Lately, women-centric Hindi movies have gained a lot of momentum. Filmmakers across languages have been tapping into this sub-genre showcasing more stories with women taking charge of their own destiny. However, it’s not always easy to break free from the shackles of societal expectations, and one film that brilliantly showcases this is Sanya Malhotra’s latest movie, Mrs. Streaming on ZEE5 from February 7, 2025, this family drama narrates the tale of a woman confined to the four walls of her house. However, did you know that this new movie on ZEE5 is actually based on a Malayalam film called, The Great Indian Kitchen? Read on, and we’ll tell you all about it.
The Great Indian Kitchen(2021) – A Groundbreaking Narrative
The Great Indian Kitchen is a Malayalam movie, written and directed by Jeo Baby. It features Nimisha Sajayan and Suraj Venjaramoodu as a newly married couple, Richa and Diwakar. Richa is an educated dancer, raised in Manama, Bahrain. The story starts when her marriage is arranged to a teacher Diwakar, who seems fine at first but turns out to be egoistic and patriarchal later. In fact, Diwakar’s entire household is traditional and patriarchal to the point where the women eat after the men of the house and even clean up after them
Although appalled at first, Richa gradually adjusts to it, like most women in India. She even tries to make things better in her own way but is always faced with disappointment. When everything starts going south, will Richa finally take a stand? That’s what the viewers are left wondering throughout the film. However, one thing I can guarantee is that the climax will be totally worth it. You can watch The Great Indian Kitchen on ZEE5 with a Simply South add-on(available in select countries).
The Great Indian Kitchen Tamil Remake(2023)
This is a story that transcends borders. It is a women-centric narrative that needs to be told. And that’s why, owing to the success of the Malayalam film, The Great Indian Kitchen was adapted into Tamil in 2023. Starring Aishwarya Rajesh and Rahul Ravindran in lead roles, this film remained faithful to the original film’s narrative. Directed by R. Kannan, this film also tells the story of Richa, a newly married woman who faces difficulties as she’s expected to live up to the expectations of a patriarchal society.
Hindi Adaptation – Sanya Malhotra’s Mrs(2024)
Making a great addition to the female-oriented movies in Bollywood, Mrs. is the official Hindi adaption of Jeo Baby’s The Great Indian Kitchen movie. Starring Sanya Malhotra and Nishant Dahiya in the lead roles, the Hindi adaptation of this film brings this feminist story to a larger audience. Directed by Arati Kadav, Mrs. narrates the story of Richa(Sanya Malhotra), a dance teacher and choreographer whose life changes after marriage. When Richa gets married to Diwakar, a doctor, she doesn’t assume her life is about to go downhill.
In fact, before the wedding and even immediately after that, Richa’s in-laws said that they were taking their daughter home, implying that Richa would be living in the new house as their daughter. However, that bubble is broken the moment Richa is burdened with neverending household chores. Soon, Richa realizes that her in-laws are extremely patriarchal. They even forbid her from doing a job and keep complaining to her parents about her behavior. Whether Richa gets out of this mess and how she does that forms the rest of the story. Apart from Sanya and Nishant, the film also features Kanwaljit Singh as Diwakar’s father, Aparna Ghoshal as Diwakar’s mother, Mrinal Kulkarni as Richa’s Mother, and Nitya Moyal as Saavi. Each of these characters adds a new layer of depth to the narrative. To experience Richa’s story, watch Mrs. movie online on ZEE5, from February 7, 2025.
Why to Watch Mrs Movie on ZEE5?
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- A Relevant Story That Needs to Be Told: The themes of Mrs are deeply relevant, highlighting how patriarchy exists even in modern, urban households.
- From the Dance Floor to the Kitchen: Richa’s transformation from an independent woman to a restrained housewife mirrors the struggles faced by many women after marriage.
- A Bold Stand Against Patriarchy: The movie emphasizes how even progressive families uphold regressive gender norms behind closed doors and the need to stand up against it.
- Sanya Malhotra’s Stellar Performance: If you’re a fan of Sanya Malhotra movies, you should definitely watch Mrs as she delivers an emotionally charged performance that captures the silent suffering of countless women.
- A Strong Female Lead in Bollywood: If you enjoy female-oriented movies in Bollywood, Mrs is a must-watch. It continues the trend of feminist movies that challenge societal norms.
- A Powerful Addition to Women-Centric Hindi Movies on ZEE5: With Bollywood slowly shifting towards more meaningful narratives, Mrs stands out as an essential film in the category of women-oriented Bollywood movies streaming now on ZEE5.
Final Thoughts
From The Great Indian Kitchen to Mrs, the story of a woman’s silent rebellion against patriarchy remains powerful and thought-provoking. The Hindi adaptation ensures that this compelling narrative reaches a wider audience, sparking conversations on gender roles and equality.
If you appreciate feminist movies in Bollywood or enjoy impactful storytelling, Mrs deserves a spot on your watchlist!