Heaven on Earth
Basic Information
• Filmed in 2007 and
released in 2008
• It is released in India
titled Videsh
• Inspired by the 1987
Girish Karnad’s novel
Nagamadala.
• Deepa Mehta’s
commercial of YWCA,
which calls upon the
awareness of domestic
violence(DV), is editted
before the film.
The Serpant Worship in India
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Naga, a Sanskrit word for Cobra,
refers to great wise snake, and
often its figure is quite ambiguous.
The Snake also symbolizes
“rebirth”.
Chand’s interpretation on morale
of mom’s fable:
“If you’re a snake, never obey
your guru.”
“You can protect your self without
hurting anyone. That’s what the
saint said to the snake.”
Snake – a symbol of evilness
for Western Culture, yet a
protective figure in the Hindu
Culture.
Chand’s Family
• Chand’s mother teaches Chand what to do as a wife
before the male members wake up.
• Mama: “We all have our strengths. Use yours. If you
have to”
• Chand: The woman asks the Water, "Please take me to
the land where my mother waits for me. "
Chand’s Family
• R: Your father called today.
• C: When? Did you speak to my mother? Didn't she want
to speak to me?
• R: No. Just spoke with your father.
• Chand’s isolation from her family, who regards the
married daughter as another family’s member.
• C: My brother doesn't want me back.
• CR: He needs you to get him here. It's very simple.
• Eager to leave for a better place and unwillingness to
reveal the guilt from the family.
Unharmonious Family
• The mother controls everything in this house.
• Rocky, who is closer for Mummyji’s power, has
burdened the responsibilities like marriage,
sponsoring his brothers, etc.
• Rocky disrespects Baldev who has less authority
due to his unemployment, which makes Kabir
resent.
• Most of the family members show less support
to Chand’s suffering from the violence.
• Fight between the little sibling - The Infection of
Violence.
Monochrome
• The first monochrome scene appears at the honeymoon at
Niagara Fall – the excitement of Chand and the lethargy of
Rocky toward their marriage event.
• Many of this series monochrome Mehta used is to show the
desperation and the potential feeling of the characters (mainly
Chand’s )
Monologue
• Many of Chand’s monologue show her eager for
her homeland as her ideology toward marriage
has broken.
• "Chand, this is a good omen. Your blood will
make the phulkari soar and fly you home to me.
• “Golden kites fly in the sky. Then there is a loud
snap. The string of Chand's kite breaks and it
floats away . . . Mourn the fate of daughters, O
Lord. Mourn their fate O Lord.”
Racial Discrimination
• R: Somalians are taking over the country, and you let
them spray perfume on you.
• C: Rosa is Jamaican.
• R: What did you say?
• A: Who wants black people as friends?
• A: You know why Rosa stinks of perfume? Blacks never
bathe.
• R: Fucking kids. Born here and think they're white.
Character - Chand
• Restrained, but openminded wife who regards
being a good wife in her
new life as a marriage
ideology.
• Later, she has been
submissive when
suffering the torture from
the whole family and the
DV from Rocky.
• Always reveal her desire
to homeland. (Please
take me to the land where
my mother waits for me.)
Character - Rocky
• Originally gentle, shy like
a girl
• Tired of marriage as
familial obligation
• Bearing almost every
burden from the family,
his pressure outbursts by
abusing Chand.
• Alienation to other races.
Character - Rosa
• The sophisticate,
tough Jamaican
female worker who
worries about
Chand’s suffering.
• The cause of Chand’s
illusion for Giving the
magic root to Chand
(Instant Love)
• Partially discriminated
by Aman and Rocky.
Character - Mummyji
• The main source of this
family’s pressure.
• Want herself as the most
authoritative one in the
family (R: You'll always
be my first priority.)
• Very passive and
stubborn toward her son’s
abuse (Don't cry child.
This is normal in married
life.)
Character – Aman & Baldev
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Aman
Has to work and earn money for
the other male members.
Typical traditional wife
Sometimes too practical (Have a
Tylenol. They’ll dock your pay)
A little bit racism(Blacks don’t
bathe.)
Baldev
Workless, rather inferior than his
younger brother in the family.
Often unconcerned of the
domestic trouble, but aware of his
sister-in-law’s extramarital
relations.
Character – Kabir
• The grandson
• Rebellious to the family
authority, the only member
who speaks English in the
house.
• Feeling unfair for his father’s
status (Don’t talk to my dad
like that!)
• He could only take revenge to
Nummyji or Rocky but to
Chand and Papaji, who are
authoritatively inferior.
• Still retain some humanity
(admitting his guilt, soothing
his sister)
Character - Loveleen
• The granddaughter
• Innocent, optimistic family
member, few of the
members who sometimes
supports Chand.
• Still dream of the peace
of family (Do you know
you’re my favorite uncle?)
• Unable to claim her
uncle’s DV (She’s
busy.)→ Immediately cry
for the violence.
Character - Papaji
• One of the few members
who is not only Chand’s
supporter of the family
but an ineffective male.
• Clearly see the most truth
of this family (You’re
impatient for his marriage
now you regret it)
• Doing sport when going
outside.
Character – Rocky (the Cobra)
• Cobra – Chand’s illusion which supports her and becomes the
ideology of her marriage and love toward husband.
• Cobra “Aren’t I who you desire?”
• He also plays the role of Chand’s reminder of truth, encouraging her
to stick to her innocence and dignity.
• Cobra “The boat can’t take you home.” “You can’t go home.”
• “If you tell the truth, he won’t bite you.”
• Chand “Can our desires be so powerful... that they take
on human form...and walk right into our lives? Can this
be possible?”
• Cobra “If you want it to be.”
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“I’ll come with you, Chand.”
• Chand’s determination sprouts to take her illusion
(ideology) and even try to make it practical in reality.
Hope – Confession of Truth
• Kabir’s first attempt to protest against Rocky – and his willingness to
confess his guilt after his sister’s crying. → A new challenge against
the traditional authority
• Chand‘s struggle to confess the truth → have the courage to claim
herself innocent→ decides to leave the house
• Though awaring the difference between illusion and reality, she
doesn’t deny her illusion(ideology) and fights against the reality.
Question
• 1. What would be the main cause of this family’s
potential pressure?
• 2. What does the dancing scene at the
beginning imply?
• 3. Why Deepa Mehta apply the Monochromestyle to several scenes and what do they
suggest?
• 4. Is there any evidence showing why and how
does Kabir confess his fault?
• 5. What would the Cobra suggest in Chand’s
aspect?
Reference
• Naga – Wikipedia. Wikipedia. May 12,
2010.
• <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naga_(mythol
ogy)>