The patriarchal mindset of men and even women, has proved to be one of the main obstacles in the representation of women in films mainly directed by men. This is not to say that all women directors are biased in the representation of women in their films. But by and large, women directors are like a drop in the ocean of films right across the country and this includes Malayalam films, reportedly quite progressive and sometimes, even revolutionary in their representation of women in their films.

This writer will take a closer look at three recent Malayalam films, a few of them by debutant directors to try and examine the way in which they have dealt with the major women characters in their films without resorting to candle-light marches, flag-held demonstrations or even extra-long lectures on how women can and should be represented in films. No item songs, no villains, no romance even.

Aattam (The Play) released in 2023, is placed in Kerala in contemporary times. Shot mainly indoors within the precincts of a house used for rehearsals by a theatre group, it lacks the visual beauty one is used to see in most films shot outdoors in Kerala. It revolves around the rehearsals, the performance of what appears like a costume drama which has twelve actors, all male except one female whose camaraderie with her male colleagues is quite normal and friendly.

The film does not focus on any particular play except towards the end but rather, on what ensues among the members of the group including the manager Madan (Madan Babu K) and a relatively new entrant, a noted film actor Hari, that pushes up the popularity of the play among the audience. Hari (Kalabhavan Shajohn), a film actor, throws his starry weight about. Hari has also angered Vinay (Vinay Forrt) because he has replaced Vinay as the hero. Vinay, professionally a chef is on the way to divorcing his wife and is having a torrid affair with Anjali (Zarin Shihab) the sole female in the group. He keeps promising marriage to her which appears doubtful.

The members of the theatre group are ordinary men living less-than-ordinary lives. One is an electrician, another a plumber, a third a cook and so on which points out that they are not doing theatre so much for money as for the passion. The theatre group is small in budget and also in its spread among theatre fans. One night, after a performance, the group is........

© Mathrubhumi English