30/09/2025
In this scene, a family gathering happens in a familiar way, with women busy working in the kitchen, cooking and serving in the heat, while the men sit in comfort, chatting and enjoying themselves. When Manju Singh (played by Shefali Shah), the host, finally walks out in frustration, grabs a glass of juice, sits down with the men, and the contrast is undeniable. It depicts the act of defiance and frustration that shows the invisible labour women do in our households every day.
This is one of many ways emotional labour comes up for women, like being the invisible glue that holds family, relationships and workplaces together. It’s remembering the birthdays, anniversaries, and little details others forget, managing others’ comfort while suppressing their own exhaustion, and being expected to stay calm and pleasant regardless of what they feel. The labour is invisible, unacknowledged, yet it sustains so much of our lives.
Have you ever noticed the women around you carrying this burden?
[juice, shortfilm, shefalishah, neerajghaywan, tangible impact, emotional impact, invisible labour]