Babita Singh Reporting shows how the most dangerous form of patriarchy exists disguised as 'concern'
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I started watching Babita Singh Reporting , the new Nimisha Sajayan movie, expecting a murder mystery. What I was met with was a striking coming-of-age story that deals with identity, gender roles, and subtle patriarchy. And while there have been many movies dealing with these themes, what set this gem apart from Ambiecka Pandit was how it portrayed women being put in boxes without villainising anyone. The men exist around these women, thinking they protect the women. But all they are protecting is the status quo. And that is the most dangerous form of patriarchy, one that puts women down in the name of love and concern.
Adding to this, Babita Singh Reporting stars Nimisha Sajayan in the titular role. Patriarchy that is not malicious Babita Singh Reporting is about the titular police officer, who hardly has the confidence to call herself one. Sandwiched between her official duty and familial responsibilities, Babita, aka Baby, has never really tried to find out what she can do. It doesn’t help that she is always belittled by her family and in-laws. When they are all out having ice-creams, they select a sugar-free one for her. After all, she should watch her weight. She is told she doesn’t need the ‘headache’ of the job. None of this is malicious. It is out of genuine, yet misplaced concern.
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Notably, In a striking scene, her husband is distraught about the state his life is in, and he casually brings up how he had rishtas from Brahmin women, but still ‘chose’ Baby, a woman from a different caste with a different mother tongue. It is supposed to be a magnanimous gesture in his eyes, but one that makes Babita feel this small in an instant. Mind you, the movie never portrays Babita’s family, in-laws, or husband as bad or evil. They are, for the lack of a better term, casual sexists, conditioned to believe that their patriarchal shackles are actually some protective armour for their women.
As per the latest buzz, Perhaps that is why the movie and its protagonist are finding resonance among viewers. Social media is full of reels saying this movie shows the ‘truth’ about society. The last time a Hindi movie inspired similar conversations was the Sanya Malhotra -starrer Mrs. But Babita Singh Reporting shows a tougher grind for the woman who is neither confident in her work nor at home, only due to conditioning. That has hit home.
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On top of that, “The first reaction was ‘I have met so many Babys in my life’,” was what Nimisha Sajayan had told us, talking about the movie prior to its rollout. She is a Malayali who grew up in Mumbai, while Babita is from Madhya Pradesh. But the cultural and linguistic divide doesn’t matter. the emotions are universal, the challenges are universal,” Nimisha added.
As director Ambiecka Pandit put it in a chat with us: “At the beginning of the movie, she is a wife, a daughter-in-law, and a cop. She is identified by the roles. She has forgotten who Babita is because she has suppressed it so much.”
Source: Hindustan Times