Feeling bloated after meals? Gastroenterologist shares the benefits of post-meal ‘fart walks’ to ease discomfortGoing for a short walk after meals – popularised as “fart walks” on social media – is a simple way to get your digestive tract moving and ease bloating. Published on: May 27
IIT Madras graduate rejected ₹10 LPA job for UPSC, later found success through trading: 'Never give up'An X post detailed the man’s 12-year struggle through UPSC preparation, failed career shifts, heartbreak and unemployment before finding success through trading Published on: May 27
Man serves lemon juice as prashad in office prank, colleagues’ reactions go viralA light-hearted office moment captured on Instagram shows lemon juice being served as prashad. Published on: May 27, 2026 4:47 PM IST By Vaishali Kapila Share via Copy link Office life can feel repetitive at times
India opens ₹15,000 crore race to build AMCA stealth fighterThe shortlisted bidders are: Tata Advanced Systems Limited; Larsen and Toubro plus Bharat Electronics Limited, and Bharat Forge plus Bharat Earth Movers Limited Updated on: May 27, 2026 4:56 PM IST By Shishir Gupta Share via Copy link
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla asked the international community for urgent help to prevent disaster in his country, which is under a U.S. energy blockade, in a speech to the UN Security Council on Tuesdayc(May 26, 2026). “I call on the international community to mobilize to
Hindi cinema and the changing meaning of conjugal relationships
Hindi cinema and the changing meaning of conjugal relationships Premium
Contemporary Hindi cinema has made the crisis of conjugal relationships dramatically visible with props and plots on legality. Conjugality is contested from the perspectives of infidelity, violence, and abuse within marital relationships. The latest example is the elegantly curated Suparn Varma film Haq (2025). The film is premised on the famous Shah Bano case, which began in 1978 and continued till 1985. The consequent debates on Muslim women’s rights and the anomalies of instant triple talaq remain relevant even today.
Also Read | Love and its newfangled terms
Haq sensitively renews interest in the social and legal entanglements within which the female protagonist’s persistent pursuit of justice unfolds. Nearly five decades ago, B.R. Chopra’s musically entertaining, high-decibel melodrama Nikah (1982) had also dealt with the problem of triple talaq. In both Haq and Nikah, there is a significant resonance of the female protagonists’ clamour for a healthy conjugal relationship free from betrayal and abuse and conducive to gender equality.
Not just a film about Muslim women and social-legal complexities, Haq joins a range of popular Hindi films that aim to make a statement on conjugality and the crisis that besets it. An instant reminder is Gulzar’s politically charged drama Aandhi (1975), which portrays an estranged wife and husband, essayed by Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen, persistently longing for an ordinary conjugal life. The Aandhi song “tere bina zindagi se shikwa” summarises the whole tale. No less significant was J. Om Prakash’s musical hit Aap Ki Kasam (1974), starring Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz, and Gulzar’s poetic masterpiece, Ijazat (1987). Both delivered a melancholic recapitulation of the breakdown of conjugality on the grounds of infidelity. Songs like “zindagi ke safar mein” in the sardonic voice of Kishore Kumar, or “mera kuch saman” in the deep husky lilt of Asha Bhosle, continue to haunt us melodiously even today.
In a historically long trajectory, Hindi cinema has shown the vulnerability of conjugal romance. Four decades ago, when popular Hindi cinema was dominated by remakes of films from South India, there were series of social dramas on the strengths and weaknesses of married life. T. Ramarao delivered a straightforward tale of infidelity and the consequent rupture in conjugality in Ek Hi Bool (1981).
A prototype of conjugality emerged in Hindi cinema from its early years. In the first quarter of the 20th century, Dadasaheb Phalke’s classic Raja Harishchandra (1913) retold the well-known story from the Puranas. A perfect eulogy for the conjugal relationship, the story received umpteen cinematic versions in regional languages. The key theme of each version is the tryst between a king committed to truth and Taramati, the king’s devout wife.
In Kannada cinema, there have been four versions of the same story since A.V. Meiyappan’s 1943 production, which was also dubbed into Tamil. Moreover, there were cinematic recastings of the Harishchandra Taramati tale in Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Bangla, and other regional languages. Suffice it to say that these innumerable cinematic returns to the tale set a pan-Indian template of conjugality with an archetypal halo.
Departing from this prototype, the fissures and fractures in conjugality resulting from marital disputes between wife and husband became more central in cinema in the second half of the 20th century. A lesser-known film, Biraj Bahu (1954) by the maestro Bimal Roy, was based on the famous novel by modern classical litterateur Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The film underlined the patriarchal moral judgment on the infidelity of a wife that upsets conjugal relations.
A Guru Dutt classic dealing with conjugality was Mr. & Mrs.‘55. In spite of its solid argument based on the then-passed divorce Bill in India, the film ingenuously persuades us to believe in the love, care, and empathy associated with post-marital conjugality. Most importantly, it serves as an early reminder of the negative consequences of societal interference between a wife and a husband.
On the other hand, Hrishikesh Mukherji’s musical masterpiece Abhimaan (1973) sharply critiques the toxic masculinity of a husband against an exceedingly successful wife. The estranged couple suffers the consequences and eventually surrenders to the intimate power of conjugality, which helps mend their broken relationship.
Another Guru Dutt magnum opus, Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), underlined the fraying of conjugality, resulting in the husband’s quest for love and fulfilment elsewhere. To top it all, there is Basu Bhattacharya’s trilogy on married life, namely Anubhav (1971), Avishkar (1974), and Griha Pravesh (1979). Each film in the trilogy provides a sensitive portrayal of the complexities caused by both physical and symbolic infidelity, where both partners suffer with a deep longing to talk to each other and find a resolution.
The sombre melancholia in the cinematic texture of the trilogy continued in Bhattacharya’s last film, Aastha (1997). In between a tussle between infidelity and conjugality, the film shows a housewife driven by aspirations in a consumerist society, committing infidelity. She eventually finds resolution through an enabling conjugal relationship with her husband. However, Mahesh Manjarekar’s Astitva (2000) presents a counter-argument, depicting the violent abandonment of an unfaithful wife and the unequivocal collapse of conjugality.
The trend continued in the 2000s, which witnessed a significant rise in the dexterous treatment of the complexities of conjugality in popular Hindi cinema. In 2007, Anurag Basu’s masterpiece Life in a... Metro and Reema Kagti’s Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Limited offered a sensitive depiction of the hum and lull of conjugal romance.
Such an abundance of cinematic engagement with conjugal relationships must be discerned in the wake of a weakening sense of conjugality in contemporary society. There are disturbing statistics of exceedingly rising cases of saddening separation, mushrooming misunderstanding, anguish and estrangement of the partners, also traditionally called wife and husband. Sadly, this shows a weakening of the family and adverse consequences on the mental health of the married couple and children.
In spite of our heightened critical awareness of the intricacies and anomalies of the institutions, we can seldom deny the significance that conjugality holds for us. In a volatile world seduced by desire, Hindi cinema, in its own ways, reminds us to navigate manifold genuine challenges and ensure that the beauty of conjugality does not metamorphose into a monstrous banality.
(Dev Nath Pathak teaches at South Asian University, New Delhi and is the author of the book, In Defense of the Ordinary)
Published - March 06, 2026 08:30 am IST
Hindi cinema / Text and Context
Source: TheHindu
Related Posts: 5 decor tips to welcome vintage design into your contemporary homes A curation of Khadi in contemporary fashion Step inside singer couple Mithoon and Palak Muchhal’s contemporary home Dharmendra, ‘He-Man’ Of Hindi Cinema Woman amazed as Bengaluru kid switches between Hindi Romani gypsy language’s similarity to Hindi and Urdu stuns internet No space for Hindi then Agar Agle 1 Mahine Mein Hindi Nahi Seekhi Toh… Renowned Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla dies at 88 Shraddha Kapoor Voices Judy Hopps In Hindi Release Of Zootopia 2
Jimmy Kimmel brutally mocks Trump for skipping son Don Jr's wedding, ‘This is a guy who…’Jimmy Kimmel addressed President Trump's absence from Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding, mocking his RSVP posted online. Published on: May 27, 2026 5:05 PM IST By Shweta Kukreti Share via Copy link Jimmy Kimmel
1 hours ago
Byju Raveendran, once celebrated for building one of India’s biggest edtech companies, is now battling fresh legal trouble overseas. A Singapore court has reportedly sentenced the Byju’s founder to six months in jail in connection with a contempt case tied to non-compliance with court orders
1 hours ago
Red Balloon Aerospace has launched India's first indigenous super-pressure balloon. Named VISTA, it ascended to 25 km carrying payloads from seven partners. This technology offers a cheaper alternative to satellites for various applications. The company aims for balloons to stay aloft for months
1 hours ago
A team of Chinese researchers has developed a handheld cancer detection device capable of identifying early-stage cancer biomarkers from just a single drop of blood, a breakthrough that could potentially make cancer screening faster, cheaper, and far more accessible in the future
1 hours ago
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) said the CBSE examination results have been marred by "massive irregularities" and demanded an independent judicial inquiry and constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to unearth the truth behind the "entire scam"
1 hours ago
The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Election Commission to consider a representation seeking that Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail slips have time stamps that record the exact moment that an elector casts his or her vote, Live Law reported
1 hours ago
The fallout between Ranveer Singh, Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani during the Don 3 controversy has now become quite public, with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issuing a non-cooperation directive against the Dhurandhar star. Amid this
1 hours ago
The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday acquitted religious leader Asumal Harpalani, also known as Asaram Bapu, of charges related to the gangrape and sexual assault of a minor, PTI reported. However, a bench of Justices Arun Monga and Yogendra Kumar Purohit upheld his conviction for rape in the case
1 hours ago
Bhatia and Theegala could spring a surprise at Charles SchwabBhatia and Theegala could spring a surprise at Charles Schwab Published on: May 27, 2026 3:33 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Fort Worth , Indian origin golfers Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala could spring a surprise when they tee off at
1 hours ago
Noida International Airport: Paresh Maity’s art takes flight of fancyIndian artist Paresh Maity’s two public art installations will be part of the Noida International Airport that is expected to be operational from June 2026. These include six huge panels and a bell installation represent
1 hours ago
The Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed the Uniform Civil Code bill seeking to ban polygamy and make the registration of live-in relationships compulsory, even as the Opposition demanded that it should be sent to a select committee for scrutiny
1 hours ago
LIC shares fall 3 percent as reports say India plans 2 percent stake sale to institutional investors. LIC (Life Insurance Corporation) shares slipped 3 per cent intraday on Wednesday, following the reports suggest the government is planning to sale 2 per cent stake from the insurance behemoth next
1 hours ago
The rupee slipped 8 paise to 95.78 against U.S. dollar in early trade on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) on elevated crude oil prices as fresh U.S. strikes dampened optimism for an imminent U.S.-Iran peace deal. Forex traders said escalating U.S.-Iran conflict is again boosting safe-haven demand for the
1 hours ago
‘India is dirtiest country’: Vlogger praises Sri Lanka, critiques India’s tourism decline due to poor cleanlinessShenaz Treasury criticised India's cleanliness issues, stating they deter tourists and compared the poor civic sense in the country to that in Sri Lanka. Updated on: May 27
1 hours ago
Demolish all illegal structures within 15 km of international border: Amit ShahDemolish all illegal structures within 15 km of international border: Amit Shah Published on: May 27, 2026 2:00 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link New Delhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed the authorities to
4 hours ago
Canada said on Tuesday (May 26, 2026) it will temporarily ban residents from three African countries amid an Ebola outbreak. Residents of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan will be banned from entering Canada for 90 days starting on Wednesday (May 27, 2026)
4 hours ago
Stray dog at Hyderabad airport lounge seen eating leftovers, sparks hygiene debateA stray dog spotted at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport lounge in Hyderabad has gone viral after being seen eating leftovers. Published on: May 27, 2026 2:03 PM IST By Vaishali Kapila Share via Copy link A video
4 hours ago
Kareena Kapoor's nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar shares 3 desi hacks to beat the heat naturally at home: Wala roots to…To combat heat, Rujuta Diwekar recommends adding vetiver roots to water, applying henna to the hands and drinking buttermilk with spices. Here's how they help. Updated on: May 27
4 hours ago
San Francisco-bound Air India flight, airborne for over 8 hours, returns to Delhi after technical snagAir India further added that the flight landed safely in Delhi and will undergo a technical inspection. Updated on: May 27, 2026 2:28 PM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link An Air India flight
4 hours ago
Amazon invested over £15 billion ($20 billion) in Britain in 2025, keeping the on track to deliver its planned £40 billion investment in the three years to the end of 2027, it said on Wednesday.Investments in 2025 included the launch of new operational sites
4 hours ago
, who left in March from its India used-car CEO role, has joined company as cofounder.Pune-headquartered EMotorad, founded in 2020, is backed by the likes of Panthera Growth Partners, Green Frontier Capital and Binny Bansal's xto10x."What EMotorad has built is genuinely exciting
4 hours ago
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham termed "problematic" the role of Pakistan as a mediator in the United States' war with Iran. Mr. Graham's remarks came as Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif said he is not in favour of Islamabad joining the Abraham Accords
4 hours ago
Ashneer Grover once shut down his pitch with ‘Tu baith jaa yar’. Now he’s headed to Y CombinatorAn entrepreneur has shared his journey from being dismissed by Ashneer Grover to getting into the world’s most prestigious startup accelerator, Y Combinator. Updated on: May 27
4 hours ago
100 gharial hatchlings at Chambal sanctuary boost conservation efforts100 gharial hatchlings at Chambal sanctuary boost conservation efforts Published on: May 27, 2026 2:34 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Jaipur, Around 100 gharial hatchlings have emerged from four nests in the Palighat area of the
4 hours ago
Cardiologist explains why ‘normal’ stress test does not mean arteries are clean, shares 5 symptoms to look out forA stress test does not give the total picture of the cardiac blood vessels. As such, the risk of heart attack remains, shares Dr Yaranov. Updated on: May 27
4 hours ago
Organisational intelligence, the new growth pivot for enterprises, is emerging as a key differentiator between growth and stagnation of organisations. The key to being on the greener side of this phenomenon is the ability to learn faster and knowing how to put that knowledge into execution
4 hours ago
Fans of Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh are reacting with shock after a major film workers' union asked its members not to work with him over his alleged abrupt exit from the upcoming movie Don 3. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE)
4 hours ago
