Boudi

Boudi

“তোমায় দেখেছি শারদপ্রাতে তোমায় দেখেছি মাধবী রাতে তোমায় দেখেছি, হৃদি-মাঝারে….”

In Bengali, we have different nomenclature for sisters in law. “Boudi” is elder brother’s wife. We somehow associate her with her younger brother in law. Be it Rabi Thakur-Kadambari, Charu-Amal or something as recent as “Dupur Thakurpo”. Boudi and Dewor somehow go hand in hand - literally and figuratively.
What however, has always intrigued me is - the relationship between the Boudi and the Nonod, the younger sister of her husband.
In this series, we shall celebrate this beautiful, complex, many layered relationship between this two women. We celebrate Paramita-Khuku, Arati-Bani, Jaya-Aparna, Bonani-Parul and of course my own Boudi, Trishna and me.

EXPLORE THE COLLECTION

ছড়িয়ে দিয়ে পা দুখানি কোণে বসে কানাকানি,কভু হেসে কভু কেঁদে চেয়ে বসে রই।আমার ইচ্ছা করে তোদের মতন মনের কথা কই।

"I got married when I was in college. A young 22 year old. The same hawkers at Gariahat who called me Didi a week before, started calling me Boudi the moment they saw vermillion on my parting. For me, the Boudi Daak was not flattering at all.
My brother in law who, for all the eight years of my courtship with his elder brother called me Parama, started calling me Boudibhai.
I just felt I had aged in a day.
Now that I am married for more than 17 years, I know what a beautiful relationship it is, inspite of occasional comments like “Puro Boudi Lagche” (to mean you look sexy).
My younger sisters in law have confided in me, trusted me, helped me in my moments of distress. And we have become friends in the process."

This series is an ode to Boudis. Who have left their homes to make a new family, theirs. Who seek a support system in their Nonods because another woman, closer to her age would understand her better than her mother in law - often times.

“সাজো সাজাও এমন করে বুঝতে নারি কেমন তুমি...."

A major part of Boudi and Nonod bonding is dressing up. The urge to try her lipsticks, wear her jewellery, use her make up and perfumes that came in the trousseau and in return, helping her with the “Kuchi” (pleats of the saree), detangling her hair, putting a safety pin to hold the saree pallu with the blouse and pulling the saree a little to cover her heels…the joy of dressing up together! In this series, we shall celebrate every little thing that two of them enjoy doing together. From sharing sharee to sharing secrets.

The equally important counterpart of Boudi in this series is her Nonod. Her husband’s younger sister.
While shooting this series, a line that Swastika said while enacting one of the scenes stayed with me. Primarily for the laugh it invoked, but also for the genuineness of the statement.
So, while the Boudi said, “Tor ma amake ki jalache toke ki bolbo!”, the Nonod replied: “Amakeo! All of us broke into laughter. And much after the shoot was over, I was smiling. When we speak of someone’s mother in a displeasing way, it is natural (and obvious) that her children will take the mother’s side and start telling you her side of the story. But to take part in the conversation as a “co-sufferer” 😀! Well, that’s something funny, wonderful and empathetic. In Nonods, the Boudis try to find that friend who will listen to her without judging. And even if it is about their own mother.