Munnariyippu: Warning not to romance with evil!

It is not very often that Indian cinema romances with out-of-the box themes. The typical Bollywood-type films have a set formula: either they are pure song and drama, or stories with quintessential superhero donning every frame. Even the regional cinema has not veered away too much from such masala ingredients. However, we do find an exception or two here and there. In fact, recent films in Marathi and Malayalam have been experimenting a lot on unusual themes and scripts to great success.

Director: Venu

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The 2014 Malayalam film Munnariyippu (warning) is a case in point. It is a film which does not shy away from shocking the audience at the end. If the director was keen on making it a pure commercial success perhaps he would not have taken such a risk. Many times the handling of the script has much to do with commercial considerations. And yet director Venu (a famed cinematographer) to his credit has also tasted commercial success with this directorial venture. This is because the narration is convincing.

The film deals with a convicted murderer CK Raghavan, played brilliantly by veteran Mammootty, and a journalist Anjali Arackal (Aparna Gopinath) who, having chanced upon his rare writing skills, strikes a deal with a publisher to bring out his autobiography. However, what unfolds is a strange development wherein Raghavan finds it hard to take off his writing project. When the deadline is nearing journalist Anjali, who has to eventually translate the autobiography into English, gets nervous and impatient, only to come face to face with something she would never have imagined.

The film has a rather sluggish pace, raising many a question in the process. However, the final moment is shocking and can linger on for sometime. One cannot but appreciate the ambience in which the director has built up the characters. The film is also a visual reminder that human beings are so very unpredictable!

- Melwyn Pinto SJ

How Old Are You: Woman in the centre!

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

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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

Gaddama: The broken maid

This Malayalam film Gaddama is a story that perhaps takes place in scores of housemaids who go to Gulf countries in search of greener pastures. Hundreds of women, especially from Kerala, land in the Arab world to earn a living for themselves and their family. In many cases, though, these women end up losing their physical and moral strength being exploited and tortured by the employers in many cases.

Director: Kamal

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Gaddama is one such story. The protagonist here is Aswathy who decides to go abroad after she loses her husband at a very young age. In an alien land things are not very smooth for her as she is subjected to untold miseries and trials. Feeling impossible to continue and realising that prolonging in the place would be fatal, she decides one day to flee only to face greater trials. Yet, as the film narrates, not all people are bad and not everything dark. She finds a helping hand in a few of her own country cousins who go out of their way to bring her out of her misery.

While the film may be a little melodramatic in its final product, the narrative could never be simpler in actuality. Umpteen cases get reported in the media of people being subjected to indescribable miseries in their work places within India and abroad. We can find a Gaddama in many of such unfortunate souls whose only fault is that they are born into poorer families. The film also raises important human rights issues of immigrants in foreign land. Every immigrant even as he/she battles home sickness in a foreign land, must also battle injustice and hostile work environment meted out by a condescending foreign employer. Kavya Madhavan as Aswathy the Gaddama is sensitive and does justice to the battered characterisation. 

- Melwyn Pinto SJ

22 Female Kottayam: Fighting the 'man'

Kerala film industry was once known for dolling out soft porn films that made money. Surprisingly, the trend is changing. For the last couple of years, a number of interesting films with contemporary and very relevant themes are being made in Kerala. And most of these films are low-budgeted, but they are making more than double in terms of profit. Some of the interesting films that have come out in the recent past in Malayalam include, ‘Chappa Kurish’, ‘Ee Adutha Kalath’ ‘Indian Rupee’, ‘Salt and Pepper’ and ’22 Female Kottayam’. Each of these films has been well-crafted.

’22 Female Kottayam’ is a female-oriented film that portrays how a woman can fight male exploitation through which she all but loses her self esteem and confidence. While man thinks that woman is essentially at his service, here woman proves him wrong and makes him learn a lesson or two on what woman is and can be capable of.

Director: Aashiq Abu

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The film revolves around Tessa, a nurse who aspires to go to Gulf in search of better prospects. She meets a travel agent Cyril who, knowing well that she has no one, dupes her by pretending to fall in love with her. While the concept of love is real for Tessa, for Cyril it is just another game. She is raped twice by Cyril’s employer and later accused of drug peddling and sent to jail. Life seems all lost for her. However, she is not the one to give up easily without making the culprits realise what it means to suffer and for no reason. And lesson she does teach, for as she admits, she has nothing to lose, after being raped twice and seeing hell in jail.

The film raises several issues. Who has to bring about liberation for women? Who has to empower her? Traditionally, it is believed that men have to secure liberation for women. However, the film seems to suggest something different. It is women themselves who have to fight their own liberation and also fight the injustice meted out to them by patriarchy. But, what means could they use? Any means that will serve the larger goal!

While the film is not preachy or indulging in male bashing, it does make a point quite powerfully. Rima Kallingal as Tessa steals the show in the film. 

- Melwyn Pinto SJ