In 2021, Malayalam director Jeo Baby released a film that chronicled the life of a newlywed woman, excited to begin her new life. Over time, she learns that she has not only married into the role of a wife but also that of a caretaker and slave. Baby’s The Great Indian Kitchen earned widespread acclaim in Kerala, with many praising the director for showcasing a brutal yet common issue on screen.
ALSO READ | What is invisible abuse that Sanya Malhotra’s 'Mrs.' shines light on?
The film was later adapted in the Tamil language under the same name, and now a Hindi remake has emerged, Mrs. Directed by Arati Kadav, the film features Sanya Malhotra, Nishant Dahiya, Siya Mahajan, and Kanwaljeet Singh.
Now, in an interview with OnManorama, Baby said, that though he has not watched the film himself, he is happy to hear that the heavy topic is discussed. "To be honest, I have not seen the movie yet, but I am hearing a lot of positive reviews about 'Mrs'. I am glad that my concept and the issues discussed in the film have gained national attention," he said.
ALSO READ | 'I incorporated my own experiences into the script': 'Mrs' director Arati Kadav
Following the release of Mrs., the Save Indian Family Foundation (SIFF), a men's rights organisation, accused the film of spreading “toxic feminist propaganda”. Responding to the criticism, the director said, "These discussions have always existed. Even when The Great Indian Kitchen was released, my film faced a lot of criticism from people in Kerala who claimed that the film was anti-men. What is important is that such issues are discussed.”
Upon the release of Mrs., viewers were quick to notice that Baby and his film were not credited at the end of the movie. The trailer also failed to mention The Great Indian Kitchen. After receiving criticism, the makers of the film added the due credit.