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The Great Indian Kitchen

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The Great Indian Kitchen
Promotional poster
Directed byJeo Baby
Written byJeo Baby
Produced byDijo Augustine
Jomon Jacob
Vishnu Rajan
Sajin S Raj
StarringNimisha Sajayan
Suraj Venjaramoodu
CinematographySalu K. Thomas
Edited byFrancies Louis
Music bySooraj S. Kurup
Mathews Pulickan
Production
companies
Mankind Cinemas
Symmetry Cinemas
Cinema Cooks
Distributed byNeestream
Amazon Prime Video
Release date
  • 15 January 2021 (2021-01-15)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageMalayalam

The Great Indian Kitchen is a 2021 Indian Malayalam-language drama film written and directed by Jeo Baby.[1] The film tells the story of a newly-wed woman (Nimisha Sajayan) who struggles to be the submissive wife that her husband (Suraj Venjaramood) and his family expect her to be.[2][3] The music was composed by Sooraj S. Kurup and Mathews Pulickan.

The film was released on Neestream on 15 January 2021.[4] The film received critical acclaim and won Kerala State Film Award for Best Film, Best Screenplay award for Baby and Best Sound Designer award for Tony Babu.

The film was remade in Tamil in 2023 under the same title, with Aishwarya Rajesh and Rahul Ravindran in the lead roles.[5] A Hindi remake, Mrs. with Sanya Malhotra and Nishant Dahiya in lead roles, was released in 2025.[6]

Plot

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An educated dancer raised in Manama, Bahrain, enters into an arranged marriage with a schoolteacher from a traditional, deeply patriarchal family in Kerala. Although the relationship begins with the initial bliss of a new marriage, the reality of her new life sets in immediately. The grueling daily drudgery of the kitchen—dealing with grease, piles of filthy utensils, and leaking taps—is left entirely to the women, while the men leisurely indulge themselves with their smartphones or yoga. The household's rigid patriarchal structure dictates that the mother-in-law must hand the father-in-law his toothbrush while he lounges on the veranda. Furthermore, the men always eat their meals first, leaving the dining area messy and showing no concern for the women who must eat the leftovers.

While the new bride struggles to adapt, she attempts to maintain the peace. However, the domestic burden intensifies when her mother-in-law leaves temporary to care for her daughter, who is seven months pregnant. The entire responsibility for cooking, cleaning, and managing the household chores falls squarely on the bride. Her egotistical husband remains completely inconsiderate of her emotional and physical needs. When she vulnerably confides in him that intercourse is painful and asks for foreplay, he condescendingly remarks that she seems overly knowledgeable about sex and claims he must first feel attracted to her for foreplay, leaving her to cry herself to sleep.

The systemic control tightens when the father-in-law explicitly forbids her from seeking employment, using the regressive justification that a stays-at-home woman brings prosperity to the household. When she gets her period, she is appalled by the family's extreme menstrual taboos. She is forced to isolate herself on the floor of a secluded room, bathe in the river, eat separately, and sanitize everything she touches. The family even suggests she stay with a relative or sleep outside during her cycle. Concurrently, the state of Kerala is grappling with the Sabarimala temple verdict, in which the courts ruled that menstruation is not an impurity and allowed women entry. Her husband's family vehemently opposes the progressive verdict.

The accumulation of these everyday injustices finally reaches a breaking point. One day, pushed to her absolute limit, the wife revolts by throwing murky kitchen sink water directly onto her husband and father-in-law, permanently walking out on the family to reclaim her freedom and dignity. The film concludes years later, showing her thriving as an independent dance teacher arriving at her workplace in her own car. Meanwhile, her ex-husband has remarried, and his submissive second wife is shown suffering the exact same domestic exploitation.

Cast

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  • Nimisha Sajayan as the Wife, a dancer
  • Suraj Venjaramoodu as the Husband, a teacher
  • T. Suresh Babu as Achan[7]
  • Ajitha V.M. as Amma
  • Ramadevi as Ammayi (Ramadevi)
  • Kabani as Usha, the servant
  • Sidhartha Siva as Husband's cousin
  • Anupama V.P. as Wife's mother
  • M.V. Suresh Babu as Wife's father
  • Nishitha Kallingal as Husband's cousin's wife
  • Gireesh Perincheeri as Guruswami
  • Aparna Sivakami as Activist
  • Suresh Achoos as News reader
  • Anagha Ashok
  • Priya Sreejith

Production

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The shooting of the film started on 11 July 2020, in Calicut. The entire movie was shot within a house except for some outdoor scenes. The film's principal cast includes several theatre artistes from Calicut.[8]

Music

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Sooraj S. Kurup composed the film's songs of the film. The lyrics were written by Mrudula Devi S and Dhanya Suresh. Two songs from this movie are in paluva language which is a mysterious language in paraya community[9][10][11]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsArtist(s)Length
1."Oru Kudam"Mrudula Devi SHaritha Balakrishnan, Sulekha Kapadan02:10
2."Neeye Bhoovin"Dhanya Suresh MenonRenuka Arun03:21
Total length:05:31

Release

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The film was directly released on Neestream, a Malayalam streaming platform on 15 January 2021.[12][13] Several mainstream OTT platforms including Amazon Prime Video and Netflix as well as major television channels rejected the film due to some scenes related to the Sabarimala woman entry issue.[14] Although, Amazon Prime Video got the rights of the film after three months of its release on Neestream. The satellite rights were later purchased by Asianet due to the film's positive response.

Reception

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Critical response

[edit]

Upon release, it received positive reactions from various film critics and was well received by the audience.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 8 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8/10.[15]

Litty Simon of Malayala Manorama wrote, "The excellent direction, well-written characters and seasoned performances with insightful message makes The Great Indian Kitchen a fulfilling experience."[16] Anjana George of The Times of India praised, "The Great Indian Kitchen comes as an eye-opener, at a time many women are still judged for their cooking skills than any other capabilities. It not only talks about the new-gen women who question such unsung slavery but is also a tribute to the women who have been silently managing it inside every home for centuries."[17] Soumya Rajendran of The News Minute has effused, "The Great Indian Kitchen rips through patriarchy, the bedrock of the institutions of family and religion."[18]

S. R. Praveen of The Hindu said that 'Actors Nimisha Sajayan and Suraj Venjaramoodu are excellent in this hard-hitting take on the sheer drudgery of everyday life, that many women go through.[19] Sajin Shrijith of The New Indian Express wrote: "This film made me want to talk to every woman in my family and ask them how they handled their frustrations and why some of them never dared to question their men?."[20] Haricharan Pudipeddi of Hindustan Times wrote: The Great Indian Kitchen has to be the most powerful film on patriarchy in recent years and it makes for a very important watch. Its lead actor Nimisha Sajayan is unbelievably convincing.[21] Sify has rated The Great Indian Kitchen as 4 stars out of 5 and has written the film as an excellent family drama.[22] Bobby Sing from The Free Press Journal rated the film four in a scale of five and described it as an "unusually exceptional film that makes you feel the guilt."[23] Baradwaj Rangan of Film Companion South wrote "The Great Indian Kitchen is a powerful tale of emancipation".[24]

Accolades

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51st Kerala State Film Awards
44th Kerala Film Critics Association Awards
67th Filmfare Awards South
10th South Indian International Movie Awards
  • Critics Choice Award for Best Actor (Malayalam) - Nimisha Sajayan[28]

Adaptation

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It was adapted to Tamil film by the same name, released in 2023, directed by R. Kannan.[29]

It was adapted to Hindi film Mrs. with Sanya Malhotra and Nishant Dahiya in lead roles, was released in 2025.

References

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  1. ↑ "'The Great Indian Kitchen' review: Brilliant take on family, religion & patriarchy". The News Minute. 15 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  2. ↑ Praveen, S. r (16 January 2021). "'The Great Indian Kitchen' movie review: Makes practitioners of patriarchy squirm in their seats". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  3. ↑ "Suraj, Nimisha Film 'The Great Indian Kitchen' to release on January 15". The New Indian Express. 12 January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "Jeo Baby's 'The Great Indian Kitchen' bags the 'German Star of India' award at 18th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "The Great Indian Kitchen: THIS leading OTT platform has bagged the digital rights of Aishwarya Rajesh's film". ottplay.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Hungama, Bollywood (24 November 2022). "Sanya Malhotra completes shooting The Great Indian Kitchen remake : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "ചിരിച്ചുകൊണ്ട് കഴുത്തറക്കുന്ന അമ്മായിച്ഛൻ; ആ നടൻ ഇവിടെയുണ്ട്". Malayala Manorama. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  8. ↑ Deepa Soman. "'The Great Indian Kitchen' new poster is here". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  9. ↑ Talk, Filmy (13 January 2021). "ഫേസ്ബുക്ക് പോസ്റ്റിലൂടെ സിനിമാഗാന രചനയിലേക്ക്; മൃദുല ദേവി പറയുന്നു ആ കഥ". madhyamam.com. Madhyamam. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  10. ↑ മനോരമ, ലേഖിക. "എന്തൊരു ചേല് ഈ പാട്ട്! വരികളിലും ഈണത്തിലും വിപ്ലവം സൃഷ്ടിച്ച് പാളുവ ഭാഷയിലെ പാട്ട്". manoramaonline.com. Malayala Manorama. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  11. ↑ Desk., Trends (28 January 2021). "'ഒരു കൊടം പാറ്'... സ്വയംമറന്ന് നൃത്തമാടി ഒരു പെൺകുട്ടി; എന്ത് ചേലെന്ന് സോഷ്യൽ മീഡിയ". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Suraj-Nimisha's The Great Indian Kitchen to release on NeeStream on January 15" Archived 27 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Cinema Express. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  13. ↑ "Upcoming Malayalam Movies on OTT Platform". sajmedia.in. 12 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  14. ↑ ശബരിമല പ്രശ്‌നമാണെന്ന് പറഞ്ഞ ചാനലുകളുണ്ട് JEO BABY INTERVIEW | THE GREAT INDIAN KITCHEN | PART 2. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021 – via YouTube.
  15. ↑ "The Great Indian Kitchen | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "'The Great Indian Kitchen review: The right food for thought". Malayala Manorama. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  17. ↑ "The Great Indian Kitchen Review: A Movie for Women who live out their lives in Kitchen". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  18. ↑ "'The Great Indian Kitchen' review: Brilliant take on family, religion & patriarchy". The News Minute. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  19. ↑ "'The Great Indian Kitchen' movie review: Makes practitioners of patriarchy squirm in their seats". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  20. ↑ "The Great Indian Kitchen Movie Review: A phenomenal Nimisha and Suraj anchor this stark portrait of reality". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "The Great Indian Kitchen review: Powerful film on patriarchy and men-governed traditions". Hindustan Times. 16 January 2021. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  22. ↑ "'The Great Indian Kitchen' Review: An Excellent Family Drama". Sify. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  23. ↑ "The Great Indian Kitchen review: An unusually exceptional film that makes you feel the guilt". The Free Press Journal. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  24. ↑ "The Great Indian Kitchen On Neestream, With Nimisha Sajayan And Suraj Venjaramoodu: A Powerful Tale Of Emancipation". 15 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  25. ↑ "51st Kerala State Film Awards: The complete winners list". The Indian Express. 16 October 2021. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  26. ↑ "Kerala Film Critics Awards announced". The New Indian Express. 14 September 2021. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  27. ↑ "Winners of the Filmfare Awards South 2022". Filmfare. 9 October 2022. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  28. ↑ "SIIMA 2022: Check full list of winners". Deccan Herald. 19 September 2022. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  29. ↑ "Tamil remake of The Great Indian Kitchen goes on floors". Cinema Express. 22 March 2021.
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