At the age where I was still finding my footing in life, Minsara Kanavu's Priya, essayed by Kajol has been a character I drew inspiration from in navigating life. Allow me to share what makes Priya so ahead of her time!
1. She knows exactly what she wants in life (until the love fiasco meddles with her focus). ❤Though I didn't want to be a nun, Priya taught me that it's okay to take unconventional paths in life - not doing what everybody is doing. Cut your own path or don't be afraid to take the less-walked path. This was why I decided to switch from science to humanities in A-Levels. 💃💅
2. Having fun and diverse interests, traveling, and enjoying life isn't the monopoly of men. 💝
To this day, Indians think all a girl should do in life are study, graduate, join a company, get married, and settle down. But look at what Priya taught us in way back in 1997 - be independent, explore what life has to offer, and have fun while at it. 😍😎
3. She is firm when the situation demands it and doesn't hesitate to convey exactly how she feels. 💀
In a world filled with frivolous people, Priya knows early on about what she wishes to do in life. And when her wish is met with sentimental confrontations, she agrees to give their suggestions a try - yet remains steadfast. ✊
4. Priya doesn't back down from being herself and completely honest with everyone. 💕
If it's friendship, it's friendship for Priya. If she falls in love, it's purely love .She doesn't put up an act or maintain multiple faces. And because she is so bona fide, she couldn't take it when she learns that she has been lied to and pulls back from everything she trusted and shuns herself to heal from betrayal - every woman can relate to Priya. ☝
5. How she handles marriage arrangements that she's not into is respectfully witty. 👽
She isn't that coy bride. In fact, the coy one is the groom. And she conveys her disinterest very clearly. Priya rocked. Groom shocked. Then comes rugged boy Prakash Raj as groom and she uses his own words against him - I don't think any Indian movie did such a scene where the bride was allowed to reject a potential with her dignity intact and her character, unjudged. She also does it tactfully, the rejection doesn't affect the men. 💥
6. For the first time in Indian movie history, a woman who inherits her family business isn't portrayed as an educated snob.
This is how real, educated women are - education and being CEO don't make us supercilious. It's also a learning process for any business owner. We take suggestions. We treat our employees as colleagues and not slaves. Mostly, if a CEO is arrogant and thinks that business development is entirely because of them, the business won't flourish - interpersonal skills are critical. Priya embodies all of this.
7. She encapsulates the lack of appeal marriage - a revolutionary statement in 1997.
"First it garlands you. Then it handcuffs you." The reality of marriage, especially for Indian women was conveyed in those two simple lines. It is only now where Indian women are expressing disdain for marriage because they aren't interested, not burdened by family commitments. But Priya did it in 1997. She was such a vanguard.
8. Priya never wore a saree - and all her dresses are ADORBS. You can wear them 20 years later and still look incredibly fashionable/
I adore her styling and she was the one who gave me confidence to wear wests, jumpsuit dresses, LBD, and scarves. Priya defied dupatta boys in 1997 and I can't get over it.
All credits go to Rajiv Menon for his subtle defining of a woman's character in a sensible way!
Thank you for those indelible childhood memories. Thank you for inspiring a whole generation. Thank you for Priya. Minsara Kanavu's Telugu and Hindi version are Mereppu Kalalu and Sapnay respectively.
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