Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh - Review

{SPOILERS!!}

Without a doubt, Kahaani 2 is one of the best films I have ever watched due to the atmosphere of suspense and mystery throughout as well as the important topics discussed in the film. It is intense and difficult to watch at points due to the difficult themes portrayed but that makes the film even better - the emotion that is created as well as the atmosphere makes this film an incredible thriller and mystery.




The main character of the film is Durga Rani Singh or 'Vidya Sinha' (her alias). Through the use of flashbacks that are intertwined with scenes form the present day, we learn about her and Minnie's, her daughter, traumatic background. To sum it up as briefly as possible, Durga was sexually abused when she was younger and, when she notices Minnie is being abused similarly, she stops at nothing to save Minnie - not even murder will hold her back. The consequences of her brave actions is that she is a wanted woman, by both the police and Minnie's uncle; the latter half of the film deals with her attempt to save Minnie from her uncle while evading the police. Surprisingly, there is a happy ending and Durga and Minnie both have the chance to live in peace.

The narrative itself was done very well in my opinion. By intertwining flashbacks with scenes from the present, the film avoids the need for needless exposition and instead reveals the story behind Durga and her daughter in a gripping and emotional way. Also, by beginning in the present day and only switching to flashbacks once the threat in the film has introduced, it insures that the audience is hooked by the mystery and is on the edge of their seats as they wonder who could want to hurt a working, single mother and her paralysed daughter. The second half of the film admittedly slows down, pace-wise. The first half was filled with tense scenes where the audience was terrified for the fate of Durga and Minnie; the second half has that same tension but, because of the return to the present-day, it is no longer as nerve-wracking. However, the question of how Durga will save her daughter and evade the police remains and is the central element of the second half; this situation keeps the audience in suspense.

One could argue another element of the narrative that was slightly flawed was the twist introduced right at the end of the film. The sequel follows its predecessor's example in using a radical change in the plot to excite the viewers and make them question their view on the entire film's plot. Unfortunately, by creating a sequel, the creators inadvertently reveal that there will be a similar plot twist. Despite this, there are still elements of the story which will take you in to the point where you don't suspect there of being a plot twist. An excellent example of this was when Durga pretends to be mad and seemingly kills herself and her daughter; this later revealed to be a feint, orchestrated by Durga and Inspector Inderjeet Singh (who was supposedly working to capture Durga). Vidya Balan's excellent acting draws your attention and captivates you, tricking you into believing her madness has stemmed from her damaged state of mind and helplessness. The amazing acting of Vidya Balan is what truly takes the audience in and makes them feel sympathy for Durga and her tragic past; it is what helps to drive the second half of the film also.

Furthermore, an element that must be addressed is the heaviness of the themes addressed. The film explicitly discusses sexual abuse and also incestuous sexual abuse. As Durga states in the film, it is incredibly important to teach our girls the difference between abuse and love - and that the victim is never the one at fault as how could they know the difference. The emotive scenes in which Durga attempts to form a bond with Minnie in the flashbacks demonstrates the importance of solidarity between abuse survivors. Her bravery in saving Minnie emphasises how we NEED to protect our girls and boys from this abuse - there is no excuse for letting them suffer. Though women are protected in India by the 'Protection of Women, child sexual abuse was (and remains) a horrific issue in India. In 2007, it was found in a report that interviewed 125,000 children that 53% of children had been subjected to a form of sexual abuse. The statistic in of itself is horrific and truly frightening. Children are innocent and do not deserve this form of abuse or cruelty yet the statistics show the terrifying lack of humanity some show. Moreover, there were no laws SPECIFICALLY pertaining to child sexual abuse until 2012! Previously, it was prosecuted under other sections of the Indian Penal Code; this allowed for various loopholes and thus the prevalence of child sexual abuse was abhorrently high.

Kahaani 2 clearly depicts the short-term and long-term effects of such acts of torture. There is Minnie's reclusive nature as she refuses to make contact with anyone at school or ask for help due to her fear. Undeniably, this highlights an enormous issue in that children are not educated about such matter and are psychologically manipulated by their abuser into not revealing their trauma. The societal issues in India are such that girls (and boys) are taught not to reveal if such things happen to them as it makes them 'dirty' and 'impure' - the hierarchical situation in India is thus that men have agency and authority and use that to silence those beneath them (including women and children). When looking at long-term effects, there is Durga's self-imposed isolation and terror at being touched - common consequences of such cruel abuse. One of the most heart-breaking scenes is when Minnie attempts to kill herself in order to avoid causing trouble for anyone else. This is highly indicative of the issues with gender and abuse in India - girls are inherently seen as burdens and have to actively make themselves smaller in order to not impose on their own family. With Minnie, the already-existing bias against females is exacerbated by her abuser's awful manipulation of her as he convinces her that it is entirely Minnie's fault and thus she should be 'punished'. Over time, such manipulations become natural to the victim and they eventually believe it because they have been so thoroughly brutalised. Kahaani 2 is, in my opinion, ground-breaking in the way it addresses such common issues in India that are not discussed due to fear of upsetting the natural social order. Kahaani 2 is moving in its depiction of the effects of abuse; Durga's is seen having, what could be interpreted as, a panic attack where she shuts out the outside world due to the immense pain she is in, Minnie is depicted attempting to commit suicide at such a young age. These scenes remain with the audience, it is a brutally graphic depiction of these traumas and move the audience into actively considering such topics.

The depiction of women is one that I feel is important to discuss as well - primarily Durga's character. Though victimised by the society around her, she shows herself to be the strongest character in the film in terms of her mental fortitude and resilience. She may have been damaged by the circumstances around her but she does not accept victimisation - she is a complex, beautiful character that never gives up on saving her daughter. Motherhood is what gives Durga her strength to carry on; however, this is not portrayed in a stereotypical manner - typically, the woman has to enter the domestic sphere and have children as that is her function in life and is what is expected. Kahaani 2 instead celebrates motherhood and highlights Durga's agency as she chooses to bring Minnie in her life and chooses the life of a mother. The resilience and fortitude of the mother is emphasised and it is repeatedly shown that Durga has not lost agency by becoming a mother - she has gained it. Motherhood is the primary bond shown in the film (unlike the typical romantic plot) and the film does a beautiful job in underlining the unfailing efforts of mothers and their bravery. A great deal more could be said about the depiction of motherhood in general media but suffice it to say that Kahaani 2 is excellent in portraying Durga's character. She is not just a mother nor is she a victim - and that is what makes her character excellent, the complexities that surround her.

When speaking of the portrayal of females, an important character to consider is the grandmother of Minnie who defends her son's sexual abuse of Minnie with no guilty consciousness. She is the archetype of the domineering maternal figure; she is also an example of internalising misogyny - she is the antithesis of Durga's character. While Durga defies societal conventions regarding motherhood and femininity, the grandmother is unbelievably loyal to her son and believes it to be her duty to protect her son above all else, exacerbated by her psychopathic nature. There are interesting parallels between the two characters in that both strive to protect their offspring, yet the differences in their motives makes the depiction of femininity all the more interesting. In this way. the movie creates a dichotomy that forces the audience to confront the nature of motherhood in a society that manipulates women from the moment of their birth.

In conclusion, Kahaani 2 is a thought-provoking film that forces the viewer to confront uncomfortable topics that are 'inappropriate' and 'tasteless' to discuss in everyday conversation. It deals with sexual abuse and the cruelty towards women particularly, highlighting the lack of education on such topics and the vulnerability of females - due entirely to societal conventions. There are also interesting portrayals of femininity and motherhood, in that the film espouses a decidedly feminist attitude in its depiction of women. Kahaani 2 is undeniably heart-breaking but the film ends on a uplifting note - possibly underscoring how there is a future for abuse survivors and recovery is always possible.