Videsh Hindi Movie
Chand, (Preity Zinta) a small town girl from Punjab is engaged to Rocky (Vansh Bharadwaj), living in Canada. The film opens with the sangeeth ceremony of Chand. The following day, her mother narrates to her for the umpteenth time, the folklore of the sheesh naag, the story of the mythical snake, which is believed to protect women in distress.
Chand leaves for Canada to join her husband. Rocky lives with his parents. His married sister with her unemployed husband and two children also live with them. While his sister takes care of Chand, his mother often instigates Rocky to beat Chand. Rocky is short tempered and hits his wife at the slightest provocation. Disappointed and hurt, Chand longs to talk to her mother. But even that is denied by Rocky.
Chand takes up work at the factory where her sister-in-law works. However, her salary is paid directly to her husband. She has no money on her person and cannot even make a call home. And when she manages to make that call, her brother does not understand her pleas for help. He is more interested in Rocky sponsoring him to Canada. Like any new bride, Chand longs for the day when Rocky will care for her and love her. She seeks solace by escaping to her world of imagination, a world where her husband is caring and loving. And during these escapades, she talks to herself.
Things come to such a pass that her husband doubts her fidelity and she is made to go through the naag pariksha where she has to put her hand inside a snake hole to prove her honesty. The story that hinged on domestic violence deviates from its focus as it meanders into Hindu mythology about a snake, losing its credibility. Extremely slow paced in the first half with the climax scene rushed through, 'Videsh' disappoints. What was the relevance of seesh naag folklore in today's era you can't help wondering. One can't help recalling 'Provoked,' another film on domestic violence in which Aiswarya had done a brilliant job as the battered wife who seeks justice. It had a strong script and was ably supported by a good cast. 'Provoked' ended on a positive note with a message for other women in a similar predicament.
Videsh is a letdown, despite the recognition it received at international awards. It fails to tug at your heart strings. Videsh certainly caters to a foreign audience who still believe India to be the land of mythology.
Preity is seen in an unusual role and delivers her role well, but it is Vansh Bharadwaj, as the mean husband who makes a mark on his debut. Other actors who have acquitted their parts well are those who play Rocky's mother and sister.
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