An experimental portrayal of patriarchy in India
‘Kathputli’ is an unusual film, both in its form as well as storytelling. We see a woman in a stage play setting, with her hands tied to strings. It is clear that this is a performance and the strings control her movement. It is a striking visual, along with the woman’s constant, unemotional smile.
The storytelling leans heavily on the viewer’s understanding of a patriarchal society. So much so, that it doesn’t spend time establishing the character’s motivation to break free. Yet, the film’s brevity is eventually satisfying. Once the visuals end, a voice narrates a familiar fairytale that contradicts everything we just watched. Though jarring at first, this fairytale seems to have a clear purpose – to show how there is no easy end to patriarchy.
When a film is able to capture the essence of a character, a time period and/or an issue, the film becomes timeless. Watching ‘Kathputli’ today, what comes to mind is the rise in domestic violence cases and increased burden of housework on women during the pandemic.
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Surbhi Dewan, Curator at ViewFinder, Saachibaat.com |
