‘Where have you been?’
A question that a lot of us long to hear. In work spaces, in personal lives, from friends to lovers to just about anyone whose validation means something to us.
On TV, two times this phrase was used when it stuck with me.
Circa 2021. My sister and I are watching Masterchef Australia and a desi-looking lady has come to audition. I don’t remember her dish but it is simple Bangladeshi food. The judges take a taste and one of them utters ‘Where have you been?’ The teary-eyed contestant says ‘Home. I’ve been home.’
In that moment Kishwar became the voice of millions of women who kept their dreams, aspirations and joys on the back burner to take care of their homes. They got stuck in the unpaid business of raising kids, looking after the family, keeping the cogs of a household going almost mostly without ever being acknowledged. Needless to say, she became an instant favourite and I relished her journey to the finals with admiration, distant virtual support and loving energy.
A few years have passed since this anecdote and another favourite found herself in midst of a similar exchange. I am talking about Meryl Streep. Probably the only Hollywood star I have seen more than two movies of. I have seen three of her films which is significant because I barely consume American cinema. But we are digressing here.
So Ms Streep plays a struggling actor in the latest season of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ and her opening scene is a montage of her years as one. She keeps longing for an acknowledgment and when she goes on to audition for a Broadway musical in the show, she nails it. She has a short monologue in that scene but boy it’s like the lines are oozing out of the pores of her skin.
Sheer excellence.
Her mere presence gave this rather directionless show(looking at you season 2) a new lease of life. I sat through ten episodes in three days trying to soak in all her brilliance. Her character takes myriad shapes, each one a new discovery and she shines in all of them. She is G.O.A.T and she once again proves it.
As for you dear reader, if you haven’t had your moment of discovery yet, I hope you get to hear these four words real soon!
Munish Rathore is a full-time journalist, part-time dreamer and an aspiring writer. In his free time he can be seen curled up in front of the TV bawling over the latest tear-jerker. (Instagram)
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Meryl was effortless and she really breathed life into that character in Only Murders in the Building. Then there was her lullaby song. Honestly, I didn’t know she could sing that well. I had it playing on a loop for so many days.