unfamiliarity with subtitles. Consequently, she expressed that the film was made specifically for her mother.

Reinterpreting a beloved story presents considerable challenges, as the filmmaker must discover a personal connection to the material. She articulates, "For me to be motivated to create it, there must be elements in the story that resonate with my own experiences." She identifies aspects of the narrative that reflect her life and her mother's, allowing her to incorporate personal elements that resonate with many women.

‘Patriarchy still exists’

She discloses that she conducted interviews with numerous young married women regarding their lives and aspirations prior to the production of this film. "Some of those encounters were profoundly cathartic," Arati reflects, recalling a particular instance, "One young woman I met was a decade younger than I am and faced the same challenges I did. It was a remarkably sincere interaction. She became emotional, and I found myself in tears as well. I began to question, ‘How can a girl who is ten years my junior experience these feelings?’ We tend to believe these issues were relevant to our mothers and should have lessened over time. Yet, patriarchy persists."

The director notes that she has encountered similar patriarchal dynamics in her professional sphere, particularly within the film industry. She openly states, "When a male director is present, the treatment is markedly different. My perspective and ideas are often dismissed, even in collaborative environments. I tend to be somewhat reserved. In gatherings dominated by men, I must work diligently to assert my voice. I had to produce short films to demonstrate that I was capable of directing a feature. Thus, it has been a gradual and deliberate journey."

Authored by Harman Baweja and Anu Singh Choudhary, Mrs is an adaptation of Jeo Baby's The Great Indian Kitchen. The film features Sanya Malhotra, Kanwaljit Singh, and Nishant Dahiya, and is currently available for streaming on Zee5.

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