"The Way to a Man's Heart is Through His Stomach" may be one of those old adages often used to deride a man/woman's inability to resist their partner by partaking food that would have been lovingly prepared and served by either. This trivial concept was turned around beautifully to show Nakusha reaching out to Dutta's heart through his stomach and is symbolical as it showed a repentant Dutta asking the person he loves most to help satiate his material hunger, but more importantly, acknowleging without words that Nakusha as the only person who touches the deepest recesses of his soul. That has been rarely attempted on celluloid so beautifully and I would say Hats off to CV's who went further by the liberal use of symbolical scenes that will be remembered for a long time.
I will start with that reviled slap which caused so much distress and anger among LTL fans as witnessed on the forum yesterday. No-one condoned that act which may have been necessary to move the story forward but it gave Dutta a silent opportunity to tell Nakusha and the world that however fraught, his personal relationships may appear, he will protect his wife by preventing any unconscious/irresponsible act that would bring remorse to her later. He is vindicated soon after when Nakusha in a resolute show of dignified subservience asserts the same and tells Dutta about her happiness for his unconventional, yet clear acceptance (almost branding) of her being as the wife that he loves, in front of the society and family members. Had CV's not redeemed themselves today by showing that repentant and loving/caring side of Dutta, this whole scene could easily have been taken as an archaic subjugation of a wife in public but Nakusha chose to send a subtle but clear message/warning to all present, business associates and family members, not to mess with or underestimate her husband's authority and, at the same time, affirm her status in Dutta's life and Patil Niwas.
I am not going to dwell for too long on the Nakusha/Kala confrontation when our little tigress, severely, remonstrates Kala for underestimating her ability and judgement of the once destitute girl from the slums in seeing through the smokescreen and go straight back to the kitchen scene. I spoke of symbolism with Nakusha feeding Dutta. That one morsel of rice is manna from the heavens for Dutta and he says it loud and clear. What more could she possibly ask for after that? She knows that this guy slumped on the floor at the same level as her without his usual regal air , loves her beyond redemption when he tells her that you are the only one able to satiate my hunger. Food here assumes the healing factor that Dutta in his "lucid/drunkenness" invites his soulmate to apply as balm to his bleeding heart and soul.
Our Gadha who is now famed for coming to his senses when drunk, has hurt himself as punishment for slapping Nakusha. It is said that one can only wash one's sin by voluntarily letting bad blood flow from one's body and allow regeneration. Dutta, feeling totally guilty for hurting and causing harm to Nakusha is possibly attempting the same process to cleanse his soul. The other highlight was the one in their bedroom when Nakusha cleans the wound on Dutta's hand. It may sound funny that she found all that she needed in that first-aid box except for the actual dressing so a piece of the pallu is ripped off to that intent. Nothing so special here one could say, but it is a gentle reminder for both husband and wife for the number of times that Nakusha has been instrumental in healing Dutta. This third phase of healing post FR is the most crucial and Nakusha by using a piece of her saree (representing the dignity and honour that Dutta has conferred upon her) is probably trying to tell Dutta that she is his for keeps, come rain or gale. We will wait until tomorrow to see if Dutta will rise to the challenge.
And now for the last scene where Kala is seen chopping the apple in two halves whilst alluding to Adam and Eve, it could be interpreted as yet another evil milestone that she will cross soon. The apple in the story of the mythical ancestors of man and woman became a symbol for knowledge, immortality, temptation, the fall of man into sin, and sin itself. Kala here becomes the serpent who is dragging into her sin, her sister and brother-in-law. The most disturbing part symbolical of Kala's totally evil side is this clear encroachment of the minds of two members of her family (one being her own little sister) that she ought to protect but is pushing down the alley of no return for her sadistic intents .
For us to continue being charmed by LTL, it should remain a fairy tale but CV's have today made a brave attempt by incorporating the symbolism element in its narration which I guess would take it further in the moral minefield as Dutta starts his uphill battle to redeem himself along with Nakusha as the shield to guide him through this long journey. Hats off to CV's who will hopefully not falter again as it hurts.
Bravo MR⭐️⭐️⭐️?..Keep it up MV👏👏👏. We love you and will always cherish Dutta and Nakusha, the characters you breathed life into. 😊
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