'Every woman is us': Angry Indian Goddesses

They are huddled around the lunch table trying to catch a quick bite before they start giving interviews. The conversation ranges from make-up and politics to work and family. There’s lots of laughter, noise and chatter... One look at their camaraderie and you understand why director Pan Nalin decided to cast them in his new movie, Angry Indian Goddesses. So, who are these women?

There’s Frieda, played by Sarah Jane-Dias, a photographer whose art frequently creates conflicts with her job. Then there is Suranjana played by Sandhya Mridul, a CEO on the hunt for the perfect work-family balance. In contrast there is Pammi, played by Pavleen Gujral, a trophy wife from Delhi, whose ambitions are thwarted by her husband. Madhureeta aka MAD played by Anushka Manchanda, is a singer desperate to sell her music that isn’t.

Wannabe actor Joanna played by Amrit Maghera (half British-half Indian) is looking for substantial roles in Bollywood while struggling to be heard in a male-dominant film industry. Nargis, played by Tannishtha Chatterjee is an activist embroiled in a land dispute with Suranjana. And then there is Laxmi, played by Rajshree Deshpande, who is Freida’s trusted maid and has her own set of problems to deal with. 

Clearly, women don’t fit into defined compartments. In fact, they have so many different aspects that squeezing them all into one archetypal role was impossible. No wonder, director Pan Nalin came up with seven. We caught up with the cast to ask them what makes them tick and, most importantly, angry.

What does it mean to be an Indian woman?

“It means to be adaptable, tolerant, yet strike the right balance without losing one’s individuality,” explains Mridul. Almost everyone agrees with her, calling her the most eloquent of the bunch. “I feel I can only really talk about this from my own personal experience. For me it's something I'm very proud of , I'm half English and half Indian and I feel very enriched with being both. I love the culture that comes with being an Indian woman from the family ethics, to the music, dance, spirituality, diverse languages and even the food,” adds Maghera.

Who qualifies to be called goddesses?

“Every woman is a goddess,” all say in unison.

“We are addressed as devi aur sajjano, so, why should we not call ourselves goddesses?” explains Chatterjee.

Your favourite goddess

For Mridul her mother, who is silent and strong, and professionally Waheeda Rehman and Helen are her favourite goddesses. Jane-Dias calls Mridul her favourite. Manchanda believes any independent and strong woman automatically becomes her favourite goddess. That said, for her sometimes it is Saraswati, sometimes Kali, at times it is Kwan Yin and always Mother Nature. Kali is Gujral’s and Maghera’s first choice, while Durga is Chatterjee’s. Deshpande, on the other hand, refuses to pick one.

Does a woman really need a man?

“Of course we do! We love men! I am lucky to be surrounded by wonderful, supportive men in my life. What we don't need are insensitive, chauvinistic men.” Maghera has a different opinion. “A woman needs a man to reproduce, but she doesn't necessarily ‘need’ a man for any other reason. A lot of my friends are single and happily living there lives.”

Why are Indian women angry?

“We are angry because certain things are expected from us. We do not have the freedom to express ourselves. We have to fight to be who we want to be! It sucks,” says Manchanda.

“Kind of treatment Indian women are getting now-a-days, from perspective of respect, safety and vulnerability, make Indian women angry,” says Despande. “Indian women have been brought up feeling that they are the weaker sex and that is so deep rooted that so many women don’t break out of that shell out of fear. However, you can only fill a glass to the brim, it pours over in the form of anger,” adds Gujral.