Madhuri Dixit & Triptii's Maa Behen Is a Long Overdue Slap On Society's Unjust Treatment Of Women Without Men
We live in a society, and Maa Behen is a reflection of that society. The Indian society has, for the longest time, defined women by extension of men. Legal documents used to require details on the man you were attached to – Daughter of (Father’s Name), Wife of (Husband’s Name), and more.
I used to find myself asking why I couldn’t write my mother’s name. Labels have never been simple; they are patriarchal at the core. No matter whether a man is married or not, he will be ‘Mister’; the same doesn’t apply to women. They will be ‘Miss’ before marriage and ‘Mrs’, which often correlates to ‘Mister’s’. Suresh Triveni sheds light on how Indian society treats women who aren’t attached to men.
Maa Behen is Imperfectly LoudI’m not saying that Maa Behen is perfect, but I know what it feels like to be scrutinised by uncles and aunties who have no reason to meddle in my business. The male gaze gets forced onto you whether you like it or not. Take Rekha’s (Madhuri Dixit) blouse, for example.
Who said older women can’t wear sleeveless blouses? Why must women be defined by what they wear? I’ve heard time and again that women say they can’t wear sleeveless tops because they are married or of a certain age. Rumours spread faster than wildfire and burn brighter than the sun.
A single mother cannot thrive without a man? That’s what society believes, and if you try to defy it, the rumours, accusations and lewd comments come naturally. I come from a very similar background and having seen the movie, I couldn’t have watched anything more relatable.
Madhuri Dixit’s character is a strong, resilient single mother. She was forced to face a world that constantly rejected her. She is beautiful and her beauty wasn’t advantageous to her.
Maa Behen Shows Why Society is Inherently PatriarchalSociety isn’t kind to women who live on their own, especially women who have lost their husbands or fathers. They are forced to be alone most of the time. Families view them differently because their husband isn’t around; communities judge them for whatever they do.
How dare a woman go out late at night? Had she had a man in her house, this wouldn’t have been allowed. I’ve heard this more times than I can count. Those eyes aren’t blind to me; those comments aren’t deaf to my ears. It is sad that this story isn’t mine alone and Maa Behen
Your personal and professional lives are both impacted by such brutal patriarchy. Jaya (Triptii Dimri) was labelled a seductress when she was a victim. Why? Because she didn’t have a father. The video was spread by the man who kissed Sushma (Dharna Durga), not her, so why was she ostracised?
Maa Behen is unapologetically bold. It makes you face a truth you are too blinded to see. Women without men in their families, beautiful women without men in their families aren’t weak. They are stronger because they must deal with this daily.
Your every move is observed, analysed and judged. People believe that they have a right to your lives and to advise because you don’t have an authoritative male figure in your house. Did we ask for advice? Did we permit them to intrude? The moment the ‘man of the house’ vanishes, people grow the nerve to interfere.
Maa Behen Shows the Cost Women Pay to SurviveIf I were to recount stuff that is going on right now, Triptii Dimri is an actress who has done various strong roles. Bulbul, Laila Majnu, Qala, and so many other films show her as a powerful actress, but where do people know her from? Animal. If commercial success wasn’t what gave you growth in Bollywood, many actresses would be taking a completely different direction.
If anything, her character, Jaya’s outburst over her husband, is also a loud and clear scream to her ‘fans’ to get off her back. Jaya will make rotis one after the other, but what will her family see? Aaj roti gol nahi bani beta, garam bhi nahi hai. Garam roti khilao.