Designed by Preeti tackles abuse, independence, and cultural expectations with sincerity, strong performances, and an ultimately uplifting message about finding the courage to start again.
by Nav Qateel
From American-Indian director Gayatri Bajpai comes the filmmaker’s first feature-length movie, Designed by Preeti, a film that takes on the important subject of spousal abuse and the impact it has on women and, just as importantly, children, irrespective of their age.
Designed by Preeti is set within the Indian community, where housewife and mother Preeti Kumar, along with husband Ajay, are among friends celebrating their wedding anniversary. However, it is clear that Preeti is far from happy while everyone else is enjoying themselves.
It becomes apparent that Ajay is having an affair with his secretary, and Preeti is understandably offended that her husband has invited the aforementioned secretary to the party. Ajay even has the audacity to feel up his girlfriend during the bash, and while no one spots this happening, it is an unnecessary risk that points to how he simply expects this kind of behaviour to be accepted.
After the party winds down, leaving Ajay and Preeti on their own, Ajay tries to coax his wife into bed for an evening of passion. However, Preeti confronts the philanderer about his behaviour, only to be slapped across the face for daring to question her husband. And so begins Preeti’s journey from being an abused wife to a woman determined to put her part-time clothing design hobby to the test and try to make it her career and business.
Read the INFLUX Conversation with Rashmi Rustagi (Preeti)
The casting in Designed by Preeti was particularly good, as each character was perfectly suited to their role, with the actors putting in convincing turns. Taking the lead was Rashmi Rustagi as Preeti, and she was utterly believable, easily carrying the weight of the film on her shoulders.
Preeti moves from being a wife suddenly on her own and trying to figure things out, to being short of money and working in a store, before eventually starting a business, with Rustagi really selling the part to the audience.
Jay Charan as Ajay was solid. He didn’t have a huge amount of screen time, but certainly enough to appreciate his acting ability. The way Ajay uses daughter Mallika’s name in an attempt at worming his way back into Preeti’s life was infuriating. I’m sure we’ve all seen this type of behaviour before, either through experience or in movies.
Preeti has a couple of good friends helping out, with the likes of Sonia (Anna Khaja) being very supportive, while others are more old-school Indian, trying to talk her into forgiving Ajay and taking him back.
Speaking of old-school Indians, it was amusing hearing these women talking to each other and discussing how they were worried about their children falling in love with Americans rather than having arranged marriages. I can speak from some experience that this is a thing within the older members of the community.
Designed by Preeti is wonderfully acted, and the cinematography is nicely executed. The script is a tad pedestrian, but at the same time handles a very important topic, which it covers well.
The obvious audience for this film is the Indian moviegoer, but it is an entertaining and ultimately feel-good movie that everyone can enjoy. Gayatri Bajpai clearly has a great future in filmmaking, and I, for one, will be watching out for her next project.
A must-see film!
Nav’s Score: 8.5/10
