Disclaimer : Please note that this review may contain spoilers. It's best to read this after you have watched the movie.
Ever since it's release in June 2019, the movie Kabir Singh has continuously been in the limelight. And what's more, all this publicity is not for the right reasons. With its misogynistic outlook, sexist jokes, and a protagonist who does not qualify as a role model due to his alcoholism, drug abuse and 'mad-as-a-hatter' violent reactions to circumstances, this movie only romanticizes a relationship that is downright disturbing. Yes, Kabir Singh is not your traditional, chocolate boy-ish Bollywood hero. However, while subjecting this character to extensive criticism, both critics and audience seemed to have missed out on a very crucial point.
Nobody is talking about Preeti Sikka, the seemingly shy, scared, timid creature who Kabir loses his heart to.
Personally, I found this character worse than Kabir. Let me explain why. She has, most likely, spoken a maximum of ten to fifteen dialogues in the entire one hundred and seventy two minute movie.
Right from the beginning, when Kabir reinforces the fact 'Ye meri bandi hai', Preeti is mum. From deciding who her friends will be, to where she will stay, to whether she should have a suture or not after she injures her foot, to adjusting her dupatta, Kabir decides every single action of hers. Even when she is on stage, delivering a speech, he stands right beside her with his arms crossed. May I know why? Can she not face a crowd by herself? If she has the capability and intellect to ace a medical entrance test and secure an MBBS seat in a reputed institute (which for obvious reasons is very difficult in India under the open category these days), can she not take these decisions all by herself? How difficult is it to stand up for yourself, face a guy you are not interested in, and tell that to him? Why is it that Preeti's strength comes from Kabir, and Kabir alone, and without him, she is a nobody? Even when she is assaulted during Holi, she decides to pick up a baseball bat and hit her attacker after Kabir gets involved and not before.
Out of the ten dialogues that she speaks, approximately five portray her as a weepy, nagging, clingy and weak girlfriend. 'Bas do din aur ruk jao' is her constant whim when Kabir decides to pursue his MS away from her, at Dehradun. For Chrissake, lady. That boy is moving away for his career, and a brighter future. Stop harassing him with such demands and your constant 'baby-baby attitude'. It is very evident that this is a difficult choice for him as well, but unlike her, he tries to be brave about it. She however, decides to act like a Stage-Five Clinger and lands up right on his campus.
Her spineless ways are brought to light in worse ways as the story progresses further. She is not able to stand up to her father for the boy she truly loves (however psycho that boy may be, she should have never dated him in the first place, but let's not go there now). 'Ladkiyon ko gharpe restrictions hote hai, Kabir,' is her lame explanation for this behavior, later on in the movie. Thank you for the insights, ma'am. We were blissfully unaware of this. Restrictions for going out late and partying? Probably valid, and should not be countered. Restrictions on selecting your life partner? Baseless, and definitely must be contested. Open your eyes and spot the differences between the two, Preeti. If your dad was happy to see you become a doctor, he probably knows you are educated, have a voice, have opinions that need to be listened to. It is a matter of simply putting them forward in the right way.
Kabir slaps her on the road, in public after an argument. In my personal opinion, any ordinary woman would have reacted to this by either 1) flinging a flowerpot in his face, the way he threatened to do to her sister 2) simply kicking him out of her life. But no, madam Preeti is a doormat who still goes after him. She only gets married to someone else, not because of Kabir's abusive ways, but because she is too meek to stand up to her family. Highly disturbing.
The character's stupidity and indecisiveness does not end here. She ends up leaving the boy she marries. Madam is on an ego trip and expects Kabir to come looking for her.
The only saving grace of the movie are its witty dialogues and beautiful soundtrack. Pehla Pyaar gives you butterflies in your stomach, and fills you up with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Bekhayali gives you goosebumps, and the audience is able to relate with Kabir's pain and feeling of abandonment. Sohneya too is beautiful, it makes you gush and go 'awwwwww' over the family picture clicked in the end, where all the actors are perfectly color coordinated.
But why Kabir chose to run after an insipid woman who does not know her mind, continues to remain an unsolved mystery, right till the end. Ideally, he should have just walked away, moved on with his life, dated new people and started afresh. This movie is illogical and seems to have taken the 'Aal Izz Well' concept too seriously.
Their son's medical license has been suspended, he has had anger issues, been to jail and could possibly be facing another term. But Kabir's family is far from upset in the end. Even die-hard romantics will know that the story strays far away from the path of logic. Yes, love is beautiful and magical and needs to be celebrated. But the writers need to understand that there are things beyond that too - Family, friends and your career, your passion that gives you your livelihood. Butterflies in your stomach may be a wonderful feeling, but they are not enough to fill it.
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