The movies have taken a backseat lately because books and series keep stealing my free time. But this one, I genuinely wanted to watch when it released. And I’m glad I finally did.
The story revolves around the protagonist, Bhooma. I won’t go into details, because the heart of this film is its message: your life choices should be yours. Whether you get married or stay single like in Mona Lisa Smile, it should never be a decision forced or defaulted by society.
The film is framed through two perspectives. The couple story and upbringing side. And that’s what makes it interesting. Neither of them is inherently wrong if you look keenly. Reviews are everywhere for the former part.
Vikram grew up watching his father treat his mother like someone who must serve, so he believes protecting and leading is his duty, and following is hers.
And it’s nice how the movie uses the reference of mothers to show the root conditioning. Be it here, or Lover or Bad Girl as a reference.
Bhooma, on the other hand, has never truly had the freedom to choose. Her father’s sacrifices were actually more of emotional manipulation. She learned to fear that asserting her voice might cost her the only support she had (both child & adulthood).
if the same story had revolved around someone like Durga, would the audience have accepted it? Probably not. Our conditioning demands that a woman must first be obedient, quiet, good and then only gradually evolve into assertive. Strength is only admired when it comes from suffering. If a woman starts strong from the beginning, she becomes a threat not a heroine. Similar to Badgirl maybe?
The climax was believable and well-written. Because in real life, many people cannot handle a simple no. Some respond even worse than Vikram did here.
The reference to Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own was a sharp touch. A reminder that without awareness and space to think, we don’t realize how we are shaping others… or being shaped by them.
For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.
Bhooma wakes up at the right moment. Some do later. Some never do.
Of course, Rashmika deserves credit! She makes us feel every layer of the character’s silence, fear, and fight.
Give it a try. Available in Netflix!
Cheers!
Check out the previous post: Why only Spotify? What about life? & Dude review, Movie Reviews
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