Movie Review: Munda Hi Chahida | Something to write home about

Gurnaaz Kaur

‘Save The Girl Child’, ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ these campaigns and slogans have been quite popular and have even gained much momentum in the past few years. Munda Hi Chahida, which means only a boy child is needed, is based on the same issue, or should we say shows the desperation of having a male child. Say it in whichever words, it’s a subject which is quite relevant even in this 21st century, especially in the villages of India? 

Dharmendra, played by Harish Verma, is the sole breadwinner of a family that includes his wife, two daughters, a mother, three sisters and a father who has left it all on his son. 

Under the constant pressure of fulfilling the needs of his family, his frustration affects his professional life as well. On top of this is his mother’s belief, which also becomes the fulcrum of his behaviour and actions, that it is the male child who completes a family. So, when his wife is pregnant with their third child, this very thought becomes his world. To be able to get a baby boy, he goes to a baba and follows his instructions, does remedies to please Gods so that he be blessed with a boy child. What unfolds is worth a watch.

The film has not only beautifully portrayed the plight of Dharmendra, it has also showcased the family set up in a very realistic, relatable way. The script is full of powerful dialogues peppered with good amount of humour. The treatment of the film is novel and it surely has its heart in the right place.

Dharmendra’s emotions, his helplessness, family and social pressures are palpable. It’ll be fair to say Harish Verma has given a power-packed performance.  Rubina Bajwa as his wife Rani is equally endearing. A simple woman who loves her family and focuses on its happiness is well projected by Rubina in few words but deep, thoughtful expressions.

The actors who play the family, Dharmendra’s friends and even the baba played by Rahul Jugraj have all given their best to the story. A viewer stays engaged throughout this emotional, high-on-intensity narration. The culmination is a strong but happy one with a take-home message. 

The makers have put in hard work in all aspects of the film. The picturisation, the cinematography and even the few songs are all worth appreciating.

In a patriarchal society, this light-hearted satire with a sensitive subject at its core demands attention, provokes thoughts, ignites emotions and makes you contemplate about the stories of those girls who go through biases, live in the shadows all because they are girls. These are girls who love their families, seek opportunities to prove their mettle and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their counterpart. 

If we call this a modern world, then it’s time we do away with the stigma attached with gender.

Thus, Munda Hi Chahida, a family entertainer, has a message that needs to be put across loud and clear. As goes its dialogue- No she, no he, only ji!

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