Mrs: Sanya Malhotra Film Turns The Kitchen Into A Place of Choice

We're told, "The kitchen is the solution to every problem." But what if the kitchen becomes the biggest problem? We're told, "The kitchen is the heart of the home, where love turns into effort that fills not just empty stomachs but hearts too." But what if that same kitchen turns into a cage, where love is no longer a feeling but a duty, served up day after day?

In many patriarchal households, women are still seen as round-the-clock caregivers, expected to cook, clean, and tend to every need of their families, from dawn till dusk with little acknowledgment or appreciation. The men in these homes? Often thankless, with a sense of entitlement so deeply ingrained that they believe household duties and child-rearing are solely a woman’s domain.

Mrs: Sanya Malhotra’s Film Turns the Kitchen Into a Place of Choice

Richa (Sanya Malhotra), a talented dancer with dreams of becoming a successful choreographer, agrees to an arranged marriage, hoping to balance her aspirations with family expectations. She soon marries Diwakar (Nishant Dahiya), a gynaecologist. However, after the wedding, Richa finds herself trapped in a stifling routine, where women are expected to be constant caregivers, with little recognition of their own needs, ambitions, or identity. The emotional, physical, and mental strain she endures is overwhelming, yet remains unnoticed by those around her, whether it’s her own parents, Diwakar's family, or even Diwakar himself.

Does your breath catch just reading about it? For countless women living in deeply patriarchal environments, this isn’t just a fleeting thought, it’s their lived experience.

What I Liked & What Didn’t Work

At its core, this official remake of The Great Indian Kitchen highlights how men are often treated as exceptions, while women are burdened with expectations for the very same tasks. To emphasise this disparity, the attention to detail is impressive, whether it’s the clock tracking when a woman enters and leaves the kitchen, the background noise of a mixer or leaking pipes, or the subtle yet telling moments of men ignoring women at the dining table, in bed, or even in front of guests. 

Another thing that stands out is the cast. Sanya Malhotra brings Richa’s silent struggles to life with remarkable sensitivity, and Nishant Dahiya, Kanwaljit Singh, Aparna Ghoshal, and Mrinal Kulkarni also deliver powerful performances.

While the film directed by Arati Kadav runs under two hours, it can feel longer, as it reflects everyday realities we’ve seen time and again, both in life and in cinema. 

Coming Back to Where It All Started

If you’re considering watching it, I’d recommend doing so with your parents. It serves as an important reminder of why beta should be sent to the kitchen just as often as beti, because the problem starts when that balance doesn’t exist. And maybe then, we might agree that the kitchen is the solution to every problem.

Views expressed by the author are their own.