‘Shubham’ Movie: A daily soap tale seen through Generations

The movie opens with an old woman on her deathbed, taking her last breaths in silence. She is surrounded by family and neighbors, and everyone realizes what’s happening. But then, the clock hits 9, and the bedridden woman points towards the tv. The daughter in law immediately understands and turns on the serial, ignoring her husband’s questions.

We see that it was supposed to be the reunion episode of the protagonists today, but the hero meets a dead end and can’t find her, again. The woman stood up on her two legs, and starts to swear on the serial. She is back to life, in disappointment.

Cut to story of how women are treated in households, with neglect and apathy all day. Husband does get up to even wash his hand. When she complains about broken mixer, he tells her that her hands are still working fine and they can grind. On the other hand, a woman reliant on her husband for all her financial needs, is hesitant asking her husband for a mirror work blouse.

Srinivas and Srivalli

The film is set in early 2000s Telangana. Here, Srinivas is a cable TV operator. He also runs his own show on the cable, asking in-depth questions about movies, which could only be answered with keen observation. We are also shown that Dish TV is now introduced in the village, competing Sri’s business.

Srinu soon meets Srivalli in a marriage proposal. His mom questions her demeanor and the effort she took to get ready for the meeting. Srivalli is an MBA, and works in a bank.

‘If you want, you can let her work. It’s your choice’, states Srivalli’s Father.

Srinu likes her as they had interesting conversations about how to build a home, literally like Flooring and Water Tanks. But, the most mesmerizing part to him was her saying, ‘Don’t worry. We’ll pay off the loan together.’

Srinu convinces her mother for marriage who wasn’t impressed by Srivalli’s etiquettes. Srinu’s mother objection was, ‘Girls don’t lift their heads up and show respect to the elders in meetings of a wedding alliance. She came late, and sat like a queen in command.’

The Alpha Male

Realizing Srinu is turning into a Romantic, his friends interfere with his dreams of an ideal marriage. They explain to him the concept of an Alpha man. And both get competitive over who is a bigger alpha in their demeanor with their wives.

Like How will you talk to your wife after you return home from office

‘If you are not doing anything, can you get me a coffee. Or I’ll can make one myself. Do you want biscuits?’, Srinu responds.

They both laugh, and one of his friends say, ‘I just say the word ‘coffee’’.

‘I only put my hands up.’, the other one responds.

They explain to him that the knowledge they are going to give him is not present in any book. It has rather been inherited from our Great Grandfathers. It passes through generations. There are normal males, then there is an alpha male. Top brand. We are the Alpha. Very dominating towards the partner. Whatever I say, has to happen in my house. No fear. And, take no help from anyone, especially from the wives. All emotions should be kept to himself. Scared, shy, sorry, whatever.

Love is only good for 2-3 weeks. If you’ll not be like this, she will find an Alpha male in the neighborhood. We do love each other. But, this is really how to behave.

This scene reminds us of the notions that are set, of sexist roles in a marriage. Men don’t do romance. Men don’t get hurt. Men shouldn’t express. Men are always superior. We should keep our power held upright in a man’s world.

The Wedding Night

The wedding day finally arrives, we see the bride getting ready with the help of Srinu’s friend’s wives.

The bride praises her makeup skills. And, gets to know that she learned about fashion, makeup, and hairstyles solely from tv serials.

‘I want to start my own Parlour.’

‘I can help you with loan.’, Srivalli responds.

‘If it isn’t greed, what’s the point of both husband and wife to earn.’, the other woman interrupted them.

‘Don’t give all money to your husband. Save something for yourself.’, she murmurs to Srivalli before leaving.

On her wedding night, Srivalli is very chill and comfortable. But, Srinu is awkward and starts to act all rough and tough, as told by his friends earlier. He explains to his wife, how much weight his words have in his house. In the middle of his Tommyrot, the clock hits 9. Srivalli, almost hypnotized turns on the serial and gets seated on the floor to watch.

Indicating that the cycle of unfulfilled expectations in a wedded house, and searching for an escape, starts for the women. No matter what personality a woman carries, she is always the one to suffer. This pictures even becomes clearer as she laughs over the thought of people being so obsessed with such serials, the next morning. This really shows the beginning of her unsatisfaction in the household, and the changes unfulfilled desires and frustration piling up in her.

The Serial Watcher’s Epidemic

There is barely a courting period between them, as every conversation we see between them is uncomfortable and incomplete. In which most of the time Srivalli is interrupted and dismissed when she tries to have a honest conversation.

I have an idea about the cable tv. The 6 AM should be shifted to 7.

I’ll handle that. You sing me a song.

She starts watching the serial again, as the clock hits 9 the next moment.

I’m your husband you’ll have to listen to me. Stop watching the serial. And, she scares him off.

On interacting with his friends, he understands this phenomena is widespread in all the households in the town. Due to their wives entanglement with the tv show during the half an hour duration. And their violent behaviour when they are stopped from watching the serial. The husbands have started to get very aware of their actions around their women.

Now the husbands have started to behave all day, every day. Like spending time, listening to them, appreciating their cooking. Thinking about not to trigger them, or hurt them. It is the whole town that is affected by it. But no man talks about it, out of embaressment.

They get fed up of this serial obsession and go to meet a spiritual healer, Maya Sri. They get to know it’s the grandmothers possessing the new bahus. Last is to see the serial adhura. Swear at the serials, and still watch it everyday. Never satisfied.

Everytime they announce climax and the final union, something else happens. Memory loss, accident, death. The male lead has a problem with his wife’s job. And, keeps torturing her in all possible ways until she leaves home. He understands his mistake and wants to repent, so goes to search for her. But when he finds her, he looses his memoey and ends up in a hospital. Now, Sita will try to bring her memory back. Again going through all that torture and domestic violence.

When confronted in an interview the lead says that the TRP goes high with torture.

He beats his wife. Sells her pet dog. Because, there was already a ‘bitch’ in the house. Burns here hand with boiling coffee. He locks her inside the room, and threatens to kill her, because she bought a washing machine from her own money. Tries to kill her through gas explosion, when he is fed up of seeing her around everyday.

But, women have to still route for their reunion, and a peaceful marriage. Because, no matter how bad a husband is, you know you don’t have another choice.

What Women Want

When serial gets a reboot again, the men decide to make their own serial, and telecast it, according to what could satisfy the women, the grandmothers. And, end it quickly and accordingly. They hire actors and camera crew and it is aired on Srinu’s cable at 9.

For the climax episode, the men decide for Sita to quit her job. As that is the problem of her husband and they will finally have peace. A stay at home mother will be a happy ending.

‘But she likes to work.’, Srinu says.

‘Are you insulting homemakers. What’s the problem. When woman does house work, everybody respects her.’, his Alpha friend responds.

The women get very disappointed watching the climax.

The man who suggested this climax murmurs, ‘Did you work, did your mother work. Did your grandmother work. What is wrong with this ending!!’

‘Now she will have to beg to her husband for even 5-10 ruppees.’

‘Instead of taking care of her, you made her quit.’, the grandmother’s shout.

They self harm in frustration.

The men finally tell their wives about the fake serial, when they landed in hospitals getting first aid. And, the wives couldn’t understand why can’t they just sit and discuss all difficulties they face.

The Men understand the gist of the problem which is that, Men shouldn’t decide what women want. So, now they urge their wives to decide on the climax together. The wives write the dialogues supposing that what they want, Sita must want too.

Mother in law reveals that grandma asked me if I was educated. And can I or do I want to do any other small job.

‘Forgive me Sita. I was never a good husband. I will be the way you want me to.’

‘I wish you spoke to me before doing things, discuss things and come to a mutual decision. This is the meaning of husband and wife.’

‘I like you that is why I do all the chores. I just want love and care in return.’

Climax

They wanted to be free. They wanted to study. They wanted to make their won money. They wanted respect. They wanted to be a true part of the family. Those wishes are embedded in their spirit now. They have no peace, no closure even after death.

There’s subtle commentary on male ego, societal expectations, and media influence woven into the story

ho w women have been waiting for their happy ending for decades. Every generation, every millenia. Every country of the world. The happy ending of Respect and Equality.

Now, we fully understand how to behave with our wives and we have to learn a lot more.

Beauty parlour

Can you please make a coffee.

We will introduce internet together in the village. You cannot fight the technology

Its been several days since I watched the film. But, writing this and even thinking about the movie, gets that song humming in my mind, ‘Tera Mera Bandhan, yeh Janmo Janmo ka Bandhan’. This song was repetitive throughout the movie. Which kind of reflects how repetitive these daily soaps are with their existence, concept, plotlines, messaging. Its regional charm, craving tighter execution

The concept was refreshing, but I feel like the execution could’ve been better. It is not able to deliver on it’s messaging with complete transparency. Because they got too serious with the horror stuff and rather the psychological exploration. I feel like the messaging tanked there. Samantha’s cameo wasn’t required at all, infact it was quite irritating. It could have been anyone. Wouldn’t create a difference. This film was a few steps away from becoming iconic.

I still enjoyed the movie, and it forced me to this about this phenomena. Especially the one that occurred in the early 2000’s. with launch of some infamous serials. That ran for years and years to come. So, it was a good watch overall.