Women-centred films are not new
in Malayalam. In fact, the new generation Malayalam films have strong women
characters and there are several films in this genre that are centred on women.
How old are you is yet another significant and praise-worthy addition to them.
Director: Rosshan Andrrews
Film Clip
It is a film about women living
their dreams. The message is straight forward: women are not to be confined
only to the household, cooking and taking care of children. They can also
strive to achieve their dreams, only if they are determined. And, no-one but
themselves can be their guiding hand in this pursuit.
Nirupama is just like any other
housewife, taking care of the household having internalised that her life is
only that. However, things change dramatically for her, when she comes to know
that she is derided for her naivety and less than confident attitude to life.
Timely comes the help from her classmate, through whose words of support she
defies logic to turn out to be a successful entrepreneur, gaining respect from
her husband and her little daughter as well.
The film raises several pertinent
issues: Why should a woman always sacrifice her dreams for the sake of her
family? Why not help her also to go beyond the narrow confines of family and
kitchen? We can also have as many women entrepreneurs as men, if not more,
provided men do not feel insecure and threatened by them. And finally, when a
woman blooms and flourishes in and through her dreams, not just an household but
a society she engages with also blossoms, for the nurturing qualities of a
woman will always come alive naturally in every decision she takes, and every
change she brings in. At least that is the message of the film. Full marks to
the director Rosshan Andrrews and the lead character Manju Warrier.
- Melwyn Pinto SJ
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