'Mrs.': Why protagonist's rage is toned down in Hindi remake
What's the story
Mrs., the official Hindi remake of 2021's Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen, which premiered on ZEE5 on February 7, is making waves.
Starring Sanya Malhotra in a role originally played by Nimisha Sajayan, the film emerged as the most searched movie on Google last week.
However, fans of the original have pointed out that the remake lacks the same level of "rage."
In an interview with NDTV, Mrs. director Arati Kadav recently explained why she made that creative choice.
Character analysis
Kadav's reflection on character portrayal in 'Mrs.'
Kadav spoke about the toned-down anger of Richa (Malhotra's character) in the remake, saying it was a reflection of her own personality.
She said, "I am a huge fan of the original film. But Jeo Baby's (director) personality might be strong...I am not so strong. Neither is Richa."
"Richa is mellow...In the Malayalam film, Nimisha throws the glass. Richa doesn't. Because she's conditioned in a way that her anger is also 'timid.'"
Storytelling insights
Kadav on gender perspectives in storytelling
Kadav also shared her insights on the differences between a woman's story told by a man versus a woman.
She explained, "When a man tells a woman's story, he is absorbing the reality from a distance. Jeo Baby is a sensitive man. He could write and tell the story effectively. But for me, there's no distance."
"You can see how Richa is excited about getting married...how she tries to please everyone. In her aspirations, we make the story more personal."
Casting choice
Kadav's reasons for casting Malhotra in 'Mrs.'
When asked why she chose Malhotra for the role of Richa, Kadav emphasized the actor's uniqueness.
She said, "Sanya has a child-woman quality and sweetness to her. Richa's character is sweet...I think you feel like rooting for her, you feel like good things always happen to her."
"Sanya Malhotra is a great dancer; that's another reason for choosing her," added Kadav, referring to Richa's portrayal as a trained dancer in the film.
Industry trends
Kadav's views on women-led films and theatrical releases
Kadav also spoke about the trend of women-driven films like Mrs. getting more traction on OTT platforms. She wasn't sure if they would succeed in theaters.
"The issue with theatrical release is nobody knows what's going to work." "The larger understanding is that male-centric masala films work well in theaters," she added.
But she did urge audiences to be more open to watching such films in theaters instead of waiting for them to appear on OTT platforms.