A woman's world. Review on Leela

Media has turned woman centric in the last few years. This can be seen in advertisements, newspaper reports, magazine articles (in fact the number of women magazines), TV serials and even movies. This maybe seen as a battle for the minority gaining a status in the man’s world.

Leela is a small-budget movie dealing with various issues, with a woman’s story at its core. Starring Dimple Kapadia as Leela, the story is about a woman standing on the crossroads of choices between herself and selflessness.

The story begins with Leela going to the USA for a college exchange programme. After her mother’s recent demise she has been facing the question of what has she achieved in life as compared to her mother?

Having been in an ‘open marriage’ for over 20 years to a rage-poet, Naushad (Vinod Khanna), Leela has lived her life under the shade of her husband. Like any other Indian woman, her husband is her life. He rules her world while his world is beyond her. They have it clear between themselves that he has an ‘eye for women’ and has women eating out of his hand.

So when Leela goes to America and meets Chaitali (Deepti Naval), she faces so many questions inside her that she cannot answers.  Chaitali is a middle aged Indian-woman, living in USA for over two decades, divorced to her Indian husband, in a relationship with an American and mother of a 20 years old boy – Krishna (Kris) (Amol Mhatre)

So which is a better way to live? Being married to someone despite being unhappy or being independent and living for your own happiness?

It’s a dilemma that all Indian women of this generation face at one point or the other. There are choices that we are subjected to make, which are beyond us. We can never get the best of both the worlds, which comes easy for men.

Not that a relationship is easier for either genders, but expectations from a woman are far different from those from a man.

So while Leela finds a friend in Krishna, they grow closer and end up sleeping with each other. Whether it is a physical or lustful act or an expression of love of a woman who has been suppressed for long, is for the viewer to decide.

What is ironic is the kind of guilt that Leelacarries for it. Knowing the fact that her husband has been sleeping with other women all through the years that they have been married, she still feels that what she did was a sin.

An Indian woman’s life is the most interesting subject that there can be. Ironically we spend half our lives feeling guilty and the rest in trying to make up for that guilt. And by the time we realise that it’s our life after all and no one else can make us feel guilty for being happy, it’s too late.

Leela is a must watch for all those who have ever felt rootless, empty or lost. It’s a soul searching movie which can help you see rays of light in times of darkness.

The music adds to the rich experience of the movie. Composed by Jagjit Singh and written by Gulzar, it’s a treat to ears.

So if you haven’t seen this one, don’t miss it.