Here’s Why Cocktail Is The Perfect Mix Of Everything That’s Wrong With Indian Society!

It's been five years that Cocktail released. No I don't track dates this religiously but was just lucky enough to bump into this info on Twitter! Five years back when I had seen the movie, I had felt a lot of emotions. And today I will grab this auspicious occassion to give my two cents on the movie!

Chances are that you had definitely watched Cocktail! Who would want to miss it? You have a glamorous and super sexy Deepika who just nails it as soon as she enters the club in Angrezi Beat! And then you have a promising Diana Penty, who seemed to be perfectly complimenting Deepika and Saif Ali Khan!

The First Half:

The film, at the start, seems to be the perfect concoction- you have fun, hotness and a great storyline that reflected the culture that the youth could totally relate to! And personally I was in love with Veronica. I mean she was perfect, something that I as a girl would look upto be! She is fun, independent, follows her heart, and does whatever makes her happy. She is monetarily independent, and a gem at heart who does not even think twice before helping out Meera!

And there was Gautam, the guy who could be great friends with Meera and was madly in love with Veronica. And Meera, the perfect friend who would be there with you and who would support you. So far so great!

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The Gradual Change:

And then the twist in the story begins. And Cocktail, from being the uber cool youth film turns to be the reflection of everything that’s wrong with the patriarchal society!

Regressive much?

So Gautam’s parents decide to drop by and check on their son, who is basically living with two women. Indian parents mind you! So he tells them that he loves the girl and is staying with her. Great! But wait, wait for it, he introduces Meera as his girlfriend! Reason- she is the ideal Indian woman, totally the one your parents would want you to be with- sundar, sushil, who does the household staff and does pooja with the ghunghat on her head!

No, don’t get me wrong here as I am saying this. To be able to manage the household like a pro is a great thing and I have nothing against Meera’s ways. But pitching a woman against the other, well done patriarchy! Why, why on earth could he just not introduce his real girlfriend to his parents!

Wait, this doesn’t end here:

No, that didn’t end there! The uber cool, sassy Veronica decides to take a u-turn and be the gharelu auraat, because Indian film! Gautam, you would have no doubt now, is a complete asshole. But Veronica wants to be with him. And she is ready to give her lifestyle, her independence and individuality for this guy! Maybe that’s what is called blind in love, but this offended me!

What is the message again?

So what did this film have to say to the society- date this super hot chic who is cool, parties hard, is totally ok with a live-in relationship with you and who would just make your friends envy you! But how can such a woman be taken home? She is dateable, but she isn’t a marriage material. And she is pitted against the totally ‘marriageable’ Meera who can be taken home and introduced. I mean I get it. Men like Gautam are probably the kind who doesn’t have the balls to be with a woman who is so fiercely independent and has a mind of her own!

Did you realize this?

N.B- Notice how this film has perfectly named the female characters.  The party girl is Veronica and the sweet, shy be-at-home as Meera. *Slow Claps*