In India, almost always the career path of every girl is predetermined: get some decent education, then do a job or not then get married shift to husband’s place and become assistant to mother-in-laws (MILs) in homemaking. And if it is a nuclear family then daughter-in-law (DIL) manages household but only as branch manager who have to finally report to the general manager aka MIL regularly over phone. And sometimes the general manager pays inspection visits.
Everyone thinks their boss is the worst so how could you as a DIL be an exception especially when everyday is a Monday at your workplace.
Here some Bollywood films come to your rescue by showing how worse your situation could be because Bollywood mother-in-laws are always over-dramatic and go over board about being the baddie. And also there are few instances of very good boss to give you some hope because Bollywood mother-in-laws are extra at being good too!
1. Sau Din Saas Ke
Lalita Pawar is the quintessential filmy MIL. In this film she plays a tyrant MIL who even put burn marks on DIL’s legs using a hot metal.
You should be thankful your MIL only burns you figuratively with words of sarcasm and criticisms.
2. Yeh Vaada Raha
Some filmy MIL can do worse than plain burns. The lady in this film tried to kill her would be DIL. Fortunately she failed and unfortunately for her the same girl became her DIL.
And you had thought your MIL’s inspection visits are real killers!
3. Beta
MILs cannot always be on-your-face scary. Some are sly and take steps like a chess player. Only way to defeat them is to be cool and keep playing the chess match to win.
You may think your husband is a little mama’s boy but at least he is not semi-illiterate crazy mama’s boy.
4. Bahubali 2
Sometimes even trying their best the MILs lose their super dedicated mama’s boys. This drove crazy even a seasoned queen like Shivagami. She destroyed everything dear to her DIL and in the process destroyed her own life.
You should be thankful big time that if she gets less attention than you from her son then your MIL only sulks instead of starting a war.
5. Ghar Jamai
Because it would be too sexist to assume only women suffer wrath of MIL. Sometimes men are at war with their MILs using the wife as pawn.
Thankfully you were never used as a pawn because only war your mother and husband fight is when your mother force feeds 5 rasagullas to him.
6. Maine Pyar Kiya
All bosses or all MILs are not evil, not even in movies. In this movie the MIL encouraged her son to choose his love over money, status and family.
This may not make your situation better but may give you hope.
7. Koi Mil Gaya
Good MIL is fine but if MIL is too good then assume something is wrong with the son and she is only happy to dump him on you. You can’t be too thankful about your MIL not being too good.
8. Astitva
Sometimes MILs need non-judgmental support too, especially when her past deed comes to haunt her. Are you up for that?
(Originally published at https://www.bonobology.com/8-times-movie-mothers-in-law-were-worse-than-your-real-mil/)
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