thepsyklife Set in the Calcutta in the 1940s, Qala (meaning “Art” in Hindi) is psychological drama movie. The movie depicts the story of Qala Manjushree, a prominent singer who had established a successful career. She has an estranged relationship with her mother where she was made to feel like she was never enough. Her mother favoured her Jagan – an orphan boy she took under her wing to train as a singer, over Qala. This neglection had manifested in several ways as she grew. Some psychological issues that can be clearly observed were how the estranged relationship with the mother, absence of a father, the twin’s death, Jagan’s death, and more had shaped the personality of Qala while also putting her at the risk of developing serious psychological disorder. One of my favourite scenes where Qala even reaches out to a doctor for help and the doctor responds with “Aap zyada sochiye mat.” (Don’t think too much). This movie is an excellent depiction of how bad parenting and absence of a primary caregiver can affect the overall personality of an individual and their lives.
- The death of a twin at birth
Qala was actually born with a twin brother who could not make it. Qala is blamed for taking away the nutrition in the uterus and smother her while growing up. In this process, Qala becomes an unwanted child, neglected and deprived of the love a child needs especially in the formative years.
2. Critical Parenting
Following her father and mother’s footsteps in music, Qala is taught and trained in music by her mother but is some how never appreciated and always punished for not being “perfect”. She is also never given the validation of her talent even though everyone around her appreciates Qala’s voice and rather favour Jagan. This also depicts the societal norm of men being better at things (plus Qala’s mother had also lost a son and somehow Jagan filled that void)
3. Need for Validation and Love
The absence of a father figure since birth and her mother never appreciating or showing enough affection left Qala for always seeking self-worth and fulfilment externally and never learning to be content by herself. If the primary caregivers never validate their children from their early years, they will always end up seeking it from the wrong place and never have a high self-esteem. Qala’s fame, popularity, attempts at seducing men and awards were just a way of her seeking validation that she was good enough.
4. Attachment Style
Although not depicted in the movie but Qala would grow up to be having an insecure attachment style with her partner. Qala would constantly do things that would make her mother happy so she would love her or appreciates her. This type of relationship with the primary caregiver often leads to having an insecure style attachment where the person is always doing things to please the partner in order to receive love.
5. No Concept of “Self’
Throughout her childhood, Qala had only one ambition – to be a good singer. She always wanted to be perfect so her mother would appreciate her as a singer. There is also an envious behaviour towards Jagan and his performances. The truth is Qala never really knew why she wanted to be a singer. From the beginning, she took training because her mother had said so, she knew performing well would bring validation from mother which would make her feel love and she did not even envy Jagan for being a better singer, she just saw someone who is going to replace her and take away any little love still left for her from her mother.
Written by Rukhsar
