Kabir Singh

I know I know I know that I have tonnes of assignments nearing the same dateline TT

Anyway. So I watched Kabir Singh on Netflix. I watched it because of Shahid Kapoor, I watched another movie of his recently, so like, Kabir Singh was also recommended in my Netflix algorithm? Of course it’s not because of his eyes that add the charm to his already-charming boy-next-door cuteness

Apapun the movie isn’t family-kind, don’t dont watch it with your parents or younger siblings if you don’t want some moral lectures you know. It’s not for nudity element, but rather for abundant show of alcohol and drug abuse.

Well basically the Kabir Singh is a top medical student at his school, with strong reputation what with his excellent academic achievement, and the fact that he is the school football captain, *and* the most important thing, his renowned anger management issue. Other students fear him, and his friends nods to whatever his action, with minimal interference. All in all, he is a bad boy, the kind that girls all over the world easily fall for. I mean, who doesn’t fantasise about that one man that is feared and respected but has a very tender soft spot for you

And one day he sees Preeti, a junior. While some of his early  actions in pursuing Preeti is criticized by many as misogynistic (i.e warning off other students beforehand not to tackles her, kissing her cheek without asking her permission in public space as a sign of his territory), what interests me more is the lack of response Preeti gives. It is not like I am blaming women generally for being in toxic relationship or whatever, but this is just me stating my confusion of how a character could be so... unresponsive? When Kabir first time sees Preeti, she maintains looking down and keeping quiet, like her other friends, which I could understand for being afraid of the seniors, as ragging culture at the school is also mentioned in the movie

But it is confusing how when Kabir takes her out for personal teaching, she does not even question a bit, when Kabir transfer her to the male dorm she does not even hesitate, when Kabir kisses his cheek she does not even give any reaction other than being silent like a porcelain doll. Well, at least, hesitate, or ask question, at least we can see that she has a working mind that processes his interaction with him, and interprets it either in joy or confusion or rebellion. But all she does is look down, look at Kabir, follows wherever he says “come”

But she seems amused, though, when Kabir asks her to move seat in class and select a specific girl to sit next to her. Preeti is also amused at Kabir’s small attempt at their first kiss. So maybe all her attitude that I labeled as very naive can be ignored, as it seems clear that she also is attracted to Kabir. After all when she first saw him, she also looked at him a few times despite remaining quiet, which may indicate her early attraction towards him

The other thing that intrigues me is when Kabir and Preeti has a dispute in front of her house after her father refuses to marry them, Preeti tells him to calm down and that she couldn’t live without him. To which he replied, “Who are you? You have no identity except for being Kabir Rajdheer Singh’s girl, that’s it.” And Preeti agrees, saying “I have no identity of my own.”

I think it’s kinda fked up. It is very clear that Preeti is a character that is not given any depth. I thought that oh maybe she’s just the kind that is only book smart, that’s why she could go to medical school with a good ranking in exams, I mean there’s a lot of people that is book smart but not assertive enough to give opinions or stand for their own, so it’s kinda understandable. But the fact that Kabir could spew the lines, no matter whether it is out of sheer anger or not, means that some time some where he realizes that too; that Preeti is entirely depending on him. And it made me think whether he intentionally makes her that way or not, especially after he decides who is going to sit with her in class and in hostel, saying that pretty girl should befriends a “healthy” girl, meaning that he understands how social dynamics can be hacked. Please note that making someone fully socially and emotionally  dependent on you, is a sign of manipulation 

Also, when I thought Preeti perhaps is not holistic enough, there’s a scene where she gives speech on a stage, which made me think oh at least I know that there is something else about her other than studying and making love and normal socialising, that is just not shown on screen. But then in that scene Preeti is disrespected by a student, and Kabir shows up on the stage next to her, and only then the audience behaves, shows that Preeti receives respect mainly because of her reputation as Kabir’s girlfriend, not because of her own merit

While I understand how love is powerful, I loathe to see some people become destructive without it. And all in all, my conclusion is Kabir Singh is aware that Preeti is dependent on her, which I think is dangerous, especially that Preeti seems very clueless about everything. Not that being submissive is wrong, but it baffles me how she seems very meek, very easily manipulated. 

Other than that, I find myself laughing in between the scenes, and I admire how consistently caring the character Shiva is towards him. And Kabir’s dedication at both his career and love life, I think that is admiring