Bariwali (The Lady of the House, 2000)

Maloti is a spirited, outspoken domestic worker whose zest for life animates Banalata’s lonely mansion. Her humour and frankness challenge the household’s repression, while her relationship with Narayan reveals the vulnerability of a working-class woman seeking love and autonomy. Through Maloti, Sudipta Chakraborty gives the film its pulse—and transforms a supporting role into an incisive portrait of female desire, loyalty, and survival.