Kalki Koechlin is unleashing a bold new play on the world, one that tackles motherhood with unflinching honesty. 'Belly of the Beast' recently tore the roof off in Delhi, earning a well-deserved standing ovation – and it's about to leave its mark on stages everywhere. This isn't your typical feel-good tale of motherly love; no, this play dives headfirst into the messy realities of raising kids, refusing to sugarcoat the highs and lows.
Based on Koechlin's 2021 book, 'The Elephant in the Womb,' which she penned after giving birth, the play is a masterful weave of five women's stories at different stages of their maternal journey. From the physical and emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy and labour to the never-ending demands of childcare and navigating professional life – all the while fighting against the tide of societal expectations.
Koechlin's scathing critique of society is spot on: we take mothers for granted, viewing childcare as a thankless task. We're reluctant to acknowledge the exhaustion and mental toll of motherhood, fearing that speaking out might lead women to 'quit' – and that would spell disaster, right? Wrong. This cultural timidity only perpetuates the problem, forcing mothers to walk on eggshells around difficult issues.
Koechlin's personal experience with postpartum depression during the Covid lockdown played a huge role in shaping her book and play. Writing was her lifeline, allowing her to articulate the complex 'psychic landscape' mothers navigate after birth – often in silence. But when she finally found the courage to speak out, she discovered a sense of solidarity with other mothers who'd faced similar struggles. This 'certain universality' is what Koechlin sought to capture on stage.
The play's themes may be rooted in India, where women bear the brunt of childcare responsibilities (with 69% of urban women out of the labour force due to childcare and housework – compared to a paltry 1% of men), but they resonate globally. 'Belly of the Beast' confronts the expectation that women do all the heavy lifting when it comes to childcare, and the pervasive feeling that their efforts are constantly overlooked. A poignant scene shows a mother struggling to articulate her day beyond 'I just looked after the baby – a sentiment many UK parents will find eerily familiar.