"Laapataa Ladies"
The title of this movie goes above and beyond its name. Beyond the literal journey of 'Phool' getting lost on a train, the film sheds light on the lost identities of women in general, in a man's world.
Jaya's rebellion against societal norms, as she elopes to pursue her education, mirrors the silent struggles of countless women who've come from rural India to metro cities with a dream. A dream to live, putting their relationships at stake.
Then there's Phool, who proudly embraces her role as a housewife. In a world that often says women must work outside the home to be considered successful, Phool's story makes us rethink what empowerment really means. How often do we overlook the strength in choices that don't fit the usual mold?
One of the best characters I found in the movie was Manju Maai. In a patriarchal society, she runs her small business by herself, living with self-reliance and independence. To a world that tells women, "Ek aurat, pati aur parivaar ke bina adhoori hai," Manju Maai tells us, "Khud ka saath akele khushi se rehna bohot mushkil hota hai, Phool. Haan, ek baar seekh liye koi tumko taqleef nahin pahucha sakta."
Deepak's mother is shown evolving from being a victim of generational prejudice against women to being an advocate of female solidarity. That's probably why she says, "Ghar ki auratein saas, nanad, devrani, jethani sabhi ban jaati hai. Saheli nahin ban paati ek doosre ki."
And lastly, we see Poonam, a lady who was also lost in gender norms, gradually finds her voice, from calling her husband's name out loud, to starting to create her artwork, symbolizing her journey for self-realization and growth.
We often view society through an urbanized lens, but the harsh reality of rural India is way different. When we are concerned about workplace inequality and cyber crimes against women in urban India, "Laapata Ladies" starts with the dialogue "Ek baar ghoonghat le liya, toh aage nahin neeche dekh kar chalna seekho," portraying the struggles and boundaries of women in rural India.