I began watching Babita Singh Reporting, the brand new Nimisha Sajayan movie, anticipating a homicide thriller. What I used to be met with was a placing coming-of-age story that offers with id, gender roles, and refined patriarchy. And whereas there have been many films coping with these themes, what set this gem other than Ambiecka Pandit was the way it portrayed ladies being put in bins with out villainising anybody. The boys exist round these ladies, pondering they shield the ladies. However all they’re defending is the established order. And that’s the most harmful type of patriarchy, one which places ladies down within the identify of affection and concern.
Patriarchy that isn’t malicious
Babita Singh Reporting is in regards to the titular police officer, who hardly has the arrogance to name herself one. Sandwiched between her official obligation and familial obligations, Babita, aka Child, has by no means actually tried to seek out out what she will do. It doesn’t assist that she is all the time belittled by her household and in-laws. When they’re all out having ice-creams, they choose a sugar-free one for her. In any case, she ought to watch her weight. She is advised she doesn’t want the ‘headache’ of the job. None of that is malicious. It’s out of real, but misplaced concern.
In a placing scene, her husband is distraught in regards to the state his life is in, and he casually brings up how he had rishtas from Brahmin ladies, however nonetheless ‘selected’ Child, a girl from a special caste with a special mom tongue. It’s imagined to be a magnanimous gesture in his eyes, however one which makes Babita really feel this small straight away. Thoughts you, the movie by no means portrays Babita’s household, in-laws, or husband as dangerous or evil. They’re, for the dearth of a greater time period, informal sexists, conditioned to imagine that their patriarchal shackles are literally some protecting armour for his or her ladies.
The relatability of this informal sexism
Maybe that’s the reason the movie and its protagonist are discovering resonance amongst viewers. Social media is stuffed with reels saying this movie reveals the ‘fact’ about society. The final time a Hindi movie impressed comparable conversations was the Sanya Malhotra-starrer Mrs. However Babita Singh Reporting reveals a more durable grind for the girl who’s neither assured in her work nor at dwelling, solely as a consequence of conditioning. That has hit dwelling.
“The primary response was ‘I’ve met so many Babys in my life’,” was what Nimisha Sajayan had advised us, speaking in regards to the movie previous to its launch. She is a Malayali who grew up in Mumbai, whereas Babita is from Madhya Pradesh. However the cultural and linguistic divide doesn’t matter. the feelings are common, the challenges are common,” Nimisha added.
As director Ambiecka Pandit put it in a chat with us: “In the beginning of the movie, she is a spouse, a daughter-in-law, and a cop. She is recognized by the roles. She has forgotten who Babita is as a result of she has suppressed it a lot.”
Why Babita Singh Reporting issues
Yearly, one movie that talks about on a regular basis misogyny turns into the toast of social media. And yearly, its detractors marvel why the ‘agenda’ should persist. To them, movies like Babita Singh Reporting, Mrs, or The Nice Indian Kitchen are ‘man-hating’. They ask why they’re needed. The reply lies within the easy indisputable fact that in 2026, merely the act of a girl standing up for herself remains to be seen as revolutionary. As a result of so few ladies have been capable of get away of that conditioning, it nonetheless deserves applause. As a result of so many ladies nonetheless face the identical troubles that Child was capable of go away behind, it must be stated. Perhaps at some point, this revolution would be the norm. Until then, right here’s hoping for extra Babys to seek out their Babita.
Directed by Ambiecka Pandit and starring Nimisha Sajayan, Babita Singh Reporting is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.