Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey – An Entertaining Eyeopener For Women

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey narrates the story of Jaya (Darshana Rajendran), who learns to defend herself from domestic violence and takes her life into her own hands. The film explores various important issues, like the importance of education and financial independence for women, gender inequality at home, and how daughters are still not valued. Isn't this something that many of us experience or know someone who does?

Right from childhood, Jaya is brought up to conform to the societal template of a conventional woman. Holding the newborn Jaya, her father says, "I wish to raise her like Indira Gandhi," and her uncle responds, "But make sure she has long hair, or else no one will marry her." As she grows up, Jaya is given her brother's used toys, clothes, and books because why spend on a girl’s education when the family needs to spend a fortune on her marriage? These scenes make it clear to us that hers is a patriarchal family where men are the decision-makers and women are expected to abide.

As an adolescent Jaya begins to realise that her parents are clearly gender stereotyping her and her brother. Being the bold and opinionated young woman she is, she voices out her interest in pursuing a degree in anthropology. However, her parents forcefully enrolled her in BA Malayalam. There, she falls in love with her professor, who appears to be a progressive man who, unlike the other men in her life, speaks out for women's rights. Very soon his misogynistic side is revealed as he begins to control her life, and the relationship ends after he slaps her.

Upon discovering the relationship, her family immediately decides to get her married off, and like always, her voice is unheard. Jaya’s very first meeting with the groom, Rajesh (Basil Joseph), is a red flag. He seems to be a very self-absorbed individual who only talks about his poultry business, which makes Jaya uncomfortable. The duo is married, and the cracked glass, broken furniture, and appliances metaphorically make it evident her marriage life is not going to be a happy one.

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey Movie Review: An Entertaining Eyeopener For Women

Jaya begins to be physically and emotionally abused right from the beginning. Rajesh is a complete package of toxicity. Every slap is followed by a namesake apology, a trip to the movies, and a meal at a restaurant where the food is of his choice. Jaya opens up to her family about the abuse, but they simply give the classic advice—it’s normal for husbands to get angry and hit wives. Women must adjust and compromise. With no support from her family and having tolerated 21 slaps, Jaya decides to defend herself. She learns self-defense moves from YouTube. When Rajesh tried to slap her one day, she smashed him back in defense. 

While Rajesh’s repeated violence against Jaya was normalised as "men will be men," Jaya’s counterattack in self-defense created pandemonium in the family. Like in every household, the families talk it out, fake apologies are made, and the couple is forced to reconcile. Rajesh’s brother advises him to teach her that a woman’s place is inside the house—a classic third-rated move that toxic men make. Eventually, Jaya discovers their plan and ends up facing an insufferable loss. Everyone, including her parents, holds her responsible for the loss and brands her as arrogant and ungrateful, saying she is ruining her life by not being a "good woman."

Jaya finally musters the courage and walks out. She is criticised for not completing her graduation and for not being financially independent by her family when, in fact, it was they who robbed her off those opportunities. She leaves, and surprisingly, her brother understands and comes to her support.

The separated couple meets in court after Rajesh files for divorce. The judge emphasises that women are entitled to "justice, equality, and freedom." The film concludes with an intriguing and worthwhile twist. The movie makes us realise that the majority of society is still regressive, as it still defines a good woman as one who is "tolerant, a good cook, and cultured."

We still live in a society that normalises husbands abusing women but cannot bear it when women retaliate. Isn’t it unfair to judge a woman for fighting back against domestic violence?

Suggested Reading: The Great Indian Kitchen And Other Refreshing Women-Centric Malayalam Films