Laapataa Ladies aka Ladies Lost in Patriarchy

Kiran Rao’s “Laapataa Ladies” is a social satire that offers entertainment as well as empowerment. The movie humorously portrays the grave realities of a patriarchal society with the help of a simple story and background.

As the name and the trailer suggested, it revolves around two newly married brides who get lost on the way to their in-laws’ home. While Jaya, whom Deepak accidentally brings home instead of his wife Phool, seizes this opportunity to follow her dream, Phool undergoes profound personal growth during the time. This period shows multiple women discovering themselves. Some learn to do things that they love for themselves while others learn to explore and embrace their talents.

Even though Jaya and Phool are two contradictory characters, they are both equally victims of patriarchal conditioning. While Jaya is ready to break and act against all the norms of society from the very beginning by uttering the name of her husband to everyone’s disbelief, Phool learns to do this towards the end on her journey of unlearning. Jaya is the driving force of the movie, and her story prompts us to consider all the women in our country who are denied the right to pursue one simple dream while these opportunities effortlessly fall into the laps of others. Phool’s transition from the naive, orthodox village girl to realising the absolute potential of a woman is a delight to witness.

Apart from questioning the gender roles in the society, Kiran Rao also mocks the political parties and law enforcements that twist every news item in favour of their agenda as well as the dowry system and related crimes in a witty and engaging manner. Without being didactic, Rao presents her political commentary subtly in this layered movie ,making it definitely worth watching.

Comments

General Madness

I see General Madness cracking open, He oozes out as a pulp from a laceration, He flows down the streets to places and people unknown. He would crawl up new landings and conquers them like he did to mine years ago. Some years back, he invaded my city of Head, Which was on the verge of destruction by the civil war, Between the groups of experiences and sorrows. When General Madness came, the two creepy groups united, made him their leader. For years I carried a nuclear explosion in my head. He was indifferent to the curves of my cursive letters, And produced scribbles of a toddler, sending out misinformation. He conducted minor explosions, assuring the solidarity of other inmates of my Land. But most times, Capt. Heart from the left quarters was a rebel, He filed verbal and written complaints in vain. He persuaded the Lady Mouth to utter things unknown and uncouth. She seemed an elegant lady outside, with a smile, she was confident of, Her son was Sir Gland who r...

YOU

Never did I think I could find something as attractive as you, You were like my morning coffee Without cream and muffins, My first prayer on every dawn And the last on dusk. My closet is indifferent without your cologne, Which lingered all day along the hall like fresh lavenders. And it was not the tequila in my margaritas that intoxicated me, but the constant sight of you, everytime I blinked my eyes. My psyche was away from the earthly realm wandering in the intricacy of your control. Flipping through the pages of our rendezvous I couldn't see the excitement in me, which was halted by what seemed to be my clockwork routine. But your face projected the blisters in your soul which apparently you hid under your attractive words. In and out, we failed To be the hues of each other's life. And I tried to paddle my canoe to reach yours. Yet you reliquished, your last song of content was dedicated to my colourless juice which purified my face. I wish the time had stopped jus...

Diary!

Now this has become my Diary! Even if I fail to become famous person at the time of my death..this may definitely define me..my words are my thoughts..and my thoughts represents Me !! Sometimes even if we are not able attain our dreams and desires..God somehow makes us happy. Or gives us another way to be happy with his Midas Touch !!! He is a great magician who enchants us with his magic. So i have decided to face life as it comes..because sometimes the best solution is just let it go !! A.C

THE FORGOTTEN STORIES

Search This Blog