When you think of content from the Punjabi entertainment industry, it is likely that only flashy cars, firang models, money, material, and guns come to mind. But Kali Jotta, a romantic drama directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, is not one of those.
Usually, Punjabi films consist of absurd rom-com plots centred around slapstick comedy, family kalesh (fights) and failed relationships. But Kali Jotta is a refreshing break from this trope. It focuses on the mental health of working women in India—possibly a first in Punjabi pop culture.
Starring Neeru Bajwa and singer-turned-actor Satinder Sartaj, Kali Jotta is no comedy like Jatt and Juliet (2012), and no tragedy like Heer-Ranjha. It is the moving story of the hundreds of thousands of women who battle toxic relationships at home and work. It tells the story of Rabia (Neeru Bajwa), a happy-go-lucky woman who, in a cruel twist of fate, is exploited to the point where she loses her sanity.
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Kali Jotta showcases Indian society’s apathy toward its women. (Spoiler alert—Rabia ends up in a mental asylum where she languishes for 16 years).
From a woman’s choice of clothes to her mobility and financial independence, everything is judged exactly as portrayed in the film. Toxic relationships—at home and work—are the root cause of mental health deterioration. Most ordinary villagers are seldom aware of such issues or have access to good doctors. This movie showcases how far psychological issues can go if not treated in time.
Kali Jotta is the story of those mothers, sisters, and daughters who could neither utter their ordeals nor seek help. They could never express their feelings, opinions, or mental health concerns, as therapy is still considered an elite—and even taboo—practice. Hopefully, such pressing topics will make it to the drawing-room conversations of ordinary middle-class households in a state where the mass exodus of friends and peers has left many in despair.
The movie’s realistic portrayal of the rural economy in Punjab is admirable. It’s like a flashback film, so you may find yourself in nostalgia land, reminiscing the good old days. Instead of cars or jeeps, the characters roam on bicycles or a Kinetic Honda ‘scooty’. There are no guns, no gang fights and no collisions between lovers. Consent is understood and well-respected by everyone (except the villains).
Though this movie has a significant amount of love and tragedy, it doesn’t supersede the message it hopes to give. This film is a part of the renaissance the Punjabi film industry is experiencing, and issue-based films are gaining traction once again. Jatt vs IELTS (a 2018 story on fake marriages for immigration), Chal Mera Putt (a 2019 film on the camaraderie between Indian-Pakistani Punjabi labourers abroad) are examples of the change within this industry.
Kali Jotta is a good hit among Indian Punjabis and the diaspora. Its box office collection so far is an estimated Rs 27 crore, which is quite significant for a regional film. Its success can pave the way for other directors to make similar films on relevant issues.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)