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Kiran Rao, director of Mumbai Diaries, tells the story of two newly-married couples traveling by train to their new homes in rural India in 2001. In a hurried moment, one of the grooms mistakenly takes the wrong woman with him off the train. The mix-up is only discovered once they reach his village. While some may expect a scandalous wife-swapping storyline reminiscent of British comedy films, this gentle comedy-drama instead offers heartwarming entertainment.
The scenario may seem far-fetched, but it actually has some believability to it. Both weddings are prearranged, so the partners are not acquainted with each other and the brides are dressed in matching red attire. Furthermore, the setting is late, dark, and crowded, so just accept it for now. Some may argue that the improbable mix-up fits well in the context of Shakespearean comedies, where mistaken identities and switcheroos are common themes. The supporting characters also hint at this with Chhaya Kadam playing a tough tea shop owner and Ravi Kishan as a stern police officer, reminiscent of the roles that Miriam Margolyes or Simon Russell Beale might excel in an English-language rendition.
However, there are many aspects of Laapataa Ladies that are unique to its culture, so creating an English version may not be a good idea. The script, written by Sneha Desai, Biplab Goswami, and Divyanidhi Sharma, highlights and understands the societal intricacies for women in this specific context – with Pratibha Ranta and Nitanshi Goel portraying characters with contrasting views on their marriages and handling the consequences of a mix-up in their lives. The film neither completely denounces nor romanticizes arranged marriages, instead offering a subtle exploration of different perspectives.
Source: theguardian.com
