Bollywood actor Kalki Koechlin launched a new play,Belly of the Beast,in Delhi, tackling the complicated and often hidden truths of motherhood . Directed by Sheena Khalid,the play is adapted from Koechlin's 2021 book, The Elephant in Womb,penned soon after her child's birth.
This two-hour show follows five women dealing with the trials of motherhood,covering everything from pregnancy and labor to the everyday grind of raising kids. It faces down the emotional storms mothers often endure—postpartum depression,miscarriages, societal pressures .
In India,where motherhood's often put on a pedestal, Koechlin's work pulls no punches on the less rosy side . "Women rarely allowed to voice dark feelings—the struggles,hormonal shifts, loss of identity, postpartum depression," she said . The play aims to break the silence on these overshadowed topics.
The debut was a hit, the cast and crew getting a standing ovation. Heavy themes, but laced with humor and relatable bits,making it accessible. Khalid stressed the need for lightness, saying, "We needed relief for audience. Easing in and out of it. Otherwise,it's too much."
Koechlin's motherhood journey's been personal . During COVID-19 lockdown, she faced postpartum depression,feeling cut off without fellow mothers around. Writing book was therapy,letting her express motherhood's tangled emotions. Post-lockdown, she found camaraderie with other mothers, sharing universal struggles.
The play mirrors the reality for many Indian women,who carry most childcare duties. A striking scene shows this: a husband comes home, eager to share his day,while his wife,after a long day with their child, simply says,"I just looked after the baby." Captures the often unseen labor mothers do .
Stats show about 69% of urban Indian women kept out of workforce due to childcare and housework,compared to just 1% of men. Koechlin points to the double burden on working mothers,expected to excel at home and in jobs. "There's so much pressure...we're told we're lucky to work and be mothers," she said. But it's overwhelming,trying to be "supermoms" while managing homes.
Many women, she noted,take on these pressures themselves, driven by societal expectations. She shared her own struggles juggling work and motherhood, feeling the need to manage her daughter's care while on set. But she calls for shared duties,urging mothers to let fathers and family help. "It's okay to drop the ball and not feel responsible for all," she said.
A powerful theme in the play is miscarriage stigma. In a densely populated country,childbearing pressures are hefty. Shruti Vyas,playing a character battling infertility, draws on personal experience. She stressed validating pain of miscarriage sufferers,noting looks can deceive . "It's okay to not be fine," she said, challenging the need to always seem strong.
The audience deeply connected with Vyas's character's shift from false acceptance to true vulnerability, many agreeing it's okay to express struggles. This reflects growing awareness for open talks on motherhood's realities,pushing for a nuanced grasp of women's experiences.
Koechlin's play isn't just her story but a critique on India's maternal expectations. By exposing motherhood's messier sides,Belly of the Beast challenges prevailing tales, urging honest talks on sacrifices and struggles in raising kids.
