12022025-LSTC-01.qxd 2/11/2025 11:49 PM Page 1 c m y b TOM ALTER, ONE LAST TIME Maqam, releasing on March 7, is late Tom Alter’s final theatrical release. A beloved icon of Indian cinema and theatre, Alter’s special cameo in Maqam marks the last time audiences will witness his brilliance on the big screen, making this film a poignant tribute to his legacy. TRIBUNE Fit & fine Life Saiyami Kher, known for her dedication to fitness and passion for endurance sports, is all set to participate in the Ironman 70.3 Jönköping European Championship to be held in July. CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 12 FEBRUARY 2025 Women power to the fore Nonika Singh T HE way to a man’s heart is through his stomach—how we have all grown up on romantic notions of this idiom. Yet, what this pursuit does to women, well, watch Arati Kadav’s Mrs. With her latest movie, the engineerturned-filmmaker has not only exposed deeply rooted patriarchal value system that defines and deters women, but also achieved another near impossible feat. As a rule, remakes come under a lot of flak, but she has breathed a new flavour and cultural context to the cult Malayalam film The Great Indian Kitchen. She has not only escaped unfair comparisons, but is also winning rave reviews. When the film came to her, she herself was aghast. “Why on earth should we remake a film which has such a lovely relationship with its viewers?” But her producer Harman Baweja, who himself had been so impressed by the original, told her, “After watching The Great Indian Kitchen, I felt even asking my wife for a glass of water was not done. I want North Indian men also to take home similar truths.” Now that the film is streaming on Zee5, it has expectedly struck a universal chord with women across the spectrum. Filmmaker Arati Kadav’s Mrs, starring Sanya Malhotra, has struck a universal chord with the audience due to its incisive look at patriarchy CHANGING BELIEFS However, male viewers too are rethinking and relooking at their so called progressive beliefs. One such viewer told her, ‘I thought I was quite woke in letting my wife work and also took much comfort and pride in the fact that she has a cook and all. Now, after watching Mrs, I have realised I am not doing her any favour. This is her right.” Of course, amidst the torrent of positive reviews also stands one odd negative appraisal, casting aspersions on the relevance of the film in the 21st century, the age of Gen Z. Kadav just can’t believe that there are people, may be living under a rock, who believe that the concerns raised in the film are not relatable or not all pervasive. In fact, why she said yes to the film was how it resonated with her at a personal level too. She avers, “We have all seen our mothers, aunts and cousins go through this grind. Young women we spoke to had similar tales to tell.” Why even though she is mar- SANYA MALHOTRA, ARATI KADAV AND NITYA MOYAL ried to her class-fellow, she felt a gender shift after marriage. She adds, “Marriage in India is like transference of ownership. However privileged we might be, the world is seen through gender lens.” FIGHT FOR PARITY If patriarchy is deeply entrenched, even normalised, in our society, she admits, “Things are not much different in the film industry either. The change has begun only ISHAAN SINGH MANHAS SUMIT KAUL SRIKANT DWIVEDI AADESH CHAUDHARY ADITYA DESHMUKH Owning their space BE INNOVATIVE Sumit Kaul Since a large part of the audience constitutes women, it is understandable that most TV shows revolve around the female protagonist. That means generally the male characters may not have as much a role to play. Therefore, it becomes imperative that the actor takes whatever is given to him in the script and be innovative in its presentation. I have had directors wanting to take my close-in scenes where I was not even part of the main drama because they wanted a peek into what I, as the character, was thinking and doing. PRIORITISE DEPTH Aadesh Chaudhary In a women-oriented TV show, I prioritise depth over screen time. Rather than focusing on visibility, I aim to develop a character with complex emotions and In women-oriented television shows, how do the male actors make a mark? Celebs share their take meaningful relationships. This ensures my character resonates with the audience, even in smaller scenes. I also work on creating unique traits and quirks that set my character apart. For performances, I lean toward subtlety, conveying emotions through expressions, body language and tone rather than dramatics. LASTING IMPACT Ishaan Singh Manhas TV shows predominantly focus on female-centric narratives because the target audience largely consists of female viewers. This trend doesn’t diminish the significance of male characters; instead, it offers a unique space to leave a lasting impact. As an actor, I believe that crafting a memorable performance is about understanding the layers of your character and how it fits into the broader story. Even in shows marketed as femalecentric, male roles often provide critical support and drive pivotal story arcs. BUILD A CONNECT Srikant Dwivedi Many TV shows portray women as decision-makers, taking on family responsibilities and leading with strength. This is a refreshing change from big cinema, which is often male-oriented. When it comes to television, it creates a necessary balance, highlighting women’s roles in a progressive manner. Now, coming to how I approach my performance in such shows and how I make it impactful—I’d like to say that I’ve primarily worked in mythological dramas. As an actor, I don’t believe in doing anything ‘extra’ to make a character stand out. Acting, to me, is about embodying the character as written. EMBRACING THE REALITY Aditya Deshmukh Ultimately, it’s about embracing the reality of television storytelling. While some shows offer a different pattern, like my Armybased series, the essence of daily soaps remains women-centered. As actors, our task is to make our performances impactful within these frameworks, understanding that the audience’s engagement is the ultimate reward. c m y b recently. Even then the work that my male counterparts get doesn’t come to me as easily.” Perhaps, that is the reason she wanted a 50 per cent crew for her film. She states, “At times you have to fight for parity.” But for Mrs, she also wanted a female gaze that would look into minor details like tea cups, etchings on the mirror, extra lace on the furnishings et al. Interestingly, while the film bares the drudgery of house- hold work, it also paints vivid pictures of preparation of food, like an art form. She admits juxtaposing the two was a tough call, “But I wanted to bring both the joys and horrors of cooking.” SHINING SANYA Having a consummate actress like Sanya Malhotra on board made it even easier to navigate. Kadav can’t stop extolling Sanya’s sterling qualities, both as a person and an actor. Net result is a nuanced portrayal of Mrs, whose tell-all title is as revealing as the film. She shares, “For the longest time, we went with the working title of The Great Indian Kitchen. But, then someone suggested Mrs and it struck and stuck. For isn’t it true that while men are always Mr, women become Mrs after marriage.” In future, Kadav, whose first love is sci-fi genre, and has made films like Cargo and several shorts around the subject, would want to marry science fiction with character-driven drama. As a child, like most Indians, she grew up watching classic Bollywood films, KJo cinema most certainly. Precisely, why the great Bollywood festival, karwa chauth had to figure prominently in her film! “There was no way I was not going to include it in the film, for isn’t there inherent patriarchy underlying this fast too.” There are other ways in which she intends to knock down a few more sexist norms; a hundred per cent all-woman crew for one, which ‘would actually be akin to a party’. More power to her!