TJMM: From Negative To Gray, Luv Ranjan Finally Served Us A Relatable Female Character

On Holi, the movie Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (TJMM) was released in theatres. As the title suggests, it tells the tale of two liar lovers who fall in love while on a lavish vacation in Spain. Ranbir Kapoor portrays Mickey, while Shraddha Kapoor plays the role of Tinni. Micky, the Makkar, completely falls in love with Tinny, the Jhoothi; but, when families get involved, everything turned upside down. The plot is a straightforward rom-com about a boy and a girl who flirt, fall in love, and then break up.

Director Luv Ranjan with TJMM has returned after five years since his last directorial, Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. I grew up watching Luv Ranjan's films, starting with Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011) and continuing with the most recent, TJMM. He consistently portrayed women negatively and being a woman in my early 20s, I couldn't connect with those women, and I always asked, why are the female characters in his films so dumb, dominative, manipulative, dependent, and possessive?

But after watching the female character in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, I finally discovered a character to whom I could completely relate.

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar Female Character:

Shraddha Kapoor has looked extremely confident and gorgeous as always. Her character Tinny is also confident, career-focused and knows exactly what she wants out of life. When she meets Micky, she knows this 'trip wala love' is not going to last any long. When she asked him if he wanted a time pass or a serious relationship, she came across as incredibly relatable. Because no one wants to spend their real emotions, patience, time, or money on a relationship with vague terms in the modern world. It's necessary to express your intentions, what you want from the relationship, or how you want to maintain things. Whether you're interested in seeing each other, going on a fancy date, or just going out for a delicious dinner, or planning a long-term relationship, there could be a thousand different intentions, and you just need to give one genuine one before you start to make sure the other person is on the same page.

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The second relatable characteristic is that she is a person who values her space above everything else. Although Tinny lived in the same city as her family, I entirely understood her decision to live alone in order to guard her independence. I believe that if you prefer to live alone, it's not because you don't love your family; rather, it's because you function best and feel the healthiest when you're by yourself since this is how you refuel and refresh. Individuality, from preparing your own bedtime tea to doing the dishes after dinner, is where you find peace.

When Tinny and Micky's love grows, things start to become more challenging. Mickey won't give up his close-knit family to be with the love of his life because they are the centre of his universe. But Tinny refuses to suffer hardship like her mother, who married into a joint family, as she is already terrified of her mother's situation. I'm not sure how practical or morally right it is for her to need space and just for Micky to have a happy life. But I completely see where she is coming from.

She has real issues about adjusting to a big family, and they are totally understandable. But finally, Ranjan has tempered his portrayal of his female lead and instead created a gray character who struggles with her own vulnerabilities while using all contemporary coping mechanisms.

Views expressed by author are their own