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First, the Recap:
How many times has it been uttered in this world–“the grass is always greener…”? When we embark on the journey’s and/or opportunities that life offers up to us, it is easy to believe that it will be leading us to those finer places, perhaps even away to a greater freedom than we’ve ever known, allowing us to seek those chances to rise above where otherwise we might not have had said possibilities. Yet, what happens when the dream begins to not turn out the way we’d imagined and find ourselves back where we were? For a career-minded woman named Anita (Aditi Vasudev), America was the land of those opportunities, shared with her husband Vikram (Mitra Gadhvi). But, upon returning to India for her sister Shalini’s (Bhakti Maniar) wedding, the news Anita brings to share with the family may not end up eliciting the reaction–or support–that she’d envisioned.
Next, my Mind:
One of the many aspects I find gratification in as I get further and further immersed in South Asian film, independent or otherwise, is the means to learn continually about the culture, its societal proclivities, and have it all revealed through witnessing cinematic illustrations of it, good and bad, especially more so for the sake of the latter, and seeing change initiated or at least the NEED for it to happen compellingly offered for us to take in. Here, as part of my ongoing “in advance” coverage of the 2022 DFW SAFF sponsored by Toyota USA and hosted by Jingo Media Founder/Festival Director Jitin Hingorani and Artistic Director Ambica Dev, this indie short film from writer/director/editor Sushma Khadepaun, producer Ankur Singh, and co-producer Sasha John that will bask in its Texas Premier at the event as a part of the Women’s Shorts Block carries with it a sobering, weighty, highly persuasive argument and message that are not only historically relevant in the greater scope of the country, but NECESSARY when it comes to the ongoing struggles of women in India.
Presenting a narrative that sees an expat Indian woman striving to live the American Dream only to find she may face the same level of challenges in the U.S. that she then encounters once more upon returning to her homeland for her sister’s wedding, it’s an evocative study in wrongly perceived suppositions, familial expectations, total lack of understanding, entrenched patriarchal tradition, the stifling of potential, and a virtual betrayal of marital support. Additionally, there’s a portrait of outright devaluation of one person’s abilities and skillsets that could be so wonderfully utilized and explored if only provided the appropriate degrees of advocation, which as the film chooses to convey, does not happen and hence creates an atmosphere that squelches this woman’s hopes along with her own original ideas she had in making the move to America.
The film then brings us to a finale that initially eases the tension-filled aura we’ve witnessed to that juncture, until it’s followed by placing a deftly impactful exclamation point on events that WILL leave you emotionally compromised when realizing what’s possibly just occurred and the ramifications it puts into effect. Again, it showcases a grander concept of what it is for us as people to feel we have a complete grasp of what we wish to accomplish, put those initial plans into place in order to pursue it, only to find out that the people we would desire to give us the fullest levels of ideally selfless encouragement and fortitude to move ahead bale on us. It’s a harsh reality, and one in particular experienced it would seem by FAR too many women in India and even here IN the U.S. when the ingrained idea of “it’s a man’s world” still rears its ugly and, honestly, totally-untrue-in-principal head. This is why indie film excels–its bold, dauntless approach to bring forth strong, highly indispensable substance that should serve as a cry for change with subjects like this.
Vasudev is so affectingly accessible here, tangibly striking our minds and hearts with the depth of understated but intense emotive power she brings to the screen through her role as the film’s title character, Anita, a young woman looking to make her mark on the world after leaving behind what she thought would be the more restrictive country of residence. However, when the burdensome realities of her home country, her family, and even her own husband’s true opinions about her goals come cascading forth while attending her sister’s wedding, it is the wake-up call Anita never wanted nor believed might still exist, despite having her inner apprehensions about what reactions she might entertain. By the time she makes an attempt to rectify some of what’s manifested between her and Vikram at least, even this may end up backfiring and causing a ripple effect that cannot be halted. It’s a deeply unsettling air that permeates the story, and Vasudev is so perfectly in touch with that and allows us to simply FEEL the character’s peace being upended.
Primary supporting turns come first through Gadhvi as Anita’s loving but also ultimately indifferent, double-minded husband Vikram, a man we know loves his wife but yet won’t maintain any real semblance of the support he should have for her when push comes to shove, much less when there’s a instance of choice that could even further damage her objectives she seeks. It’s a subtle performance Gadhvi provides, but it’s so apropos to what’s depicted, and the impact his choices have are undeniable, a testament to Gadhvi’s acting chops here. Maniar arrives as Shalini, Anita’s sister whose mind is solely on her own wedding and future even as she tries to be there for her ever-increasingly frustrated sibling as the restlessness and awkward moments with the family begin. Deep Sheth plays Shalini’s new husband Aakash while Sanjivani Sathe and Nikil Dave play Anita’s parents Veena and Anil, who more than have their reservations about Anita’s “big news”.
So, in total, “Anita” is a film filled with significant, relevant, culturally/societally based content that serves up a required and fully convincing example of how we see women, the dire need to acknowledge their importance and power of independent thought, the roles in the world that could so desperately employ their adept knowhow, and allowing the freedom for them to make decisions outside of the male-dominated mindset that still so adversely tries, sadly, to ignore or devalue their contributions which, incidentally, are changing the world for the BETTER more and more! Time to get behind it, not subdue or extinguish it!
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
