Mrs Movie Review: Sanya Malhotra Shines in This Must-See Remake of The Great Indian Kitchen for Couples

There’s a big difference between saying the kitchen has a nice smell and implying that you’re just a smell from the kitchen. This gap is often seen through the eyes of a man. His expectations can create a lot of pressure on a woman, especially in a traditional home where she is expected to fill the role of a dutiful wife.

In many households, the woman is seen more as a helper than a partner. Take Richa, for example. She’s played by Sanya Malhotra in the movie Mrs, which is inspired by Jeo Baby’s ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’. Richa loves to dance. It’s not just a hobby for her; it’s part of who she is. But even this simple wish faces hurdles from her husband, Diwakar (Nishant Dahiya), and her father-in-law (Kanwaljit). They don’t support her dreams and often expect her to cater to their needs.

Richa wonders why it feels like such a chore to gather as a family for meals. After working hard to prepare a dish, she gets either silence or lukewarm praise like ‘theek bana hai’. It’s frustrating when her pleas for minor repairs around the house go ignored. She finds herself trapped, with more demands piling up—like rituals imposed by relatives that further restrict her.

In the original film, the emotions run really deep. The main character, played by Nimisha Sajayan, feels sickened by the thought of her own hands smelling like the kitchen after fulfilling her wifely duties. The director uses powerful imagery to showcase the chaos of domestic life, capturing the grim reality that many married women face.

While the Hindi version plays it a bit safer, there are still moments that resonate. For instance, Richa tells a young girl that women have a unique strength, comparing them to prime numbers. It’s a great message, though it sometimes feels a bit forced.

The film touches on serious issues like the isolation women face during their periods, but the Hindi adaptation downplays some of the harsher realities. It misses out on showing the societal pressures and religious restrictions that complicate a woman’s life, which the original film depicted more powerfully.

Despite these differences, Mrs holds its own. It’s an engaging film with strong performances. It’s a reminder that women contribute far more to society than their traditional roles often suggest. If you haven’t seen the original, this movie still carries an important message for couples and families alike.

Cast: Sanya Malhotra, Nishant Dahiya, Kanwaljeet, Varun Badola, Loveleen Mishra
Director: Aarti Kadav
Rating: 3 stars