For some strange reason, I was oddly critical of this film. Probably because this was my first lesbian film, (though after reading the readings, seems like ‘lesbian’ might not be the best term to describe this, given the western connotations. Maybe ‘same-sex relationship in an Indian context’ would be better.) I wanted it to be better than most of the other films featuring heterosexual relationships. If a straight romance in any film flopped, that would be fine, since I can just move on and randomly pick another film which might portray a better relationship. New films featuring heterosexual romances are coming out all the time, and are widely available.
But the same can hardly be said for lesbian (I will just use this term, since the alternative I’ve come up with is a little long) films. Unless you actively look for them, they are virtually non-existent if you are just bumming around looking for a random film to watch, be it at the cinema or at a DVD shop. And so…let me return to my dissatisfaction concerning the film.
Firstly, the choice to present the relationship between Sita and Radha as one that blossomed out of loveless marriages struck me as problematic. Does that mean that lesbian relationships only come about because of failed straight relationships?
Secondly, the film ended rather optimistically, given the dangers of society towards such relationships. We were given a glimpse of it through Radha’s husband reaction after finding out that she had been having sexual relations with Sita, culminating in his decision to let her burn after her sari caught fire. Yet, despite this, Radha successfully meets up with Sita at the temple, hinting at an optimistic future at the film’s end.
For me, two niggling questions that remain unanswered are these:
1. How did Radha extricate herself from her burning sari without getting burned?
2. Are the two going to live their lives keeping their relationship in secrecy? If they don’t, a reaction like that of Radha’s husband seems likely to repeat.
Of course, not all is bad with the film. I appreciated the look into the oppressive systemic forces at work on Indian women, and the way such systems and traditions could possibly push seemingly decent people like the husbands to do an about turn and become beasts.