Women-centric films have carved a distinct space for themselves in contemporary Bengali cinema. An exploration of this genre, Aapish, the upcoming film by Abhijit Guha and Sudeshna Roy, promises to tell a story that rises above its feminist trappings to offer a more positive and inspiring experience.

The trailer of the film reveals that its plot follows two closely intersecting strands featuring two working women, hailing from different strata of society. Hashi (Sudipta Chakraborty), is a househelp-cum-nanny hired by the family of a smart, educated working mother (Sandipta Sen), to look after her toddler son Bublai, while she is away at work. From the very outset, it is made amply clear that patriarchy holds sway even within the posh, urban milieu. The busy, hardworking lives of Hashi’s employers, held in fragile balance by Hashi’s housekeeping efforts, suddenly turn topsy-turvy when she is compelled to skip work for a prolonged period due to a health crisis in her family.

What is interesting about Aapish is that it takes a real, relatable and commonplace story and uses it as a canvas to paint a multi-coloured picture of society, cutting across social and cultural backgrounds. What is sad and ironic is how true and universal the ideas presented in it are. The irony is also starkly evident in the physical representation of the two women — though one is shabbily dressed and weather-beaten in appearance and the other is elegant and well-heeled; they face the same set of problems in spite of their vastly different socio-economic status. The two women’s attitude to adversity is, however, not the same. As seen in the trailer, unlike her employer, Hashi accepts her poverty and its problems quite cheerfully and does not flinch until she faces abuse from her husband. The ending of the trailer also suggests that Hashi is the more resourceful and resilient of the two and will perhaps advise and support the other woman in her distress.

Through its story lifted from everyday life, Aapish talks about problems like patriarchy, and how its unfair and outrageous rules continue to define the responsibilities of women inside the house as more important and sacrosanct than her work outside it. It also points to the conflict faced by women everywhere on how to balance career and child care, while also showcasing inspiring ideas on women having each other’s backs and developing a strong, emotional bond with other women. Starring Tathagata Choudhury and Kinjal Nanda in other important roles, Aapish has a June 13 release date.