It’s a common misconception that feminism today has rid the world of patriarchy. But it’s only when we leave behind the glittery glam of metropolitan cities and go beyond and into the bylanes of villages long forgotten do we realise the wretched hold of patriarchy. What’s worse, we assume that working for oneself ought to liberate a woman and here in a village women do go out to work as domestic workers, but liberation is far from being attained. The short film Dahani tells a similar tale.
Dahani: A Closer Look
Directed by Subhasmita Jena, Dahani tells the tale of a small rural village and it’s blind faith in superstition and possessions. On the outset the viewers might see it as a negative thing something that needs to be done away with. But as the story progresses we realise sometimes best tool against patriarchy is the sword that it strikes with or in this case it’s being possessed by Dahani.
The film is set in a beautiful rural place, where it seemed like women are being treated equally with being able to work outside home and earn for themselves. But soon the film Dahani builds up the anticipation until the plot twist which reveals the ultimate catharsis for womanhood through the women in the village.
Unlike various protests and marches against patriarchy the film Dahani doesn’t really shout on your face to shut down patriarchy. But rather the women in the village take a more subtle root to subdue patriarchy and get the way that they truly deserved. With impeccable acting and simple set up, the film Dahani let’s the women in the village speak for themselves without any fancy overcast. And by doing this it highlights the plight of many women in numerous villages across the country.
Afterword
Women have a long way to go before they can truly be free especially women living in village areas as the distance from the mainland often shelters many villages from change and new ideas. Thus, it is imperative to work with the belief that already exists in the village to get one’s way. And the film Dahani highlights just that.
