Sanya Malhotra’s latest film Mrs has been making waves ever since its release. The film, a Hindi remake of the Malayalam cult classic The Great Indian Kitchen, is getting a lot of love from fans. But comparisons with the original are inevitable. Director Arati Kadav knows this and admits, “There’s no way to win this.” She understands that remaking such a beloved film comes with high expectations. Still, she had strong reasons for bringing the story to a wider audience.
Why Arati Kadav Wanted to Remake The Great Indian Kitchen
The original The Great Indian Kitchen won hearts with its take on gender roles and everyday patriarchy. Arati felt the story needed to be retold for North Indian audiences, many of whom struggle with language barriers when it comes to watching regional films.
“I wanted my mother to watch The Great Indian Kitchen, but she couldn’t sit through it for long because she’s not used to subtitles,” Arati shared. That’s when she decided to make Mrs. “I told her, ‘I made this for you only.’ This story is important, and I felt people in North India needed to see it.”
For Arati, this film is deeply personal. Many scenes in Mrs reflect her own life experiences and those of the women around her. “There were moments in the story that felt like they came straight out of my life, or my mother’s life. That connection made me want to tell this story in my own way.”
Taking on a Beloved Classic
Remaking a film that is already loved by millions is not easy. Fans of the original tend to be protective of it. “Of course, it’s a tough act to follow,” Arati admitted. But she wasn’t looking to simply copy the original. “Something in the story has to work for me at a very personal level for me to want to make it.”
Arati approached Mrs with a fresh perspective while keeping the soul of the original intact. “I knew I had to make this my own, while still respecting what made The Great Indian Kitchen so powerful.”
The Relevance of Mrs Today
At its core, Mrs is about how women navigate everyday patriarchy, often so deeply ingrained in society that it goes unnoticed. “We like to believe things are changing, and in some ways, they are,” Arati said. “But mild patriarchy still exists in many homes, even in educated families. It’s in small things—the way household duties are divided, the expectations placed on women, and how they are supposed to ‘adjust’.”
These themes make Mrs a film that many women can relate to. “I wanted to put these experiences on screen because so many of us have lived them,” she said.
A New Perspective for a New Audience
While The Great Indian Kitchen focused on a traditional Kerala household, Mrs shifts the setting to a North Indian family. The cultural nuances are different, but the core issue remains the same. “Women across India, across cultures, will see themselves in this story,” Arati explained. “That’s why I felt it was worth telling again, for a different audience.”
A Conversation Starter
Since its release, Mrs has sparked conversations about gender roles and societal expectations. “Some people may not agree with everything in the film, and that’s okay. The point is to start a discussion,” Arati said.
She hopes Mrs makes viewers think about their own lives, just like the original did. “If even a few people watch this film and reflect on how they treat the women in their lives, then I’ll feel like I did my job.”
Mrs is currently playing in theaters and streaming on digital platforms. Have you watched it yet? What are your thoughts? Let us know!
