Gharjamai

Last updated

The term gharjamai, in Hindi, refers to a resident son-in-law who lives in a house of his wife's family. [1]

Contents

Etymology

The word Gharjamai is a compound of two words : Ghar and Jamai. The word Ghar is derived from Sanskrit word Gr̥ha (गृह) [2] meaning house and Jamai is derived from Sanskrit word jāmātr̥ [3] (जामातृ) meaning son in law. Thus Gharjamai refers to resident son in law.

Definition

A man who lives in a house of his wife is known as Gharjamai. He usually lives with his wife's family or depends on his wife's family for support. [4] [5] [6] The term carries a social stigma, as husband is traditionally considered responsible for running the household and depending on the wife's family for support is held in a negative view.[ citation needed ] In more modern usage, the overall financial position of the son-in-law is considered and taken into account when using this label; if, for example, the son-in-law possesses land or other property, he is not considered a Gharjamai.[ citation needed ] Varying definitions exist, however. Films and TV serials both with a serious and light hearted view have been made about this phenomenon.

Movies

YearLanguageMovieActor
1961Hindi Sasural Rajendra Kumar
1967Hindi Ram Aur Shyam Pran
1968Hindi Do Kaliyaan Biswajit Chatterjee
1968Hindi Aashirwad Ashok Kumar
1968Hindi Neel Kamal Mehmood
1969Hindi Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke Sanjeev Kumar
1969Hindi Paisa Ya Pyaar Biswajit Chatterjee
1973Hindi Phagun Dharmendra
1974Hindi Bidaai Jeetendra
1976Hindi Tapasya Asrani
1981Hindi Nakhuda Raj Kiran
1982Hindi Dulha Bikta Hai Raj Babbar
1982Hindi Khud-Daar Vinod Mehra
1982Hindi Kaamchor Suresh Oberoi
1983Hindi Rishta Kagaz Ka Sudhir
1983Hindi Avtaar Gulshan Grover
1983Hindi Mazdoor Raj Babbar
1986Hindi Peechha Karro Farooq Sheikh
1987Hindi Pyar Ke Kabil Rishi Kapoor
1988Hindi Biwi Ho To Aisi Kader Khan
1989Hindi Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii Shakti Kapoor
1989Hindi Billoo Badshah Sumeet Saigal
1989Hindi Chandni Anupam Kher
1990Hindi Ghar Ho To Aisa Kader Khan
1990Hindi Jamai Raja Anil Kapoor
1992Hindi Ghar Jamai Mithun Chakraborty
1993Hindi Aasoo Bane Angaarey Anupam Kher
1994Hindi Laadla Anil Kapoor
1996Hindi Sautela Bhai Raj Babbar
1996Hindi Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat Mohnish Bahl
1996Hindi Namak Preetam Oberoi & Gulshan Grover
1997Hindi Yes Boss Aditya Pancholi
1998Bengali Jamai No. 1 Ranjit Mallick
2000Hindi Beti No. 1 Prem Chopra
2001Hindi Zubeidaa Vinod Sharawat
2001Hindi Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love Mohnish Bahl
2001Hindi Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega Saif Ali Khan
2001Hindi Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta Sharad Kapoor
2008Bengali Ghar Jamai Prosenjit Chatterjee
2009Hindi Chal Chala Chal Asrani & Manoj Joshi
2009Hindi Ek: The Power of One Jaspal Bhatti & Sanjay Mishra
2016Hindi Ki & Ka Arjun Kapoor
2019Punjabi Munda Hi Chahida Ravi Aneja
2019Hindi Jhootha Kahin Ka Omkar Kapoor
2019Hindi Bala Saurabh Shukla
2020Punjabi Jaan To Pyara Deputy Raja
2020Hindi Gulabo Sitabo Amitabh Bachchan
2023Hindi Shehzada Ronit Roy
2023Punjabi Ji Wife Ji Karamjit Anmol & Lucky Dhaliwal & Roshan Prince
2023Hindi Kathal Dherendra Kumar Tiwari
2023Punjabi Carry on Jatta 3 Binnu Dhillon
2023Punjabi Kade Dade Diyan Kade Pote Diyan Sukhwinder Chahal
2023Hindi Dry Day Juned
2024Hindi Sarfira Saurabh Goyal
2025Hindi Aap Jaisa Koi Kumar Kanchan Ghosh & Shashie Vermaa

TV Series

YearTV seriesActor
1986 Ghar Jamai Anant Mahadevan
1997 Margarita Milind Soman
1997-98 Ghar Jamai R. Madhavan
1999–2009 Yes Boss Rakesh Bedi
1995–2006 Hum Paanch Ali Asgar
2001–04 Khichdi Kamlesh Oza
2005 Instant Khichdi
2002-06 Piya Ka Ghar Imran Khan/Hoshang Govil
2005–09 Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar Ashish Kapoor
2010–11 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai Vivek Mushran
2012–13 Jhilmil Sitaaron Ka Aangan Hoga Jitendra Trehan/Saurabh Dubey
Rakesh Paul
Praveen Hingonia
Pankaj Tiwari
2014–17 Jamai Raja Ravi Dubey
2015 Dil Ki Baatein Dil Hi Jaane Sailesh Gulabani

Books

YearBookAuthor
1961 A House for Mr. Biswas V. S. Naipaul

References

  1. "Why do we look down upon 'ghar jamai'? | Debate Mansion". India Forums. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  2. Platts, John T. (John Thompson) (1884). "A Dictionary of Urdu, Classical Hindi, and English". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  3. McGregor, R. S. (Ronald Stuart) (1993). "The Oxford Hindi-English dictionary". dsal.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  4. Mayer, Adrian C. (1998). Caste and Kinship in Central India. Psychology Press. pp. 221–222. ISBN   9780415175678.
  5. Sengupta, Nirmal (1979). "Destitutes and Development: A Study of the Bauri Community in the Bokaro Region".
  6. Commissioner, India Census (1933). Census of India, 1931. Manager of Publications. p. 113.