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First of all, let us get one thing clear. Should you watch this movie or not? If you ask me, absolutely not. The main reason is that this movie is completely filled with fake feminism, victim blaming, Stockholm syndrome, and a spoiled rich kid. My review is full of spoilers, so I am going to walk you through this totally messed up storyline, which honestly might be an entertaining read for you guys.
The movie introduces us to our heroine, Mala, who is portrayed as a strong and independent feminist woman. She loves giving big lectures to everyone else about self-respect, saying things like she is a proud woman and women are not weak. Mala looks like a seventeen year old school teacher who spends her time giving long speeches about women empowerment. But right from the start, the movie logic makes no sense. Mala's friend Reema gets sick, because in 90s Bollywood, young girls do not get normal illnesses like food poisoning, they just get pregnant out of nowhere before marriage. Mala immediately starts lecturing everyone about how a woman does not need a man as a support to live her life. But in the very next scene, she literally forces Reema to marry her ex-boyfriend right beside a swimming pool while his actual wedding is going on.
Then comes the main crime and the most problematic part of the film. Raj (a rich spoiled man) starts harassing Mala, and Mala insults him by calling him useless and saying she would not even keep a man like him as a pimp. To take revenge for this insult, Raj sexually assaults Mala. The police arrest Raj, but because he is the son of a rich businessman, he gets bail immediately. Mala talks big at first, saying she will make sure he rots in jail and show him what a woman can do. But when they reach court, we get the dumbest and most ridiculous judgment in movie history. The judge orders Raj to marry Mala so he can make her the honor of his household. The moment this verdict is announced, Mala's entire feminist mindset completely shuts off, and her Stockholm syndrome kicks in hard. Right there in the courtroom, she falls to her knees and says she just wants a place at her husband's feet.
Now begins Mala's daily life of torture at her husband's house. She willingly moves in with her abuser, and her daily routine becomes fixed: wake up, do morning prayers, get beaten up, and go to sleep. An aunt in the house keeps giving her toxic advice, telling her that just like a body is useless without life, a woman's life is useless without a man. The family even tries a "burn the daughter-in-law" plan by causing a gas leak in the kitchen, all while the sister-in-law walks around the house wearing heavy gold jewelry on top of her nightwear. Then comes the most ridiculous twist in the entire movie. A snake enters the house and bites Raj. Mala tries to save him by sucking the snake venom out of his wound with her mouth. This single act instantly changes Raj's heart, and he suddenly becomes a good guy. As soon as he turns good, he blames his father for all his crimes, asking him who gave him the sword of money and who put class differences in his mind. Basically, he takes zero responsibility for being an abuser and blames his dad instead.
In the climax, Raj's father loses his temper and hits Mala on the head, sending her to the hospital. Raj pretends to shoot himself with a gun. Then, the judge himself comes to the hospital room to take Mala's statement. To protect her abuser and his family, Mala lies directly to the court and says she just slipped and fell. She begs the judge to give her husband back to her, saying his body belongs with her sindoor (identity as a married woman). The movie ends with emotional music and everyone clapping, glorifying severe domestic abuse and victim submission as the ultimate traditional values, making it a classic example of toxic movie.
Rating: 10/100
