 "Sanya Malhotra’s Mrs. movie talks about marital rape; here is how the law failed women")
In the Mrs. film we hear Richa (Sanya Malhotra), a newly wedded wife telling her husband, “Sex is not a task.” Basically she is trying to tell him to treat her with love and care and not be harsh with her on bed because if sex is forced on somebody, it hurts not just mentally, but psychologically too.
The film shows that Richa (Sanya Malhotra) is being raped by her husband every single night and her consent doesn’t matter at all. It’s more like a meal ticket for her, where she cooks, cleans and is forced to have sex every single night no matter how tired she is. Let us break down how marital rape hurt the dignity of the person and why it is important to have mutual consent even when the couple is married.
The film shows how Richa’s (Sanya Malhotra) life changes after marriage and she is seen fighting with identity crisis and husband is apparently sweet and so are the in-laws, but she is being treated like a doormat in a very patriarchal setup. It’s these silent scars which make real deep wounds inside her and she fails to dream for herself. Nobody notices what happens behind closed doors. The film is no doubt a slow burn and makes you understand in a subtle way as to what is happening in her life behind closed doors is not fine and it is time we stop normalising it.
What is consent?
I remember once doing a story on marital rape where Advocate Mohit Bakshi had mentioned on the issue of ‘Consent’, he said, “The law of the land is clear that consent means an unequivocal voluntary agreement when the woman by words, gestures or any form of verbal or non-verbal communication, communicates willingness to participate in the specific sexual act.”
But the question is why is consent ignored still in marriages? According to Clatalogue, the contentious issue of marital rape remains unaddressed by the law in India, placing it among the last 36 countries that have not criminalised this form of violence within marriage.
Bakshi further mentioned, “What jars me personally as a human being and a legal practitioner, is the fact that Section 375 begins with the words “A man is said to commit “rape” if he –.” This leaves no doubt that the said section 375 applies to the sexual violation of women only by men in specific.”
How marital rape law failed women’ right over their own body?
According to Clatalogue, the understanding and treatment of marital rape vary and often rely on judicial interpretations. Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) addresses rape, and its exception clause reads, “sexual intercourse by a man with his own wife, the wife not being under 15 years of age, is not rape.” Consequently, the legal stance on marital rape hinges on the age of the wife, leading to a complex landscape of legal protection and accountability.
Section 376 of the IPC outlines the punishment for rape, stipulating that a rapist should face imprisonment for a term not less than seven years, extendable to life imprisonment, or for a term up to 10 years, along with a fine.
However, if the victim is the husband’s own wife and is not below 12 years of age, the punishment is reduced to imprisonment for up to two years or a fine, or both. This disparity highlights a concerning absence of legal safeguards for women above the age of 15, contradicting established human rights principles.
About Mrs. film
Mrs. movie is a delicate topic that was handled with a lot of care. This film is a must watch for couples because it has a very strong message. ‘I am like a free pressure cooker’, says Richa (Sanya Malhotra). Let me tell you they aren’t and it is time to stand for their rights. Here domestic violence was shown in a very mild way with no scars. But marital rape can badly affect the psychological wellbeing of a woman.
In the film we get to see that the father-in-law is completely taken aback to see Richa (Sanya Malhotra) dancing in the kitchen as she cooks. But let me tell you young ladies out there, do what you feel like doing unapologetically and never question your abilities. Don’t let anybody get into your head and decide for you what you want from life. Remember life is for living for yourself.
WATCH the trailer of Mrs. film here:
Lachmi Deb Roy is the entertainment editor of Firtspost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. Her interviews are called 'Not Just Bollywood' because she takes huge interest in world cinema. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until its a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.