Mrs.

Mrs. Introduction

Mrs. is about Richa Sharma (Sanya Malothra) an educated dancer who gets into an arrange marriage with a gynaecologist Diwakar Kumar (Nishant Dahiya). Diwakar is part of a traditional and patriarchal Indian family who believes that men should go to work and women should stay at home taking care of the household. Richa's  passion for a life beyond her duties as a wife, and Diwakar's way of patriarchal thinking collide in different scenes. This movie shows how a newly wed Indian girl from Delhi,  with modern day thinking and passion, navigates her way in a traditional patriarchal Indian household.

Photo source: Mrs. Trailer

Mrs. Review

The concept of Mrs. is really good, but the execution is not that engaging. The writing of the (back)story of the characters don't always match with the storyline. At some point the kitchen scenes where just too much and I wanted to shut the movie down. Maby that is what the makers wanted their viewers to experience? Just how the creators of Monsters: The Lyle and Eric Menendez story build their series episode. Mrs. could at least have made the climax beter. This movie shows that Richa and Diwakar where just not a good match. Richa had a passion for dancing, and Diwakar wanted a stay-at-home wife with a passion of cooking. 

Photo source: Mrs. Trailer

The movie starts with the fact that Richa and Diwakar got to know each-other during at least 3 meetings. In the presence of their parents, on a dinner date and at her dance partners house. Dancing is portrait as a big passion of Richa. With her online video's and her dancing ambitions, you would think that somewhere they might have discussed this before marriage. Diwakar is a gynaecologist, does not use social media and has a traditional way of thinking. In the movie Diwakar also mentions playfull that 'cooking' was in Richa's biodata. So where did it go wrong? 

Photo source: Mrs. Trailer

The concept was good because it shows a big truth of patriarchal marriages where men go to work, eat and focus on only satisfying themselves. Sometimes without the consent of their wife. The wife stays at home, takes care of the household and children. Most of the time they are not allowed to participate in their passion or work outside the house. It does take a lot of courage for women in such marriages to stand up for themselves and choose their own ambitions. 

Photo source: Mrs. Trailer

I feel that the movie did not connect that much because it was based on the original Malayalam movie 'The great Indian Kitchen' (2021) and Tamil movie 'The Great Indian Kitchen' (2023) which portraid more cultural and religious believes with the patriarchal part of the marriage. For example the women can not touch the men when they are on their period, because they are considered impure. In Mrs. it is said that she needs rest during this period. Another fact that the husbands in the original and Tamil remake were traditional teachers. Which might explain their way of thinking in society, compared to a gynaecologist.

The connection with the movie title Mrs. does not connect with the concept. The whole movie resolves around the kitchen. The original title of the movie 'The Great Indian Kitchen' would resonate better with the concept. The original Malayalam movie 'The Great Indian Kitchen' is also remade into a Tamil movie 'The Great Indian Kitchen' (2023) and they also kept the original titel. They missed an opportunity to use the same title and showcase the difference in 'The Great Indian Kitchen' across the different states of India. Because clearly the experience of a Malayalam, Tamil and Delhi Indian girl might be different in the details. 

Photo source: The Great Indian Kitchen - Tamil Trailer

Mrs. portrays really good how traditional behaviour is passed down from generations, and is encouraged by everyone including men and women. We see that Diwakar's mother is silently judging her new daughter-in-law's behaviour, and on the other hand Richa's mother encouraging her daughter to play along with the patriarchal thinking of her in-laws. Next to these two women, we also see Diwakar's aunty taunting Richa for her outgoing behaviour and display of her passion for dancing (and not cooking) on social media. 

Photo source: Mrs. Trailer

The execution was not that engaging. The ending was also not that impactful. The concept was great! The two last dialogues of Richa and Diwakar were literally what the movie was about. Richa explaining that Indian parents should start treating their daughter (in-law) with the same respect they have for their son. Allowing them to also chase their passion and living a life next to their household duties. On the other hand Diwakar explaining that sometimes the first marriage is not the best match and the second might match better with his traditional needs. 

Photo source: Mrs. Trailer

LE PAANCH SITARE

A friend asked me to review Mrs. because it was trending and she really liked the movie and concept. 
While reviewing the movie I saw a few writing flaws in the build-up of the characters backstory and engagement.
The execution could be better and there where missed opportunities in the story and music engagement (the music was good).
The idea (concept) was really good.

The acting of everyone in the movie was suiting for the movie and their character. It was definitely a joined succes. 

Le Paanch Sitare gives 3 Sitare for Mrs.
(3 out of 5 stars)