Boys, Mrs. is on her way to get you. While some films reflect our reality, others serve as an escape from it. The latter is this movie, which, to put it mildly, makes you uneasy and features Sanya Malhotra in the lead role. It succeeds there.
Mrs., a Hindi version of the critically acclaimed 2021 Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen, could be considered pan-Indian, although it has nothing to do with the lead actor or the budget. Since Baahubali, the phrase “pan India” has only been used in reference to movies, however it actually refers to how relatable the topic is. Another time, after working in the kitchen all day, she doesn’t want to have sex at night. Diwakar says, “You smell like the kitchen, the sexiest smell in the world.”
These one-liners are cleverly used by Diwakar’s writers, Harman Baweja (yep, the actor), Anu Singh Choudhary, and director Aarti Kadav to outline a character journey. Later on, Richa eventually objects to sex being more about his gratification than her own desires. Diwakar responds that because she “smells like the kitchen,” she has become unwelcome. The fact that a physician who specializes in identifying and treating disorders of the female reproductive system chooses to remain ignorant about his own wife is hilarious.
Because she evokes the emotions of her character, Sanya is a natural fit for the role. Isn’t that an indication of a superb actor? You can sense her nervousness and anxiety, much like on her first day of running the house by herself. And devastated when she sees herself demoted from a talented dancer to someone who takes orders for jeere wala paani and shikanjis.
Because no scene feels out of place, Aarti strives for subtlety, which makes it difficult to notice. Everything is measured and appears on screen for the appropriate length of time. Nishant’s portrayal of the sexist husband has been excellent. As usual, Kanwaljit is trustworthy, and his portrayal of the domineering father-in-law has just the perfect amount of effect.
You feel sorry for Richa’s overworked mother-in-law, Meena, played brilliantly by Aparna Ghoshal. All things considered, Mrs. is a skillfully constructed, well-shot, and well-intentioned movie. There is a lot to think about here, if you would. For my part, I am now acutely aware of my behavior at home.
