The Great Indian Kitchen: A Quiet Revolution on Screen

The Great Indian Kitchen: A Quiet Revolution on Screen

Malayalam cinema has a long history of delivering thought-provoking films, many resonating deeply with the audience. One such film is ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ (2021). Directed by Jeo Baby, the film is a powerful commentary on patriarchy, domestic labor, and the silent endurance of women in traditional Indian households. With minimal dialogues and a repetitive yet deeply unsettling narrative style, the film forces its audience to confront the normalised oppression that women, especially homemakers, endure daily.

Recently, the Hindi adaptation ‘Mrs’ (2024), starring Sanya Malhotra, has reignited discussions about gender roles and feminism in India. While ‘The Great Indian Kitchen' was widely appreciated for its raw storytelling, ‘Mrs’ has been met with backlash, with some arguing that it is "too feminist." This response is telling; it highlights just how uncomfortable mainstream audiences still are with stories that challenge deep-seated patriarchal norms.

The premise of ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ is deceptively simple. A young woman (Nimisha Sajayan) gets married into a traditional family, expecting a loving and supportive environment. However, she soon finds herself trapped in the endless, thankless cycle of domestic chores; cooking, cleaning, serving food, and constantly catering to the whims of her husband (Suraj Venjaramoodu) and father-in-law.

The film’s genius lies in its storytelling technique. Rather than resorting to melodrama, Jeo Baby makes the audience experience the protagonist’s exhaustion through repetition. We see her kneading dough, scrubbing floors, and washing dishes over and over again; each scene stretching out just long enough to make us uncomfortable. Her silent frustration grows, and so does our own. There are no grand monologues, just a slow, simmering realization that something is fundamentally broken in this system.

Nimisha Sajayan delivers a career-defining performance, embodying the quiet suffering and growing rebellion of her character with remarkable restraint. She conveys a world of emotions through her eyes; fatigue, resignation, frustration, and ultimately, defiance. Suraj Venjaramoodu is equally effective, playing a husband who is not outwardly abusive but is so deeply conditioned by patriarchy that he sees nothing wrong with his entitled behavior. His performance is chilling precisely because of how ordinary and familiar it feels.

Jeo Baby’s direction is unflinching. The camera lingers on mundane household chores, turning them into instruments of oppression. The kitchen, often romanticized in Indian households as a space of love and nourishment, becomes a prison. The sound design is particularly striking; chopping vegetables, the sizzle of oil, the clinking of plates; all amplified to emphasize the monotony and burden of unpaid domestic labor.

The film also uses silence effectively. Unlike conventional narratives that rely on heavy dialogue, ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ speaks volumes through its quiet moments. The absence of background music forces the audience to sit with the protagonist’s emotions, making the experience all the more immersive.

At its core, ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ is about the invisibility of women’s labor. It exposes how domestic work, despite being exhausting and crucial, is taken for granted in traditional households. The film also highlights the deeply ingrained misogyny that reduces women to caregivers, with little regard for their aspirations, desires, or even basic dignity.

The turning point in the film, where the protagonist finally breaks free, feels immensely satisfying, but it is also a stark reminder of how few women actually get to walk away from such oppression. For many, the cycle continues, generation after generation.

The Controversy Around ‘Mrs’

When ‘Mrs’, the Hindi remake starring Sanya Malhotra, was announced, it was expected to bring ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’s’ message to a wider audience. However, its reception has been polarizing. While some have praised its boldness, others, especially male viewers, have labeled it “provoking” and “unnecessary.”

This backlash is unsurprising. ‘Mrs’ holds up a mirror to Indian society, and many don’t like what they see. The film exposes the casual sexism ingrained in daily life, forcing men to acknowledge the privilege they rarely question. The fact that ‘Mrs’ has sparked so much debate is proof that the film has done its job; it has made people uncomfortable.

‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ is an experience, a conversation starter, and a wake-up call. It is one of the most important Indian films of recent times, not because it tells a new story, but because it tells a story that has always existed yet remains unspoken.

With a masterful narrative, stellar performances, and a hauntingly real depiction of patriarchal oppression, ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ is a must-watch. And if the controversy surrounding ‘Mrs’ has taught us anything, it’s that films like this are more necessary than ever.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)