Form of words:
TeaYeh Hai Smita Patil starrer film morning – Savitri, played by Patil, is sitting with her family and her lawyer husband is discussing how he is trying to save his client accused of rape. “just prove the woman revenge (Just prove that the woman is characterless),” he laughs. The women of the family, including the mother-in-law of social worker Savitri, do not oppose it. But the discussion is very uncomfortable for Savitri, she immediately leaves the room.
In another scene, when Savitri receives an offer letter for her dream job at a women’s correctional ashram, her husband is initially reluctant to let her go. But eventually convinces himself of being the ‘supporter’ of his wife’s dreams. “People will say stupid, but I can tolerate being called stupid, but not heartless“(I may admit to being called a fool, but not ruthless)”.
When we talk about the abuse and abuse faced by women, our imagination often confines such discrimination to middle class and lower middle class families. We are convinced that these diseases do not exist outside the lower strata of society. And popular culture, especially movies, plays a big part in perpetuating such stereotypes. but Morning busts these myths.
The film depicts an educated family which has a reputation. They talk about ‘giving freedom’ to the women of their household, but in reality, they are deeply sexist. Morning The story of a woman who is trying to come to power through this social and familial discrimination to fulfill her dreams while being a part of such a family.
On Smita Patil’s birthday, revisit ThePrint Morning (1982) – A Film She Specified as your personal favourite.
Read also: In Trying to Save the World, James Bond Saves the Franchise
inner conflict
Morning She opens with Savitri sitting in her garden, staring into oblivion. She has a good family – a mother-in-law who does social work, a husband (Subhash, played by Girish Karnad), a reputed lawyer, and a daughter, Rani, whom she loves dearly. But from the beginning of the film, Savitri carries a face that makes her feel ‘lost’. He is a Gold Medalist in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Despite everything she has, she is struggling to find her place in it In law’s house, is often subject to comments from her husband and mother-in-law about why she couldn’t be a little more cheerful.
One day, he receives a job offer from an ‘ashram’ for the post of superintendent. Savitri is passionate about the isolated women who have been rejected by their families and society, and thus feels this is an ideal opportunity for them. But she faces rejection from her husband and mother-in-law at the thought of taking this opportunity. Later, Subhash reluctantly agrees but on the condition that his daughter will not accompany Savitri when she goes out of town.
But Savitri’s mother-in-law’s character is more conservative. “Even if the daughter-in-law of the house leaves the house due to social work, sometimes? (Does the daughter-in-law of a respectable family leave home because of social work?),” says a woman who is herself a social worker!
Explaining the family is one of the many battles that Savitri has to face as new challenges await her at her workplace. A nexus of politicians, ashram administration and prisoners is involved in the trafficking of resident girls. After a brief struggle in her professional world, where she was forced to leave her position, Savitri returns home only to learn about her husband’s extramarital affair with another woman.
Here is a woman who is capable, intelligent and ambitious, but often finds herself caught up in the complexities of family life.
Read also: Apple TV Show ‘Ted Lasso’ Passes Its Biggest Test – Wins Over Football Fanatics
go the hard way
On screen, an ambitious woman is often portrayed as a woman devoid of maternal instincts and unconcerned about the family. While Smita Patil’s character breaks the glass ceiling – Savitri loves her family but is equally passionate about her work. There’s a hard thin line she’s trying to walk, sending the message that a woman can be both kind, kind but fierce, caring yet independent, and loving but ambitious.
The film’s sub-theme explores corruption and mismanagement of shelter homes, which is still relevant. It also touches on homosexuality, showing two asylum home inmates in love. Feather Morning Director Jabbar Patel after getting approval from Censor Board said In an interview: “I think the trick is that we portrayed this relationship as any other. We just showed two women in love, at a time when homosexuality was never even talked about. As it is now.”
Morning Saves the best for last. The film has a poetic ending and leaves the audience with undefined answers.
In this scene, Savitri is still overcoming the fact that her husband cheated on her while she is trying to find her feet in the outside world, working for the welfare of women. His daughter Rani is seen reciting a poem:
“Let me fly,” says the little bird, “Mother, let me fly.”
Birdie, take some rest [thy] Small wings are strong,
So she rests for a while then flies away.”
This gives Savitri the answers to her questions, as she too runs away from the toxic relationship.
(Edited by Anurag Choubey)
subscribe our channel youtube And Wire
Why is the news media in crisis and how can you fix it?
India needs free, unbiased, non-hyphenated and questionable journalism even more as it is facing many crises.
But the news media itself is in trouble. There have been brutal layoffs and pay-cuts. The best of journalism are shrinking, yielding to raw prime-time spectacle.
ThePrint has the best young journalists, columnists and editors to work for it. Smart and thinking people like you will have to pay the price for maintaining this quality of journalism. Whether you live in India or abroad, you can Here.