Umbartha

Sulabha Mahajan, Smita Patil, is a woman who dreams of stepping beyond the four walls of her home to take on a larger duty as a citizen and to play a pivotal role in shaping the society she lives in. She feels a deep calling to help women who have been abused, assaulted, neglected, or traumatized, and she pursues this purpose with quiet resolve. Her path leads her to Sangamwadi, a remote town, where she is offered the position of Superintendent at a Women’s Reformatory Home. This opportunity promises a chance to enact real change, but it also sparks tension at home.

The job offer is met with resistance from her lawyer husband Subhash, Girish Karnad, and from her conservative mother-in-law who struggles to understand why Sulabha must relocate for this work. Their concerns clash with the steadfast support of Sulabha’s sister-in-law, who steps in to help by watching over Sulabha’s young daughter, Rani Pournima Ganu. With this practical backing, Sulabha decides to pursue the new role, determined to prove that disciplined care and reform can transform the lives of incarcerated women.

Once in charge, Sulabha places a focus on bringing order to the home. She confronts the entrenched problems of mismanagement and discovers frauds operating within the institution. But she finds little sympathy from the managing committee, a group of people who are more concerned with self-interest than with rehabilitation. Undeterred, she begins to take corrective steps, moving beyond mere discipline to actively educate the inmates and create opportunities for them to restart their lives. Her efforts include arranging a marriage for one inmate as a chance for a fresh start, a bold move that underlines her belief in second chances.

Her scrutiny extends to a troubling appropriation of the inmates by a local MLA, Bane, who abuses his position to satisfy his own sexual needs. The moral and legal stakes rise as two inmates attempt to escape, only to be forcibly recaptured, a trauma that further complicates Sulabha’s mission. The pressures mount as the committee and the press question her methods, and an administrative inquiry is launched to examine her control over the home. The scrutiny weighs heavily, and Sulabha chooses to resign, stepping away from the work she loves and returning to her family.

Back at home, the welcome is mixed. Her sister-in-law offers warmth, but her daughter and mother-in-law are wary, and a sense of disillusionment lingers in the air. To Sulabha’s shock, she learns that Subhash has been involved with another woman during her absence, a betrayal that reshapes her resolve. Rather than retreat, this revelation strengthens her determination. With renewed purpose, she decides to once again pursue her dream of rehabilitation and social reform, ready to face the challenges that lie ahead and to continue fighting for the dignity and safety of the women she believes can build a new life.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:56