Designed by Preeti is a drama about a woman who needs to change her life. Preeti (Rashmi Rustagi) is an Indian woman of a certain age who seems to be living quite a comfortable life. Her husband, Jay (Ajay Kumar), is wealthy and successful, and the middle-aged couple have cemented their place in the Desi community as proper married people. Despite the facade, however, Preeti is in hell. Jay cheats on her and openly has a mistress. He physically abuses her when she won’t go along with his every expectation, most of which involves keeping up appearances to other people. She has not been forthcoming about the situation with anyone else, and their adult daughter, Mallika (Shavya Samala) knows nothing of what her mother goes through. Preeti is ready to leave the marriage, but divorce in Desi culture is a scandalous notion.
When she finally discusses what is happening with her two closest friends, she gets radically different reactions. Sonia (Anna Khaja) is a Westernized woman who immediately advises throwing Jay out of the house, getting a restraining order, and initiating divorce. Revathi (Sangeeta Agrawal) is a traditionalist who insists that nothing is more important than the family, and Preeti should do as Indian women are expected to: let it go to keep peace in the family and the community. She feels both impulses and is torn about what to do.
The great passion in her life has been couture design, and she incorporates it into her plan for a new beginning. The rigid community, however, begins to shun her to avoid any association with such an inappropriate woman. When Jay hears she wants to go into business, he offers to provide the capital to help her start it up, and she is tempted, but then realizes it’s just another way for him to reel her back into his orbit, and under his thumb. The viewer travels this road with Preeti as she deals with an estranged soon-to-be-ex husband, a furious daughter, and the contempt of her community. She is not ready to give up on life, a career, or love, regardless of being a little older.
The narrative unfurls in a familiar pattern to Western viewers, as we’ve seen many films about women finding themselves and leaving abusive situations. Sleeping with the Enemy, The Burning Bed, and Enough are just a few of numerous examples. In Hollywood, women finding empowerment is practically its own genre.
“… she is ready to leave the marriage, but divorce in Indian culture is a scandalous notion. “
In Indian cinema (and this is an Indian film, despite being shot with English dialogue in the U.S.), however, this is still a radically subversive idea. Indian patriarchy is traditional, strong, and largely unchallenged. There is a deep-seated social structure where men hold power over family, finances, and cultural norms across generations. Sons traditionally inherit property and carry on the family name. A vast majority of adults believe a wife must always obey her husband.
In this context, Designed by Preeti is a rebellious parable, and will be seen as destructive to traditions that have been in place for millenia.To Western viewers, the challenges Preeti faces will seem common with easy solutions, and her reactions inadequate.
Writer/producer/star Rashmi Rustagi points out unique elements of the script: “A few things that make it distinctive: the writer, director, and producers are all women of color, and the story centers a woman over fifty, with most principal roles played by professional actors over fifty who are also people of color.”
The production is solid. Cinematography and sound, while not particularly exciting, are at a high level of quality. There is something of a soap-opera approach to the dialogue, but that doesn’t take away from the emotional impact of the film. Given the community portrayed, Designed by Preeti is a bold, brave message to women that their lives aren’t over if they decide to move beyond the patriarchy.
Learn more at the official Designed by Preeti website.
"…spells out for Indian women their options to a traditional life"
