‘Double XL’: All bodies are beautiful

For a long time, Bollywood has lacked proper representation for people of all backgrounds, identities and body types. However, now a new wave of movies is changing this stifling absence.

Satramm Ramani's "Double XL" is indeed one such breath of fresh air. Sonakshi Sinha and Huma Qureshi play the characters of two plus-sized women navigating professional and personal lives in this movie. All women know the stress of looking a certain way and the fear of body shaming. This infused shame is almost palpable in the characters, and as they shed that, the reinvigoration is transmitted to the audience.

"Double XL" shows these two women from two different social segments. What ties them together is the constant discrimination and prejudice they have to endure due to being plus-sized. Their workplaces and social circles treat them differently, often out-casting and discriminating them for their bodies. At its core, the movie seeps deep and asks if women truly deserve to be treated as eye candy. 

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Sonakshi plays the character of a fashion designer, who struggles with her personal relationships. However, as is common in many women, she blames herself for the way people have wronged her. She starts questioning her self-worth, and decides that she is not destined to be treated with love.

This prejudice, that women are as good as their bodies, repeatedly surfaces in the film. Huma's character, a small-town girl with high ambitions, is not taken seriously, even by her own family. The idea that women only matter if they marry at the stereotypically right age is forced upon her, as she strives to achieve acceptance.

The role of the media and fashion industry in propagating such body shaming is also scrutinized. Often, women are treated differently to their male counterparts, requiring to meet certain beauty standards.

The movie showcases how women can tear each other down or pull each other up. The crucial thing to understand is that, in a world which pits women against each other and crushes all their ambitions simultaneously, the best way is to stand up for one another. Gender stereotypes affect women similarly, making it an excellent point of bonding, and hence strength can be found in sharing their pain and dreams.

"Double XL" has all the elements of a typical commercial film. Sudden appearances of songs, dramatic representations and all the bits of an art film are present here. But it is immensely refreshing to see a Hindi love song being sung to plus-sized women.

In a world of item songs, where certain beauty standards are revered, women are seen flaunting their curves and enjoying life to the fullest. And yes, not the unnatural curves social media pressurises women to achieve, but the sort of curves real women have. This is exactly what makes "Double XL" a must watch.