Published Paper Details:

The concept of gender in Indian families and society needs no introduction, as the age-old gender discrimination has been so deeply internalized that it doesn't come as a surprise if a woman becomes a victim of such discrimination. The paper attempts to study a woman's world bound by patriarchy, class, and gender exploitation, followed by the subsequent resistance in Indian society as portrayed in Arati Kadav's film Mrs. (2024). A Marxist feminist literary approach guides the analysis of the cinematic text. The film projects a quietly powerful and thought-provoking portrayal of a woman caught between her aspirations and the weight of deeply rooted patriarchal expectations. At the heart of the film is Richa, played with striking vulnerability by actress Sanya Malhotra--a middle-class housewife whose routine existence is upended by an unexpected event. What unfolds is not just a story of disruption, but of awakening and resistance. The findings conclude that many Indian married women, like the female lead in the film, are trapped in the endless cycle of domestic chores and constant patriarchal scrutiny. The identity that the woman protagonist had is lost in transition and remains a victim of patriarchy, class, and gender discrimination. It is through passion for a fulfilling work or economic independence that paves the way to the protagonist's ultimate freedom and empowerment.