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The movie does not support domestic violence against men, but the revenge part has been shown to make those men realize how it feels to be on the other end.
Trigger Warning: This deals with domestic violence and may be triggering for survivors.
“He might be overstressed due to workload; that’s why he hit you.”
“You shouldn’t have irritated him, see what ruckus he caused at home!”
Hitting, abusing, hurling things around, and behaving like nothing happened the next day is the usual course of life in many households. A few of them are reported while most of them go unreported, hushed behind closed doors!
The story of Darlings is one of them where the ‘female victim’ tries her best to reform her husband with all her love but in vain! However, the path she chose to seek revenge is tit-for-tat!
Even without watching the movie, people started trending #BoycottAliaBhatt merely by watching the trailer and poster, claiming that the movie supports ‘domestic violence against men’!
I wish they would have protested this way the first time a movie was released showing domestic violence against women. But why would they? That’s the usual course of life! There’s nothing wrong with it. Men may get angry and hurl abuses because of stress; isn’t it a woman’s duty to bring him on the right track?
That’s what is shown in the movie; the wife keeps on trying but then, the question is, till when?
The movie does not support domestic violence against men but the revenge part has been shown to make those men realize, how it feels to be on the other end. Being traumatized and hit by the person you claim you love!
I liked the ‘statutory warning’ it shows at the end. Rather, it should be, ‘domestic violence against any gender should be prohibited’. This warning should be showcased like the ones shown with smoking & drinking since, as pictured in the movie, it can be equally dangerous if a person’s patience level is tested!
Way back when Taapsee Pannu starrer Thappad was released, many people found it silly for a wife to leave her husband just because he slapped her, justifying that it’s normal for a couple to fight and resolve. Even in Darlings, the husband says the same thing that all couples fight and it’s ‘normal’! Yes, these things are okay only if the victim is a woman. Reverse the case and see the reaction.
Once during a discussion, while criticizing the movie, an uncle said, “What’s there to make a family drama just because of a slap?”
I asked him, “What if aunty slaps you someday the moment you yell at her in public?”
With rage in his eyes, he said, “I’ll definitely leave her. Why stay with a woman who doesn’t even know how to respect her husband?”
I said, “Yes, that’s exactly what the movie is all about. You shouldn’t stay with a person who doesn’t know how to respect you.”
He took a deep breath and hummed for a long time perhaps realizing the fact that women also deserve the same amount of respect!
Coming back to this movie, if you’re someone, who’s a victim of silent abuse, I would suggest you watch Darlings, and believe me; you’re not alone in this! There are laws and support lines to help you; revenge is not the way out, but teaching a good lesson can definitely be!
An avid reader and a passionate writer, she's a working woman with several travelogues published on Amazon, Kindle & Goodreads. If not reading, she would be seen either cooking her favourite dishes or binge- read more...
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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