Sanya Malhotra’s 'Mrs' is just as hard-hitting as 'The Great Indian Kitchen', and that’s the point | Movie Review

When Jeo Baby’s The Great Indian Kitchen released in 2021, it sent ripples not just through the Malayalam film industry but across Indian cinema. Its raw and unsettling portrayal of a woman's life after marriage struck a chord with many. Cut to 2025, the Hindi remake, 'Mrs', directed by Arati Kadav and starring Sanya Malhotra, has arrived.

A film like this deserved a remake because, sadly, the patriarchal structures it dissected remain just as relevant. For, movies or literature aside, what needs to be done to uproot the decadent societal norms still remains elusive. While 'Mrs' may not offer any surprises to those familiar with the original, it still suffocates, still unsettles, and still hits just as hard.

The movie follows the story of Richa (Sanya Malhotra), who moves in with her husband, Diwakar (Nishant Dahiya), a doctor. His family—though largely represented by his father’s opinions, which are treated as the family’s collective stance—believes that Diwakar’s success, as well as his sister’s so-called ‘settled’ life, is only possible because of the sacrifices Richa’s mother in law made, including giving up a career of her own.
Everything seems normal to Richa at first, but as subtle and not-so-subtle hints emerge, she begins to realise that her life is not what she thought it would be.

For those watching this film fresh, it is bound to make them pause and reflect on their own lives or the women in their lives. It highlights how deeply ingrained patriarchy is in Indian households, even within so-called progressive families. Without overtly displaying regressive behaviour, the film makes it clear that these structures are still very much present, loud, and undeniable.

Kanwaljit Singh takes on the role of the father-in-law, the unquestioned head of the household. His character is even more insufferable, making your blood boil with every patriarchal remark—each one wrapped in a deceptively sweet 'beta' (an affectionate term for a younger person).

One subtle difference between 'The Great Indian Kitchen' and 'Mrs' is the tone of the household dynamics. 'Mrs' feels a tad more animated, likely tailored for a different audience. Sanya Malhotra, as Richa, delivers a remarkable performance, breathing life into a character that demands immense restraint and balance. A role like this walks a fine line—overplay it, and the authenticity crumbles. But Sanya keeps it grounded, playing Richa’s internal struggles with finesse. As she slowly grasps the reality of her situation within the family, her performance ensures that we feel every moment of that awakening. Nishant Dahiya plays Diwakar with sincerity. Compared to Suraj Venjaramoodu’s character in the original, Diwakar comes across as a man merely shaped by his father’s beliefs. He expects his wife to treat him the way his mother treats his father, never questioning the ingrained patriarchy that governs his household. So deeply conditioned by it, he is genuinely startled when Richa makes a passive remark about feeling like a maid and asks, almost bewildered, "Do I treat you like a maid?"
Director Arati Kadav stays true to the essence of the original while making subtle yet thoughtful changes, ensuring the film remains faithful to its source material without straying too far.

Like 'The Great Indian Kitchen', 'Mrs' delivers a powerful commentary on how women are treated in society. From the way a household functions to the passive-aggressive remarks—whether it's about the salt being “too little” in a curry or a woman’s supposed inability to run a home, the film shows how these expectations are seen as a woman’s merit, rather than her career aspirations or even her desires, including sex. Nothing truly happens according to a woman’s will. While some may argue that rigid gender roles are less prevalent today, that assumption doesn’t entirely hold. Extreme and regressive forms of patriarchy still persist in many North Indian states. Even in urban settings, these norms may be less overt but remain deeply ingrained and influential.

'Mrs' is a must-watch for everyone, whether married or otherwise. Films like this are essential, offering a much-needed departure from the usual Bollywood formulas. If more movies embraced such narratives, it would be a refreshing shift for the industry.