Director Arati Kadav slams Bollywood for ‘Glorifying’ Karwa Chauth’

• Arati Kadav, the director of "Mrs, criticizes Bollywood's overly romanticized portrayal of the Karwa Chauth ritual.
• She added the Karwa Chauth scene to the film 20 days before filming to reflect North India's realities.
• Kadav aims to challenge this narrative through nuanced storytelling, with a toned-down version of the scene.

Arati Kadav's “Mrs.” has captivated audiences with its unfiltered portrayal of a woman's journey through marriage and the societal expectations she faces in a new family. A remake of Jeo Baby's Malayalam hit “The Great Indian Kitchen”, the film has received widespread praise for its thought-provoking narrative and Sanya Malhotra's gripping performance.

Recently, the director shared her perspective on the film’s Karwa Chauth scene, voicing concerns over Bollywood’s overly romanticized portrayal of the tradition. She criticized how the industry presents it in a way that dilutes its gendered reality, a depiction she finds troubling.

In a conversation, Arati Kadav revealed that she added the Karwa Chauth scene to “Mrs.” just 20 days before filming. She believed it was impossible to depict domestic life in a Hindi film without addressing the widely practiced ritual, especially since Bollywood has romanticized it for years.

Unlike the original Malayalam film, which rooted its critique in South Indian customs, Kadav aimed to reflect North India's realities, where Karwa Chauth carries significant cultural importance.

She also criticized Bollywood for turning the tradition into a grand celebration and said, "Bollywood has glorified the ritual, making it celebratory and even gender-neutral. That portrayal bothers me. Our films have normalized it so much that it has influenced entire generations."

Arati emphasized cinema's crucial role in shaping cultural norms and questioned the impact of Bollywood's long-standing romanticization of Karwa Chauth. She reflected on the dilemma women face—those who may not want to observe the fast but feel pressured by societal expectations reinforced through decades of on-screen glorification.

Through “Mrs.”, she sought to challenge this narrative—not with loud defiance, but through nuanced storytelling. Although she toned down the final version of the scene compared to the original intense script, she hopes its subtlety still sparks reflection and encourages audiences to rethink ingrained traditions.

In “Mrs.”, newlywed Richa (Sanya Malhotra) reluctantly observes her first Karwa Chauth under the supervision of her husband's aunt (Loveleen Mishra) while her mother-in-law is away. Although she lacks enthusiasm, she must follow the rituals, emphasizing the film's deeper themes of societal expectations and personal autonomy.

The film explores resilience, self-discovery, and the silent struggles of women as they find their voice in a patriarchal society. Adapted from the acclaimed Malayalam film “The Great Indian Kitchen”, it follows Richa's journey as an aspiring dancer trying to navigate tradition's confines after marriage.

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