If you ever thought house-hunting in Mumbai was a nightmare for you, the short film Counterfeit Kunkoo by Reema Sengupta is here to expose you to a different realm altogether.
Plagued by her marriage with a man who doesn’t believe marital rape to be a real concept, Smita gathers up her courage to leave him and live by herself. She lives in an apartment with a room and a kitchen and makes a living by selling mangalsutras. The real jolt of the film is felt when she is warned of eviction and has to find a new place. As she is denied a home at every step, she is forced to return to her husband who has not changed his ways.
She runs away again, only to find herself faking her marriage, just to get an agreement signed in her name. Counterfeit Kunkoo does an impeccable job of translating Smita’s pain, courage and desperation all in a matter of 15 minutes.
The short film is capable of exposing systemic, patriarchal problems that are rooted deeply in an activity as trivial as house-hunting. Smita’s journey is eye-opening and commendable, at the least.
You can watch the film here.
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